Industry veterans and expert print professionals have enjoined practitioners to discard the old, stressful and unprofitable processes or customers that made them lose so as to launch themselves out recession.
Comprising industry veteran – Mr. Oduwole of Just Envelopes, Chairperson of FAE Envelopes and aptly described as Woman of Steel – Princess Layo Bakare Okeowo; industry human capacity development partner of choice – Mr. Rotimi Johnson who is the MD of Print Academy Consulting; and one of industry’s young and most versatile printer – Mr. Leye Oyerinde of Print Studios; aside Mr. Temitope Ekundayo, Head of Business Development at Printivo; who was flanked by President of Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON) – Mr. Wahab Lawal, the industry professionals who are among PANELISTS at the just concluded PROPAK West Africa 2017.
Anchored by Publisher and CEO of NUMBERS CMYK LTD the publisher of WHERE To Print magazine – Joju Adekanbi, the Panel Session which was part of the Digital Print conference with theme:
POST RECESSION ECONOMY – OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRINTERS looked at what’s needed to be done by stakeholders to move their print businesses to the next level. Others issues discussed at the conference includes among others: manpower development, beyond quality – machine versatility, counting on suppliers for after sales service, and taxation planning – antidote for business success. Expectedly, print owners and users attended these sessions in their hundreds, learning from the experiences of the panelists.
Summarily, below are suggestions by the panelists as to WHAT’S NEEDED TO BE DONE:
POINTER #2: THINK ABOUT ‘WHAT IFs’.
Now is the time to think about the future. Ask questions that give better alternatives!
You must increase your chances of survival!
POINTER #3: CUTTING COSTS IS NOT THE ANSWER.
Don’t make your first move a cut in sales, marketing and training. Look at the bigger picture that saves costs – don’t create more problems than you may not have envisaged. Think outside of the box. Innovate!
POINTER #4: COSTS – ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS.
Don’t assume! Get the facts from your customers, service providers and suppliers. Extend the questions to government. You must minimise costs from all!
POINTER #5: THINK OF RECESSION AS A TIME FOR INNOVATION.
Customer-focused innovation!
Don’t assume! Get the facts!
POINTER #6: TALENT ACQUISITION.
When competitors retrench, seek out talents! It’s an opportunity to venture into new product areas, and new geographic markets.
POINTER #7: SYNERGISE.
Remember to take advantage partnership!
