The upheaval in publishing and digital printing

On 28 June at Malesherbes (Loiret - 45), Interforum - the Editis group's distribution subsidiary - presented an innovative project destined to revolutionise the publishing sector. The Copernics project was unveiled with great fanfare to publishers, booksellers and other book professionals.
A world first in the digital printing sector. The Copernics project is led by EPAC SYSTEMS, a Californian company.

The Copernics project

The Copernics project is an advanced programme combining technological innovation and complete control of the book distribution and circulation circuit. The programme includes a robotised book printing system.

Implementation is simple. A book is ordered from anywhere in the country. It is then manufactured and dispatched on the same day as the order is placed. The programme is therefore a response to the current problem of overproduction and overstocking of books.

Copernics makes it possible to reduce overproduction, and therefore the number of unsold books and the need to transport large quantities of books. Productions are often poorly evaluated. The quality of the print remains the same. This project presents itself as an alternative to industrial production.

With this system, it would be possible to print almost 15,000 books a day, i.e. around one book every 4 seconds.
The aim of the project is to meet demand, produce books in small quantities (less than 3,000 copies) and respond quickly to requests for reprints.

The Copernics project is part of an eco-responsible approach, and represents a break with the traditional printing model. It places the reader at the heart of the system. Printing is subordinate to the act of selling, rather than the other way round.

It's an innovation that could well turn the printing industry and printers on their head. The project is targeting a market share of between 8% and 10% by volume in the sector.

CEOs involved in the graphics industry

The Corpernics project was echoed at the 200th anniversary of Koenig & Bauer in Würzburg, Germany, on 23 September. At the event, three CEOs of graphics companies spoke about the future of the industry in front of nearly 650 guests from all over the world. 3 themes were addressed. Axel Hentrei, CEO of Bertelsmann Printing Group, spoke about the media sector and the significant impact of online services on the printing of materials commonly used by businesses: brochures, catalogues, magazines and advertising.

The CEO stressed the need to move towards automated production and digital printing.

The packaging sector was addressed by a packaging professional, Hans Schur, owner and CEO of the Danish group Schur International. This expert underlined the essential role of packaging in extending the shelf life of certain foodstuffs. A major factor in the current context of demographic expansion.

Finally, Ralf Wintergerst, CEO of Giesecke+Devrient in Munich, addressed the subject of safety. The CEO of Giesecke+Devrient, which manufactures banknotes and electronic payment systems, spoke about the risks of cybercrime and the various ways of countering them.

These are encouraging signs for the future of the graphics industry.


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Should paper still be considered the bête noire of sustainable development?

Paper, the victim of many inaccurate claims

We've all heard of companies that have embarked on the "paperless" trend. The aim is to protect the environment and promote sustainable development. Many of them have proliferated and relayed sometimes inaccurate statements about the use of paper in everyday life and its harmful impact on the environment.

Are these campaigns against the use of paper well-directed? Or are they the result of myths obscuring reality?
Many of these false claims are based on the premise that cutting down trees destroys forests and harms the environment. To create paper, you need wood, which is obtained by cutting down trees, working them and transforming them. But not just any old way.

However, as part ofsustainable forest management and development, it is beneficial to remove some of the trees and replant new ones. This allows properly managedforests to expand and become denser. Furthermore, digital communication is far from neutral in terms of its impact on the environment.

Is 100% digital possible and really beneficial?

It's difficult for a company to switch completely from paper to digital. It requires employees to change their habits and set up a completely new organisation. What's more, consumers have to approve and follow this change, which is not as ecologically sustainable as it might seem. Information and communication technologies generate the world's sixth largest demand for electricity.

Paper remains the preferred medium for consumers, and its use is still firmly entrenched in their habits. Many of them don't have the reflex or the inclination to go through their e-mails to find out about company advertising and information. The most frequently consulted advertisements are still those we receive in paper format in our letterboxes.

Paper and digital both have a role to play in thefuture of sustainable development. And the "paperless" objective is still very difficult for companies to achieve. The TWO SIDES organisation has proved that it is not as effective as previously thought.

