Everyone who attended said it was EXCELLENT.

Delegates were given a view of a huge range of business opportunities. Some were truly incredible whilst others appeared mundane but simple means for every company to increase profitability.

In these challenging times it is so easy to pull back and form a cocoon through which nothing penetrates, all you see is your problems and look upon all that happens outside as a threat.

The prism Conference provided answers and offered alternative strategies for our industry to maximise profits and succeed in a recession.

The diversity of speakers and involvement of the audience in discussions proved to be very stimulating with all attendees whether speaker of delegate leaving with a host of ideas to take their businesses forward. As always the lunch and coffee brakes were ideal forums for the exchange of opinions and sowing the seed of new business relationships.

The Conference started with a clear explanation by Peter Kiddell of how digital printing, screen printing and offset litho printing fitted into the market. The dividing lines were seen to be increasingly blurred as the latest developments in the processes were clearly explained. The emphasis on “process” was downplayed, it being shifted to offering the customer and the market an “Experience.” Members of the audience explained how their investigations into processes they did not have showed how it was possible to work with other providers to incorporate their resources into a project. From a customers perspective they saw one provider who actually had the support of several. The aim was to break away from the throttling low margins being suffered in the industry by mixing and matching hence being able to provide a premium product at the same time as acting as their own print management company. Above all in a market where print has become a commodity being DIFFERENT makes the DIFFERENCE.

The presentation from Andreas Skantz of “Big Image” was an example of a company who had managed, in most cases, to take price out of the buying decision. Taking the provision of an “Experience” to another level Adreas was able to demonstrate capabilities that could transform an internal space into base camp on Everest with 360 degree images, lighting and sound truly extraordinary imagery that took your breath away.



Having the ability to digitally print a 15 metre length in one pass meant that theatre backdrops could be seamlessly deployed across vast areas. Expertise in lighting completely changed scenes and perspectives at the flick of a switch. This know-how can and is employed in a host of applications in the exhibition, theatrical, event and point of sale markets. You could see members of the audience taking in these concepts and deciding how they could apply them in their market place.

For those who have not heard Paul Machin discourse on the profits to be made by managing their environmental policy effectively would have been amazed how easy it is if you follow his recommendations.



Paul can make waste paper and used solvent sound exciting! It is exciting when you know you can make additional profit with very little effort. His session was based on the Planet Friendly Guide that has been recently up dated and available on the prism website.

Mark Simpson told us how to turn a retail space into theatre. Shoppers and their children become involved in the display, in this case Halloween, and the natural finale is to buy the products on offer. The concept was first trialled in 3 outlets and then after a few days it was decided to spread it throughout the country.



The combination of an interactive display with music sound and lighting provided the ideal platform for Halloween goods to fly “almost literally” off the shelves. Once again mark was not selling just print it was the experience that the client and their customers were buying. Bringing skills from all parts of the Simpson Group provided a package that was a win, win situation for the client.

Heather Kendal of Inca Digital gave an impromptu explanation about the challenges of flat bed digital printing as compared to roll fed. This was the most precise yet concise explanation that has been given. It really is a delight to hear an equipment supplier peel away the jargon and make it clear to all who listened.




This was the most effective conference that has ever been presented by the Association in its various forms over the years. Sadly many could not find time to attend, make sure you don’t miss the next one!

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