Hewlett-Packard

HP Digital Goal Scales Summit SALT LAKE CITY—In order to grab a leading role in the digital graphic arts market, Hewlett-Packard leveraged the Sundance Film Festival in nearby Park City, UT, to spread its message during the Graphic Arts Summit held here January 24-27. Some 75 journalists, consultants and industry observers attended to learn about HP’s latest wide-format printers, as well as advances with the Indigo 5000. The overall message was the company’s desire to establish itself as the leader in the digital printing market. HP augmented the informational sessions with side trips into Park City and the Film Festival, where examples of HP

If you needed additional affirmation concerning the importance of digital printing for the industry, the Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) has proclaimed 2006 as “The Year of Digital Print.” The association is planning a full year of activities, events, publications and educational efforts to encourage printers to explore digital printing, expand their current levels of involvement, or embrace the full potential of digital printing for their companies. For firms that have already begun the trek down the digital path, the need to finish this digitally produced work has become even more important than in the past. According to “The Market for Print Finishing Technologies,”

User groups are far more likely to be a source for news than the subject of it. That wasn’t the case in 2005, and continuing into this year, largely due to the ripple effect of recent consolidation within the industry vendor community. Advances in technology are also contributing to the transformation of user groups. Much of this activity has been on the digital printing side of the industry, so user groups for products in that segment will be addressed here. An expanded version of this story—including updates on a broader spectrum of industry groups—will be published on www.piworld.com. When Hewlett-Packard announced last

Drawing a contingent of more than 60 journalists from 30 countries, IPEX 2006 Inward Mission offered a glimpse into the upcoming international trade show of the same name. Held recently in Birmingham, UK, on the grounds of the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), the press event was a precursor to IPEX 2006, running from April 4-11. Owned by Picon, IPEX has evolved from the Great Exhibition of 1851 and is now one of the largest and most anticipated exhibitions on the international printing industry calendar. Picon reports 575 exhibitors committed to this year’s show, and expects a visitor base of 74,000 attendees. The show’s ownership feels the

It’s become widely accepted that formulas for success in variable data marketing include focusing on big ticket items, developing ongoing campaigns and targeting the top tier of customers that are regular buyers. Paxar Americas, working with Dayton, OH-based Early Express, found that opposite approaches can also be effective in meeting a specific need. [The Proposed Solution] Having ended up with a surplus inventory of shopping bags, the Ohio-based supply house to retailers decided to do a direct mail campaign targeted to customers who only order supplies every few years. It started by generating a list of companies that had purchased retail shopping bags during

Nothing 'Static' About PIA/GATF VDP Conference PHOENIX—Somewhat akin to the early days of the California Gold Rush, there are endless growth opportunities in today's digital frontier. And the riches will go to those printers that can master variable data printing (VDP), database management and cross-media applications. There's no secret map to the gold, but shops that can provide these services—coupled with the ability to market, sell and then track the benefits of one-to-one marketing—will be the ones most likely to strike it rich. That seems to be the general consensus of the more than 300 participants who attended the 2005 PIA/GATF Variable Data and

Printer's Program Hits Big Apple For First Time NEW YORK CITY—Pictorial Offset, of Carlstadt, NJ, recently held its Pictorial University in New York for the first time at the McGraw-Hill Auditorium. Nearly 200 people from advertising agencies, design firms, corporations, and local and regional educational institutions heard presentations and case studies about branding initiatives. Featured speakers included Steve Sadove, Saks Inc.; Jennifer Bergin, Eastman Kodak; Cecilia Fabrizio, AmeriCares; Scott Deming, Scott Deming ESP; and Donald Samuels, Pictorial Offset. Infinite Graphics Technology, an Indianapolis-based provider of large-format digital printing, announced a new 3D product offering for the out of home/indoor advertising market. The firm

Performance Food Group Uses Personalized Benefits Statements For Performance Food Group (www.pfgc.com), personalized information kits have proven to be a successful application for digital printing and a valuable benefit for PFG employees. PFG is one of the largest food service distributors and fresh-cut produce processors in the nation. Employees deliver more than 64,000 food service items such as baked goods, seafood, USDA meats, condiments and cleaning supplies to approximately 44,000 customers covering every kind of eatery from coast to coast. Nineteen distribution companies operate in various parts of the country, and each maintains a unique relationship with a variety of local

Tackling a sizzling-hot topic in the printing industry, the 2005 PIA/GATF Variable Data and Personalization Conference scheduled for November 6-8 at the Sheraton Crescent Hotel in Phoenix is designed to offer attendees the critical information needed for personalized digital printing success. In the following special section you will find articles pertaining to the main topic of this upcoming PIA/GATF event. Included are a look at several digital printers who have successfully implemented variable data printing (VDP); how a leading direct marketing agency relies on VDP to boost response rates; compensation plans for digital salespeople; results from a recent study concerning postal damage to digitally printed

Fall is prime time for professional sports, and many fans are too well acquainted with the sentiment, "Just wait until next year." For years, the same could be said for proponents of variable data printing (VDP). Early adopters of VDP often ended up with a great service in search of a market. Over time, the Web-to-print business model came to the forefront. It evolved around providing online, template-driven solutions for companies that market through remote agents, dealers and distributors. As the market continues to mature, a growing number of digital printing operations are developing other formulas for success. Daniels Marketing Support Services, Asheville, NC