Studies point the finger at poor information in companies

Studies carried out by TWO SIDES, a global organisation dedicated to debunking these inaccurate claims, prove that companies are communicating poorly on this aspect of sustainable development. According to the initiative, 78% of the companies surveyed run campaigns that include false information about the effects of using paper.

TWO SIDES succeeded in persuading 61% of global companies to stop spreading environmental misinformation. It is necessary to act today in the interests of sustainable development and the conservation of resources. So paper has become the scapegoat for a much more global and complex problem.

All the surveys are available on the association's website.


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Towards responsible packaging design

The eleventh Pentawards were held in Barcelona, Spain, on 23 September. This prestigious international competition is dedicated to packaging design. In parallel with this event, the Carton Awards 2017, organised by ProCarton, rewarded the best designers of the future in carton packaging. These two events reflect a general desire to move towards packaging that is both stylish and responsible.

The Pentawards, a global competition dedicated to Packaging Design

The Pentawards were created in January 2007. The event is devoted exclusively to packaging design, whatever the form. The competition is international in scope, and is open to all those involved in creating and marketing packaging. The Pentawards promote the reputation and image of packaging design. They also promote the work of those who create packaging.

To reflect the international dimension of the event, the Pentawards are held each year in a different city in Europe, Asia or the Americas. No fewer than fifty-five product categories are judged by an international jury made up of twelve designers and packaging managers from leading companies. The projects are studied carefully, and grouped into comparable categories. The jury makes its choice based on the creativity of the project and its marketing relevance. The winners are awarded the bronze, silver, gold, platinum or diamond Pentawards. This event is an opportunity for players in the sector to meet and discuss the latest projects and innovations. The official closing ceremony presents the prestigious awards, guaranteeing international recognition in terms of innovation and expertise.

For this 2017 edition, no fewer than 300 designers and brands gathered in Barcelona. This year's event was a real success, with attendance up 10% on 2016. In fact, the event counted over 2,000 entries this year.

The Best of the Show - Diamond Pentaward 2017 went to the packaging created by designer Philippe Starck. The 2017 Platinum Drinks prize went to Ryuta Ishikawa (Japan) for his Kirinzan bottle. And the Platinum Food 2017 went to Infinito (Peru) for its Candela Chocolate packaging.

The Pro Carton Young Designers Award 2017

The 2017 edition of the Pro Carton Young Designer Award highlighted the talents of tomorrow. 46 design schools from 16 different countries worked on this new edition. Once again, the competition was a great success, with double the number of entries compared to 2016. This year, the jury underlined the excellent standard of the candidates. The focus was on the sustainability of packaging. The Creative Cardboard Packaging prize was won by Marie Falk, Lisa Dahlström and Henrik Bergqvist from Sweden for their organic shampoo packaging. An alternative to plastic packaging. Semih Arslan, from Turkey, won the Creative Cardboard Ideas prize for his Dip & Eat Box packaging. A cardboard container with two compartments.

These are positive events for the future of carton packaging, as they demonstrate a shared commitment to sustainable development.


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Marketplaces losing out on customer satisfaction?

The Goncourt Prize on Amazon, a discounted washing machine on C-Discount, that adorable alpaca jumper on La Redoute, or the latest fashion cap at a bargain price on Ebay... Marketplaces are now an integral part of our shopping landscape. Combined with this new connected era, these platforms respond to the omnipresent need for "Everything, right away". And, ideally, "Cheap". The bête noires of small shops, these giant platforms are the absolute business benchmark.
These marketplaces do not have a street-front presence, so they rely entirely on their virtual community, and therefore on customer satisfaction, which is a key factor. But what is the reality?

Is overall satisfaction falling?

The latest Insightelling infographic (a blogzine specialising in customer reviews) compares customer experience and satisfaction in the 2017 summer sales with the 2016 summer sales on generalist marketplaces.

