The Imaging Centre’s free seminar scheme aims to support and inspire new publishers
Fancy being a publisher that impresses? Then the Imaging Centre’s brand-new InPress seminars scheme is a great place to start for newbies to the greeting card industry.
As a specialist greeting card digital printer, The Imaging Centre is set to kick off its monthly seminars where eight attendees will be walked through all the trials and tribulations of becoming a successful publisher – and see their cards come to life on the day.
As a taster for getting more involved with industry organisations such as The Ladder Club and GCA – which are both on board with this new scheme – The Imaging Centre managing director Adam Short wants to give newbies pointers to how they can get the best out of their designs and working collaboratively with their printers and suppliers.
“The Imaging Centre is here to support you, from thought to finish,” Adam told PG Buzz. “so, if you’re thinking of becoming a greeting card publisher get the best possible start in this inspirational and exciting industry by attending our InPress seminars.
“Our aim is to champion and evolve the greeting card industry so we’re launching our regular free seminars at our HQ in Marden, based around a variety of hot topics, giving a welcome into the wonderful world of greetings.
“With subjects from the environment and what the retailer wants, through to utilising technology to free up your design time, and making the dream a reality, at the end of the seminar, you will watch your greeting cards get produced ready for you to take home.”
The first seminar is scheduled for 15 September and will then be run in monthly intervals at The Imaging Centre’s base in Marden, Kent, where there is plenty of on-site parking or the factory is just a five-minute walk from Marden Station with direct links to London. The seminar programme is expected to be:
- 9.00-9.30 Welcome to The Imaging Centre – coffee, meet and greet.
- 9.30-10.00 Welcome to the industry – with GCA ceo Amanda Fergusson and Progressive Greetings magazine managing director and editor Jakki Brown.
- 10.00-10.30 Getting to know your suppliers, where do I start – hear from envelope manufacturers Enveco on why envelopes are an important addition, and why they always come first; picking the right board, with beautiful board specialists G.F Smith; and bringing it to life and seeing it in print with The Imaging Centre.
- 10.30-11.00 Getting creative and achieving the best results – greeting card publisher and creative advisor Janna Cossettini, from Deckled Edge, will help attendees set up their artwork to ensure they get the most out of their designs.
- 11.15-11.45 Life as a publisher – hear from Lanther Black, Poet And Painter and Toasted Crumpet, who will share their experiences of being a publisher and what they have learned along the way.
- 11.45-12.00 The importance of proofing – The Imaging Centre systems manager Stuart Blake will show attendees how to upload files and order proofs using the printer’s unique ordering platform ICS Simplicity.
- 12.00-12.130 What retailers want – independent retailer Albuquirky and greeting card chain Scribbler will explain exactly what they look for when buying cards for their stores, plus The Imaging Centre’s new business development manager Simon Davis will introduce IC Simplicity Retail.
- 12.30-13.00 Thinking green – The Imaging Centre operations director Jessica Short will talk attendees through the fulfilment options available to publishers, along with explaining how to work efficiently and effectively, and what everyone can do to help protect the environment and have a sustainable product.
- 13.00-13.15 We’re good to go – The Imaging Centre customer services manager Alan Miller will give attendees an insight into the printer’s unique offering, and walk people through placing a greeting card order.
- 13.15-14.00 Lunch – meet fellow publishers with The Imaging Centre team on hand to answer any questions.
- 14.00-14.45 See your order come to life – The Imaging Centre production manager Edward Starling will follow attendees and their designs through the production process and send them home with their own properly-printed greeting cards.
- 14.45-15.30 Next steps – Ladder Club information and Q&A in a chat over tea and coffee, with access to The Imaging Centre staff and speakers for any further advice on getting started.
- 15.30 Close.
To book a seminar space please visit www.theimagingcentre.co.uk.
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