If only more marriages could last this long. This June marks Midlothian, Texas-based Ennis' 50th anniversary as a member of the Print Services & Distribution Association (PSDA), an international organization aimed at helping the print community succeed since 1946.
Ennis is in it for the networking opportunities and it's not alone. St. Louis-based The Flesh Company, a founding member of the PSDA, also continues to give its long-time support.
These companies and the scores of others that belong to the organization find it to be an excellent tool that allows them to rub elbows with other industry professionals, keep clients and boost sales. And, with the upcoming 2011 Print Solutions Conference and Expo in Chicago less than two months away (May 17 through May 19) these companies look forward to things only getting better. Some hope that will come with the changes PSDA made last year—the organization hired private company SmithBucklin to take over and pledged more support to its membership including a boosted training and education program.
Many anticipate how these changes will influence the upcoming show.
"I will be attending the conference in addition to the tradeshow," Ennis Marketing Director Steve Osterloh said. "I'm looking forward to the first Print Solutions show planned 100 percent by the new management team. I'm excited to hear the messages they will be sending the membership through their education programs."
Identity Group | Business Stationery, corporate headquarters located in Cookeville, Tenn. and a member of the PSDA since 2005, is exhibiting at the show with the hope that the new management team will "deliver on a first-class event," stated Mark Cupach, director, national sales.
"We will do our part in delivering effective communications to our customers and prospects about attending this conference and how it will positively affect their businesses. We will partner with the new PSDA management team to make this a 'can't miss' event for the future," he continued.
Cupach is especially encouraged because the organization's new management team is aware the company is hoping to get the most value possible from the show.
"Although the new team is saddled with contractual obligations relating to venue, we feel the content is wide open for SmithBucklin to create the value that distributors are looking for. Create value for the distributor and they will participate, and that is what manufacturers are looking for," Cupach remarked.
Cupach added he already has seen improvement with PSDA's 15th annual CEO Summit, which was held in February.
"The CEO conference was a good start," he reported. "Our CEO, Steve Reiss, attended the conference and was impressed with both the organization and execution of a very worthwhile agenda. We believe the next big test will be the educational tracks at the 2011 Print Solutions Conference and Expo."
The Flesh Company Marketing Director Roger Buck is excited for this year's show.
"Though the size of the show fluctuates we have seen new players come into the mix, which is exciting," he enthused.
Buck went on to say, "The new management has been very visual in their efforts to become educated on what the various member segments need from the association. Distributors, manufacturers and suppliers all have different needs based on the business goals. We believe they have done a good job of communicating to a membership which is a huge challenge when you consider a portion of the membership is unhappy with the move, a portion is waiting to see what the first 24 months of new management brings and a third portion is supporting the move realizing it's still [the] best game in town."
The companies have a wish list of things they hope to see from the PSDA, as well.
Cupach hopes the structure, content and delivery of the tradeshow formats will change to include "increased high-end distributor participation, educational partnerships between manufacturers, suppliers and distributors, and the overall perceived value expression of 'This is an event I can't afford to miss.'"
Ennis would like to see the organization focus on promoting the companies and the product lines that support the association's membership.
Buck said the organization needs to catch up on education.
"In the past few years, the education and marketing information value has not kept up with where the market was actually going," he explained. "We would like to see the association attract more traditional distributors as well as new reseller channels. This will also mean adding new manufacturer and supplier members to increase the value to the reseller membership. This may require co-locating our shows and events with other industry-relevant meetings, which we hope the PSDA will explore quickly."
Cupach concluded with some advice.
"If you believe the U.S. economy is now on an upswing as many do, then the next couple years will offer print manufacturers an opportunity to spend more marketing dollars to develop partnerships with distributor customers. The PSDA can capitalize on that timing by developing the kind of programs and advertising opportunities where manufacturers and suppliers can have the confidence to invest into those programs," he said. "Those marketing dollars will be spent, and the PSDA now controls its own destiny when it comes to being the place to spend those dollars."
Buck had his own thoughts on the past, present and future of the PSDA.
"Our association is a combination of members with different and changing needs," he proclaimed. "Manufacturer exhibitors must work to supply new solutions that equal a value to our reseller channels in order for those members to see the value in attendance and participation. Distributor members must be willing to invest time and money to investigate solutions offered by current vendor partners and new vendors. There is also another thought worth consideration. Our association is like any long-term stock investment. Just because there is a dip in the market you don't sell out but rather invest more for long-term gains."