Six marketplaces were studied: Amazon, Cdiscount, Fnac, La Redoute, PriceMinister and Rue du Commerce. It turns out that from one year to the next, customer satisfaction is declining. Out of 39,000 consumers from various sources on the social web, overall satisfaction fell from 70% in 2016 to 41% in 2017. This finding is based on key criteria such as price, product availability, delivery, choice and after-sales service.

While customer satisfaction remains stable when it comes to the act of buying, delivery and after-sales service, it has fallen significantly when it comes to the price, choice and availability of items offered by marketplaces.

The best score in 2017 was for the act of purchase, with a satisfaction rate of 60%. In 2016, it was price that came top.

What can we learn from this? While the act of buying still satisfies a majority of online shoppers, the service offered by the marketplace is clearly in decline.

The success and future of marketplaces

The principle of a marketplace is to bring together buyers and sellers in a virtual space. This relationship involves an act of buying online in a secure environment, so a relationship based on trust is essential. Transparency and security are essential, and a sine qua non for the act of buying. And therefore of customer satisfaction.

A good image, customer loyalty, a network and rigour are key factors in the success of marketplaces.

Marketplaces are winning over a large number of e-commerce sites, which see them as a key to long-term development, guaranteeing visibility for their products and their sites.
Product visibility, ease of purchase and order tracking are essential assets for potential buyers. As are the simple returns and refund procedures. These marketplaces meet today's need for rapid satisfaction.

Marketplaces are revolutionising the digital commerce landscape. They fit in perfectly with the current trend towards online living.

Even if an online purchase does not replace a visit to your local shop, it does have the undeniable advantage of being fast and reliable. The online shopping trend is not about to run out of steam.


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Antalis Interior Design Aword Competition: The meeting place for design professionals

This new international competition is open to all design professionals, giving them the chance to showcase their work and share their creativity through projects based on products from the Antalis Coala range.

This innovative competition brings together designers, architects, decorators, advertisers, printers and graphic artists.
Creations can be submitted online on the Antalis Interior Design Award website until 31 December 2017.

A competition that honours all forms of Design art with an exceptional Jury

During this unique competition, several areas of expertise will be represented. There will be original and exclusive designs for restaurants, shops, hotels, offices, housing and public places.

3D mock-ups are encouraged and welcome to showcase the graphic designs prepared.
The best projects will be awarded prizes after deliberation by the Jury, made up of experts and chaired by Mr François Confino, the director of the Confino studio, who is very involved in cultural life and the arts. He has carried out numerous projects for a number of prestigious museums, and created the Cités-Cinés exhibition, as well as the Charlie Chaplin Museum.

Several countries will be represented on the Jury Committee: Karin Schmitz for Germany, Damien Perrot, Bénédicte Duhalde and Agnès Lafarge for France, Aneel Kalsi for England and Jon Sherman for the United States.

What will the winners of this design competition win?

The most innovative projects will be rewarded and publicised in various ways, including on Antalis' social networks.
The winners will have the pleasure and privilege of appearing in the press magazines Wallpaper and Intramuros.

But that's not all: we'll also have the chance to find the most beautiful creations and their authors in a book that will be published in 10,000 copies.
Six winning projects will receive a prize, specific to the category represented, and two 3D projects will receive a financial grant.
Finally, the project that is most appreciated by Internet users on the Antalis website will also receive a prize.

Why take part in this Interior Design competition?

The Antalis Interior Design Aword competition is an incredible opportunity for everyone to showcase their talent, while increasing their visibility and chances of meeting new people.

Architects, interior designers and printers will all be able to take advantage of this opportunity to make places sublime and enhance living spaces.
All the interior design professionals, graphic designers and architects will be showcasing their best work, in the hope of winning over the Jury and Internet users.

Antalis is Europe's leading distributor of packaging solutions and visual communication media.

Antalis is first and foremost Europe's leading distributor of paper products. This renowned distributor offers packaging and digital communication solutions.


