From the Editor: Turning Passions into Lucrative Print

I’ve always loved to write, read, and edit. And I’m quite lucky in this digital day and age – where 140 characters is a news story – to have made a career out of my passion. But the wide-format digital print industry isn’t the only topic where I’m able to put this passion to work. I’m a bit of a foodie and travel enthusiast in my spare time, and as a freelancer I’ve been able to monetize those interests writing for independent restauranteur and adventure travel magazines. Why not do what you love, and make some money doing it?

James Swanson of Screaming Images does this every day. He prints and installs a plethora of the building wraps and event signage seen on the Vegas Strip, but it’s his passions that really get him pumped for his wide-format work. “The niches we work in are some of my favorite things: sports, bands, festivals, casinos, beer,” he says. “What more could a guy ask for?”

How can you make this happen for your print shop? Are you an avid weekend golfer? What print opportunities can you offer your local green? Is there an upcoming tournament that may need a dozen sponsor banners?

Does your head of production attend concerts every weekend at your city’s main music hall? Find a way to print for the venue, and it will give him that extra push (and enthusiasm) to get the job done.

Is your team picking up coffee and doughnuts every Friday from the bakery down the road? Do you know who prints their ever-changing window graphics? Offer your services to them, and you might even get some free pastries along the way.

IZA World of Labor reports that happy employees are 10 percent more productive at work. So, search for those print opportunities where you can capitalize on your, and your employees’, passions. You’ll not only have success and increased profit, but you’ll also drive excitement and energy within your shop.

Follow Adrienne Palmer on Twitter for live updates from industry shows and conferences, or check out more from Big Picture's May 2017 issue.