Options after print shows

Thinking about IPEX and The Print Show I am wondering about possible different directions. It seems there will be a Print show at the NEC in September 2018 and also an IPEX in 2019. Various comments show there is no support for another clash of two events close in time and space. ( Trust me I am a blogger, details and direct quotes maybe in a future version ). My guess is that the Print Show will be solid as a UK event with a regular update on info. Maybe no dramatic product launches but a definite local support base. For example Man Roland sheetfed this year had no equipment but many conversations.

Could IPEX go in a more speculative direction, more of a conference around digital and creative? Adobe on Creative Cloud showed other possible media. The BPIF is expanding the rangeof activity supported, especially by associates. I have been looking again at the keynote from Francois Martin.

When he says there is a choice between being a printer and being a service provider he may also identify a choice for a print show. After the 2014 IPEX  the Infoblog suggested that one option for IPEX would be

De-emphasizing its print focus and becoming more of a digital marketing & publishing event. It’s doubtful there is a large enough vendor community for this to make the event as big as IPEX once was; certainly not initially although it is a fast growing market. Besides, there are already some very sizeable marketing & publishing shows locally and some of the top vendors in this market (Adobe, Oracle, Salesforce.com, etc.) all organize their own customer events.

Something like this is still possible though it might mean less of an emphasis on floor space. Informa may be able to combine with other events.

There was not as much at IPEX about Cross Media as I had expected. Around 2014 there were events in Islington and a section for Cross Media Production. "OmniChannel" was mentioned by Ian Sulivan but only in passing or an optional word. My impression is that omnichannel is used by people in marketing so could be a link to print. Not sure yet how this would work as an event. Maybe it starts online. Alternatives to an annual show could be more often or less often.

There needs to be some sort of reality check on where UK print is now at as reflected by IPEX. The show met expectations but if attendance dropped by anything like the same percentage as last time then the scale is the news. I heard not much about newspapers but theere are significant developments. If Trinity Mirror buys the Express and also prints the Guardian there is a lot less working machinery. I welcome the positive views from Pat McGrew in the session about Print in Publishing but John Charnock might have given the same sort of description as for magazines and books. Maybe next time?

Slightly off topic but still about newspapers more or less, there is a contrast in social media and reporting so far.

The magazines I found seem to be aligned with specific shows or awards. Discussion on how it all fits together or not has yet to appear as far as I can tell, links welcome.

Comments interesting though, these on Printweek story about 2019 date.

Wm • a day ago
It might be time to rename it to avoid confusion. It is just a very small regional show now - it has nothing in common with the once mighty IPEX that we all nostalgically remember. DRUPA now has the European monopoly. Taking back control!!

steve • a day ago
Just Got back from a Morning At Ipex.
As someone who has been to every Ipex since the late 70's ( apart from last time in London) It was shocking to see how small it was. But saying that it was a well organised show, well layed-out and the people who took stands, seemed to be doing good business, and it was quite crowded by lunch time. Shame there was no Heidelberg, Komori, Indigo, Agfa or Xerox. There were only two proper presses as far as I could see, the Ryobi on the Apex Stand and The Presstek DI. Fair bit of Finishing kit and lots of bits and bobs of ancillary kit. Quite a few Foreign visitor's as well as far as I could tell. But its certainly not Ipex as we used to know it. But things change and certainly Print has changed it all recognition, in the last 20 years. So Ipex will have to evolve, or maybe just change the name, to avoiding being compared to past glories.

Ginger • 3 hours ago
I think it simply reflects the state of what is left of the trade now, for all the talk bigging up the industry, it is in a bit of a state now I'm afraid

Dave Bautista • 12 minutes ago
I have to agree with Wm, the show shouldn't be called IPEX. It was more a finishing show than a true "print" show as we have known over the years.
It did seems busy, but there was an awful lot of students there filling the gaps.
I hope the exhibitors did well and made some good business, because the costs to exhibit can't have been cheap.
I can't see how making it every two years will benefit anyone, other than the organisers. They could probably move its location to the NEC cloakroom if they do that! ;-)

Comment welcome, probably several versions of this text still to come.