One of the fun things about the Communication industry is that there are so many amazing solutions for those who have the job of creating effective conversations with their customers. Whether the mission is to create great solicitations that get higher-than-average response rates or customer care communication in the form of bills, statements, regulatory notices and other essential documents, sometimes a trade show provides the much needed injection of new ideas. Print'09, September 11-16 at McCormack in Chicago, could be just that show. From the current exhibit map it looks like the hardware and software providers will be out in force which should provide a chance to pick up new marketing ideas, new delivery ideas, and new thoughts on how data plays in the communication strategy!

You do have a customer communication strategy, don't you? A comprehensive view of how you want to communicate with your customers, inform them about your products and services, and keep your brand top of mind with them? It's a tough job these days no matter what industry you work in since there is so much competition for mindshare. From banks to car dealers, hospitals to hotels, the challenges for those in charge of acquiring new customers and retaining existing ones are immense. A strategy help define the framework so that the marketing teams and product owners can work in unison and optimize their customer communication costs.

Curious about how this works? We hope you'll come to the Kodak booth at Print '09 where solutions teams will be waiting to answer your questions! Come find me there - I'll be Twittering and updating Facebook during the show!

Budgets are tight, travel is limited, but there are still a variety of education opportunities that warrant your attention. This week in Boston the TransPromo Summit kicks off and we'll be there, blogging and tweeting, to help spread the value proposition of better customer communication.

In reality, TransPromo is just a buzz word. It doesn't do anything but allow us to start a conversation about better practices in customer communication. The value of the TransPromo Summit for the past few years is that it has attracted folks who we often get a chance to talk to and given us the opportunity to talk to them about the power of using customer data to create a richer and more encompassing customer experience.  The plan for this year is to continue that conversation with an even wider group of attendees.

As part of the advisory board for the event, Kodak and the other board members worked with InfoTrends to continue to tune the content to the needs of the market. In addition, with input from The Outsourcing Institute and the CMO Council, there is more than just a vendor perspective reflected in the agenda. You'll see an emphasis on planning for a change in your customer communication strategy and on the how-to side of executing a data-driven customer communication strategy.

If you are in Boston, come join us!  It's not too late. The registration link is:

http://www.infotrends.com/public/Content/Events/TransPromo09/registernow.html

Or, just drop in. You'll find us at:

Hyatt Regency Boston
One Avenue de Lafayette,
Boston, Massachusetts, USA 02111
Tel: +1 617 912 1234 Fax: +1 617 451 2198
Maps & Directions

Catch up with me, Marc Johnson and the rest of the Kodak team! And, watch this space as we blog from the event!

What an exciting time to be in the graphic communications business! Kodak recently kicked off PRINT 09 Media Days in Chicago, sharing our latest news and plans for the September show. It was a great experience and one that allowed us to not only talk about new product and technology developments at Kodak, but also the way we constantly focus on customer needs.

From Kodak's Prosper S10 Imprinting System to InSite Campaign Manager to the Flexcel NX Digital Flexographic System, we are always working to provide application-focused solutions that give value to our customers and their clients. For our customers, that means greater production efficiencies and new revenue opportunities. And for their clients, it means greater return on marketing investment (ROMI).

Kodak solutions enable those in commercial print, data print, publishing, and packaging to stand out in the marketplace and offer their clients a valuable mix of printing and marketing services.



Like all businesses today, the graphic communications market has experienced unprecedented challenges. However, with challenge comes opportunity, and we see many print service providers transforming their businesses and working harder than ever to understand and meet the needs of their clients. That often means adding innovative solutions that bring them - and their clients - added value and return on investment. Print is changing, but it still plays a critical role in marketing and is a powerful component of today's communications mix.

I feel it's Kodak's responsibility to provide the solutions and support our customers need to be more efficient, more profitable, and more empowered. Nothing energizes me and our team more than making sure Kodak is, and will always be, the best partner to help customers grow their businesses.

As always, let us know what you think of our latest innovations. It's time for you AND Kodak. See you in Chicago!