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The massive disruption to our printing and digital delivery business in March of 2020 has had lasting effects on many areas of our businesses, especially for print service providers (PSPs) and in-plants. And it hasn’t mattered whether you are in the commercial, transaction, direct mail, book, label, packaging, wide format, or industrial verticals of the print and digital delivery markets. All industries have been impacted over time by variable work requirements (remote and hybrid working methods), the reduction or lack of skilled and unskilled labor, paper and ink shortages, and variable workloads coming through the print and digital delivery production environment. This encompasses risk to those providing goods and services to the market in digital and print output.  The current environmental and supply chain risks create challenges that can be exacerbated by business and operational processes, catapulting an organization into a high-risk zone. Some of these risk accelerators include …

Digital media is here to stay — but there is always an opportunity to include print as part of a marketing plan. As supply chain challenges persist, it’s important to continue to communicate the irreplaceable role that direct mail plays within a successful marketing strategy.  Production inkjet is poised to become the go-to print technology for marketers. With the continuous improvements that are happening within the industry, brands and businesses can better reach the right audience and appeal directly to customers’ needs and interests, while having a direct impact on the bottom line.   Why Use Direct Mail?  Digital fatigue is real, especially after 2+ years of working and living at home. In fact, 75% of consumers report being overwhelmed by the number of digital ads they see daily . This is causing them to tune out important messaging and abandon sites (and brands) altogether.  Direct mail is the perfect solution. Not only does physical mail allow consumers to tangibly engage and …

We have quite a bit in store for you this month, but we’d like to start off by welcoming a new member to the thINK community! Royal Printing is based in Las Vegas, Nevada, and has more than three decades of industry experience. The owners, brothers Mike and John Morello, have a rich history in the print business, and we’re excited to have them in the fold - learn more in the September E-Newsletter    …

Meet Mike and John Morello, Co-Owners of Royal Printing September 20, 2022 —Newest thINK members and Royal Printing owners (and brothers) Mike and John Morello opened their print business in 1989 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Print was in their blood — not only did they have many fond memories of working after school at their dad’s print shop, but when their dad sold the business, both went on to work at different print companies through their high school years. Already astute businessmen with a hard work ethic, starting their own print business together after they graduated was a foregone conclusion. Mike and John purchased a 1 color AB Dick 360 and added a Heidelberg offset press and several toner devices over the next several years and went on to enjoy success in the print business for over 30 years. “I attribute our success to our focus on being a consistent, reliable print partner,” Mike said. “Being a print partner that our customers know they can count on is important to us. …

Recently, I was on a sales call with a customer who was looking for a new saddle stitcher. Like so many of our other customers, one of his chief obstacles was finding skilled operators to run his equipment. The labor shortage across our industry is in some ways its own pandemic. As a generation of skilled operators retire, it has become even harder to replace them. Although recent reports indicate that the labor shortage should abate this fall as enhanced unemployment benefits expire and students go back to school (allowing parents to go back to work), the workforce crisis is expected to continue for at least a few more years. To address these challenges within our industry, we need to maximize production through equipment that requires less manual operation. The path forward for labor-strapped binderies lies in automation and LineControl finishing.   Automation improves quality and productivity  The benefits of automation within the print finishing industry are manifold. Case in …