That would be the neat way to look at this exhibition. But I’ve made a bit of a shambles of these kinds of predictions in the past. I recently dug out our 2010 Ipex Preview, where I said that the UK show could be a turning point.
It is also clear that life just isn’t neat enough that watershed moments will occur in time for major trade shows.
The organisers of PacPrint13 know the market remains challenging. Rather than bank on some miraculous turnaround, they have consciously structured the trade exhibition around the issues facing the industry. That’s not to say PacPrint will be gloomy, but that visitors can expect a greater focus than ever on solutions to help printers cope with the rapidly evolving industry.
The world has changed. We better figure out how to change with it.
But in a time of uncertainty, of constrained budgets and of tightened lending conditions, some might ask whether a trade show is what we need. I, for one, think it is exactly what we need, and for a few reasons. Our recent Reader Survey provides evidence that there is an appetite for investment, especially for digital equipment.
Even if your investment budget is conservative – or especially if it is tight – where better than PacPrint to do your due diligence on technology? Where else can you compare the latest and greatest equipment and software, side by side? A shiny new box certainly won’t solve every problem, but it could be part of the solution.
There is another, more philosophical, reason to head to Melbourne in May. PacPrint could be the most positive five days the industry will see this year. Thousands of people, with a common passion for print all gathered together in one place. It should be a print love-in. After the horror start to 2013, that sounds good to me.
This feel-good factor could have tangible benefits too. Visitors can discuss challenges and opportunities. They can attend forums and workshops and come away with new ideas to grow business or move in a new direction.
For the ProPrint team, PacPrint will be five days of running around the Convention & Exhibition Centre, working long hours producing the PacPrint Daily, immersing ourselves in all things print. I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Steven Kiernan, Editor
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