Printing's Alive

In this episode of Printing's Alive, Warren Werbitt chats with Bettylyn Krafft about her journey in the print industry and the impact of the Phoenix Challenge. They discuss differences between high school and college competitions, workforce development challenges, and student engagement. Bettylyn highlights the Phoenix Challenge's unique education program and the importance of industry involvement...

In this episode of Printing's Alive, Warren Werbitt chats with Dharminder Biharie about his journey in imaging technology, starting at Xerox. They discuss marketing mistakes, the shift to direct mail, and the impact of handwritten letters. Dharminder shares insights from a rubber company case study, exploring sales letter psychology versus metrics-based marketing. They cover AI's effect on marketi...

In this episode of Printing's Alive, Warren Werbitt and Kelvin Gage discuss their journeys in the printing industry, focusing on Kelvin's path from starting his business to selling it to Australia's largest print company. They delve into the complexities of deciding to sell, involving external help, and negotiating while maintaining leverage and secrecy. The conversation addresses emotional and fa...

In this episode of Printing's Alive, Warren Werbitt is joined by Mark Stephenson from Fuji to delve into the intricacies of OEM partnerships, focusing on trust-building and decision-making. They discuss the challenges and improvements in OEM-printer relationships, marketing strategies, and the reality of supplier infrastructure. The conversation highlights support for small and medium printers, em...

In this episode of Printing's Alive, Warren Werbitt and Emma Farquharson explore AI's impact on the print industry, focusing on productivity, common mistakes, and industry readiness. They discuss generational and gender dynamics, emotional safety, and trust, while highlighting the importance of human connection in sales and collaboration. The conversation addresses hiring challenges, AI manipulati...

In this episode of Printing's Alive, Warren Werbitt chats with Josh, Mitch, and Max Kaneff about the history and future of Arkay Packaging. They discuss raising the next generation in a family business, the impact of technology and AI, and transitioning from commercial printing. Mitch shares insights on Arkay's legacy, while the family discusses adapting to customer demands and innovation in desig...

In this episode of Printing's Alive, Warren Werbitt chats with Erica Diamond about her entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing authenticity and confidence. They discuss competition, learning from failure, managing burnout, and building a personal brand. Erica shares her Barbie experience, post-sale life, and evolving views on success. Topics include social media's role, interpersonal skills, email ma...

In this episode of Printing's Alive, Warren Werbitt chats with Kim Woodin about her journey at Aurora Fastprint. They discuss the role of expos in staff development, the evolution of QR codes, and digital printing at Aurora Fastprint. Topics include overcoming COVID-19 challenges, business growth through networking, and web-to-print solutions with Shopify. They also cover employee engagement, prin...

In this episode of Printing's Alive, Warren Werbitt and David Solomon discuss international expansion in the printing industry. David offers strategies for entering the US market, overcoming global growth challenges, and avoiding common mistakes. They delve into navigating laws, engaging with international customers, and selecting countries for expansion. The conversation also covers building a su...

In this episode of Printing's Alive, Warren Werbitt chats with Dean Beckett about the world of used printing equipment. They delve into CalaLogic Ltd's role in the industry and compare new versus used equipment costs. Dean shares his journey into equipment sales, the founding of CalaLogic Ltd, and the importance of industry relationships. They discuss key considerations for buying used presses, th...

In this episode of Printing's Alive, Warren Werbitt chats with Al Kennickell from The Kennickell Group about AI's transformative role in the printing industry. They explore AI's practical applications, including legal insights, contract analysis, and website construction. The discussion covers AI's impact on printing embellishments, new technologies, and strategies for purchasing and financing equ...

In this episode of Printing's Alive, Warren Werbitt talks with Nick Benkovich about navigating career transitions after being laid off. Nick shares his personal experiences and reactions to layoffs, reflecting on his thirteen-year tenure before the unexpected change. They discuss the importance of mental health, maintaining routines, and the role of support systems during tough times. The conversa...

