Print is in our blood – Jacob Galea’s view of 2006

As we are all seeing out on the “streets of print” times are getting tougher, margins are decreasing, competition is fierce, and we are competing in an arena where only the strong will survive.

We need to out-class our competitors, we have to get smarter and have more answers. Value add will be a deal breaker and customer satisfaction will be our hardest mission to achieve. Generation ‘Y’ are entering the print and media workforce, wanting things faster and faster, without really knowing what needs to be done to execute the results.

We are competing with companies that are marginalizing the work at zero percent just to run sheets or webs through their presses, gasping for every job as if it is their last – and it may well be.

Mergers and acquisitions are the future, the big will get bigger, the medium will have to make decisions on their next five year business plans, and the smaller companies may see 2007 their last. As harsh as that sounds, that is reality.

Private equity firms will build printing empires, holding the monopoly [sic] of clients and dollar generation out of these clients, leaving the Australian client base with only a few choices to consider. This will see our industry change, become more aggressive, and decide the future for a lot of CEO’s in the print arena.

So what does all this mean?

As it meant five, ten, 15, or even 20 years ago in our wonderful ever changing industry:

• The clients are the Kings – look after them, cherish them, partner with them, show them why they are dealing with a team of experts who know and understand print.
• Love what we do, it is a great industry that will see changes well beyond our life time
• Embrace change, do not fight it. The survivors will adapt to change.
• Train your people in customer satisfaction and the management of relationships, this is vital.
• Be different, have a key differential point that will make your clients choose your company every time, without hesitation.

In saying that, let’s all watch as the industry in which we all love and breath, changes in 2007. Maybe for the better and maybe just because it is what it is. One thing will be for certain, printing is and will be in our blood, so let’s enjoy it and be the best we can be at it!


Jacob Galea, is a self-described print enthusiast, and strategic business manager for Business Print (Australia)