Listen Now

In this webinar, Greg Kestler, product manager of narrow format digital and offset media, will introduce General Formulations' Narrow Format Digital (NFD) product line and the Graphic Arts market segments they serve. He will take a deep dive into the widest array of solutions for label and signage applications available for HP Indigo presses. With 17 individual products utilizing a combination of seven face stocks and six adhesives, GF's NFD product line has a product to fit your needs. Presenter: Greg Kestler With over 40 years of experience in the Graphic Arts industry, Greg Kestler started his career working for a traditional paper merchant. He spent the next three decades with GPA, where he focused on pressure-sensitive sheet products. Today, Greg is the Product Manager at General Formulations (GF) for the Narrow Format Digital (NFD) and Offset products. Greg's role with GF, a world-class manufacturer of pressure-sensitive films, is to manage, market and educate the industry on GF's NFD product offering. Over his career, Greg has worked closely with HP Indigo and is acutely aware of the technology and the importance of high-quality products that offer trouble-free processing in HP Indigo presses. For more information and the full video replay of this episode visit dscoop.com

Kate Dunn from Evolve Sales Group has amazing energy, along with a refreshingly straightforward approach and style. She also has great insight into what it takes to succeed in print sales, whether there's a pandemic or not. Kate shares a heap of great sales concepts in this interview. Kate is a highly respected print industry veteran, with experiences at Xerox and KeyPoint Intelligence (formerly known as InfoTrends). She has trained and coached scores of salespeople, teams and business owners - enough to know what works and what doesn't. "The problems we had in the industry were just exacerbated by the pandemic -- they existed before," Kate says. "It's a fundamental problem, and I've been talking about it for 25 years: Our sales process models are just not good. So the idea is let's use this disruption to figure out what we should be doing, and making systemic changes." Since the pandemic began, some of Kate's clients have ramped up their e-commerce and web-storefront efforts to empower clients to order faster and more efficiently. Others have streamlined their sales forces, increased their focus on social selling and made other smart "pivots" in the past year. Kate enthusiastically cites current examples from her clients to paint a positive picture of print sales in 2021 and beyond -- especially among companies bold enough to not be stuck in traditional sales and marketing approaches. "What we should be doing is positioning ourselves as experts that can help you accomplish business objectives," she says. For more information and the full video replay of this episode visit dscoop.com

Bill Gillespie has been in the print industry for 44 years and has written more than $100 million in business. He loves the industry - and sharing ideas with fellow printers. Bill isn't just a print salesperson and sales manager; he's a sales motivator. In this interview, Bill shares his views on the current state of sales and why now is as good a time as any to find opportunities. Bill points out that economic downturns tend to expose the health of PSP/client relationships- - for better or worse -- because customers aren't comfortable and seek options to maximize the value of their vendors. At the same time, PSPs that creatively get in front of prospects (using video, social media and other tools) and impress them can gain new business today. "The playing field has been leveled by what's going on, and that creates opportunity," Bill says, adding that today's sales reps have more tools available at their disposal than ever before to earn attention from prospects. Bill also professes the importance of being genuine, open and empathetic to a buyer's needs -- traits that have worked in sales for decades. "I think a 'regular' person is a lot more likeable than an artificial person they become because they think it's the right way to sell stuff." For more information and the full video replay of this episode visit dscoop.com

Stephen Yu of Willow Data Strategy obviously knows data -- he has been in the data and analytics industry for 35 years. What's better, he understands how to connect data to make it understandable and usable for marketers and designers. In this interview, Stephen uses stories and examples to illustrate his four pillars of successful personalization campaigns: data, analytics, creative and delivery. That's important today, as PSPs increasingly seek ways to turn data into action. They want to help clients (and often their own print firms) create emotional appeal with highly targeted recipients. The goal is to make campaigns smarter, more effective and more responsive across all marketing channels. No matter the size of your clients, Stephen says, "you're in a great position to [use business information and analytics] so you can create more multichannel buyers, convert more one-time buyers into multi-time buyers and increase customer value." The good news: Working with data and print doesn't require hiring awkward people who wear shirts with pocket protectors. You can take immediate steps to get more comfortable with data and eventually become a data-and-print dynamo. For more information and the full video replay of this episode visit dscoop.com

