Key Takeaways from the Wide-format Summit

This year’s Wide-format Summit hosted by Printing United was an inspiring and informative three days. The team who puts it together is fantastic! I’m so grateful to have been invited back to speak for the second year in a row. As a designer who connects printers with the interior design market, I always have my ear out for the challenges printers face. As I grow my business, it’s helpful to know what problems I can solve for printers as they grow theirs. This is especially true for those hoping to expand into a new market. As I listened to the other presenters and had conversations during one-on-one sessions, I picked up on three key takeaways from the Wide-format Summit.  

3 Key Takeaways from the Wide-format Summit

Sustainability

I noticed there was a lot more talk about sustainability among printers this year. And that focus is because their customers are pushing it. Printers are getting more and more requests from their customers about sustainable products and practices. This is forcing many of them into new territory. Their consumers are better educated about sustainability and want more information along with a finished product. For example, they have questions about a printer’s overall environmental footprint and what their inks are made of. For many printers, they had to make a big investment to have answers to these questions ready.

Additionally, in some industries, such as events, there is concern about how much product goes into the landfill when the event is over. Consumers want to know about the lifecycle of products and what their recycling or reuse options are. Yet, with all the interest in sustainability, a big struggle remains. Consumers expect more sustainable products but are not always willing to pay extra for them.

Timing

Printers spoke a lot about the Amazon effect. People have gotten used to getting everything tomorrow. Yet, with printing, their product isn’t sitting on a shelf waiting to be shipped, it needs to be physically made, and printers don’t want to rush and do a sloppy job. So, many printers discussed how to address timing so they could set realistic expectations and not sacrifice quality.

Customer Service

Printers are also hearing that their customers prioritize customer service and quality over other concerns, such as whether a printer has proprietary designs. Customers want to establish a relationship with a printer whose service and quality they trust. With a strong foundation, they can work with them in other areas to get what they want.

The Wide-format Impressions Recap

The fabulous team at Wide-Format Impressions also had their ears open during the conference picking up on what attendees and speakers were discussing. Wide-format Impressions’ senior content editor Dan Marx and associate content editor Gabby Houck made a short video with a recap and key takeaways from the summit. They highlighted the opportunities in the interior design market, which I discussed in my presentation, and the changing landscape of the wide-format market and the people working within this industry.

Check out the Wide-format Summit website for more information if you’d like to attend their 2024 event. If you’re looking for more printing-focused events to attend this year, Printing United presents the Printing United Expo in Atlanta, Georgia, October 18 – 20, 2023. I will be speaking at that event and look forward to meeting more of you there!