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Customer loyalty: the key to a company's success

In order to develop sustainably and build profits over the long term, a company needs to get the best out of its business. Customers are the basis of these profits. They are the ones who decide whether or not a company will survive. So it's a question of winning them over, but above all of keeping them. Competition is fierce, and it's easy to find similar offers from the competition these days. Building customer loyalty is an essential step in a company's development.

Building customer loyalty is essential to any business

The priority when a company is expanding is to find new customers. We talk about prospecting and acquiring new customers. It is this acquisition that will stimulate the company's growth, dynamism and attractiveness.

However, it's not just a question of winning over a customer. Competitors have a vast and often inventive range of products and services to offer. The difficulty lies in knowing how to keep customers, before they turn to other competitors. This is known as churn.

Measuring the churn rate is essential for any business. It enables the company to target customers' exact needs and expectations, so that it can offer them the most appropriate solutions. With satisfied customers, the company can significantly reduce its churn rate.

It's all about looking at each customer individually. Getting to know your customers better means adapting to each one.
It is advisable for the company to take regular stock of its customer loyalty rate. The company will choose a precise period, then establish the number of customers acquired before, during and at the end of this given period.

How can you increase your customer loyalty rate?

Once the customer retention rate has been determined, the company needs to establish a strategy based on the results obtained. The aim is to increase the customer retention rate. To do this, it is advisable to get to know your customers as well as possible. A satisfied customer is a customer who trusts you and comes back, often even increasing their shopping basket and talking to others.

The company can use social networks, surveys, feedback from the field, or any other channel that can provide feedback from customers.

A company's customer service is also a key factor. A service that listens and reacts will be preferred by customers.

Customer support (or the onboarding process) is an essential development stage. A customer who signs up should not be ignored, but rather supported and monitored.
A personalised offer will also be an important vector for satisfaction and development.

Finally, the company's image is crucial. The company must convey strong values, which will contribute to its brand image. Customers will want to stay with values they identify with and believe in. This can also lead to the creation of a community. The community is a key factor. Customer members are a company's best ambassadors. They are in a position to pass on messages, and ultimately carry out a certain form of prospecting.

Beyond prospecting, building customer loyalty remains a key element of growth, and must be a strategic priority for the company.


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L'objet publicitaire

Promotional items: a lower marketing budget for a lasting return on investment

The importance of promotional items in the marketing process

Marketing techniques and sales aids are very varied and very open. However, some marketing approaches are more effective and more profitable than others. The creation ofpromotional items is a highly effective way of building customer loyalty or creating new ones. Personalised corporate gifts are still an effective and economical way of getting a real return on investment from your marketing efforts, compared with all the other new products of their kind.

Why should a company continue to rely on gifts as a way of raising its profile?

For some specialists in the field, personalised corporate gifts might appear to be a 'classic' method of developing marketing loyalty. Despite the term "classic", which might give an outdated image, personalised business gifts remain a sure-fire way of building good customer relations.

Personalised promotional items can be slipped in anywhere and can be found in every nook and cranny of your customer's desk. Whether it's a pen, a personalised diary or a calendar bearing your company's logo, the item is part of your customer's daily working environment. A diary can be carried and consulted, a pen can be borrowed and in the simplest way possible, your image linked to your company's promotional item gains in visibility.
Much more than just an advertising campaign, the object offered by your company is not just one of many campaigns in your customer's mind, but is part of a multi-daily use. Thanks to the promotional item, your company "lives" in your customers' immediate environment.

The return on investment generated by the creation of personalised advertising objects compared with other marketing techniques

