PRESS
RELEASES
1996 NAGASA ANNUAL MEETING
SETS RECORDS
Washington, DC, April, 1996 - NAGASA, the North American Graphic Arts Suppliers Association, has announced that its 1996 annual meeting set several new records. Held in Palm Springs, California, from April 14-16, the meeting attracted a record 328 participants, up from 273 in 1995, said David J. Steinhardt, NAGASA president. Forum'96, as the meeting was called, included 109 first-time attendees, also a record. Overall, the attendees included 122 graphic arts dealer and VAR registrants representing 64 firms, and 168 manufacturer registrants representing 73 firms. Also attending were six converters, 20 distributors, three manufacturers' representatives, and nine publishers and associations. The graphic arts dealers and VARs present represented more than $3 billion in sales. The meeting was chaired by four industry executives: Robert Gourley, president, Heartland Imaging Companies; Douglas Johnston, director of sales, DuPont Printing & Publishing; Mark Kannenberg, president, RBP Chemical Corporation; and Mark Tarzian, president, Specialty Graphics Company. The theme of the meeting was Visioning Forward: Channel 2000.
The meeting was divided into distribution, sales and market segments, providing both graphic arts dealers and manufacturers with the opportunity to focus on various aspects of their operations. Distribution day keynote speaker James Mapes told the group how individuals and businesses can make a quantum leap in performance by making redefining their goals and environment. Sales day keynoter Danny Cox discussed how teamwork, sales success and high performance can break self-imposed professional barriers. James A. Caccavo, President of American Color, charged both resellers and manufacturers with responding to the changing customer marketplace in his Market day keynote. In addition, attendees heard industry consultants Arthur S. Goldberg and Robert L. Fitzpatrick discuss how graphic arts distribution can be expected to evolve.
On Distribution day, attendees heard various speakers discuss a recent NAGASA survey of dealer and VAR capabilities in computers and electronics, the changing role of the dealer and VAR at the customer level, keeping in touch with customers, making and keeping service profitable, and methods of emphasizing quality. Sales day subjects included strategies for electronic imaging sales, growing by acquisition or selling your business, sales force motivation and training, a new NAGASA model service and maintenance contract, and the implications of the World Wide Web. Market day seminars included a panel on the graphic communications market in the year 2000, how to stay in touch with customers, and a recap of 1995 in the distribution channel.
NAGASA Chair Richard M. Blair-who is president of Young Phillips, a large graphic arts dealer organization-said: "We are extremely gratified by the response to NAGASA programs and meetings by dealers, VARs and manufacturers. The fact that our 1996 meeting grew by more than 20 percent after our record-breaking 1995 meeting, indicates that NAGASA is meeting the needs of the industry. We are expanding our efforts to support the VAR channel which also reaches the graphic communications marketplace."
NAGASA will hold its 1997 Annual Meeting April 20-22, 1997, in Naples, Florida.
NAGASA-the North American Graphic Arts Suppliers Association-is the world's largest trade association representing graphic communications dealers, distributors, VARs and the manufacturers whose products they sell. Collectively, NAGASA members sell more than $2 billion of graphic communications equipment, supplies, systems, software and service each year. The association is an open, noncommercial, noncompetitive forum in which members can discuss issues critical to their individual businesses and the effectiveness of the marketing channel. With nearly 350 members, NAGASA produces programs which build stronger alliances and streamline costs and operations within the channel. Manufacturers are encouraged by the organization to sell products through the graphic communications distribution channel. In addition, the association produces technical and business performance information through standards, statistical, educational and publishing services.