Apr. 5, 2010— On March 15, members of both the Printing Industries Long Island chapter and the Direct Marketing Association met for dinner, networking, and to hear speakers on the topic of “Think Global, Print Local.”

The event started with a representative of Nassau County, New York’s Office of Economic Development, Evette Beckett-Tuggle, giving information on the various programs and incentives businesses can take advantage of on Long Island. This included going over Empire Zones—businesses who are located in them, or who relocate to those areas are eligible for various tax credits—as well as loan programs and other services.

Look to Your Neighbor
The highlight of the evening, however, was the panel discussion that explored how and why businesses need to be printing locally, what the benefits of it are, as well as how printers should be getting that message out to print buyers.

One interesting tidbit was a few facts from a new survey done with print buyers in the Long Island area, and what they look for when selecting a printer and buying printed pieces. More information on that will be explored in future issues of Printing News.

Another interesting topic for the evening was the definition of sustainability. It seems everyone who hears that word has their own notion of what it means, and it can run the gauntlet of simply using FSC-certified papers, to a full program that takes every factor of the business into account.

Defining Sustainability
One of the first steps printers in particular need to take, the panel stressed, is to talk with their clients and get an idea of what they think when they hear the word sustainability, and further, to drill beyond the preconceived notions to get at what their clients are really looking to achieve. It is this type of partnership and service that can be expanded into other areas of the business as well, and which will result in loyal, long-term customers.

Overall, it was a fantastic event bringing together two halves of the marketing industry to discuss and discover what each is looking for to grow their business. Events like this one are a great opportunity for printers to not only learn new information and share tips and ideas with fellow printers, but to connect with the people who will ultimately be purchasing from you, and making sure you’re all on the same page.