CHESTNUT HILL, MA and CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI Canada — June 24, 2013 – The role of print in the marketing mix is changing. This coincides with a diffusion of responsibility for marketing and marketing decisions. As a result, print buying is changing. While many organizations still have “print buyers” whose primary—if not only—responsibility is purchasing print, increasingly it is not their primary function. In addition, print is purchased by other corporate professionals, such as marketers, for whom print is a small part of a larger project. How print is bought is also shifting. Print buyers are purchasing more print online, through internal corporate portals as well as directly with print providers.

What is it that these new print buyers want? Are they, in fact, interested in value-added services? And if so, which? What percentage of their time is spent on print-related activity?  What other responsibilities do they typically have? How has their corporate print budget changed in the past three years – and what will happen to it during the next three?

Margie Dana, founder of Print Buyers International who recently launched her new business at

Margiedana.com, and John Zarwan of J Zarwan Partners propose to answer these and other questions through a quantitative survey of print buyers in the U.S. as well as Canada. The collected responses will be aggregated and studied in order to build a Profile of the New Print Buyer.

This is the second survey conducted by Margie Dana recently. Last December, she did a quantitative survey of print buyers to reveal Key Trends & Sourcing Practices. This new survey goes deeper, polling buyers about their industries, where they source print, their salary ranges, and if other units in their organizations also buy print, among other questions.

“I’ve seen more changes in print buying during the past three years than in my entire 25-year career,” noted Dana, “and this study will help inform both printers and print buyers. It’s incredibly difficult to get this kind of key data about print buyers. The buyers who already know about this new study are especially interested in discovering career trends we’ll identify.”

This survey is open to professionals who source commercial printing for their employers, including print buyers, production managers, graphic designers and print brokers. Print service providers are not eligible to participate.

Those who do qualify for this research project are invited to contact either Margie Dana () or John Zarwan ( http://www.johnzarwan.com/contact.htm) for a link to the survey. Participants are eligible to win a $75 Amazon gift card or a copy of the just-released Enfocus Connect YOU software, a $99 value.

About Margie Dana

Long regarded as a print buyer expert and trade writer, Margie Dana launched her new business in 2013 as a marketing communications strategist with a specialty in printing and print buying. She is a sought-after presenter at trade shows and conferences and still writes her popular Print Tips newsletter each week. For details on her services and to sign up for Print Tips, visit margiedana.com.

About John Zarwan

J Zarwan Partners works closely with a limited number of companies, including printers, in addressing and managing change; market strategy and implementation; product planning and positioning; and market research. John Zarwan, founding partner, has been in the graphic arts, printing, and digital media industry for 30 years and is internationally recognized for his knowledge and insight on trends in the industry. He has spoken at major industry events and conferences around the world and his articles on print markets and technology have appeared in various print and web journals.

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For More Information

Margie Dana

Margiedana.com

E:

John Zarwan

J Zarwan Partners

E: http://www.johnzarwan.com/contact.htm