Numbers up for PODi forum in Las Vegas

The 2010 Print on Demand initiative (PODi) Appforum has opened in Las Vegas with a 20 percent increase in registrations and a strong focus on direct marketing.

The conference, which is the US version of the Australian PODi Appforum held here September every year, is a chance for digital printers to share knowledge around direct marketing techniques and increasing customer value. A constant theme at PODi events is the need for digital printers to transform themselves into marketing service providers. 

PODi president Rab Govil (pictured) told WhatTheyThink.com that the increase in registrations was an encouraging sign for the industry.

“What we find is that attendance at our event is a very leading indicator how the economy’s going to do for the printing industry for the rest of the year. Since we are the first event in the industry, we find that if registration is down, the economy’s going to be a little slow because generally the printers are the first one to cut back,” Govil (pictured) said in a video interview on the WhatTheyThink site.

“If we find that the registrations are increasing then in almost all cases we have found that the industry’s going to do very well. So I think everybody’s feeling much more positive.”

Jeffrey Stewart, partner & CTO of Trekk Cross Media gave a presentation on the connection between social media and print, explaining how social media can be harnessed and integrated into “traditional” cross-media campaigns. Stewart’s presentation ignited the twit-o-sphere, with audience member Jamie Klemcke (tweeting as jlynnaggie) observing that “Brands are no longer in charge…word of mouth marketing returns. So true.”