Philadelphia is known as the "Cradle of Democracy," but for three days last month, it was the "Cradle of Documents." DMIA's Informservices 2001 Conference & Expo (i2001), held Oct. 10-12 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, welcomed more than 1,600 attendees.
Herb Reich of The Bradley Group, a New York distributorship, said he's been in the forms business for 45 years and has attended many trade shows--but never one of DMIA's. "I've never seen anything of this magnitude," he said with a smile as he entered the exhibit hall.
i2001, the document industry's most comprehensive showcase of products, services and education, drew more than 425 exhibit booths. Manufacturers and suppliers displayed the latest in commercial printing, promotional products, online services, computer supplies, forms, software, bar coded products and more. Several firms launched new products and capabilities on the show floor, helping distributors find answers to end users' needs.
Michael A. Gioseffi of distributorship Datapower Inc., Parlin, N.J., is updating his vendor list this year. At i2001, he says he found a new label manufacturer and valuable information on die cutting, which his company is beginning to offer.
Jamie Mentzer of Indianapolis distributorship Mentzer Printing Ink came to i2001 looking for a manufacturer to help with the redesign of his company's web site. He says he found an ideal product, a CD full of artwork, at FormStore
®
Incorporated's booth.
Hundreds of i2001 attendees attended education sessions led by professional speakers and industry experts. Topics included marketing, customer service, e-commerce, sales and much more.
Dr. Cal LeMon of Executive Enrichment Inc. explained the importance of what he called "non-linear thinking" during his educational session, "Marketing: Don't Outspend--Out Think." Too many companies mistakenly adopt marketing strategies that are ho-hum instead of highly creative and catchy, he said. To gain lasting rewards from marketing, LeMon said, companies must take risks.
Kim MacPherson, president of marketing agency Inbox Interactive, Bethesda, Md., led a session entitled "Use the Internet as a Direct Marketing Tool." It focused on designing interactive e-newsletters. Attendees asked about surveying online visitors and e-newsletter readers, and she advised collecting only two to four pieces of information about each prospect--particularly, a name and email address--so the prospect wouldn't feel overwhelmed and leave. She also provided a list of software programs distributors can use to launch online marketing efforts.
Michael Weinzerl, CFC, president of distributorship Professional Graphic Communications Inc., Cranberry Township, Pa., says MacPherson's session made him feel sure-footed about his company's opt-in email list plan. "I learned a lot in this session," he says. "It confirms a lot of the things we're talking about."
Mark Trumper, CEO of Maverick Label, an Edmonds, Wash.-based distributor and manufacturer of on-demand, digitally produced labels, officially took the helm as DMIA's 2001-02 president. He replaced Daniel Siadak, CDC, president of RBF Inc., a distributorship based in Lansing, Mich.
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