With COVID-19's impact on the economy, disaster loans can provide vital assistance to qualified businesses. Every U.S. business owner should hear this, as you may be surprised by what is still available to help you mitigate loss of revenue. In this recording, Jennell K. Taylor, Economic Development Specialist in the Georgia District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), provided informative updates about Paycheck Protection Program Loans (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL). "As COVID-19 hit everyone across America, the SBA was called upon to take a big lead to assist with the recovery effort," Jennell said. He mentioned that typically only about one in five SBA employees work on disaster loans, but for months those loans accounted for nearly 100% of SBA's work. The SBA's mission is to help small businesses grow, and Jennell and his colleagues worked hard to give relief printers and other companies who needed relief in 2020. In this recording he reviews... Eligible proceeds of PPP loans (06:45 mark of video) PPP loan forgiveness criteria (15:45 mark) -- pay attention to what Jennell says about loan proceeds not used for employee compensation, and the need to document those expenses  PPP loan exceptions and "safe harbors" (18:50 mark) PPP loan forgiveness process and timeline (20:45 mark) -- you'll need to use SBA Form 3508 or 3508 EZ EIDL loan details, application process and FAQs (23:20 mark) -- this is still available until December 31, 2020; for details visit this SBA website page Forms needed for organizations applying for an EIDL loan (34:30 mark) Jennell also provided candid answers to attendees' questions in a Q&A following his presentation. For more information and the full video replay of this episode visit dscoop.com

Several Dscoop members are making bold moves in these uncertain times, including investing in new equipment and technology. Three of them shared their experiences during a global online Idea Xchange session. Here is the session recording, and you'll want to stay for the lively Q&A at the end. You can also ask your own questions in the comments field, and we'll make sure to get you answers: PSPs from different parts of the world -- David Bennett of Bennett Graphics in the USA, Vincenzo Cirimele of PressUp in Italy and Joris Bosch of Wihabo in the Netherlands -- spoke candidly about why they decided to make investments and upgrades even during tough economic times. They also shared how those moves affected their businesses in 2020 and what they anticipate for 2021. David Bennett Recognized Need & Opportunity "We feel like in these difficult times, making investments helps us gain space between us and our competition," David said. He realized Bennett Graphics needed more capacity to handle direct mail and other time-sensitive projects, and wanted to replace an HP Indigo 10K Digital Press with a new HP Indigo 100K Digital Press. He discussed the move with his internal leadership team, HP leaders, key clients and others. Bennett Graphics installed the new press in March, at the height of the COVID-19 lockdown in the US. At that point, Bennett Graphics was five months into its current fiscal year, and on pace for record sales. But all of its main business segments "got hit pretty hard" at the beginning of the pandemic, David shared. That included digital print, which accounts for 53% of the PSP's annual business. But David has always believed in the value of being forward-thinking and progressive, and says the investment in the new press is starting to pay off.It has been a "true workhorse" that has helped Bennett Graphics' output get "almost back to pre-COVID levels," he said. "It just eats the jobs up." David said he appreciated how easily and quickly HP installed the new press, as well as how efficiently HP handled in-house training of Bennett Graphics' production team. TAKE-AWAY TIP FOR PSPs: Before making a bold move, communication is critical with internal teams and clients. Make sure all key stakeholders are aligned and understand why the investment will matter in the future, not just today.  Vincenzo Cirimele Gained Stability & Productivity Vincenzo of PressUp in Italy echoed David's comment about the ease of installation of the HP Indigo 100K Digital Press, which the PSP installed in October 2019. The company runs about 5,000 jobs daily and is focused on increasing its digital print technology and capabilities, he said. Vincenzo said he expects PressUp to invest more in digital technology over the next two or three years. His team focused on two main requirements when making the move to the HP Indigo 100K Digital Press -- stability and productivity. "If you print lots of jobs every day, every hour, it's important to have a stable machine," Vincenzo said. The press prints up to 6,000 sheets per hour. Vincenzo said PressUp is pleased with its bold decision, and the new press is now running on three shifts. "Slowly, day by day" the company is seeing "positive momentum," he said. Vincenzo pointed to HP's technical and support teams for helping PressUp with rigorous testing of coated and uncoated papers, jobs of different run lengths, and other aspects that made the transition seamless. "The machine is essentially plug-and-play," he...

