Quad Graphics Takes the Lead on Employee Retention uad Graphics is leading the way with strategies for attracting, retaining, and engaging employees. Seminars in the SkillsUSA Booth (570) on Monday shared how it does it. Melissa Anderson, Global Talent Management and Talent Development Lead for Quad, shared statistics that only 30% of employees are satisfied with their future career opportunities at their organizations, leading to unwanted (and sometimes unnecessary) Kip Jarrett, Field Service Rep, Chair of Graphic Communications at SkillsUSA; and Shannon Netzel and Melissa Anderson, presenters from Quad Graphics. “We want to keep those good employees,” she told the audience. “So what can we do about it?” To combat these statistics, Quad has set up a variety of programs to nurture employees and help them stay engaged with and feel valued by the company. New hires, for example, go through a 90-day onboarding program where they are mentored and nurtured to help them feel comfortable and establish relationships on the job. “Employees are giving us feedback that this program is really helping them,” said Anderson. Anderson also shared how, as part of a larger organizational development program, Quad is being more proactive about succession planning, engaging its high potential hires, and focusing on leadership and development at all levels. Other steps include cross training, sharing talent across normally divided business lines, and taking a more proactive approach to performance management. “We are not just engaging someone once a year, but providing ongoing feedback, regular meetings, and keeping in touch with what employees want and what will keep them here,” concludes Anderson. “We will continue to monitor and measure these and other efforts down the road to see how that is affecting our retention rates.” September 25-28, 2016 turnover. Orange County Convention Center - North Orlando, Florida www.GraphExpo.com “Blazing The Trail to Profit” Points to Major Opportunities The latest trends in creating new customer channels was the focus of Print Media Centr’s Printerverse (Booth 3867) session “Blazing the Trail to Profit.” A panel of industry experts, led by Deborah Corn, Principal and “Intergalactic Ambassador to the Printerverse” shared their experiences with attendees. Experts from Canon USA (Booth 1213), GPA (Booth 3822), HP (Booth 1202), and Scodix (Booth 2231) shared what they saw as the major opportunities printers should take advantage of if they wanted to increase their business. The panelists all agreed about the importance of customer education as printers look for new revenue. Frances Cicogna, Manager, Product Marketing, Production Solutions Division, Business Imaging Solution Group for Canon USA, described Canon’s efforts with the CREATE Advisory Council to identify the opportunities and provide a robust collection of whitepapers and information that can be easily downloaded, along with online chat rooms where users can share their experiences with experts and peers. HP is also focused on educating customers on how to apply the technology, what the equipment can do, and how to take specific applications to their customers. Boris Hughes, Strategic Business & Marketing Development Manager, HP, says the challenge is to create an understandable message about the capabilities of the applications for the end user. Ziki Kuly, VP Customers B.D., Scodix, explained his company has a team in every territory that shows printers how to present the product, use the right terminology, and provide proper support. GPA is attacking customer education with 30 business professionals who work with customers. Greg Kestler, Director of Technical Products, Pressure Sensitive Paper and Printable Films, GPA Specialty Substrate Solution, said it is necessary to train users to select the right substrate so the end result will be the right product for the right application. The panel pointed to growth areas in printing. Kestler pointed out that new digital technology will help printers compete against roll label printers as run lengths get smaller. Printers also needed to look at what new substrates could be run on their existing equipment to create new sales. Data for personalization and VDP also offers a major opportunity. Cicogna said that most printers don’t understand data so it becomes a missed opportunity. Printers need to look at the data and see how it can make the piece more meaningful. Cicogna also believes that Augmented Reality technology will be the next big thing as it integrates with print to deliver a more powerful message. Show Goers Sip Wine, Quaff Beer, and Talk Books Free liquid refreshments drew a sizable crowd to the Monday afternoon Printerverse (Booth 3867) event titled “Wine, Books, and Beer.” But the lively discussion about the dynamic evolution of the market for yearbooks, photo books, and other types of short-run books held show goers in their chairs even after their glasses emptied. Appearing on the panel were Kent Dalzell of Davie, FL-based Fastbind; McCook, IL-based GPA Specialty Substrate Solutions Director of Digital Media Ron Pergande; and Nanaimo, BC-based LumaPix Director of Business Development Bob Winkler. The first question from the moderator, Print Media Centr’s Intergalactic Ambassador to the Printerverse Deborah Corn, focused on how printers should assess if short-run books are right for their businesses. Dalzell noted that there are many factors that could impact their decision, including the type of customers they currently serve, what types of books might be sought by that customer base, and what type of equipment they possess. “We provide the case making so you can make the books yourself, and the binding that allows you to bind the pages,” he reported. GPA’s Pergande weighed in by stressing he’s not encouraging anyone to enter the short-run book market. “But let’s face it,” he added. “If you’re a printer, you are already a book printer and a photo printer in a lot of regards. So the question, is do you want to continue on your present course or take your business higher?” Acknowledging she is a big fan of reality TV, Corn recalled a program about a real estate professional who routinely had shortrun books printed about particular buildings he marketed. “There’s a lot more applicability for this technology than some are acknowledging, particularly in marketing,” she said. Winkler said it’s key that printers realize they can’t compete with the likes of Shutterfly, which creates books in high volume and at very affordable prices. But it’s possible to jump into the market and build a business, he said, pointing to a printer he counseled who took on his first yearbook customer a few years ago, and now has expanded his base to serving about 15 different schools. “That’s a nice business,” he said. Another client, a tour operator in the Canadian Rockies, got into creating very highend one-off books that sell for $500 a copy. “They’re extremely profitable,” Winkler noted. Pergande addressed the issue of the popularity of photo books. “If you’re only looking to do photo books, you’re limiting yourself,” he said. “Look at markets you’re already serving, and then consider the stock that allows you to do what it is you want to accomplish.” Official Show Daily | PrintingNews.com GRAPH EXPO | September 16, 2015 | 61
GraphExpo Show Daily September 16, 2015
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