PrintEx07 media blitz swipes trade mag covers
Three different printing trade publications but how would you ever know? The industry media practice of selling covers to the highest bidder occasionally produces a marketing whitewash.
At a time when market differentiation is the flavour of the month, the industry’s print media choose to ignore the dangers of being tarred with the same brush. In a marketing coup for the PrintEx07 organisers most of the magazines were happy to run the show’s ‘What’s Next?’ advertisement on the front cover.
The magazine coverage is part of one of the largest marketing campaigns ever run to promote a printing trade show, which includes personalised invitations, internet promotions and industry events.
Founded by GAMAA, PrintEx has established itself as a major event, alternating with Melbourne-based PacPrint. This time around there’s a record amount of floor space and a reinvigorated education stream based around the PrintEx Forums
“With so many industry professionals in one place it made good sense to create an opportunity to tap into the collective brain power of the industry. The GAMAA members gave the PrintEx Board its full support for this innovative approach,” said GAMAA President Alastair Hadley.
As the premier suppliers association GAMAA’s primary objective is to further educational opportunities for those working in the industry. Many will be aware of GAMAA’s Leadership Workshop programme and its annual scholarship however these are only two conduits the Association uses to achieve its educational mandate.
“Trade shows provide the industry with the opportunity to not only make new physical acquisitions, but to also expand thought,” said Hadley. “This year PrintEx will host the first industry forum of its kind where panel members and the audience will be able to engage in a lively debate on the threats and opportunities that face our industry going forward.”
“The forums at PrintEX provide a very real opportunity for those professionals working in the industry to be involved in discussions around central themes that are pertinent to them now and in the future.”
Journalist, author and former rugby player for Australia Peter FitzSimons will facilitate the first forum; CONTROL YOUR FUTURE - Insights and strategies for survival and success in an increasingly complex print industry environment. Jenni Brockie an award-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker will present DIGITAL DILEMMAS - Making sense of the array of impacts, technologies and issues caused by living in, and supplying to, a digital world.
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The magazine coverage is part of one of the largest marketing campaigns ever run to promote a printing trade show, which includes personalised invitations, internet promotions and industry events. 
“Trade shows provide the industry with the opportunity to not only make new physical acquisitions, but to also expand thought,” said Hadley. “This year PrintEx will host the first industry forum of its kind where panel members and the audience will be able to engage in a lively debate on the threats and opportunities that face our industry going forward.”