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Industry with a future
My style is to take a long hard look at a challenge and continuously review, revise and try new approaches and solutions. First the market, then the challenges, then the solutions: so here goes after a month in the role. Firstly, I would like to thank Peter Kiddell and the teams at The Print House Group, Kolorcraft, GSM Graphic Arts, Instant print and Multigraphics for showing a rookie some of the ‘ropes'.
In the UK, the innovative use of print technologies to achieve great results and market communications to inform and raise awareness within clients, buyers and designers as to what can be achieved is creating an environment in which the word commodity has no real foothold. Clearly, this is not the whole picture, but an industry which is innovating and changing is one with a future.
As with all changes, the accelerated penetration of digital technology into traditional wide format and specialist imaging print markets has created a necessary and vital impact. Printers are embracing digital technologies while continuing to innovate and gain efficiencies within screen printing. Their challenge is to add value through services and to deliver high quality print with ever-shorter turnarounds, at competitive prices. Their response is to apply their indefatigable ‘fixer' approach to challenges and help to drive both technologies forward. The net result is a two thirds majority perceiving the change as driving opportunities rather than constituting a threat. Surprisingly, the driver behind the success comes from experienced printers who continue to sharpen their skills in this digital age.
The market is always moving and creating issues, and while each printer or supplier has developed its own strategy for competing in its chosen sectors, there are certain issues that are generic and therefore not a basis for differential competitive advantage: it is these that a trade association can focus on readily without creating divisiveness in the community. All companies face an increasing legislative burden, and finding the time and resources to address them effectively is not easy. This is particularly a pressure on smaller companies who more often than not have to bring in outside experts. For example, the issue of the REACh regulation and how it might adversely impact the supply of business critical materials: the issue of waste electrical equipment, waste printed matter and wasted energy all of which impact the bottom line. These are all issues that a trade association can tackle and inform its membership with detail on what actions to take and when.
As the head of a trade association, there are challenges for me to bring about the right changes to help as many UK companies as possible achieve sustainability, profitability and stakeholder value. One challenge is to engage with other organisations to get the most cost-effective delivery of supporting products and services into the printing market, another is to access un-serviced printers and suppliers and provide them with great service. There is (and should be) advantage in being a member of a trade association, and I believe it is the communal wish of all trade association managers to encourage a greater number into the wider fold.
The DSPA's solutions are developing right now, through engaging its members, non-members and other parties in a consultative process of building a lasting, cost effective trade association that is to undergo a re-launch under a new name and identity more in line with today's market.
See us at the Sign and Digital UK show 22 to 24 April 22-24
PS. In answer to an increasing number of inquiries, The UK Market Report is in the final edit and the DSPA will e-mail members and post news on its website once the report is available for release. It is free to members and costs a competitive £250 to non-members.
DSPA UK - working behind the scenes to keep screen and digital printers going!
www.dspa.co.uk - info@dspa.co.uk
