In this episode of Printing's Alive, Warren Werbitt is joined by Mark Stephenson from Fuji to delve into the intricacies of OEM partnerships, focusing on trust-building and decision-making. They discuss the challenges and improvements in OEM-printer relationships, marketing strategies, and the reality of supplier infrastructure. The conversation highlights support for small and medium printers, emphasizing sales transparency and customer relations. Mark shares career insights and discusses the industry's evolution, addressing aging and youth engagement. They also explore leadership challenges, the importance of listening to younger voices, and the benefits of trade shows. The episode concludes with a focus on fostering industry unity and a call to action.

00:00 Welcome and Fuji Roots

01:11 OEMs Not Partners

03:19 Defining Partnership

04:43 Sales Reps and Constraints

11:26 Quotas and Public Pressure

16:33 Industry Marketing Reality

20:59 Contracts and No Wiggle

22:30 Private vs. Public OEMs

26:27 Helping the Small Printer

31:05 What OEMs Should Do Better

34:33 Sales Training Blame

35:13 Profit Share Partnerships

36:18 OEM Empathy Gap

37:21 Vendor vs. Partner

39:03 Career Lessons Fujifilm

42:03 Aging Workforce Talent

44:07 Mentoring Youth Programs

45:20 Make Print Glamorous

47:33 Print Shop Makeover

49:10 Ego Free Industry Forum

51:07 Leadership Respect Story

53:33 Authenticity Youth Culture

57:11 Bring Staff To Shows

01:02:01 Crown Pub Connections

01:03:17 Closing Print Co Op

To watch the video version of this podcast, click here.