The Independent Printing Industries Association is returning to Coventry for its annual conference this month.
The Manufacturing Technology Centre in the city has become the regular venue for a conference which this year rides under the theme: “Print to performance – Unlocking our industry’s true potential”. The presentations in the theatre space are accompanied by table top information desks from the event’s sponsors.
The day’s keynote speaker is Dr Chris Jones, from the Ministry of Marketing Effectiveness. He will explain how printers can break free from the bounds that have restricted the industry’s way of looking at itself. Print has focused on manufacturing efficiency and the industry is exceptionally good at creating commercial value, it should be focused instead on marketing and creative effectiveness.
In describing what he aims to do, the IPIA explains: “Using examples of creative reframing from both inside and outside the print industry, the session explores how creativity and emotion shape perception, how perception influences commercial value, and why the organisations that communicate value most effectively are often those that capture the greatest share of it.”
IPIA associate general manager Natalie Evans says: “We want people to leave the conference feeling energised, but also equipped. The real measure of a successful event is both the conversations people have on the day as well as the ideas, confidence and practical actions they take back into their businesses afterwards. That has really shaped the programme this year.
“We have brought together people who can challenge how we think, but who can also give delegates insight, which they can translate into action. Whether that is improving how they communicate value to customers, developing their people, understanding the economy, adopting new technology or simply looking differently at where their next opportunity might come from.
“Equally, we recognise that running a business can sometimes be challenging. One of the things I value most about bringing our community together is seeing people realise that the challenges they are wrestling with are often shared by somebody sitting two seats away. Creating the space for those conversations, introductions and relationships is every bit as important to us as what happens on the conference stage.”
Other speakers taking to the stage include Mark Stephenson, former marketing manager at Fujifilm; Statex managing director Peter Smith; Bardon Group chairman Nigel Toplis and Professor Richard Hill, professor of agentic AI at the University of Huddersfield.
