Citing declining print volumes, Quad/Graphics closes three more plants (bizjournals.com)

Quad/Graphics announced that it has increased its equity position in Rise Interactive, acquiring a majority ownership stake in the award-winning digital marketing agency. Quad/Graphics has owned a non-controlling interest in Rise since July 2016. The investment accelerates Quad’s ongoing transformation to leverage its strong print foundation as part of a much larger integrated marketing platform that addresses clients’ increasing need to reduce complexity and improve process efficiencies and marketing spend effectiveness. This industry-differentiating platform allows Quad to fulfill traditional agency functions, such as data and media strategy, while also providing integrated marketing execution across multiple channels – both online and offline. “We are pleased to strengthen our strategic partnership with Rise, which shares our Quad 3.0 vision for reinventing how clients plan, integrate, execute and measure campaigns more efficiently and effectively across all media channels,” said Joel Quadracci, Chairman, President & CEO of Quad/Graphics. Click Read More below for additional information.

The year-end data for 2022 is not yet final, but from all indicators it was a great year for production inkjet printing. A confluence of variables amplified the inherent flexibility benefit of digital production printing, chiefly among them the rising cost of paper and labor, which drove demand for smaller run lengths, faster turnarounds, and more versioning with relevant content — effectively stealing volume from what remains a very large offset printing market. Print providers faced slightly less challenges in obtaining paper, but paper pricing continued to increase. Bigger challenges were finding and retaining qualified labor, which drove up labor costs, a challenge that is not expected to abate. While no one likes rising costs, the majority of print providers were able to pass along those cost increases to their customers, while quietly taking a little extra for themselves.

Two Sides North America is pleased to welcome The Printing Industry of the Carolinas, Inc. (PICA), as our newest member. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, PICA is the regional graphics trade association serving the commercial printing, digital, wide format, mailing and packaging industries in North and South Carolina. The association provides educational programs, networking opportunities, buying power programs and conferences geared toward the printing industry. “Printers play a vital role in helping to educate print buyers and other decision makers about the sustainability, effectiveness and relevance of print, paper and paper-based packaging in today’s omni-channel world,” says Two Sides North America President Kathi Rowzie. “Two Sides is pleased to add PICA to our growing list of industry association members, and we invite their members to join us as well.”