View from 30,000 feet: Key Trends & Sourcing Practices
In December 2012, I created a short survey for print buyers only; that is, professionals responsible for sourcing/managing print for their companies. We got 162 responses. Survey participants were anonymous, and they were not compensated.
I asked just 20 questions in this survey. It’s important to be respectful of people’s time and also to keep the surveys short and manageable.
You’re also invited to check out the report’s TOC (Table of Contents).
To get my view from 30,000 feet, I kept it basic: how much print do they manage annually, what’s the percentage of offset vs. digital print, what’s the size of their staff, how do they choose printers for new applications as well as for digital printing jobs, what value-added services matter most to them, and how do they feel about color management.
Two final questions gave the respondents a place to share their predictions for print buying in 2013 as well as the chance to comment on anything they wanted.
For a full list of the 20 questions I asked the print buyers, click here!
Once all the data was compiled, I reviewed the results and added my own interpretation and comments. The final report is 40 pages, complete with an Executive Summary and my conclusions and recommendations.
Any professional working in or with the commercial printing industry will find value in these findings, but I think it’s most valuable to commercial print company owners and sales team members. With this information, you’ll get a sense of the changes taking place in the print buying world, and you’ll also get ideas for how to serve print buyers better.
This report is available in PDF format only.
Click here to order your copy now!
Testimonials
“Margie Dana” and “print buyers” — they are synonymous. Her latest research report offers insight into the changing landscape of print and the people who manage print. The report combines both meaningful data and pertinent comments about the data.
- Frank Romano
RIT Professor Emeritus
If you are trying to understand today’s print buyer, Margie Dana’s newest publication, “View from 30,000 Feet – Key Trends & Sourcing Practices,” is a must read! In addition to sharing a wealth of survey data, Margie adds her own expert analysis, drawing on years of experience as a print buyer, writer, blogger, speaker, and founder of Print Buyers International.
There is no doubt that our industry continues to be challenged by enormous changes – so, too, is our customers’ world. Margie’s “View from 30,000 Feet” will provide you with an unprecedented glimpse into this world, along with concrete, actionable information that you can utilize in your sales and marketing efforts.
- Timothy Freeman
President
Printing Industries Alliance
“…It is certainly interesting to me to know what’s going on with other print “people” and see that much of the responses fell right in line with mine… I found the majority of the information in the summary to be very relevant, especially relating to the shift that will continue to occur between offset and digital… I found your summary to be thorough and helpful to know what is going on across the industry.”
- Kim Pelletier
Affinion Group
Print Selling Made Simple
50 Nifty Sales and Marketing Tips Every Print Provider Should Know
Margie Dana’s Print Selling Made Simple is a brand-new book written for anyone involved in manufacturing and/or selling commercial printing.
In her last book, Print Buying Made Simple, Margie addressed the world of print buying. With this new book, she tackles the issue from the perspective of a print provider.
- What are print buyers’ challenges?
- What keeps them up at night?
- How should printers approach the sales cycle?
- What qualities are print buyers looking for in their service providers today?
This book shares all of these insights – and much more!
Margie’s book is available in paperback and e-book format.
Click here to order either version and to read more about this great resource for print providers.
Print Buying Made Simple
Tips, Techniques, and Technologies Every Media Buyer Should Know
by Margie Dana
Margie Dana’s Print Buying Made Simple is a brand-new resource written especially for those new to working with printers.
In this 138-page book, you’ll find tons of real-world advice for new print buyers, graphic designers, marketers – even sales reps.
This book is a special collection of 38 of Margie’s Print Tips, geared to print customers who aren’t familiar with the printing industry. Several of the articles have never been published.
The book is available in paperback and e-book format.
Click here to order either version and to read more about this new resource written especially for those new to working with printers.
Put It on Paper!
The Newcomer’s Guide to the Printing Industry
by Margie Gallo Dana
A Plain-English Guide to Working with Printers
This 96-page e-book is an edited collection of 64 Print Tip of the Week columns, filled with practical, valuable advice about the printing industry that will help buyers and printers. The e-book version is only $24.95!
The book is also available in paperback and hard cover.
Click here to order either version and to read more about this plain-English guide to the printing industry, and see why industry leader Frank Romano says:
Put It on Paper! is like a roadmap. It tells you how to get where you are going when you are going to print. Margie Gallo Dana has put a cornucopia of ideas, tips, and common sense into easy-to-digest nuggets that you can apply immediately. If you buy print, or might buy print, or know someone who buys print, this handy little book is just for you…and them.
- Frank Romano
Professor Emeritus
RIT School of Print Media
