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Annual Report 1998 |
1998 NAGASA Annual Meeting --
The Evolving Customer: New Channel Opportunities
Record-Breaking 1998 NAGASA Annual Meeting Focuses on the Evolving Customer
San Diego, CA, February 1998 -- NAGASA, the North American Graphic Arts Suppliers Association, has announced the results of its 1998 annual meeting. Held in La Jolla, California, from February 21-24, the meeting attracted 368 participants -- the largest attendance ever at a NAGASA meeting, said David J. Steinhardt, NAGASA president. Forum 98, as the meeting was called, included 81 first-time attendees. Overall, the attendees represented 71 dealer and VAR firms, 15 distributors and 91 manufacturers. Other firms represented included converters, manufacturers’ representatives, publishers and associations. The graphic arts dealers and VARs present represented more than $4 billion in sales. The meeting was chaired by four industry executives: Julius Hjulian, President and CEO, Texas Type Company, San Antonio, TX; James Keefe, Jr., Treasurer, Pre-Press Plus Printing Machinery Company, Amhurst, NH; William Rychel, President, Tekgraf Inc, Vernon Hills, IL; and Joe Thornhill, President, Taylor Impression, Memphis, TN.
The theme of the meeting was The Evolving Customer...New Channel Opportunities. Each of the three days of the meeting was devoted to a different aspect of the graphic arts distribution business.
• Dealer/reseller-manufacturer relationships were explored during the first day, with spirited exchanges among conference attendees.
• The needs of prepublishing and printing companies were the subject of the second day’s
events, with emphasis on how these customers are served by graphic arts distribution.
• Actual end users from corporate and commercial printers, publishers and advertising
agencies addressed the attendees on the third day, to discuss the future role of distribution.
Brian H. Kroot of Northeastern Graphics Supply, incoming NAGASA chair, commented: “The success of this -- the sixth annual meeting since NAGASA was formed -- is evident in the record-breaking attendance and the enthusiastic response to the issues addressed. The continued success of NAGASA programs demonstrate the determination of dealers, VARs and manufacturers to partner with and provide printers, trade services and emerging imaging companies with the supplies and equipment they need to remain competitive in today’s digital world.”
NAGASA will hold its 1999 Annual Meeting April 25-27 in Phoenix, Arizona.
NAGASA -- the North American Graphic Arts Suppliers Association -- is the largest trade association in the world representing the distribution channel in the graphic arts, printing and imaging industry. The NAGASA network of dealers, resellers, and VARs sells more than $4.5 billion of traditional and digital equipment and supplies within the total $6 billion industry channel. Representing more than 400 manufacturing, distribution and related firms, NAGASA is dedicated to developing a sound and growing business environment for its membership and advancing a channel of value added, quality products and services for channel customers.
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This year¹s welcoming event, Casino Nite, was a huge success. L-R, Lane Palmer of Western Lithotech/Mitsubishi Chemical and NAGASA Board Member Joe Thornhill of Taylor Impression try their hand at blackjack. |
L-R Newly elected Dealer/Reseller Vice President Kyle Walker and his brother Kent, of Walker Supply Company, share a handshake and a smile with Paul Baymore Sr. and Charles Magin, independent manufacturer representatives for Glunz & Jensen. |
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Pictured near the new NAGASA Trade Show Exhibit display, members got a chance to share breakfast and network each day before the start of the general sessions in the Member Services Area. |
Sunday¹s focus during Forum 98 centered on the relationship between dealers/resellers and manufacturers with members of NAGASA¹s Board of Directors presenting their views on the future of the channel. |
North American Graphic Arts Suppliers Association
NAGASA: 1604 New Hampshire Avenue NW - Washington, DC 20009
Voice 202-328-8441 - Fax 202-328-8513 - Email nagasa@smart.net
NAGASA © 1998