A fascinating look into the technology and engagement that await us Imagine a shipment of salmon on its way to retail through multiple distribution points. Upon arrival at its first destination, an alert is transmitted by sensors attached to a case in the shipment – and that alert notes that temperatures have exceeded safe storage … Read more →
Study after study supports the fact that consumers will pay more for a better customer experience and are four times more likely to jump to the competition when a problem is service-related versus product or price-related – or if they feel they weren’t treated well. It’s this mindset that’s fuelling this generation’s business buyer. Feeling … Read more →
Today’s internet provides an inexpensive way to reach and engage people one-on-one with timely, relevant and creative messages delivered directly to their inboxes. But the fact is that email is becoming a very crowded and competitive battleground for an audience’s attention. Yes, marketers and other companies (including commercial printers who can find the time and … Read more →
If you’re thinking about participating in tradeshows or developing new markets outside Canada, the Federal Government has increased the amount of financial assistance available for export activities. In late 2019, the feds increased export funding for manufacturers from 50% of your expenses to 75%, and increased the maximum they’ll fund to $150,000 annually, making it … Read more →
Just about everyone brings a cellphone everywhere they go, and the workplace is no exception. Nomophobia, or the fear of being separated from our phones, is a rampant and legitimate concern today. Our brains receive a hit of the feel-good chemical dopamine not only when we receive new information from our phones, but even in … Read more →
Avant Imaging and Integrated Media (AIIM – Aurora, Ontario) partners with Ricoh Canada to deliver a vast suite of new services to the marketplace in record time – including unprecedented cost reductions for its customers. With the installation of the very first Ricoh Pro VC70000 High Speed Colour Inkjet Printer in Canada, AIIM now has … Read more →
They say you have one opportunity to make a good first impression. At one point, marketers believed digital advertising could solve all their problems. However, with ad blockers, privacy laws and dwindling attention spans, customers have learned to easily ignore much of today’s advertising. “But the nice thing about a postcard in your mailbox is … Read more →
There was a closure of many distilleries in the 1980s. The whiskey market began to decline in the 1970s, and things began to look terminal. However, what emerged from these challenges was a consolidation of power in the whiskey business with smaller distilleries bought up by more prominent brands such as United Distillers. As a … Read more →
I’ve always believed in environmental responsibility. But do we need to be policed by outside organizations that have siphoned off millions of dollars from our industry? I’m talking about FSC, SFI and PEFC – three major environmental certifications that printers have been using for over 10 years. Exactly how do they benefit our industry? When … Read more →
A well-crafted and well-executed brand strategy can cut through the noise of competing messages, articulate your promises to customers, set you apart from your competition, and establish yourself as a leader in your space. However, I see companies make the same mistakes over and over again when it comes to branding. Do you recognize yourself … Read more →
At 62, and with 35 years of printing industry experience, Scott Crosby, partner and Vice President of Sales and Marketing at retail signage and display specialist Holland & Crosby Limited (Mississauga, ON), would be the first to admit that his remarkable journey to becoming Chairman of the Board of one of the most influential printing … Read more →
Will 2020 be the “re-evolution” of the printing and graphic arts industry? The end of an exciting 2019 is a perfect time to reflect on the year ahead. All indicators point to 2020 being a pivotal year for our graphic arts industry – and for more reasons than just the sheer fact that we have … Read more →