opment with Duggal: “Th e biggest challenge is becoming part
of the conversation early enough in the project cycle to make
a diff erence in planning. Too oft en, Duggal is honestly facing
the failure of other service providers who are unwilling or
unable to break a pure vendor/order taking model – which
pushes a sub-par expectation to buyers based solely on price
for materials and production cost. We are challenging that
model again, and again, and hope that as the best client stakeholders
inevitably move to other progressive brands, they
will bring that thinking and expectation to the print industry
professionals in that market.”
The future, technology, and people
How can print service providers best prepare themselves now
for the industry’s future? What speed bumps and stumbling
blocks might be ahead to curtail the growth the market has
been experiencing?
“Th e future of print is not in volume of production,” says
Lovci, “but more heavily reliant on challenging clients to look
at the most eff ective and effi cient solutions in communicating
their brand message to targeted audiences and individuals.”
At Diadeis, says Madsen, “Our clients lean on us to test and
kick the tires on any innovation that might bring value to the
brand. Part of our off erings is to exploit and make the brands
aware of innovations that can ignite interaction, activation,
engagement, etc. Th e industry’s future is connecting static visuals
to digital and augmented environments. Imagine having
the ability to embed a hidden code in every graphic and having
the ability to manage, push, and pull content to a consumer.
Take it even further -- to have the ability to run campaigns,
off ers, contest, scavenger hunts with static graphics that link
you to the web. If I’m a marketer trying to be creative with new
ways to active engagement with a consumer, it’s possible. We
can do this now.”
“First, whatever you do, don’t defi ne yourself
as a print-service provider – once you
do that, you’re playing in a very small box,”
says Ball. “I’ve always considered printing a
technology play. From clay tablets, papyrus,
and moveable type, to lithography, off set,
thermal, and digital printing – the technology
is always evolving.
147
Number of total
current locations for
all Top 60 shops
“We don’t expect our clients to know all the available technologies
and how to bring visual concepts to life,” he continues.
“Th at’s our role as a service provider. We take gorgeous
digital images and employ a wide array of technologies to
transform bits and bytes into super-high-fi delity retail visual
experiences. So it’s up to service providers to stay ahead of
their clients and embrace the latest available technologies.”
Indeed, embracing the latest technologies is at the top of
many shops’ lists. When our Top Shops anticipate which
technology will most impact their businesses in the next 12-
24 months, the hands-down winner is workfl ow automation
– nearly 20% of the Top Shops noted it. Other technologies
the Top Shops believe will impact their business in the near
E.H. TEASLEY & CO, INC./INKJET PRINTING
INTERNATIONAL (#31)
E.H. Teasley & Co, Inc./Inkjet Printing International (#31) is one of 15 shops
in this year’s Top Shops list with 50 or more years in business.
VISION, INC. (#2)
Vision Inc., headquartered in Chicago, is this year’s #2 Top Shop: “In largeformat,
we are looking to expand on event graphics and event marketing
graphics. Overall, we look at technology leading the way to 2017 growth
and beyond. It is where we begin when onboarding new enterprise-type
clients.”
FERRARI COLOR (#11)
Ferrari Color (#11) in Salt Lake City, Utah: “We are constantly looking for the
latest and greatest that will help keep us at the top of our game with our
clients, including new printers, die-cut and laser-cut machines, as well as
new and innovative materials.”
PrintingNewscom June 2017 Wide-Format & Signage 15