The Big Picture - January/February 2014 - (Page 2)

insight by Gregory Sharpless www.bigpicture.net EDITORIAL Gregory Sharpless editor-in-Chief gregory.sharpless@stmediagroup.com Adrienne Palmer associate editor adrienne.palmer@stmediagroup.com The Big Chill As I begin writing this, southwestern Ohio - where The Big Picture is headquartered - is experiencing the ramifications of Winter Storm Ion and the polar vortex. Although we aren't expected to set any records here (unlike some cities), today's high temperature will only reach 0 degrees Fahrenheit, and the temperature tonight is expected to drop to well into the negatives, with wind chills that are bone-freezing. We're not alone: Nearly 50 percent of the country is experiencing temperatures of 0 degrees Fahrenheit or below. And now, as this editorial is completed, it's been verified that Monday, January 6 proved to be the coldest day nationwide of the 21st century, as well as the 40th-coldest day on record since 1900 for the continental US, according to the Weather Channel. I don't know how you deal with this sort of assault by Mother Nature, but I strive to keep in mind this thought: It can't stay this way forever. In fact, in a few days, the temperatures are forecast to rise to near 50, which is practically balmy in comparison. The same holds true for business when it's going bad, of course: It can't stay that way forever. Just as with the weather, there are peaks and valleys. It simply becomes a matter of how long you can "hold out" when you're in one of those economic valleys. Can you outlast the storm? Don't forget: Just as there are ways to protect your house, your car, and your body from sub-zero weather - let your faucet drip, utilize an oil-pan heater, bundle yourself in multiple layers before heading out - there are also ways to protect your business from economic assaults. We've engineered our FOCUS section, which begins on page 14, to help you do just that. Industry suppliers, organizations, and associations have provided their take on seven specific marketplace issues: sustainability, output and production efficiencies, new technology, workflow and color management, innovative applications, shop training, and employee hiring. The information you'll find here should help you be better prepared for any business troughs that might be on the horizon. This issue of The Big Picture is scheduled to hit your mailboxes in early February. Mother Nature will still have another few weeks of winter arrows left in her quiver - let's hope she's a poor shot. Here's to a profitable 2014! Kathleen DeZarn art Director kathy.dezarn@stmediagroup.com Marty McGhie, Craig Miller, Jared Smith Columnists Rick Bachelder, Kathy Boydstun, Terry Corman, Scott Crosby, Brandon Gabriel, Michael Garcia, Kirk Green, Robert Kissel, Tina McLaughlin, Craig Miller, Carmen Rad, Greg Root, Jared Smith, Mark Taylor editorial advisory board SALES Murray Kasmenn Senior VP/Group Publisher 770/578-2577 murray.kasmenn@stmediagroup.com Lou Arneberg business Development Manager east and Midwest uS, e Canada 800/654-5169 lou.arneberg@stmediagroup.com Ben Stauss business Development Manager West and South uS, W Canada, europe, asia 513/263-9363 ben.stauss@stmediagroup.com Linda Volz Production Supervisor linda.volz@stmediagroup.com Tedd Swormstedt President Steve Duccilli Senior VP of Content Christine Baloga audience Development Director Kari Freudenberger Director, Online Media Subscription Services/ Copies/Back Issues (847) 763-4938 tbp@halldata.com bigpicture.net/subscribe bigpicture.net/renew THe bIG PICTure (ISSn 1082-9660) is published 9 times annually (Jan/feb, March, april, May, June/July, august, September, October, nov/Dec) by ST Media Group International Inc., 11262 Cornell Park Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45242-1812. Telephone: (513) 421-2050, fax: (513) 362-0317. no charge for subscriptions to qualified individuals. annual rate for subscriptions to non-qualified individuals in the u.S.a.: $46 uSD. annual rate for subscriptions in Canada: $77 uSD (includes GST & postage); all other countries: $101 (Int'l mail) payable in u.S. funds. Printed in the u.S.a. Copyright 2014, by ST Media Group International Inc. all rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the consent of the publisher. The publisher is not responsible for product claims and representations. Periodicals Postage Paid at Cincinnati, OH and at additional mailing offices. POSTMaSTer: Send address changes to: The big Picture, P.O. box 1060, Skokie, IL 60076. Change of address: Send old address label along with new address to The big Picture, P.O. box 1060, Skokie, IL 60076. 2 THE BIG PICTURE January/february 2014 11262 Cornell Park Drive Cincinnati, OH 45242 tel (513) 421-2050 fax (513) 421-5144 http://www.bigpicture.net http://www.bigpicture.net/subscribe http://www.bigpicture.net/renew

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Big Picture - January/February 2014

The Big Picture - January/February 2014
Contents
InSight
Wide Angle
Up Front
Graphics on the Go
Dynamic Signage: The Importance of Location and Content
Special Section: FOCUS 2014
From the Show Floor: SGIA and Print13
Explorer

The Big Picture - January/February 2014