Paper show rocks

Date:2009-12-14 17:59:00

20th annual Unisource Paper Show draws designers, specifiers and Printing china manufacturers printers

This October, about 800 people representing design firms, agencies, marketers and commercial Printing china manufacturers printers attended the 20th annual Unisource PAPER BAG Show at the Hilton Chicago. Competition was fierce (if good natured) as the attendees eagerly collected swatchbooks, brochures, calendars, note cards, posters, books and other PAPER BAG-related swag.

“It's a marketing tool [the mills use] to reach out and educate the graphic design marketplace,” said Andrew Dembitz, Unisource's director of specification and the show's organizer since its inception. “It's a feeding frenzy, with the top mills presenting new promotions and introducing new grades,” he says. “It's a major networking event.”printing company

The invitation-only affair is said to be the largest and most established graphic design event sponsored by a paper distributor. “We were thrilled with the quality of attendees — it's about 75 percent creatives, design firms, agencies and in-house marketing departments,” says Dembitz of the show's demographics. “The remaining 25 percent of attendees are printing specializing in high-end work.”printing company

Some competitors have discontinued their paper shows. “We've been a little bit luckier than our peers,” says Dembitz. “Our management team believes this is an important part of our value proposition. That sends a great message to our marketplace.”

Glenn Barton, Unisource's senior vice president of sales, says the event's endurance is “a testament that the American paper manufacturing and distribution industry will continue to meet the challenges of new communication media. We remain optimistic that the future of paper — as a means for delivering effective messaging — will continue to evolve and that the industry will remain a vital part of the U.S. economy.”

Participating PAPER BOX mills at the 2009 Unisource Chicago PAPER BOX Show included: Crane & Co., CTI Paper USA, Domtar, FiberMark, Finch Paper, Grupo Portucel Soporcel, MeadWestvaco, Mohawk, National Envelope, Neenah, NewPage, Reich Paper, Sappi, Wausau and Yupo.