At least, it feels that way to me – I’m not sure suppliers and organisers would necessarily agree, considering so many have poured months of painstaking planning into this mega trade show.
PacPrint has been a tough call for many suppliers. Heidelberg could have set a precedent by pulling out, but in fact, the vast majority of top players will be there. Hats off to all the exhibitors for stumping up the investment during such trying conditions.
The cost of the stand is just the first line on a laundry list of outgoings. There are wages. Travel and accommodation. The cost of commissioning new equipment or relocating it from show-rooms around the country. No doubt a few expenses claims for client entertaining at Melbourne watering holes will also grace the desks of supplier accounts departments in June, although less, I imagine, than in years gone by.
Once the doors to the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre open on 21 May, exhibitors will have five days to generate a return on their considerable investments.
This is where you step in. I urge all of our readers to attend PacPrint, whether with firm investment plans or just to get a feel for what’s available.
Some of these are big-ticket items, such as the Fujifilm Jet Press 540W, which is reviewed on page 52. There are also lower-cost investments. Some of it is free, such as CMYKhub’s offer to build you a webstore for nothing. Founder Clive Denholm dropped into the office last month to show the ProPrint team how the webstore works – it’s an impressive and simple solution. There will also be the free PacPrint seminar schedule, with heavy-hitting speakers offering business advice to visitors.
I do feel for the supplier community. It’s been a triple whammy for some – not just PacPrint costs and a general slowdown in spending, but being forced to bear the brunt of bad debts. The exposure has been so severe that many suppliers are now looking closely at their credit terms. News editor Nick Bendel looks at this in depth on our cover story on page 12.
The ProPrint team will be decamping to Melbourne for PacPrint. Speaking of free things at the show, make sure to grab your copy of the PacPrint Daily, produced by us and printed live during the exhibition on the Ricoh stand.
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