Here’s what your fellow professionals from our LinkedIn group had to say in September.

Are print managers good for the industry?

Good print managers are only interested in ensuring the best outcome for the client – that is best product at best price. We also provide a huge range of other services that printers cannot and are not interested in providing. Print managers are also free sales people for those printers who can see how worthwhile it is in supporting them rather than rubbishing them. As to experience, most of us have worked our way up from the factory floor, so experience and advice is not an issue.

Leonie Harcourt, managing director, HMS Print Management

Is the government doing enough to support the industry?

For the moment – in short, no! Although print industry bodies such as PIAA lobby hard and constantly, ‘deaf ears syndrome’ appears to be the norm. Much more needs to be done to support local industry from losing orders abroad to China, India and alike. Not only is litho affected – digital is no different.

Art Tchetchenian, managing director, Kopystop Digital Print Solutions

Is it right to outsource work overseas?

Buying offshore services is conceptually no different to buying goods from offshore. Is it right? Let he who wears Australian garments throw the first stone. In an industry where there are limited suppliers of machinery and paper, the only true variables are labour and overheads. This is probably the greatest challenge for all participants in the Australian print industry.

Graham Critchley, blogger, Paperlinx Sux

What do you do when competitors badmouth you to clients?

Ultimately the competitor has already made themselves appear unprofessional so there is nothing to do. I think it plays into your hands. It’s a bad look and reflects poorly on them.

Sarah Wilson, printing industry recruitment consultant, Rob Law Max Recruitment

What separates a successful print business from an unsuccessful print business?

Communication. Making sure clients know what is going on with jobs and also getting back to clients promptly.

Sharon Sewell, owner, Varsity Graphics

Have you done any jobs with QR codes that delivered particularly good ROI?

I’ve used personalised QR codes on a couple of direct mail jobs with the codes pointing back to campaign landing pages. Through this I can track the usage and I’ve found it to be very low compared to the overall results.

Mark Dixon, managing director, Pivotal Technology

[Related: what your fellow professionals said in August]

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