Opportunity and Efficiency to Be Highlighted at Wide-format Summit

Top industry thought leaders, analysts, and executives from innovative print service providers will be featured speakers at the 3^rd annual Wide-Format Summit, the leading educational and networking event for wide-format professionals who are contemplating their strategic and technology futures.

Produced by PRINTING United Alliance and Wide-Format Impressions, the Wide-format Summit is taking place July 24-26, 2023, at the PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. The unique, invitation-only Summit format provides attendees the opportunity to connect with peers whose insights you respect most, evaluate the adoption of wide-format technologies, and join interactive case studies showcasing successful implementations and business initiatives.

Additionally, the Wide-format Summit provides ample opportunities for attendees to network through social events and prescheduled 1:1 meetings, confirming the Wide-format Summit as the primary event for executives seeking to explore the latest solutions. More than 35 leading technology providers will be on hand, including Keynote Sponsors Agfa, Canon USA, EFI, and Fujifilm. For qualified print executives, all expenses including airfare, airport transfers, hotel, and meals are paid.

This year’s Wide-format Summit will focus on the unique combination of challenges and opportunities now facing wide-format print providers across the spectrum of vertical markets where the technology is used.

“What we try to do at this event is give attendees what we call a two-and-a-half day executive MBA in the wide-format market,” says Marco Boer, Vice President of IT Strategies and an advisory board member of the Wide-Format Summit, who will deliver the opening keynote presentation, “How to Thrive in a More Competitive Landscape.” Boer will stress why the influx of new players into wide-format printing demands everyone to level up their strategies and reimagine their business plans.

Echoing the theme of convergence in this sector, M&A specialist Peter Schaefer of New Direction Partners will be covering the issues business owners must consider as they decide whether to grow organically, acquire or merge with strategic partners, or sell their companies. “The really good news is that the market for these types of businesses is really interactive, because they’re out of the price/commodity end game and they have higher margins than printers in other segments of the industry,” says Schaefer. Staying abreast of new technologies and market trends, Schaefer believes, is key to future success in wide-format printing.

In another session, Principal Analyst Lisa Cross of NAPCO Research will share insights and trends from an exclusive new study probing how print buyers’ needs are evolving and what print providers must do to remain relevant partners. NAPCO Editorial Director and Summit Co-Chair Denise Gustavson will underscore those ideas in a live 1:1 interview with a highly experienced print buyer immediately following Cross’s presentation.

Other program highlights include:

• “Finding Deeper Opportunity with Web-to-Print Technology,” with print executives sharing their successes and challenges in automating the customer interface.
• “Diving into Decor” with Wide-Format Impressions contributing writer Kristen Dettoni providing advice on building a successful business plan for this exciting vertical market.
• “Finding and Retaining New Workers,” an interactive panel where executives share innovative approaches they’ve taken to address the labor pool shortage.
• “How to Survive and Thrive in this Tumultuous Market,” where Gustavson and PRINTING United Alliance Chief Economist Andy Paparozzi will look at how print executives must prepare for the economic challenges that lay ahead while devoting equal attention to new market opportunities.

Interested in attending? Visit www.wideformatsummit.com or email wfsinfo@napco.com to reach a member of our team.