Of course, promotional items have a strong commercial impact because of their permanent presence in your customer's world, unlike advertising campaigns that focus on an immediate but not lasting effect. By having a constant presence in the world of its target customers, the promotional item repeats its message continuously, whereas simple advertising is heard only once.
What's more, the positive, lasting impact ofpromotional items is also much more economical than other marketing techniques. For example, advertising in media such as magazines, newspapers or radio, as well as television advertising, are much more expensive than a marketing campaign based on advertising objects. For a message that will only be ephemeral compared with a quality promotional item such as a diary or calendar, which will be useful, and therefore visible, throughout the year.
Clearly, the return on investment from an approach such as the creation of personalised advertising objects will be all the more attractive because its initial cost is much lower than that of another advertising medium. The return on investment from the campaign will be calculated not on the basis of a single marketing "hit" but over a much longer period of visibility and publicity, which means positive commercial results in the short term as well as in the medium and long term.
Launching a marketing campaign based on the creation of personalised objects would therefore be an effective and economical way of influencing the image given by your company to your customers or prospects. By focusing on the quality of the advertising products offered, your company will influence the positive impact it creates for its customers, as well as ensuring a reliable return on investment over the long term rather than just the short term.
Margy Consultants, a leader in the personalised advertising object market, will offer you quality commercial support adapted to the commercial message you wish to convey.


For more details, see the article"Who is Margy Imprimeur?


Visible printing: the priority for digital marketing

Non-visible impressions, the bête noire of digital marketing

Visibility has long been the cornerstone of marketing for businesses.
Now, however, what are known as "hidden impressions" are the most feared phenomenon among advertisers, printing companies and publishing agencies. This dilemma has grown and is alarming advertisers.
These impressions are produced by the fraudulent actions of a few players in the value chain.

They have become so widespread that they account for between 40 and 60% of all advertising impressions.
These practices are a huge waste of money. To counter this waste, the digital marketing ecosystem has launched a "visibility indicator", which will be applied to all media. Digital advertising is currently an important channel for boosting a brand's image. The aim of these so-called "branding" campaigns is to arouse the interest and even raise the awareness of Internet users. The practice, based on immediate response processes, needs to evolve and adapt to today's customer base, to focus on the audience, engagement, sympathy and awareness, etc.

Publishers and advertisers are reacting to these changes. Publishers are monetising their content (improving ad loading times), and the amount advertisers are spending on advertising, combined with more expensive formats, has led to a rise in average CPM prices, encouraging fraud.

For manufacturers, the challenge is to reach the 100% visibility threshold. However, visibility is not enough, because visibility is seen as a prerequisite, and it is not a marketing objective, because advertisers spend to be seen. The ultimate goal is to trigger sales, not to place a large number of advertisements. A brand must be able to take risks and influence consumer behaviour, so advertising must contain a relevant and convincing message above all else.

Digital marketing: the spearhead of marketing strategy

For 2017, the priority for marketers is digital marketing, and also the semantic extension of digital marketing. There is a panoply of tools available and unlimited possibilities, and the value chain is very close to digital marketing, a real fusion of the two worlds.

This evolution is necessary because of changes in buying behaviour and the expectations of B2B decision-makers. Approaches such as social selling are helping to adapt to these new habits and trends. Companies and marketers are adapting to the challenges of the digital revolution. Social selling: a new promotional tool and an opportunity generator, according to professionals. Meeting high expectations in terms of personalisation, responsiveness, proximity and authenticity is the key to delivering the "best customer experience".

Digital culture: a pillar of marketing

This concept is essential to the marketing profession. Digital marketing is 100% integrated into a company's overall strategy. The skills currently required include mastery of analysis tools and social networks, data management, marketing automation, SEO, writing skills, big data solutions, etc. This evolution is leading to the emergence of new skills, for example, current marketing practices must include the activities of community managers.

New marketing tools such as ABM are helping to align sales and recognition.

Digital gives us the opportunity to track interactions with the audience, quotes, likes, shares on social networks, unique visitors. The audience can be qualified by IP tracking. The Marketing Director must use objective KPIs that are measurable and achievable, while respecting budgets.


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52Typo: The best of typography in 52 stories about typefaces and graphic design

Typography is a bit like drawing. It is an integral part of a desire to create a harmonious visual on a handwritten medium.

52Typo is a book that tells 52 stories of typography and graphic design from around the world.

The book 52typo , published by Pyramyd, introduces readers to 52 new chronicles on the subject of different typefaces, embossed shapes and graphic design in general.

It has been published in partnership with the International Typographic Association to present the latest in graphic design. Some columns question the value of continuing to research the creation of new fonts, while others focus on selections of recent fonts.

This is an informative book that will undoubtedly please graphic designers, typographers and anyone with an interest in the graphic arts. It is a good handbook for professional designers and students looking to explore trends and ideas.

It's an invitation to travel through texts, each more original than the last, where you'll learn lots of useful and fascinating things.

These stories are in fact variations on the 365Typo book, offering reports on the profession, reviews of important events and analyses of how the industry will evolve in the future.

This exceptional multi-authored work was produced with the help of Robert Castel, Christophe Aguiton Pierre Dardot, Christian Laval, Bastien François, Arnaud Lechevalier, Lilian Mathieu, Frédéric Lordon, Camille Peugny, Emmanuel Renault, Yves Sintomer, Alain Supiot and Gérard Mordillat.

Spotlight on some of the stories in the book 52Typo

52Typo covers a wide range of topics, including the calendar of worldwide cultural events related to typography, new typefaces created recently, and some of the works that have left their mark on the typography sector.

What about "reading in pictures" the incredible Floating Letters project?

This chronicle of shimmering hues showcases the colourful letters painted on boats in the Amazon region.

You can also venture into the heart of a story about foundries and the emergence of new typefaces in the Czech Republic, or read about the creation of a typeface that finds inspiration in the enamel number plates on the streets of Buenos Aires.

Chronicle number 6 presents a book of lettering models from the Netherlands, aimed at professionals so that they can reproduce these typefaces.

Column 24 was created to bring together women typographers around this text, following numerous comments from Internet users about the lack of representation of women at lively conferences on typography.

52Typo takes us on an exciting journey around the world, from Iran to the United States and beyond, to meet type designers, typefaces, illustrations, festivals and exhibitions.


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Powercoat, the paper of the future?

These days, everyone is connected. It's becoming difficult, if not almost impossible, to do without a smartphone, tablet or other accessory that connects us to reality. All our activities are following the trend, going increasingly digital.
And yet there remains one unchanging medium that has survived the centuries and decades without going out of fashion: paper.
It was time for this medium to follow the trend, without being distorted. Today, Arjowiggins Creative Papers is giving paper a new lease of life with the development of Powercoat, the connected paper. A new step towards dematerialisation.

Powercoat, the benchmark for connected paper

Distributed by Antalis - Europe's leading distributor of paper, packaging solutions and visual communication products for professionals - Powercoat is Arjowiggins' benchmark brand.
The Powercoat range has been conceived and designed to match the new digital trend. The challenges of digital, technology and security are evolving, so it made sense to adapt. This paper fits in with the current movement, while retaining its specific features that make it a unique paper range. It has an extremely wide range of applications, opening up a host of opportunities.

More about Powercoat

Powercoat is a connected object. In other words, it is equipped with technologies linking it to the Internet. Thanks to this access to the Web, it can concentrate and transmit data. This famous data is invaluable to marketing, which can concentrate information specific to each Internet user (location, tastes, interests, etc.).
The Powercoat will display data when consumers hold their smartphones in front of the paper. An NFC chip is integrated into this connected paper, which will establish the link between the paper and the smartphone. The consumer will access an application that provides different types of content.

A wide range of products

To meet all expectations, the Powercoat range is divided into 6 categories. Powercoat® Alive 2-up, Powercoat® Alive 4-up, Powercoat® Alive 25-up, Powercoat® Alive Labels, Powercoat® Bespoke products and Powercoat® Smartcore. Each category meets specific needs and requirements.

Why use connected paper?

Powercoat connected paper is aimed primarily at press and marketing professionals. This new technology focuses on interactivity with readers and consumers through content.
Brands can use data to gather information about their readers, enabling them to target their marketing strategies more effectively.
The emergence of this connected paper will multiply the opportunities for businesses.

This evolution of paper marks a significant step in the digitalisation and connection of our daily lives. Paper is coming to life, becoming a genuine communication tool. A new lease of life for this timeless medium. All that's left to do is choose from the wide range of Powercoat products offered by Antalis.


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