It's not an easy time to be a company owner or manager -- changes are occurring quickly and dramatically for your team and your business. If you're feeling uneasy today, you're not alone! The leader of the session is Davide Medri, a senior training consultant with a long history of experience working with Graphic Arts firms and many other businesses. As Davide says, we are living in a "VUCA" world of Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity. He presented ways to best manage change through that uneasy landscape, including ideas on how to communicate with employees and clients who have their own confusion and fears. Listen to this episode and learn... Key success factors for managing change during COVID-19 Digital tools that support decision-making and business growth New ways to communicate with employees and customers (many of whom have confusion and fear) You'll leave this session feeling more flexible and more ready to handle change during this disruptive time. For more information and the full video replay of this episode visit dscoop.com

The COVID-19 crisis has led to seven "megatrends," according to HP's Victoria Andersen, and she says digital print is ideally positioned to address many of those trends for brands. The slide she presents at the 49:10 mark of this episode was a highlight of the second APJ Town Hall discussion. Andersen, HP Indigo Regional Brand Innovation & Sustainability Lead, shared insight about today’s best branding and sustainability practices during the Town Hall. The session was organized after Dscoop received great feedback from members who attended the first APJ Town Hall discussion. The "Ask Us Anything" Town Halls, which have been held in all three global Dscoop regions, are a great way for printers to ask questions, talk openly and gain ideas. Perhaps more than ever, now is the time to learn from printers and partners in the Dscoop community. Here's a roundup of ideas presented across all regions during Town Hall sessions. In the video recording above, Oran Sokol, former GM of HP's Asia Pacific Graphics Industrial Business, kicked off the forum and thanked Dscoop members for their support over the past few years. "I assure you all I'm still very much involved in the Industrial Business, and will be a strong supporter and advocate for [print business in] Asia." Oran then introduced Arnon Goldman, his successor in the GM role. Many printers in the APJ region already know Arnon, who has 24 years of industry experience. He shared his close connection and history with Dscoop, which began in 2010 at the Dscoop 5 event in Dallas. He told the audience he has always appreciated the ideas and energy of the APJ print community. Here are highlights of the Town Hall, with time markers noted: 16:10 mark of the video: Arnon says that overall, HP has focused on two main things since the start of the pandemic: (1) providing support through activities such as providing laptops and more to communities, and (2) helping printers evolve and grow through activities such as customized HP Indigo demos, education about converting equipment to produce PPE items and more. 20:30 mark of the video: Arnon talks about how and why HP restructured its Graphics business and formed a new global business unit called Personalization Industrial Business (or PIB for short). It involves 3-D printing technology, a heavy focus on personalization and other facets that can Dscoop members innovate. 26:30 mark of the video: Oran encourages APJ members to broaden their target applications beyond main product areas. The pandemic has taught us that "printers with a more diverse range of applications have a stronger position" today, he said. "Flexibility and building a broader base is the secret [for increased resiliency] -- it doesn't happen overnight but each of you can think about what else you can do with what you have, with little investment." 39:30 mark of the video: Victoria cites statistics from the International Monetary Fund that show an expected stalled growth and output declines for Asia in 2020. Total business growth in China is expected to be 1.2% this year after growing 6.1% in 2019. 49:10 mark of the video: Victoria presents a slide on seven "megatrends" and how digital printing is able to address each: Businesses are shifting from optimization to agility and speed Companies will organize around the customer Global supply chains will restructure around maximum efficiency More online shoppers and more online stores will...

The world is undergoing huge changes as the pandemic affects everything in our lives and livelihood. In order for business leaders to support their employees, they have to make huge changes, too. Listen to the Dscoop Podcast with our guest, Executive Coach Beth Miller, to learn the hits, misses and trends that she’s seeing in leadership today. You’ll hear: The three biggest shifts in leadership New ways to improve communications with and among your team The best question you can ask employees now Which leadership characteristics are critical for success today? What to say and do when you don’t have all the answers Should you have a Town Hall meeting? Employee input vs. output – what should you focus on? Roadblocks to your future recovery And more actionable insights! The Dscoop Podcast is another great way to bring education to our Dscoop community members, and to foster connection, conversation and collaboration. You’ll find helpful, candid interviews with printers, partners, industry experts, business leaders, innovators, and more. We also air sessions from our previous and current educational webinars and Dscoop Edge events that you can stream anytime. Beth Miller is a sought-after executive coach and founder of Executive Velocity , a talent strategy, leadership development and executive coaching firm. She's also the previous chair of Vistage International -- the world's largest executive coaching and peer advisory organization that brings together leaders to learn and grow. As a coach, advisor and consultant, Beth works with people and businesses that want to build their leadership capacity and ensure their employees are in the right roles doing the right things to drive profitable business growth. She also helps leaders plan for and successfully exit their companies while leaving a positive legacy for their employees and communities. During COVID-19, she's been working with a lot of organizations to help them pause, regroup, and re-focus on employees, business, leadership, and customers. You'll find what she has to say fresh and extremely relevant. Follow Beth on LinkedIn and send any questions you might have for her to hello@dscoop.org . We'll make sure to get her answer to you! For more information visit dscoop.com