In this episode of Printing's Alive, Warren Werbitt is joined by Ron Goodwin to explore the dynamic world of apparel decorating. They discuss Ron's journey and the significant changes in apparel printing, focusing on techniques like direct to film printing. The conversation delves into the size of the t-shirt printing industry, concert merchandise, and the challenges of on-demand printing and inve...

In this episode of Printing's Alive, Warren Werbitt and Chris Minn explore the evolving printing industry. They discuss Print United collaboration, strategies for protecting printers, and the challenges of selling print equipment. Warren shares his venture into the t-shirt market via Shopify. Chris, from Digital Ink Agency, emphasizes automation in digital marketing. They also cover maintaining re...

In this episode of Printing's Alive, Warren Werbitt delves into the world of marketing in the printing industry with Gee Ranasinha, CEO of Kexino. They explore the significance of trade shows like Drupa for networking and financial justification, and debunk common misconceptions about marketing in the print world. The conversation highlights the importance of strategic marketing, standing out, and...

In this episode of Printing's Alive, Warren Werbitt welcomes Richard Askam to discuss the innovative concept of Print Island and its role in connecting the global print industry. They explore common challenges, such as the focus on pricing, and discuss strategies for promoting print in business. The conversation delves into rebranding the print industry, addressing generational communication diffe...

In this episode of Printing's Alive, Warren Werbitt chats with Jim Russell from New Direction Partners about selling a printing business. Jim shares insights on evaluating company worth, determining value factors, and preparing for sale. They discuss market trends, post-sale roles, private equity, and employee considerations in mergers and acquisitions. Key steps for selling, sale timelines, finan...

In this episode of Printing's Alive, Warren Werbitt chats with Vince Cook from Ad Legends about AI's impact on advertising. Vince discusses his journey and how Ad Legends is democratizing marketing for non-experts through AI-driven creative briefs and emotional branding. They explore how the platform enhances work-life balance by saving time for businesses. Warren shares his experiences, and they...

In this episode of Printing's Alive, Warren Werbitt chats with Julie Watson from Ultimate Tech about the evolving world of printing technology. They delve into imposition, finishing automation, and the challenges of adopting new tech. Topics include attracting younger generations, balancing customization with cost, and overcoming resistance to tech investments. They discuss automation's role durin...

In this episode of Printing's Alive, Warren Werbitt is joined by Doug Laxdal to explore the fascinating world of print. They discuss the origin of The Gas Company's name and its award-winning history, Doug's journey into bookbinding, and the company's unique services. The conversation touches on maintaining client relationships and innovative projects like the Hellmann's Garlic Aioli and the "Unbu...

In this episode of Printing's Alive, Warren Werbitt is joined by Davis Slagle from BeeGraphix to discuss the company's transformation during COVID and its transition to direct-to-film printing. They explore growth and price competition in the apparel printing market, as well as strategies for market diversification and managing seasonal demand. The conversation delves into BeeGraphix operations, e...

In this episode of Printing's Alive, Warren Werbitt welcomes Aaron Montgomery to discuss his podcast journey and Warren's new t-shirt shop concept. They explore the importance of creativity and positivity in t-shirt design, as well as the impact of donations to the Make A Wish Foundation. The conversation shifts to attracting young talent and the significance of training in the print industry. War...

In this episode of Printing's Alive, Warren Werbitt chats with Katelin Shanks from Racami about software implementation in the print industry. They discuss planning challenges, building internal teams, and the importance of communication. The conversation covers print automation trends, investment sizing, and common implementation issues, with a focus on AI's impact. Katelin offers insights on ven...

In this episode of Printing's Alive, Warren Werbitt chats with Wendy Graves from the Make It Happen Signage Academy about its impact on the printing and signage industry. They discuss the academy's events, the importance of industry language, and Wendy's passion for signage. The conversation highlights the academy's programs, hands-on and online training balance, and community college partnerships...

In this episode of Printing's Alive, Warren Werbitt is joined by Kevin Abergel from Taktiful to delve into the recent Printing United conference. They discuss the growing interest and impact of digital embellishment, exploring the variety and pricing of embellishment machines. Warren shares his overall impressions of the event, highlighting innovations in the apparel business and the significance...