Jun 13, 2008
by Mark Potter, Publisher, CANVAS Magazine
From PSP to Marketing Partner – It’s Time To Make The Leap.
Let’s face it, changing the way we do things is scary—especially when it comes to our business. However, we all make changes at one time or another in our lives. And the truth of the matter is, while we tend to struggle a bit at first, once the transition is complete, we all usually come out the other side stronger and smarter for having taken the steps to better ourselves. At CANVAS, we believe that the printing industry is all about change. And we’re committed to helping aid that change and making the transition both smooth and fun for the forward-thinking print service provider.
We recently polled several print executives across the country and we found that the number-one thing on their minds is sales (big surprise, huh?). But these executives weren’t just focused on increasing sales…the real interest lay in how best to take their sales force and corresponding relationships to another level—beyond their current state. Sure, they were all looking for ways to work harder and smarter to maintain their position in the marketplace. But looking ahead, most knew that doing more with the resources available is what wins new business. And isn’t that what it’s all about? Offering your customers more…standing out in a cluttered marketplace…going that extra mile to truly differentiate yourself by proving value-added services? You’re darn right it is.
That’s why CANVAS is dedicated to helping educate the print salesperson in order to elevate their performance. Print buyers are savvier now than ever before. Let’s face it, in this day and age, talk is cheap. It’s the people of action who are handsomely rewarded. That’s why it’s a great time to be in the printing industry. Print service providers today have a wonderful opportunity to leverage the dollars spent in traditional lithography and deliver their customers and prospects with new, higher-value marketing services that will enable success. The challenge, of course, is getting over the perception of being “just” a printer. But the truth is, the forward-thinking print service provider can be so much more simply by understanding what their customers really want to accomplish—having deeper strategic discussions, asking the right questions, and providing actionable solutions. It’s time for the print community to go from vendor to partner by becoming a true marketing services provider.
That’s what CANVAS is all about.
CANVAS is an exciting foray into the realities of today’s printing and communication industry. We endeavor to reinforce the efforts of every salesperson through exploration of intelligent sales techniques, marketing models, and best practices. By delivering the insights of industry leaders and sales and marketing experts, CANVAS provides education, motivation, and information designed to support the printing and graphic arts industry as never before.
To learn more, visit us at www.thecanvasmag.com and sign up for your free subscription.