I’ve Met the Future of the Print Industry. His Name is Matt.

One of the best things about working in this field is meeting new people. When I produce events or get invited to speak for a group or trade association, it’s something I most look forward to. Listening to other peoples’ stories. Learning what got them into the print business. Uncovering other passions in their lives.

Often, people new to the field will contact me and ask to meet so we can talk. Depending on my schedule and how much I suspect someone just wants to pick my brain for free, I might agree. I’ve learned to dig deeper in these initial calls or e-mails to weed out the latter. Time is precious.

What was it about that certain e-mail last month, from a brand-new sales rep who asked to meet? Maybe it was the sincerity of his words, or the fact that he works for a commercial printer that has my utmost respect (and has also, BTW, supported PBI).

Whatever the reason, I’m glad I said yes. On a warm spring day, I had lunch with a young man who was accompanied by his wife. They were in town for a friend’s wedding. The time spent with them was a delight and a half.

He’d asked to take me to lunch to learn whatever I could teach him, because when he Googled “print buyers,” my name popped up. There was nothing slick or sales-y about him. He was Grade A Genuine and thoroughly excited about his new adventure in what we’ll call the Print Industry.

As our salads and sandwiches came, he and I talked about the big trends in printing and print buying, who his Competition is (big “C” as in not other commercial printers), the importance of learning about all modes of media, and the challenges and opportunities for a young man in printing.