Print Yorkshire

Within one month of launching Showcase2006 to the public, the event has secured ten major sponsors, over a third of the exhibitor stands have been booked and five international speakers have confirmed their attendance. Only in its second year, this event has taken the UK print/packaging industry and the creative business community by storm.

\"The creative use of print is sometimes a neglected area, partly because it can be difficult to find out what is new and what is available. PrintYorkshire’s Showcase provides a one-stop shop for creatives, production managers and traffickers to touch, see, learn and have a party! At the same time we will get some great ideas for our clients,\" commented Chris MacKenzie, Yorkshire Publicity Association vice-president and MD of full service marketing and advertising agency The Whole Caboodle.

Showcase2006 UK’s only dedicated forum for print and packaging, allowing creatives, buyers and sellers to come together, share ideas, best practice and new innovations.

Providing a genuine opportunity for anyone involved in the design, specification or purchase of print/packaging to have a unique insight into the industry and many of the creative developments, new ideas, technological advancements and print opportunities on the horizon.

Showcase2005 was warmly accepted by representatives from many of the UK’s better-known brands and will make a welcome return in 2006. Elaine Pooke, of English Heritage, commented: \"Showcase 2005 was inspirational with speakers of high calibre, namely Margie Dana. I learned a lot at this conference and will definitely be there next year.\"

\"Margie Dana was fantastic and I’d certainly like to see more of her style and flair at next year’s event. I’ll be there,\" added Darren Aldred from Matalan.

New speakers confirmed for 2006 include Lisa Palillo, communications marketing manager at Hallmark Cards and Michael Hallinan from Northern Foods. Margie Gallo Dana, The ‘US Goddess of Print’, will be back by popular demand and will be joined by the corporate communications manager from US firm Analog Devices.

The keynote speakers bring a breadth of insight from both across the industry and from both sides of the Atlantic. This mix of local and international speakers is set to provide a combination of wisdom from experience, top tips and future ideas. Visit www.showcase2006.com for further details.

As well as learning from some of the industry leaders in a bespoke seminar series, the event provides a unique opportunity to meet and network with over 55 suppliers in one day, and to take a look at the range of skills, expertise and variety of services available to them.

Supported by Yorkshire Forward, the Showcase exhibition allows companies to promote their services and demonstrate excellence whilst making new contacts and securing business.

Tom Riordan, chief executive of Yorkshire Forward, said: \"PrintYorkshire’s Showcase is exactly the sort of event we want to see creating real business opportunities in the region.

\"Yorkshire Forward is the only RDA to directly support its print and packaging industry because we recognise the importance of the sector to our regional economy.\"

Richard Pilling, print buyer for The Colour Company, said: \"The speakers provided insight and wisdom from a global perspective. Showcase proved that innovation is alive in the Yorkshire printing industry. It was particularly refreshing to see buyers, printers and print management companies mixing at the same venue. This new approach can only be good for the industry. Long may it continue.\"

There are many success stories from 2005, including a fantastic opening for the Sheffield-based printer Pro Co, for which Showcase was the catalyst.

Mark Schofield, managing director of Pro Co, said: \"We’ll be back next year; at Showcase we were invited to join a preferred supplier list which will give us access to a Direct Mail/Digital account worth up to £1m each year. We had been targeting this account and this event has gave us the opportunity we needed.\"

With this kind of positive result it is unsurprising that over a third of the 2005 exhibitors have reconfirmed. Fastek Printers is the latest company to confirm its presence once again.

