This week's Hotline provides updates on: Value of Print; December's ASI Webinar; Upcoming January Programing, and a couple of articles about our industry's workforce needs -- today and in the future.

ASI is one of the industry leaders in the world of Specialty Product Advertising (Trinkets & Trash, to be tacky), but this an area of potential sales which compliments many marketing and print projects.  If you or your sales team would like to know more about the ASI offering to PIA MidAmerica members and how it can translate into additional sales for your company, put December 3rd on your calendar.  A 1-hour webinar will be hosted by ASI at NO cost.  You can register here.

 

PIA MidAmerica is working in conjunction with the National Council of Print Industry Certification (NCPIC) to develop a variety of assessment tools and explore the training needs of our industry. 

 

One of the observations made is that our workforce is rapidly "graying." This will offer a variety of challenges for many firms as they will continue to need a skilled workforce in their pressroom and finishing areas for the foreseeable future.  Where do we find them?  How do we train them?

 

To help us in formulating some of the answers, we are inviting members to go online and answer a few questions (2-4 minutes) in a short survey.  This very basic information will provide crucial feedback in helping us develop any future programs and support. 

 

Do you hear comments like "Using paper kills trees," "Direct Mail campaigns are not effective," or "Print is dead,"?  The Value of Print campaign by Printing Industries of America has provided plenty facts, statistics, and resources from around the industry to combat these notions.  

 

A very effective tool is the Value of Print Mobile App which you can download to your smart phone. You'll have access to all the information in the Flipbook, plus, much, much more. AND don't forget two GREAT websites which provides TONS of information on the Power of Print - Chooseprint.org and Print In the Mix

 

 

Over the years I have taught numerous seminars and classes, but recently I had a "first-time" experience.  I taught a class to college students. 

 

I really didn't know what to expect since the topic I was covering was pretty dry ---- costing and pricing in our industry.  Were they going to fall asleep? Text to all their friends?  Play Candy Crush?  Fortunately (for me) the students had been well prepared by their instructor Dr. Jerry Waite (University of Houston) and were very engaged and asked some great questions.

 

There were over 60 students in the class - all seniors at the University of Houston's Digital Media department.  Nearly all of them have an interest in being a part of our ever-expanding visual communications industry, and about 1/3 wish to pursue a career path in good old print.  If ever there was a time for our industry to inject young and interested talent --- it's right now.

 

If your company has made a commitment to play in this new world of print, consider hiring a management trainee from a college which has a program focused on our industry.  It could be University of Houston; or Pittsburg State; or University of Central Missouri; or College of the Ozarks. Like many of us who came out of college, they may not have all the tools we'd like to see, but they have a real interest in the industry and could do very well when given the right kind of support and guidance.  Need names of who to contact?  Just give us a call at the Association.