Printful on the Future of Print and Personalization

Ronen Samuel, CEO of Kornit Digital.

Ronen Samuel, CEO of Kornit Digital, kicked off the “Future of Print and Personalization” keynote yesterday by acknowledging that although the fashion/textile industry is old, it’s now rapidly transforming.

One of Kornit’s largest customers then joined the keynote stage. Krisjanis (Chris) Ozols, the head of operations strategic partnerships and R&D at Printful, shared how being one of the largest print-on-demand companies helps turn ideas into brands and products.

Printful’s goal is to “make on-demand manufacturing the norm for a planet with finite resources and people with infinite ideas.” For Printful, growth equals change, and it’s trying to cultivate the mindset that change is good and necessary, and sometimes that means missing the mark and reiterating a product. That’s where strategy and planning come in.

Ozols explained strategy as an “integrative set of choices that positions you on a playing field of your choice in a way that you win.”

Ozols made five points about the future:

• “The future of print is bright.” The printing industry is robust and necessary, and businesses will continue to thrive.
• “The future of print is more efficient.” It’s important to keep innovating.
• “The future of print is more sustainable.” Customers will continue to look for more sustainable products.
• “The future of print is closer to home.” Print practices and processes will be on-shored or near-shored, lowering costs.
• “The future of print is personalization.” Younger generations want to express themselves.