Henry Stewart held it's annual Digital Asset Management Symposium on June 1 & 2nd  in New York City at the NY Hilton.  There were over 300 attendees at this years event to learn about solutions, best practices and network with peers in the corporate marketing, publishing  & broadcast markets.  Kodak's Marketing Workflow Solutions team was there with our partner Aprimo to talk to corporate clients about Marketing Asset Management, Digital Workflow, Brand Content Management and Enterprise Marketing Management Solutions.

Yes, the rumor is true. By now you know that Kodak has gone where no print solution provider has gone before. We came to the largest print show in North America this year with our smartest people and great concepts, plus a bit of technical wizardry. We did not, however, bring the big iron that normally accompanies a show. No Magnus. No Generation News. No Versamark or PROSPER S10. No NexPress SE3600 and no Digimaster EX130. We brought lights, cameras, and lots of action.

The action was not just in the form of the Pipeline of Innovation... the amazing attention-getter that formed the center of our stand, but in the form of sales and marketing team members having real conversations, solving problems, and brainstorming. Major mailers, commercial printers, publishers and packaging producers each found Kodak subject matter experts in the booth to answer questions and find new ways to grow their business. One competitor came over as we were winding down on Wednesday as said, "Tell me, honestly. Did this work?" The answer is, yes it did.

Over the course of these six days people who came to our booth were drawn into a conversation. Instead of seeking out their regular sales team member (or their surrogate), opening the hood on one of the devices, poking around inside and asking about new features, shaking hands and heading to the next vendor, this booth laid the groundwork for problem-solving and thinking outside of the existing relationship. It meant that sales team members had to proactively address the needs of their current customers, and seek out the challenges of prospects who came to see the booth. And, they did!

In addition to the Pipeline of Innovation and the segment pods where we positioned solution conversations, we had Microsoft Surfaces where we could show ideas for solutions. And then there was the KZONE. Have you been out there? www.kodak.com/go/print09 is the home on the web of the hours of video that was the series of live talk shows hosted in the booth. We had industry luminaries and Kodak subject matter experts all engaging in conversations that now form an amazing basis for on-going education.   Frank Romano, and Rynn Johnson, Rance Craine and our own Antonio Perez all came to talk. Jeff Hayzlett featured prominently in many of the shows, as did many Kodak executives. Curious about what TransPromo is? My three KZONE segments explore all of the facets for transaction printers, and also talk through the analogous Direct Mail concept, Smart Data Driven Mail. Interested in packaging? Emma Schlotthauer explained it all. Undecided about digital print? Spend a half hour with Len Christopher and he can set you straight!

The cool thing? The KZONE theatre was standing room only! To get a good sense of all that went on, go out to the Kodak channel on You Tube to see the great video that Jonathan Ghent and the KBTV team put together. And then spend some time in the KZONE. You'll come to understand why the Kodak stand was the place to be, no matter what part of the industry you participate in!

Starting this month and continuing throughout the year, we're rolling out our new graphic communications campaign with the theme "It's time for you AND Kodak." It's one of three pieces in the overall "It's Time for Kodak" campaign and focuses on inclusiveness and partnerships, using the word "and" prominently in the ads. Through this theme, we hope to demonstrate that when you work with Kodak, there are no compromises.



The main brand ad shows how graphic communications touches everyone, everywhere, and is an important part of our daily lives. It shows the different market segments that we are involved in—packaging, commercial printing, publishing, data-driven communications and enterprise marketing. This imagery will be reflected in all our upcoming graphic arts communications:

• As the theme of our flash-based web enhancement at www.kodak.com/go/connect
• In print ads running in Graphic Arts Monthly and Printing Impressions
• In online ads, including a first of its kind toolbox, which directs visitors to a number of different communications tools such as this blog and Kodak channels on social media outlets such as Twitter and YouTube. See the toolbox now at www.whattheythink.com and www.printplanet.com.
• In collateral, individual campaigns and tradeshows.

Next month, we'll talk about how this theme ties in with PRINT 09, and how we're working to help customers capture growth opportunities in a tough market.