Printing Impressions

On this episode of The Week that Was, Konica Minolta announced the AccurioPress C5080 series. RR Donnelley has been recognized with multiple industry awards this year.

A recent issue of the Harvard Business Review features a cover story which zeros in on an important and all too common dilemma. Leaders believe they have alignment with and among team members. And why not? Meetings are held, key items discussed, nodding of heads and indications of agreement are noted. Then what? If there are disagreements and different thoughts on points of discussion, these are often suppressed, at least during the meeting.

Everyone talks about going upmarket. Getting reps to actually stay focused there is a different problem. Most of the time it's not a capability issue. It's economics. Larger deals in print—national accounts, complex RFPs, multi-location programs—require a lot more work. Longer cycles, more stakeholders, plant tours, technical back-and-forth, internal coordination. And the win rate is still lower than mid-market. Your reps already know this. So they do the math.

In this age where providing quick pricing can often get you the project, speed alone may not be enough to get you the account. First, make sure that you are chasing the right type of accounts – those that you have a clear competitive advantage with. And before you present the price, ask how does your company evaluate deals and new opportunities – whose filter do you use to say this is a project or account worth chasing or not?

There’s been a lot of buzz around artificial intelligence (AI), but using AI in a way that truly makes a positive impact on business has eluded many print service providers (PSPs). Attendees of the “AI in the Print Shop: Beyond the Hype — A Practitioner's Guide to Real-World Implementation” webinar walked away with a clear, practical framework for identifying where AI belongs in their workflows, helping them see that positive impact.

A few weeks ago, I had a deep conversation with a shop owner regarding the print-on-demand (POD) scene in the decorated apparel industry. This shop has eight online stores, but they weren’t profitable, and the shop owner didn’t understand the nuances that would make them so. To them, POD sounds amazing at face value: new revenue streams with increased order frequency; the promise of e-commerce and scaling revenue; less dependence on bigger orders with fewer customers.

SpencerMetrics, the leading provider of vendor-neutral, data-driven productivity solutions for the print and packaging industry, today announced that its AI analytics solution, CONNECT Q, has been honored with a 2026 Pinnacle Award from PRINTING United Alliance. The Pinnacle Awards are among the industry's most respected honors, recognizing the hardware, software, and technologies judged to make the most meaningful contributions to quality, capability, and productivity in printing and packaging.

The Board of Directors of the National Print and Sign Owners Association (NPSOA) is pleased to announce the establishment of a special student membership category. “Attracting the next generation of leaders for our industry is a high priority for NPSOA, and this initiative will complement the NPSOA Scholarship Fund, which is currently in its third year,” says Nathaniel Grant, Chairman of the Board.

Dear America, Two hundred and fifty years ago, a bold idea was set in motion: that ordinary people could shape an extraordinary future. That freedom, opportunity, innovation, and self-determination could become the foundation of a nation unlike any the world had seen before. Today, as we celebrate this milestone, I find myself reflecting not only on where we’ve been, but on what has always made America exceptional. America is a nation of builders. Builders of businesses. Builders of communities.

The following article was originally published by Wide-format Impressions. To read more of their content, subscribe to their newsletter, Wide-Format Impressions. With so much happening at PRINTING United Expo, it’s hard to know where to focus. Here’s a list of not-to-be-missed elements and attractions at the massive event. 1: The Expo Floor The Expo fills the north and central halls at the Las Vegas Convention Center with over a million net square feet and 700+ exhibitors.