Free 2006 Intelligence for Specialty Printing professionals - First ever peer-to-peer intelligence report on specialty printing shop metrics

The first-ever specialty printing peer-to-peer intelligence will be shared, free of charge, to survey participants.

“We are collecting printer usage data on over 300 models of specialty printers. This vital data will help every specialty printer who uses high volume mail printers and/or cd/dvd printers better understand the competitive marketplace in which they compete." says Wendy Cobrda, project coordinator and CEO of Catenate, LLC target marketing consultants.

The project is being sponsored by HP with cooperation from Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) partners Rena, MCS, Secap and Buskro.

"This report will provide us with a useful snapshot of today’s market for specialty printing systems which we will analyze and leverage moving forward,” said James Stewart, vice president and general manager, Specialty Printing Systems, HP. “Specifically we will be looking at how specialty printing machines are being used in production, how shops are managing their consumables, what features they would want added, and what best practices they might share with their peers.”

"Specialty Printing" is defined as printers designed for particular production-oriented tasks such as high volume mail addressing, cd/dvd surface labeling, packaging, barcoding, etc. Results from the surveys will be posted on thINK Plaza and will be available anyone who signs up to view them. The results should help the entire specialty printing sector become more effective and more efficient, each shop banking on the advice and expertise of hundreds of its peers.

"Many users would not classify themselves as professional printers, and might not even be aware of how to make the most of their equipment and the inks they employ," Ms. Cobrda says. "Myriad sectors make use of printers designed for specific tasks such as volume mail addressing by churches, schools, financial companies, insurance companies, etc. Some of these niches have trade associations (for example “Alliance of Non-Profit Mailers” or “National Association of College & University Mail Services”.), but many do not fit into these professional groups – and simply don’t have anywhere to gather with their peers to exchange information."

To promote participation in the survey and the related online community, Catenate is launching "The Great thINK Giveaway", with over $18,000 of prizes!

One (1) GRAND PRIZE — RENA Envelope Imager I MSRP $6,495 with a RENA Easy Ink Starter Kit MSRP $400 ("Grand Prize" $6,895)
One (1) FIRST Prize $5,000 of your choice of HP Branded Ink (cartridges or bulk) or $3,000/cash payment
One (1) SECOND Prize $1,000 American Express branded Reward card
One (1) THIRD Prize $500 American Express branded Reward card Fifty (50) FOUTH PRIZES 100 dollar American Express Reward cards certificates (total value $5,000)

Catenate is a target marketing consultancy and can be found at http://www.catenate-usa.com . The overall specialty printer community project is located at http://www.thinkplaza.com .