Distributor News

Selling on price is good. Selling on personality is better. Here are examples of companies that sell by writing well.

McLean, Virginia-based Gannett Co., Inc. has entered into a partnership with Chicago-based InnerWorkings, Inc. to exclusively manage print procurement and print management for non-newspaper print products such as direct mail, marketing collateral, inserts and select publications, among other items.

Tray, Inc. has launched its fresh new website (www.trayinc.com). The new site better reflects the growing product and service offering of the company, and the brand refresh from Traypml to Tray Inc., including a new tagline.

The 3-D animated zombie movie, Paranorman, debuted in theaters this past weekend to critical and commercial success. Why am I writing about an animated film in a marketing blog you might ask? Print!

Yes, print technology made the depth of animation and the thousands of facial expressions possible for this film. Laika studios took full advantage of Rapid Prototype, or 3D printing techniques to create the seemingly endless array of textures and features required to transform this stop-motion animation feature. When using clay, the options are limited, and this emerging 3D print technology fixes many issues with clay.

Justin Zavadil was born into the print industry. His father, Larry Zavadil, is the founder and CEO of Glenwood, Minnesota-based American Solutions for Business (ASB). 

While the Internet and supply-chain transparency are for the most part pretty great (being able to download any movie ever, knowing which overseas factories are responsible for packing gunpowder and live, sting-crazed hornets into children's lunchpails), there have been some downsides.

Leaving Chicago after last week's show, I couldn't help but think about the least well-kept secret in the industry: the last day of any trade show is dead.

Proforma owners maintained their dominant presence on Inc. magazine’s list of the 5000 fastest-growing, private companies in America, as eight owners earned a spot on the 2012 list. First appearing on the Inc. 500 list in 1985, Cleveland-based Proforma now represents the greatest number of franchise locations on the list, as well as the strongest presence in the printing and promotional products industry.

Welcome to our inaugural issue of Print+Promo—you are in for a real treat! We have realigned our content to provide you with the best information regarding the print and promotional products industry, in addition to giving the publication a completely updated design and feel.

Proforma, a leading North American provider of graphic communications solutions based in Cleveland, added six new offices to its network in July.