2009 and Beyond —Polischuk

Well, a new year begins. It’s really hard to believe that it’s 2009 already. This decade, which started a new century and a new millenium, has just flown by. And it seems as though the powers that be know this, because they recently added one second to 2008 to make it longer—funny, I didn’t even notice.

By all accounts, the coming year is opening up to one of the most difficult business and economic environments in quite a long time. The package-printing industry will feel the pinch (or is it a vice grip?) like all other business sectors in our domestic economy. While the federal government is taking significant steps to solve the liquidity crisis that is hampering the credit markets, businesses are continuing to deal with -rising healthcare costs, increasing global competition, and margin erosion.

The coming year will put a real squeeze on how converters and suppliers in package printing will spend their money. However, an interesting comment is made by Sharan Jagpal, author of a book called, Fusion for Profit: How Marketing & Finance Can Work Together to Create Value. “In a recession, it’s harder to gain new customers, to convince existing customers to buy more, and to win back customers who have left,” he says. “So, companies often need to be spending more money, not less. They just need to be smart about it.”

Spending more money is easier said than done. However, spending money smarter is always something business people work toward. At times such as these, it is important for all the players in the industry to work together to get the most bang for the buck—printers, suppliers, associations, and trade press.

To this end, packagePRINTING is poised to make 2009 as good a year as possible for those companies wrestling with these tough times. Our sales staff, comprised of Sean Sams, Rob Margulies, and Jim Harvie, and led by our VP/Publisher, Brian Ludwick, is looking forward to helping suppliers get their messages out to potential customers, our readers.

Our editorial calendar has been developed to provide package printers with information on the latest topics to help them improve and expand their businesses. Chris Mc Loone, Missy Smith, and I are looking forward to working with printers and suppliers alike to get the right information in the hands of the right people. And don’t forget our annual Excellence Awards competition—it’s a smart way for printers to publicize their capabilities.

As 2009 unfolds, packagePRINTING is working to make it a good one.

Tom Polischuk, Editor-in-Chief

We welcome your comments regarding any part of packagePRINTING. They can be addressed to Editor, packagePRINTING, 1500 Spring Garden St., 12th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19130, or tpolischuk@napco.com.