So according to a new survey commissioned by ISA-UK, powered by BSGA, 67% of respondents say they are frequently asked to make design recommendations. That fits with the kind of feedback we got when we polled UK large-format PSPs for our Widthwise Survey this year - download free at: https://www.imagereportsmag.co.uk/widthwise. I’d be interested on hearing from those of you who have extended your design service this year - or have strong views that such a move would damage customer relationships.
It’s somewhat serendipitous that we are bringing news of Tilia Labs having won an InterTech technology award for its tilia Phoenix 7.0 software and its development of artificial intelligence for the print sector just as Image Reports is about to publish a feature on the subject of AI. If you want to glean info on how and when developments are likely to impact upon large-format print businesses, keep your eyes peeled for the new issue - landing on your doorstep later this week - the AI article will be live online then too: www.imagereportsmag.co.uk.
…is a thing. I mean, we really can produce it. I have just been speaking again with David Hyams, who can make this kind of thing happen. We first talked about it years ago, and he admits that it’s not taken off in wide-format like it has in other areas of print. And here was me thinking people buying into experiential print would be up for sound’n’vision applications like this. What’s your take?
I’m currently researching new and unusual printable media for the large-format market. If anything specific has caught your attention over the last few months I’d like to know. Thank you
…to those who secured one of the Printing Charity’s annual Print Futures financial awards presented last night - and a timely reminder to all of you to flag up the scheme to those in your workforces who are aged 18 – 30 and might like to apply for the 2020 round. If there are ways to help the young progress in this industry I’m all for shouting about it!
I’ve got to ask - do any of you close down for a ‘holiday fortnight’ anymore? I assume not, but the amount of traffic on the roads over the weekend as schools shut-up and the big getaway began had me casting my mind back to the ‘factory fortnight’ of my childhood, when everything on the nearby industrial estate stopped and workers were released into the sunshine!!! Little news is coming in right now, so maybe it still happens in some places?
Apparently the 18th of the month is an auspicious date for a wedding according to the Chinese. Given the amount of tie-ups we’re been seeing between various suppliers in the sector I’m wondering if we should expect Chinese manufacturers in particular looking to formally seal partnerships with UK companies today! OK, a bit of a long short - just has me wondering about how many more international ties we can - or can’t – expect as Brexit continues to impact our relationships with the rest of the world….
With Woo - World Out of Home Organisation - having confirmed that its 2020 Congress will be held in Toronto next summer, I’m wondering how many from the UK will travel all that way to attend. Actually, I’d like to know if you attend any event of this type - at home or abroad. Which events - other than trade shows - do you find most valuable?
Have you got a director of corporate social responsibility and cause marketing? Thought not. News is in that US-based Vomela group has. Is that making you think any more seriously about CSR within your own operation? I’d love to here from you if you have strong views, one way or the other.
The creation of a £30m turnover print business via the merger of J Thomson Colour Printers with Bell and Bain has to prompt the question ‘to what extent does size matter?’ when it comes to PSPs attracting business – and improving the balance sheet. What says you?
Talking to a youth undertaking a media training course about journalism recently, I was told that it’s a shame I write about print, an industry on its last legs. I pointed out that it’s not anything of the kind, referencing all the ‘stuff’ that is printed. “Oh but that’s not ‘print’, it’s OOH advertising and wall decoration and clothing ….”. The point I’m making is that the wider world’s perception of what constitutes ‘print’ is somewhat limited. How do we change that? And at the end of the day, does it matter?
Have you got an all-singing-all-dancing, end-to-end workflow right across your business? If you have, please let me know, because if so, you’re one of the few yet to have one. I’m interested in hearing from the rest of you on what’s holding you back - is it cost, business disruption…?
News that an all-female team at Northern Flags has designed and produced a printed flag in support of the Lionesses in the Women’s World Cup brings me, once again, to bemoaning the lack of women in the large-format print sector – particularly when it comes to running a PSP. What can we do to change that and make it a more level playing field?
Figures from the first poll of sign and graphics firms by trade association ISA-UK powered by BSGA, shows that despite the uncertain political times optimism is high in the industry. The findings of our 12th Widthwise Survey (download for free at: https://www.imagereportsmag.co.uk/widthwise) of the UK’s large-format PSPs at the start of this year showed a similar attitude. So is everybody happy this summer?
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