It’s the start of the ‘ember’ months, which literally signifies the period of harvest of rewards, but for the discerning heart, this is also the time to start preparing for next year with wisdom, clarity, and commitment to positive impact. As we thank God for seeing us through thus far, let us also remember the virtues of empathy, devotion, and patience as we enter into the ‘ember’ months. Now is the time to define what you are meant for with clarity of purpose. Discover your area of impact and take time to purposely plan ahead and realistically execute them with deep focus.
For us at WHERE To Print magazine, we are up for another impactful and value-driven experience as we daily publish PROPAK West Africa, the Official Publication of West Africa’s leading international printing, packaging and allied exhibition and conference – PROPAK West Africa 2025 in Lagos, Nigeria (everyday of 9 to 11 September) before jetting off to Europe and UK for the greatest show on earth; Label Expo Europe 2025 in Barcelona, Spain (16 to 19 September) and UK’s annual dedicaded print expo co-locating with The Signshow; The Print Show UK 2025 (23 to 25 September) in Birmingham, UK. The next edition will definitely be bumper as it will highlight the post-show reports and impacts of these leading events on our industry. Then what’s in this edition?
Characteristically, we start the news coverage from our region with PRINT IMPACT AROUND NIGERIA (from page 10) and then, to other news around the globe with PRINT IMPACT AROUND THE WORLD (from page 12), highlighting the latest developments that took place within the last two months in the print and allied industries both in Nigeria and around the world, respectively.
Topical issues are also accentuated in our SPECIAL FEATURE ARTICLES to educate and elicit further intellectual discussions on print and allied businesses that aid sustainable growth. First off, Paul Bobnak shows how an effective direct mail design not only affects the brain but enables a brand’s profitability in his piece: DIRECT MAIL ON THE BRAIN (on pages 14 and 15). Next is Ricoh’s Director of Business Innovation & Solutions, Erwin Busselot, who shows how Print Service Providers (PSPs) need to be proactive in leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) in driving clients’ engagement in his piece titled: HOW PSPS CAN DRIVE CLIENT ENGAGEMENT WITH AI on pages 16 and 17.
To further our understanding on the newly approved European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) as it affects the entire packaging lifecycle, Domino Ink Development Manager, Natasha Jeremic, in the SPECIAL FEATURE ARTICLE considers the impact of the PPWR on the development of printing inks for packaging and labels and outlines the importance of PPWR-compliant inks in evolving reuse and recycling processes. Check out the piece (on pages 20 and 21), which is rightly captioned: PACKAGING, PACKAGING WASTE, AND PRINTING INKS: THE IMPACT OF THE PPWR. And for Print Service Providers (PSPs) to tap into the impactful and lucrative specialty printing (like premium packaging) genre, the last SPECIAL FEATURE ARTICLE in this edition by Ofurum Augustine educates PSPs on a step-by-step approach to build a profitable, future-proof business from specialty printing. Titled: UNLOCKING THE PREMIUM PACKAGE: A BLUEPRINT FOR PROFITING FROM SHORT-RUN, HIGH-MARGIN SPECIALTY PACKAGING IN NIGERIA, flip over to pages 24 and 25 to find out how.
The SPECIAL FEATURE INTERVIEW in this edition presents an unapologetically young-looking man who is not a new face in the industry – Mr. Olakunle Ogunjobi. The Technical Director at Randomsoft Limited shares his views on issues such as advancements in technology like AI, digital transformation, and suitability in flexography that are transforming our industry. If you want to reinvent your business models and adopt digital technologies that will help you compete successfully, then turn to pages 26, 27, and 28 to read the no-holds-barred interview titled: “THE MARKET IS TOO DYNAMIC TO BE STATIC; ADAPTABILITY IS THE SURVIVAL SKILL”.
And I couldn’t agree more, especially now that many sectors and individual businesses face significant challenges leading to slow decline, failure, or outright end of the business. Factors like high borrowing costs, policy uncertainty, power outages, over-reliance on debt, lack of innovation, and failure to adapt to changing markets are contributing to these business struggles. However, many businesses are also adapting, innovating, and finding new ways to thrive in dynamic environments, suggesting the narrative is not one of universal death but of adaptation and transformation. This is the time to start with clarity of purpose; discover your area of focus, and take time to purposely plan and realistically execute the plan.
Please also note that while many printing and allied companies are struggling for survival, there are so many others that have carved a niche for themselves in the market. They are not just growing sustainably, but making giant strides with positive impacts in our industry. And they do not just come from the blues. So, endeavor to learn from them. You need to first engage your senses with the belief that it can be done. Discard irrelevancies and focus on increasing customer loyalty through excellent service and personalized offers. In adaptation and transformation, your goal is to expand your reach by leveraging social media and creating strategic partnerships, especially to scale up. In line with market demands, diversify your product or service offerings, analyze your target market to uncover new opportunities, and develop a detailed growth plan with clear action plans to guide your efforts and measure progress. When do you start? The time to act is now!
Until next edition, do take care of yourself and continue to do good!
