
Peter Sommer, Member of the Elanders Board, and Andreas Weber, Head of Value, met in Waiblingen, near Stuttgart, to discuss their ideas. Their meeting resulted in the #Think!Paper initiative.
#Think!Paper — Edition 1, Volume 1. | German Version
“We are launching an initiative that highlights the importance of print not only in but also for the digital era. What counts is not what we do or how we do it, but rather why print delivers sustainable success. The focus needs to be on the unique benefits that professional print production delivers. And that applies whether you’re looking at the past, present or future!” – Peter Sommer and Andreas Weber
A special kind of summit on print and transformation: Peter Sommer, Member of the Elanders Board, and Andreas Weber, Head of Value, met in Waiblingen, near Stuttgart, Germany. This European city is a major hub for the most dynamic solutions portfolio for print and demonstrates with high volumes and strong profits just how big a contribution print (based on digital printing) can make in the digital age.
“I find it astounding and completely incomprehensible how poorly print is portrayed – especially by the print media industry itself. Why is that?” asks Sommer. The meeting picked out core issues that led to the establishment of the Think!Paper initiative. These points also represent the key thrust of the Think!Paper activities, offering a constructive and critical basis for further discussion.
Taking stock
The print media industry is underselling itself and taking far too little interest in what is going on elsewhere. It likes to keep to itself. There is usually little more than speculation about the challenges set by the digital age. Many positive aspects go unnoticed, and there is a failure to grasp the opportunities that change could bring.
Core arguments
Status quo: The industry has built its own funeral pyre and is fervently stoking the fire beneath it. However, the prospects for print shops in the digital age are far better than the image the industry is presenting, both within and beyond its own ranks.
The mistake being made is that print shops and print buyers are following false prophets.
Clarification: Print is a perfected medium with a pedigree, potential and the capacity for profitable new business.
Consider the facts:
- Print represents an exceptionally valuable form of communication – made by people, for people!
- Improved functionality is exponentially increasing the benefits that print offers in the digital age.
- Print isn’t just about duplicating data – it can package text, images and special effects in a very special, highly personal format that moves people profoundly.
- As a communication medium, print has the most lasting effect and can therefore be used to great advantage.
- As part of the marketing mix, print is constantly raising the bar and creating new potential for customer relationships in the most effective ways possible.
- And, when it comes to transformation – if anything has to change, then it is how print is handled as a premium product.
Paradigm: Print was, is and will remain an indispensable catalyst for cultural, social and economic developments. That is something ‘digital leaders’ such as Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple have long since recognized. Indeed, these giants of the digital age are highly adept at using print to their benefit.
Plea: Print will continue to be a winner in the digital era, if it can strike the right balance between what is useful on a technical level and people’s real needs. The facts are on the table. Now is the time to communicate them clearly and comprehensibly! Let’s put the beauty and diversity of print in the right light!
Aims and measures
We are kicking off creative conversations that cut to the chase with a clear focus. This is how we want to present a vivid and forward-looking picture that highlights effective solutions for using print in all types of communication where it can harness its full potential and strengths.
We are kindling enthusiasm for innovative and exceptional communication solutions that use print.
We are reinforcing business development with print by identifying and integrating areas of the market that have so far been under-utilized but can rapidly and effectively benefit from innovation solutions using print.
We are organizing round tables, VIP events and social media-based interactive communication using print.
We are providing clear and concise concept papers as part of the new Think!Paper activities. These include elements such as dossiers, reports with analyses, and guidelines for top decision-makers in business.
We are launching a global ideas competition.
We are setting up and managing the international “Think!Team”, an interdisciplinary panel of experts.
Note
A number of hand-picked partners have already been found for Think!Paper, including first and foremost Mondi Group, GT Trendhouse 42 and DRUCKMARKT. More news to follow shortly.
On July 18, 2018 we celebrated the informal Think!Paper Kick-off. Günter Thomas, Founder and Head of GT… https://t.co/mqetRq9MZV
— zeitenwende007 (@zeitenwende007) July 19, 2018
Contact
If you are interested in the Think!Paper initiative or want to get involved, please get in touch:
Twitter @PrintDigitalAge
Andreas Weber (coordination) via LinkedIn
Hashtag: #PDA #printforthedigitalage #creativity #printinnovation #transformation
#Think!Paper — the key facts at a glance
What we do
We evaluate and profile print and its proponents as an effective driving force for transformation – across all industries!
Our mission
We show, first and foremost, that print is by no means driftwood in an ocean of transformation (with Titanic-style effects) but rather a solid anchor for the ‘tsunamis in our heads’!
Our USP
We are bringing together the brightest minds to form interdisciplinary #Think!Teams with a global outlook.
We are building up the finest pool of expertise with a clear focus on interaction, discourse and sustainable conversations.
We are reinforcing the bedrock of any successful ‘digital’ transformation – proficient, dynamic and meaningful communication.
Benefits for our partners
We help our partners make new and market-relevant discoveries that inspire them and inject new energy into their development.