Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center played host to more than 20,000 attendees and almost 600 exhibitors across 221,000 square feet at the ISA Sign Expo March 22-24. The event caters to sign shops as well as wide-format print service providers – and those who straddle the line between both of those worlds. And perhaps those who straddle that line are the perfect illustration of what we heard repeated at the show: how can you do more with what you already have?
Just like the employees of today are expected to accomplish more in a shorter time frame compared to employees of 15 years ago, we also demand more from the products we use in our own lives, from our smartphones to our cars. This applies to software and hardware in the print shop, too.
With hybrid printers that can print on a variety of substrates flooding the market and software that isn’t just a RIP, but also manages color consistency and tracks productivity, the focus seems to be how to do more with less. Can you buy one product that can do it all? And can you do more with the products that you have to grow your business?
There’s a push by manufacturers to create full-service solutions to offer products that eliminate steps, increase efficiency, and potentially remove the need for other equipment.
The idea of doing more with less also applies directly to the sign shop or PSP. How can you diversify your product offerings to meet your customer’s needs and expand your profits?
Nazdar SourceOne’s Glenn Shull, equipment product manager, said people ask why they print on water bottles and other items. His answer: