Print Monthly

Taking place from October 13th to 15th at Birmingham’s NEC, The Print Show’s organisers say the event has been, ‘designed to serve as celebration for all things print’. With exhibitors hailing from all corners of the print industry, those that attend will be able to view the latest kit available on the market.

A key trend from the print industry in recent years has been the diversification of many commercial printers into wide-format print, due to the amount of work available in this vibrant market.

Despite this decision having proceed successful for many UK printers, The Print Show will this year demonstrate how those in the sign-making and wide-format print market can also use their own knowledge of the market and diversify their services into the commercial print sector to access new revenue streams.

Wide-format printers and sign-makers should consider coming along to the show as it will allow them to gather new ideas to expand their business”

Gather new ideas

This key message will be echoed by exhibitors at the show, some of which hail from the sign-making and wide-format print industries. One such company is Signmaster Systems, which will have a major presence at The Print Show on one of the event’s biggest stands.

Company director Phil George says The Print Show will serve as an opportunity for those in the wide-format print and sign-making sectors to gather new ideas and identify opportunities for diversification in the commercial print market. 

“Wide-format printers and sign-makers should consider coming along to the show as it will allow them to gather new ideas to expand their business,” George said, adding: “It will give them a wider option to expand. It works both ways. You’ve got commercial printers with a lot of people requiring digital print in that sector, and vice versa. A lot of people come along and have the artwork for digital, and while they are there for signage and wide-format jobs, they do need things such as business cards.

“It’s great for start-ups when they can go to a one-stop-shop and get everything done. For our clients, it’s really good, and that’s why it will work so well for wide-format digital moving into commercial print.”

Ideal opportunity

Another company that has opted to exhibit at The Print show is Grafityp, which is known to many members of the sign-making and wide-format print sectors. Debbie Astle, marketing manager of the Grafityp UK arm, says that those in these industries should seriously consider coming along to the show, as the event could help them access profitable new markets.

Astle said: “With machines from many manufacturers all in one place, The Print Show provides the opportunity to make comparisons on quality and price to see what best suits the business for which it is intended and possibly benefit from buying at the show to take advantage of offers made for the duration of the event.

“Sign-making and digital printing seem to go hand in hand nowadays; even sign-makers that do not own digital printers often find themselves needing to offer the service and outsource jobs.  However, it no longer costs the earth to get into this line of business with smaller machines at very reasonable prices and at Grafityp we also offer finance options.” 

Opportune timing

Event director Chris Davies has also picked up on the opportunities that await visitors to the show, stating that the event will help those from sign-making and wide-format, as well as, commercial print backgrounds access new business.

Davies added: “We all know how many commercial printers have diversified into wide-format over the last few years, so why should those companies from the sign-making and wide-format print markets not benefit from moving into commercial print? The market has improved a lot in recent months and now is a good time to move into the sector.”