Big Picture - January/February 2016 - (Page 2)

insight In Shape for 2016 W BIG PICTURE January/February 2016 e think of winter as the coldest, darkest months of the year. But did you know that our days start getting longer before winter even begins? This is true for every city in the Northern Hemisphere. Halfway through one of the warmest winters on record, we had the least daylight on December 21 last year. The reason for this incongruous effect is the Earth's ability to retain heat, which delays temperature drops until weeks after the solstice and, likewise, inhibits rising temperatures until after the equinox passes. Think of it like a delayed reaction. Light changes first, and temperatures follow. Regardless of light, or its lack, we find ourselves prompted by popular media, friends, and family to set resolutions at the beginning of each year. And then most of us give up on them and spend a week in mid-February feeling guilty. My advice? Forget the resolutions at home, and try practices you can stick with, starting in the workplace. Here are a few tips from Big Picture staffers, columnists, and board members: * Find your slowest department. Find your bottleneck. Find where written or unwritten orders - or the work in progress on partially completed jobs - are waiting for action, and fi x them. * Diversify. Most of what large-format printers offer is a commodity. Look for ways to be different, whether it's acquiring machinery that allows you to route or laser cut, or looking into digital signage. * Invest in web-to-print. Pick a system that allows you to begin relatively small (building a customerfriendly user interface that also streamlines your order entry, for example) and allows you to automate sales, marketing, and production over time. * Buy a nice camera or occasionally hire a photographer to showcase your work. It's to your benefit to be able to self-market and say, "Look at the amazing work we did!" Graphics are visual communications, after all. Oh - and instead of resolutions? Try making small, incremental, permanent shifts in your lifestyle. Rather than dieting, eat more healthy foods; rather than planning to exercise, walk for a few minutes a day. Studies show that small, gradual changes and a self-forgiving mindset stick much better. While I applaud the 16 percent of Americans, according to a Nielsen poll, who opted out of the resolution rat race and set no goals at all, that only goes so far. To help you shape the coming year, we've compiled a set of essays penned by industry suppliers in our inaugural Big Picture Ideas issue. These are voices from behind the scenes in manufacturing, the people who take your fears and frustrations and then dream up tomorrow's technology - printers, software, inks, substrates, and other products that help you stay in motion. Whether you're in the cynical 16 percent or the optimistic 84, their words will shape your next 12 months. 2 BY ROBIN DONOVAN, editor-in-chief Thanks to Terry Corman, Steve Duccilli, Brandon Gabriel, Kiersten Wones, and Beth Osborne for contributing to this month's tips. 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 2016, 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: Big Picture, P.O. Box 1060, Skokie, IL 60076. Change of address: Send old address label along with new address to Big Picture, P.O. Box 1060, Skokie, IL 60076. bigpicture.net EDITORIAL Robin Donovan Editor-in-Chief robin.donovan@stmediagroup.com Adrienne Palmer Managing Editor adrienne.palmer@stmediagroup.com Kiersten Wones Assistant Editor kiersten.wones@stmediagroup.com Kathleen DeZarn Art Director kathy.dezarn@stmediagroup.com Marty McGhie, Craig Miller, Beth Osborne 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 Senior Market Strategist East and Midwest US, E Canada 800/654-5169 lou.arneberg@stmediagroup.com Jim Karwowski Senior Market Strategist West and South US, W Canada, Europe, Asia 630/474-4038 jim.karwowski@stmediagroup.com Karen Jones Senior Market Strategist GA, NC, SC, Classiﬁeds 843/697-3802 karen.jones@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 (847) 763-4938, tbp@halldata.com bigpicture.net/subscribe bigpicture.net/renew 11262 Cornell Park Drive Cincinnati, OH 45242 tel (513) 421-2050 http://www.bigpicture.net http://www.bigpicture.net/subscribe http://www.bigpicture.net/renew

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Big Picture - January/February 2016

Big Picture - January/February 2016
Contents
Insight
Upfront
Business + Management
ITMA's Textile Innovations – and the Future They Suggest
Ideas
R+D
Job Log

Big Picture - January/February 2016