Printers go direct to ADMA Forum

The printing industry claimed a substantial presence at today’s direct marketing forum in Sydney.

Working on the understanding that the majority of print is part of marketing collateral, some of the largest and most innovative printing companies took exhibition space at the Forum in Darling Harbour. PMP, GEON, Kwik Kopy, Whirlwind and Prografica all promoted the fact that printing is an essential part of the marketing mix.

PMP as a platinum sponsor of the conference, reinforced its position as one of the leading marketing services providers. Led by Graham Plant, who will present on the rise of multi-channel marketing in the retails world, the largest printer in the region has an appropriately large stand at the exhibition.

Another large printer seriously addressing the marketing community is GEON, which came to the show under the slogan, 'Get more from your communication'. Graham Morgan, managing director, was on hand to check out the show. “I’m surprised there are not more of us from the industry here. At GEON we take the direct marketing industry very seriously,” he told Print21.

At the record-attended conference where the issue of whether print is still relevant to marketing in an internet age was a major focus, Kerim El Gabaili, managing director of Progragica, brought a Canon printer and an Envelopments DTM ‘butterfly mailer’ to the attention of the direct marketing industry. “We thought it is important to show the industry what we can do. Many of them have never seen a job from start to finish,” he said.

The presence and commitment of the printing companies, along with the presence of Spicers Paper promoting its new Impress DM paper, ensures that printing is not forgotten by marketers in the rush towards the internet. Printing companies with their powerful computer capacity and traditional logistic skills are ideally poised to become marketing services providers.

Let’s hope by next year there are even more marketing service-oriented printers taking part in the major event organised by print’s customers.

Pictured: Prografica's 'Clinic' was a hot-spot at today's ADMA Forum.