With the recent internal moves at Fuji-Xerox, the planned merger of Goss and Manroland Web, Transcontinental’s acquisition of Multifilm Packaging, and Agfa Graphics’ joint venture with Siegwerk, I was wondering what factors impact deals like this the most. Rather than field the usual talking points (i.e. better synergies, more customer offerings, great for employees), I … Read more →
Assess your business through a wider lens so you get the full picture What is a healthy business? When business owners set out to assess the health of their business, they need to look through a wide lens and capture the entire landscape of their operation. A periodic business health assessment should be a staple … Read more →
PIA president Makin blasts Trump’s proposed tariffs on Canadian paper Apparently Canadians have a strong ally south of the border – and it’s not comrade Trump. In response to a recent announcement by the US Department of Commerce to impose tariffs on Canadian imports of uncoated groundwood (UGW) paper, Printing Industries of America (PIA) president … Read more →
The flow of information on social media is relentless, but are we better informed? Allow me, please, to talk about one of my favourite subjects: journalism and the forces of social media that are helping to destroy it. In a recent opinion piece in The New York Times a columnist made the surprise announcement that … Read more →
…and the events and educational opportunities they provide As we’ve always done in the past, Graphic Arts will continue to support industry organizations that keep you up to date with the latest technology, organize helpful events, promote networking, and help the future generation of print professionals. We encourage you to visit the websites of the … Read more →
This tried and true method for assessing success is still valid. Each year, millions of us set goals to lose weight, exercise more, make more money, and quit or cut back smoking or drinking. Unfortunately, we often bite off more than we can chew and expect sweeping results in a short time. As a result, … Read more →
Using the right communication tools will help you gain customers’ trust Not too long ago I was discussing with a printer how he communicated with one of his customers. He told me that when he phoned this customer, his call almost always ended up in voicemail. However, if he really, really needed to get in … Read more →
The times they are a-changin’, and social media is no longer just for the trendy kids or the twenty-something web-entrepreneurs. Social media has become an important tool for all businesses, including print service providers. In a fast-paced world, social media is where customers and businesses congregate to get information, forge connections, and decide whether or … Read more →
But first articulate exactly where you want to go. “If you don’t know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else,” — Yogi Berra, philosopher Often in business we think we should be heading in one direction only to have our customers tell us, either directly or with their money, that they want … Read more →
Material function and print processes determine design elements In the first part of this series we discussed the graphic design elements for packaging and the considerations that need to be made to develop the canvas. We also must remember that the package is the vehicle for the product, designed first and foremost to protect what’s … Read more →
Digital readers were supposed to kill print books. What happened? The e-book is the revolution that never came. About five to seven years ago there was a legitimate fear that the printed book was on the cusp of being made obsolete – a huge concern for those in the book trade. With the potential to … Read more →
Digital finishing holds great promise and many benefits, but the first step is demonstrating the value of these special effects Print finishing, and in particular, digital finishing, promises to boost profits, add value and separate early adopters from the competition. And, in a world of shorter runs, product customization, faster time to market, shrinking … Read more →