Joe Rickard Will Present at the Printing Industries of Michigan (PIM) Summer Conference

Joe Rickard of Intellective Solutions will conduct a workshop helping Michigan Printers to adapt to new models of selling print and managing salespeople

Tuxedo Park – June 27, 2016 – Joe Rickard will be presenting and facilitating a workshop at the Printing Industries of Michigan (PIM) Summer Conference to be held in Boyne Mountain, Michigan on August 8, 9 and 10, 2016.

The workshop which will be given on Tuesday, August 9 from 8:30 to 11:30  provide attendees with a timely learning opportunity to adjust their sales and sales management programs to a changing business environment. Rickard will offer practical strategies and tactics to get the most out the marketing and sales programs.  

“I am thrilled to be a part of the PIM Summer Management Conference. There is nothing better than being with some of the top printing organizations in the country.  The Conference is a perfect place to reflect on what is working and what opportunities need to be addressed. It only takes one idea or strategy to make participating in the Conference worthwhile” said Joe Rickard, President of Intellective Solutions.

At the conference Rickard will provide sales strategies and techniques and actions owners and managers can take to sustain growth. For additional information about the Printing Industries of Michigan Summer Management Conference, please see http://www.print.org/Documents/Events/SummerConference_August2016.pdf

About Printing Industries of Michigan (PIM)

Established in 1888, the Printing Industries of Michigan, Inc. (PIM) is a non-profit trade association serving commercial printing and graphic communications companies throughout the state of Michigan. PIM members that range from small family run businesses to large enterprises, provide products and services to print buyers and publishers.

PIM makes resources available to help solve business problems, upgrade management techniques, improve employee communications, cut costs and increase profits. PIM works closely with Printing Industries of America (PIA), the umbrella organization for the graphic arts industry, to develop, enhance and supplement the programs and services needed to run a successful printing business. For more information see http://www.print.org/

About Intellective Solutions

Intellective Solutions is a training, consulting and marketing services company focused on helping leading graphic communication companies improve their sales and operational effectiveness. Since 2003, the company has provided customized sales, operational and management content and services. The company’s strategy is to get an assessment of its customer’s needs and provide the best solution.

For more information on Intellective Solutions please visit www.intellectives.com.

New Case Study for Printng Industry

Xerox has published a short-run packaging case study where Joe Rickard of Intellective Solutions supported one of their business development engagements at McBattas Packaging and Printing. The case study can be found on the Xerox web site, http://www.xerox.com/digital-printing/case-studies/enus.html

Rickard was brought to McBattas Packaging and Printing (http://www.mcbattasprinting.com/) to help build a marketing plan for their new packaging initiative.

McBattas saw the need for their clients and began with short-run digital packaging with a bar code on cardboard sleeves to thicker stocks with additional strength and stiffness for applications like folding cartons, hang tags, and food and beverage packaging.

Rickard’s plan for growth consisted of several milestones and actions, including measurable and manageable goals and objectives. He helped  McBattas with creating effective strategies and processes to grow revenue.

McBattas Packaging and Printing expects to achieve 20% growth in revenues between 2014 and 2015. Since investing in digital print technology, the company’s customer base has increased by several hundred percent.

Arnold stated, “We’re marketing ourselves as short-run digital packaging specialists. We’ve discovered that there are a lot of digital printers, converters, and fulfillment providers in the market, but there are very few providers that handle all three. This is our niche, and digital printing helps make it all happen.”

Intellective Solutions Supports GAERF to Launch Print Competencies at Graph Expo 14

Printing industry and educations professionals will obtain workplace competencies for the Graphic Communications industry

Tuxedo Park, N.Y., August 25, 2014 —   Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation (GAERF®) and Intellective Solutions are proud to announce the availability of Graphic Communications Skills Competencies (GCSC).  The competencies provide the skills, knowledge, abilities and behavior necessary to be successful in six industry areas.

These areas include:

• Digital File Preparation and Output
• Digital Production Printing
• Graphic Design
• Introduction to Graphic Communications
• Offset Printing/Bindery
• Screen Printing

These competencies were developed to help printing industry education and training organizations create curriculum that reflect the current needs of the Graphic Communications market. During GRAPH EXPO 14, to be held in Chicago from September 28 to October 1, 2014, industry professionals are encouraged to visit Education Main Street, Booth 4942, to view and gain access to the competencies. The competencies are free to all printing industry stakeholders.

“We are a very large and changing industry. To meet the needs of future customers and print providers, we must have a pool of qualified workers entering the industry,” said Intellective Solutions President, Joe Rickard. “We were proud to work with GAERF and many industry experts and educators to produce this valuable resource”

About GAERF
The Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation was created by the National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL), NPES The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing, and Converting Technologies and the Printing Industries of America in 1983. These three national associations jointly own the Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC). GAERF was created to channel a portion of the revenues earned by GASC-managed shows into projects supporting a strong future for the industry. For additional information about the Foundation and its programs, visit the GAERF website: www.gaerf.org or phone toll-free: (866) 381-9839.