Many PSPs are leaning on each other during these uncertain times, seeking opportunities to listen, share ideas and ask for guidance. That’s exactly what happened in this excellent Idea Xchange held for Dscoop members in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region. Idea Xchange EMEA attendees asked questions and received advice from colleagues who are entering new markets and making other moves to grow. The lively, valuable discussion was led by Jon Tolley, Owner of Prime Print Group and a former Dscoop Board Member; Marcus Kalle, Managing Partner of Abcdruck GmbH; and Erwin Koerts, Technical Director at Drukkerij Aeroprint. They talked openly about different ways to stay agile and pivot during this stressful time, and took time to share their personal experiences to help others. Attendees heard great anecdotes on the ups and downs of business, and practical advice for entering new markets, taking risks to invest in new technology and more. For more information and the full video replay of this episode visit dscoop.com

Through this unprecedented time, PSPs have shown undeniable innovation, creativity and collaboration. In this webinar recording, you'll see -- and learn from -- innovative print applications, business models and creative strategies from around the world. Presenter Vivian Cohen Leisorek, Head of Customer Business Development for HP Indigo, believes that a critical component of HP’s commitment to constant innovation is showing the progress of its products and solutions, from concept, to development, to successful use by customers.  In the video Vivian shows how today’s environment is raising the bar on innovation. For more information and the full video replay of this episode visit dscoop.com

As the pandemic continues -- and after it's over -- here is what printers need to know now regarding employee communication, engagement activities, retention, talent attraction and branding. Three HR experts at HP Inc. delivered great insight in the webinar: Sowjanya Reddy, Head of Human Resources, Greater Asia Shelly Raipal, Head of Human Resources, Singapore Talleah Teo, Talent Acquisition Director, Greater Asia, China & India They fielded interesting, pre-submitted questions from viewers, including "How can we screen candidates effectively without meeting in person?" and "I want to restructure my current business model to attract the younger generation. What are important elements to attract the right talent"? The webinar was a great opportunity for PSPs in the APJ region to learn useful HR tips from experienced pros. For more information and the full video replay of this episode visit dscoop.com

During times like these, open and honest communication among Dscoop community members is invaluable. That's exactly what happened at this online discussion and Q&A for members in the Americas region. The "Ask Me Anything" session was guided by Kirk McLean, General Manager--HP Industrial GTM. He has been at HP since 2016 and has been in the print industry for nearly 30 years. "Change is the only thing we're certain about," Kirk says in the video, after sharing news about HP's current strategy. "In every crisis, there's opportunity. There are a ton of things we've learned about ourselves, about the business and where the business could go. There's time to hit reset... and position ourselves to be even stronger when we come out of the crisis." Attendees had the opportunity to submit questions before the session and also during it. Kirk begins fielding those questions at the 22:10 mark -- the interesting, wide-ranging Q&A accounts for the majority of the session. These town hall-style sessions are an excellent chance for Dscoop members share concerns and issues as you continue to support clients, employees and the future of your business. For more information and the full video replay of the webinar visit dscoop.com

Whether you're working from home or re-entering your workplace, the pandemic has taken a toll on our energy. In this video, speaker and author Chris Baréz-Brown, founder of Upping Your Elvis, reveals innovative approaches to help keep your creativity and motivation high while achieving bottom-line goals. The way we're working is changing at warp-speed, Chris points out, and printers can view the current business climate as an opportunity to grow and come out stronger and more innovative. That transformation can start with some of Chris' inventive, gamified methods to connecting with others and tapping into your creativity. As he explains in the video, work can be more human, creative and fun. It's easy to see why Nike, Coca-Cola, Unliver and other Fortune 500 companies worldwide have contacted Chris to help them with engagement, inspiration and creativity. As a Dscoop member, you can gain value from him simply by clicking on the video above. During the interactive, entertaining session, Chris says, "The stuff that I'm doing today creates real value in how a business performs because it gets people jumping out of bed every day loving who they are and feeling confident about who they are." He shares ideas on how to get your energy right during the pandemic, and how to deploy it better so productive creativity occurs more consistently. For more information and the full video replay of the webinar visit dscoop.com

