The IPIA’s Annual Conference theme, Ahead of the Curve: How to navigate new markets and find routes to growth, encapsulates the Association’s mission to provide attendees with key insights to help overcome pressures such as increasing overheads, fierce price competition in core markets, and unstable patterns of demand.
The event will also serve as a platform for the IPIA to unveil its ground-breaking national print research and advocacy project, A New Narrative for Print. IPIA General Manager, Brendan Perring, will present the key outputs of the research to attendees and detail the project's primary aim: to positively shift the perception of print among UK consumers and businesses across a range of critical factors.
Set to take place on August 29th at the MTC in Coventry, Ahead of the Curve’s speakers have been drawn from print-service providers – which have successfully identified and capitalised on opportunities in growth print sectors – as well as industry experts and the trade press.
These inspirational and educational speakers will be complemented by amazing networking opportunities, a print technology expo, and top-class hospitality. The day will conclude with networking drinks, providing a chance to make further business connections and unwind.
Critical insights
The speakers on the day will include Nigel Clarke of Clarkeprint, Steve Wenlock of Flexpress, Ollie Renshaw of Leeds University Print Bureau, Graeme Smith and Angela Wagstaff of Allwag Promotions, and Mark Cross of JICMAIL. A special panel of trade press editors and journalists will also debate the most important trends shaping the print industry and take live questions from the audience.
The presentation on A New Narrative for Print will delve into this landmark national print research and advocacy project. The initiative has been made possible by a coalition of IPIA Members: Imprint MIS, Ricoh, Konica Minolta, Epson, The Printing Charity and Citipost.
The research was conducted in partnership with world-leading communications agency Madano, which has mapped perceptions of the UK print industry across a range of key metrics using its specialist data science technology and analysis tools.
The study has identified key influencers who significantly sway the perception of the print industry and its products and has analysed the dominant narratives in the conversation around print. By obtaining an accurate picture of how the print industry and its products are perceived – and by identifying the individuals and organisations driving these perceptions – the IPIA and its partners can develop a long-term strategy to strengthen the print market in the UK.
Alasdair Browne, Vice Chair of the IPIA and Chair of its Research Subcommittee, emphasised the importance of this research in shaping the future of the UK print industry: “This project is a crucial step in understanding the dynamics of our industry. By identifying the key influencers and the narratives they are driving, we can better position ourselves as an industry to respond to challenges and seize opportunities. The insights from this research will be instrumental in guiding our strategies and ensuring the continued relevance and growth of print.”
Networking and education
Supported by an amazing array of industry technology developers and suppliers, the conference will also feature an Expo and Networking Hub. Attendees can explore how they can strengthen their business competitiveness through new technology and media advancements, while the expo will also provide a series of opportunities to connect with potential customers.
Every attendee can also enter a prize draw competition, which provides the opportunity to win £200 in Amazon vouchers and a year’s free IPIA Membership.