About Intellective Solutions

Intellective Solutions is a training, consulting and marketing services company focused on helping leading graphic communication companies improve their sales and operational effectiveness. Since 2003, the company has provided customized sales, operational and management content and services. The company’s strategy is to get an assessment of its customer’s needs and provide the best solution.

For more information on Intellective Solutions please visit www.intellectives.com.

Intellective Solutions to Present Three Practical Sessions at Graph Expo 2014

Printing industry leaders, Joe Rickard and Frank Kanonik, will present timely presentations helping print providers to improve marketing and operational performance

Tuxedo Park - August 25, 2014 - Intellective Solutions will be presenting three sessions at Graph Expo 2014, held in Chicago September 28 through October 1, 2014.

Recognizing the need to offer attendees top-notch learning opportunities at the largest and most dynamic graphic communications exhibition for the Americas in 2014, Intellective Solutions is among the cadre of industry-experts who will present at this year’s event.

“GRAPH EXPO 2014 is a great place to see and hear about the latest developments in the graphic communications industry. Organizations looking to position themselves as leaders will see a broad range of exciting technology in virtually all graphic communication markets and submarkets. It is truly a highlight of the year for those looking to grow and expand their businesses” said Joe Rickard, President of Intellective Solutions.

Session that Intellective Solutions will present:

EXECUTIVE OUTLOOK – Sunday, September 28
Joe Rickard will present the session MARKETING TECHNIQUES THAT WORK, which will discuss how printers are assisting the marketing efforts of their customers, but often fail to effectively promote their own brand. In an era of stiff competition from alternative media, the time has come for our industry to effectively proclaim print’s excellent ROI. Discover the latest best practices for marketing your printing company, including a few techniques you might not have considered.

Joe Rickard will also lead a discussion with Robert Ross, Director, Marketing and New Business Development for CCG Marketing Solutions, about the effectiveness of CCG’s own marketing efforts.

HOW TO PENETRATE DREAM ACCOUNTS - Sunday, September 28 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Joe Rickard will discuss “Dream accounts” which are those high potential prospects that could have a huge positive impact on sales and profits. Every printing salesperson and company owner has at least one local dream account, whether via cross-media, data driven print, or any complex print-based offering.

Since most dream accounts are significantly underpenetrated accounts or non-customers, generally large investment of time is necessary for the company and salespeople to generate business. Even with the right set of products and services to offer, progress with dream accounts can stall due to ever-changing decision makers, a low sense of
urgency, “paralysis through analysis,” and endless negotiations. Here you will learn the crucial performance enhancing skills and strategies to break down the barriers and win the business from dream accounts.
Who should attend: Business owners, marketing and marketing managers, channel managers, salespeople and sales managers, In-plant managers and marketing managers.

OFFSET, INKJET OR TONER: WHICH IS RIGHT FOR ME? - Monday, September 29 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Frank Kanonik, Program Manager of Intellective Solutions will draw upon his extensive printing industry experiences to discuss which printing process is best for a customer’s project based on cost, quality or delivery times. Topics which can impact the choice of printing process, such as color, paper and finishing will be covered in detail during this session.
Who should attend: Sales, marketing, and production management, especially for firms producing direct mail, graphic designers, buyers of print.

About Intellective Solutions
Intellective Solutions is a leading training and consulting company focused on helping leading graphic communication companies improve their sales and operational effectiveness. Since 2003, the company has provided quality customized sales, operational and management training material and services. Utilizing its comprehensive curriculum and industry expertise, Intellective Solutions delivers materials in classrooms, webinars and e-learning environments. The company’s strategy is to get an assessment of its customer’s needs
and provide the best learning solution. Intellective Solutions has a full complement of online surveys and assessments and builds real-life case studies and integrates them into training content and methodologies.

For more information on Intellective Solutions please visit http://www.intellectives.com.

About GRAPH EXPO 2014
GRAPH EXPO is recognized as the most expansive exhibition in the Americas this year for digital, offset and hybrid technologies, products and services for the commercial, transactional, converting and package printing, publishing, mailing, in-plant, photo imaging and marketing industries. This year’s “Integrate” themed GRAPH EXPO—spanning the realm of print, online and mobile—will offer an exciting show-going experience for a diverse spectrum of attendees.

Early-bird registration is August 29. People who register before this date can save $50 off their registration fee by using Registration Promo Code: SPSAVE50

For additional information about the Graph Expo 2014 Conference, please see http://www.graphexpo.com.