Colour is Marcin Dąbrowski's passion -- how it's formed, how it's perceived by people, and how it influences behavior and actions. The founder/owner of the company eM and the eM Academy shares his passion with the Dscoop audience in this enlightening webinar. Marcin's session was a blend of information and inspiration, as he shared different ways colour is produced, described, felt, and used. He goes beyond the properties of colour (hue, shade, lightness, saturation, and more) to provide a glimpse into how colour can help us predict behaviors and emotions. That's important to anyone who works with design, workflow, packaging, and print. "I believe getting to understand the basics of interpretation of color can actually give us data on how to communicate with each other," he says during the session. "I don't only mean regarding marketing campaigns and adjusting your printers, but also daily life as well." Marcin explains how changing light, the subject (for example, a blue shirt to a red one), or the observer affects the way colour is experienced. He challenged printers to consider how an observer might react when exposed to a certain colour or print, and then include that knowledge in prepress and design workflow. Enjoy this session -- it might open your eyes to colour's amazing impact in our lives. For more information and the full video replay of the webinar visit dscoop.com

There has never been a better time to talk openly with each other — to share questions and advice on getting through this challenging time the best we can. That's exactly what happened in the first Dscoop Idea Xchange meeting. At the first-ever Dscoop Idea Xchange, about 35 people joined remotely to chat about their concerns, goals, and best practices. Rick Bellamy, CEO of RPI and Dscoop’s Americas Board Chairman, guided the session. Rick encouraged interaction among participants about what they're doing to adapt their businesses during COVID-19. He also outlined his company’s approach to specific procedures and operations that have changed since the start of the pandemic. The conversation was broken down into four areas: Feeling Safe/Being Safe Steps to Implement Surviving to Thriving/Repair to Reinvent When Will It End? The Dscoop Idea Xchange — the first of many planned for the Dscoop community — was geared to members in the Americas region; other Idea Xchanges will be held soon. As we all continue to network, share and learn, join an upcoming Idea Xchange session and come ready to share your experiences and questions! Meanwhile, if you want to lead a session or have one hosted in your region or country, email us and we’ll do our best to make it happen! For more information and the full video replay of the webinar visit dscoop.com

When you think about it, our ability to be successful depends on our ability to successfully communicate with others. This webinar provides us with a powerful and easy-to-use approach that will literally improve every conversation you ever have again! Watch or listen to the recording. The Communication Code was co-created by best-selling authors and leadership development gurus, Steve Cockram and Jeremie Kubicek, who also co-authored The Five Voices, The Five Gears, and 100X Leaders, and co-founded the leadership and consulting group, GiANT.  In the recording of this engaging webinar led by Steve, you'll discover: The 5Cs of The Communication Code and how to tailor them to your life to immediately transform your communications What your default Communication Code is and the impact it has on others “A-ha” moments about why you struggle with some relationships and why others are stress-free (learn to make them ALL more effective!) Easy-to-implement next steps you can take for the most improvement If you love this powerful content, you’ll LOVE the complimentary resources from GiANT that Steve is offering on dscoop.com

Dscoop members in the EMEA region participated in an open discussion on May 13, 2020, that addressed their thoughts, concerns, and ideas. The session was led by Cristobal Macedo, General Manager HP GTM, Industrial EMEA. Cristobal, who joined from Barcelona, Spain, talked about different ways HP has confronted the pandemic and is working to support its employees' safety and its customers' business continuity and education. He also talked about ways HP is planning for the future (24:00 mark of video). Dscoop members from the EMEA region had the opportunity to submit questions in advance of the session. For more information and the full video replay of the webinar visit dscoop.com

Feeling challenged in a small living space with your family, or working from home with kids who are trying to get your attention all the time? You're not alone, and this webinar can help. In this session, psychiatrist and mental wellness expert Dr. Wilona Annuciation presents ways to maintain harmonious family relationships during the COVID-19 lockdown. The webinar is part 2 of Dr. Wilona's three-part series designed for Dscoop members. She's helping to guide us as individuals, business owners, managers, operators and family members on how we can manage our mental and social well-being during this unprecedented time. For more information and the full video replay of the webinar visit dscoop.com

Dscoop members in the APJ region participated in an open discussion on May 12, 2020, that addressed their thoughts, concerns, and ideas. The session was led by Oran Sokol, Director and General Manager of HP Graphics Industrial Business, Asia Pacific, and Dan Attew, Head of Product and Solutions, Asia Pacific. Oran and Dan outlined how HP is supporting its customers and partners during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as others in the global community such as healthcare workers, teachers and students. They explained how HP is leveraging its supply chain to continue delivering products and services, and increasing its customer support operations through a global support site for customers and partners who need assistance. Oran and Dan also recognized inspiring projects from HP customers, including personalized face shields from FP Mercure in France, personalized decks of cards from Cartamundi and Smartphoto in Belgium to help grandparents connect with kids, and several other projects. APJ members had the opportunity to submit questions in advance of the webinar. For more information and the full video replay of the webinar visit dscoop.com