Who says there’s no such thing as a free lunch?

Written by Ronen Zioni | 31 January 2012

Be they seminars, workshops, or forums, Ronen Zioni – HP EMEA marketing director, Graphics Solutions Business (GSB) – shares his views on how attending such supplier-organised events can help print service providers succeed in today’s competitive and cut-throat industry.

Let’s face it, as a printer, it’s highly likely that you’re working flat out just serving the needs of your customers, to have much time to consider exactly how you might serve their needs better.

Although you may have missed it, it’s probable that in all the day to day hustle and bustle of running a print business, you’ve received more than one invitation from your print solutions supplier for a seminar to ‘improve your profitability as a business’, or a conference which promises to offer, ‘the tools you need to win customers.’ 

This is the bit where I would encourage you to strongly consider attending the next such event offered. After all, this should be part of your wider plan to differentiate your capabilities and get the best return on investment from your installation. By taking the complementary advice offered at these often insightful events, you could be well placed to better market your services and plan a business strategy geared towards ensuring optimum use of your print hardware as a revenue generator for your company.

Indeed, it could well be that the next seminar, workshop or open house, turns out to be highly informative forum in which you walk away with that one piece of worthwhile advice that really benefits your business and helps increase your turnover. For example, such events can help you really comprehend the ROI and TCO of digital versus analogue production by understanding manufacturers’ ROI tools.

Using them, you can fast-track the move from analogue to digital, and become able to offer faster turnaround times, helping customers decrease the time to market of their new products and promotions.

Print suppliers that truly value their relationships with customers will be committed to imparting their expertise to ensure you get the most from your equipment. Such suppliers should see it as part of their obligation to you as their customer; to deliver expertise-sharing initiatives that encourage and inspire you to reach your business goals, and share with you tips and tricks on how to maximise the effectiveness of the print hardware or supplies you’ve purchased from them.

After all, who would turn down the opportunity to learn about new application possibilities achievable with their print solution and the ever-increasing range of substrates that enable new and creative graphic arts projects? Rest assured, your own customers will be looking to get as much creative value from their projects, so the ability to offer them something new – that could perhaps increase your revenues – could help win more business and secure their custom in the future.

So take it from me: if your print suppliers believe in that partnership that they refer to, then they will be only too willing to work with you to discuss your objectives, help you differentiate your service offering and work with you to achieve your business goals.

Ronen Zioni
HP EMEA marketing director
Graphics Solutions Business

www.hp.com/graphicarts