Looking Ahead to the 2021 Wide-Format Summit

A sneak peek at the agenda includes sessions such as:

• The Wide-Format Landscape and Preparing for the Surge Ahead, in which Marco Boer of I.T. Strategies will take a closer look at how wide-format printers can recover from the pandemic stronger than before.
• Four Topics the Wide-Format Industry Cannot Ignore will be a panel session led by Wide-Format Impressions Editor-in-Chief and Impressions Group Editorial Director Denise M. Gustavson that takes a closer look at some of the top trends impacting the wide-format market right now.
• Meeting the Needs of Tomorrow’s Buyers, featuring Nathan Safran, VP of NAPCO Research, will examine the changing demands from print buyers coming out of the pandemic based on a new, exclusive study, and how shops can not only stay on top of them, but get ahead of the game.
• Why People Are Your Biggest Challenge and Greatest Opportunity, presented by Brian Adam, president of Olympus Group and co-author of “Rules Of Engagement: A Guide To Better Communication And Better Relationships With Everyone Who Is Important To Your Business,” which will look at the unique workforce-related challenges facing print and all other industries today, and why those who create winning cultures stand to reap exponential awards.
• Color Measurement Metrics that Matter, presented by Ray Weiss, director of Digital Programs for the PRINTING United Alliance, which will probe into what CPG brand managers are really looking for in color repeatability from their PSPs as well as a quick overview of the standards that brands are tracking and certifications/training that can make a difference in your organization.
• The Art of Contingency Planning is a panel discussion that will include Elaine Scrima, VP of operations for GSP Retail; and Ben Ritacco, VP, Specialty Print & Fulfillment for CCG Marketing Solutions. If the past year has taught us nothing else, it’s that the unexpected can and will happen. This session will discuss how these shops rose above the challenges, with tips and tricks for how others can be prepared for the next big unexpected event, be it localized or industry-wide.

“At all of our Summits, we take a forward-thinking view about the key issues printers are facing and the proactive strategies they can implement, as well as the investments they should make in their businesses,” Duccilli says. “Those themes have taken on entirely new significance coming out of the pandemic. Each of these sessions will frame these important topics within the context of the recovery, but we will be looking ahead to the future – and we believe it will be bright.”