Future of Print Takes Center Stage at Book Business Conference & Expo

“I enjoyed my experience at the Book Business Conference and found the various print-on-demand seminars particularly helpful. It was beneficial to find out from other colleagues in publishing that they are experiencing similar challenges as our company, and also to hear about emerging trends and possible opportunities to meet the challenges within our industry,” says Joe Hillyer, associate director of manufacturing for Scholastic Inc. “For me, the conference acted as a catalyst to help set in motion some ideas that I’ve been thinking about, and that I believe will benefit my company.”

Publishing executives came from all over the country in search of fresh, revenue-generating tips and tactics, and real-life examples of the successes of their peers. “[The conference] was a gold mine of information,” says Gail Bock, production manager of the General Board of Discipleship, a religious publisher of books and magazines based in Nashville, Tenn. “The Book Business Conference and Expo was worth every penny of the registration fee. I will be back next year with every co-worker I can convince to come, too.”

Attendees also were there to shop for and learn about new publishing technologies, solutions and services—from book manufacturing, finishing and packaging services to publishing management and workflow software, digital solutions in printing and e-publishing, and much more.

“The Book Business show is the only show in town when it comes to reaching publishers, printers and paper manufacturers,” says Heath Frye, marketing manager of Glatfelter’s specialty papers business. “It is a one-stop shop, strategically located in the heart of the book publishing world—New York City.”

Last year, 87 percent of attendees said that information they obtained from vendors at the Book Business Expo would be used in purchasing decisions in the next six to 18 months, and 64 percent said they found new prospective vendors at the Book Business Expo. “With the high level of traffic at this year’s event and the wide range of exhibitors, we expect those numbers to be even higher for 2007,” says Mark Hertzog, vice president/group publisher of Book Business and the conference & expo.