Barry Singleton, sales and marketing manager for Fastek, said \"Fastek Graphic Services is delighted to be involved with Showcase in 2006. We found last year’s event extremely useful in terms of generating new enquiries and we were able to socialise with many of our existing customers in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere.\"

Robert McClements, director of PrintYorkshire, said: \"The event has already created a name for itself within the industry and we are delighted with the repeated support for 2006. It’s also pleasing to see that interest has gone beyond that of the traditional printing industry, to include those involved in marketing and packaging too. This is reflected in the breadth of speakers secured, the new sponsors on board and feedback from respected colleagues within agencies who’ve cited the fact that Showcase is a great place to check out potential suppliers and enjoy their hospitality.\"

Main sponsor, Yorkshire Bank, has once again confirmed its involvement and has already been joined by several repeat sponsors including PrintBuyer and two new titles at the Haymarket Publishing Group, PrintWeek and Packaging News. Additionally, new companies have already confirmed their support, with the announcement of local business SCR Envelopes as another key sponsor.

Edward Welch, from SCR Envelopes, said: \"Our recent investment in staff and machinery has been essential in order to meet the growing needs of the business and the market. We are now the largest envelope overprinting company in the UK. At the moment it’s a very exciting time at SCR.

\"We see the decision to sponsor Showcase2006 as an ideal way to raise the company profile and drive our marketing strategy forward. Although this is a new thing for us, the unquestionable success of last year’s event and the new business opportunities it presents has filled us with confidence that the decision to sponsor Showcase2006 is the right one.\"

Mr Welch went on to say: \"It’s about time the printing community came together and talked more rather than battle against each other. Showcase2006 offers a great vehicle for this.\"

Yorkshire Bank’s partnership as main sponsor indicates the financial value of the printing industry within the region. Mike Darlow, managing partner at Yorkshire Bank, Tailored Financial Solutions, commented: \"Yorkshire Bank has worked together with PrintYorkshire from the beginning and is pleased to be main sponsor of Showcase for a second year. We are working closely with the print industry to help boost support and investment in the region’s printers. There’s real backing from many of the county’s finest companies to help give our industry the investment boost it needs.\"

Yorkshire’s print industry is at the forefront of UK printing and is an exemplar to others within the region. This sector includes over 1,500 printers employing a total of 20,000 people and turns over an estimated £1.5billion annually, bringing significant wealth to Yorkshire.

One such company to benefit is that of Diji Print, one of the region’s first and most forward thinking digital print companies who will be present at Showcase again this year, demonstrating their full range of services, latest ideas and new techniques.

\"Showcase2006 will act as the ideal platform for us to promote our new leather effect embossed lamination. Diji is the first company in the UK to offer this specialist lamination which is ideal for a diverse range of companies,\" commented Steve Cooper from Diji Print.

According to Shaun Stanley, Managing Director of broCARD Ltd ( part of The Printforms Group ), specialists in patented, compact printed communications; \"Showcase2005 provided the ideal platform in which to unveil broCARD’s latest technology. In addition, by supplying the ‘invitation to delegates’ in broCARD format it allowed us to demonstrate innovative forms of retainable communication plus an opportunity to explain patent, copyright and trademark protection on our full range of products\"

This is the only event to bring together creative and technical print/packaging expertise from throughout the region and beyond; making it a must for anyone looking for innovative ideas, cost effective solutions and the opportunity to renew old partnerships and form valuable relationships.

McClements concluded: \"Showcase has an ever increasing presence and gravitas within the creative, print and packaging industries and is firmly making its mark as ‘the Print and Packaging Event of the Year’.

Showcase2006 will be held at the Royal Armouries, Leeds, on 5th October 2006. The event will comprise of a contemporary and innovative exhibition and networking area, as well as a full-day conference for buyers and influencers running in parallel.

oInternational speaker programme

oNetwork with 400+ peers

o55+ suppliers sharing ideas

oBUY. SELL. CREATE. ENJOY

BUY. SELL. CREATE. ENJOY!

Tickets are limited.

Confirm your place today to avoid disappointment.

Prices:Exhibition tickets£ 10 + VAT

Seminar tickets£125 + VAT

For information on becoming a sponsor or exhibitor,

please visit the website or contact the events team.

T: 0113 243 6086 F: 0113 243 9577

E: info@showcase2006.com W: www.showcase2006.com