Currents - February 25, 2025

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Office - (262) 522-2210 / Fax - (262) 522-2211

Welcome to Currents , the Great Lakes Graphics Association's weekly e-newsletter, bringing you information and education you can use to run your businesses. Currents is published every Tuesday.

National News and Education

USPS News

December Shipments

AI and Packaging

Elevate Your Décor Game!

Challenging the ‘Paperless Ideal’

Video - Swiss Binding

GLGA Association News

Printing Industry Survey

GEAs

Upcoming Briefs

GLGA Print Academy

Member News

DIA Packaging

Fineline Printing Group

JHL Digital Direct

THE TIME IS NOW!

Send In Your Entries for the Graphics Excellence Awards

The judges are getting ready to fly in next Wednesday. It's time to send in your entries for the 2025 Graphics Excellence Awards competition!

Click here for all the info to help you confidently take the plunge.

Questions? Contact Debra Warner at (414) 213-8329 or dwarner@glga.info.

Hurry, your pieces must be on the table when the judges arrive.

You Belong on the Winner's Podium!

President Expected to Take Control of USPS, Fire Postal Board, Officials Say

The move threatens to upend trillions of dollars in ecommerce business and the 250-year-old Postal Service. From Save the Post Office.

December Shipments: … And That’s the Year

December 2024 shipments came in at $7.40 billion, down from November’s $7.28 billion—not a great November but at least better than last year. From WhatTheyThink.

AI Unboxed: 5 Groundbreaking Packaging Innovations

Discover how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the packaging industry. From Packaging Digest.

Elevate Your Décor Game!

If you are hesitant about entering the décor market, the following information should spark new and exciting conversations with you and your customers. By Debbie Nicholson of Think-to-INK! on American Printer.

Challenging the ‘Paperless Ideal’: The Sustainable Reality of Direct Mail

Many business owners striving to adopt eco-friendly practices have begun to view direct mail and other responsible paper use with skepticism based on false information and “greenwashing.” From Two Sides North America.

Quick Tips: Swiss Binding – The Hottest Trend Around?

This is one of the 🔥 hottest 🔥 binding trends out there - and it's not hard to see why. By Sabine Lenz of Paper Specs.

Deadline to Participate is Friday: Please Take the Survey for the February 2025 “Printing Industry Performance and Insights” Study

Your company's success starts with knowledge-driven decisions. That's why we've created a survey to provide you with insights that can guide your next strategic moves. The reports are written to help you boost performance and lead your company to new heights.

All data will be kept confidential. Deadline to participate is this Friday, February 28. We hope to have the final reports ready one month after the survey closes.

Your participation is crucial: help us provide you with helpful insights!

Start the Survey!

Editor's note: the Great Lakes Graphics Association is among 15 regional printing associations partnering to sponsor the Performance and Insights studies. GLGA members can download reports from previous studies for free from the Members Only area of the GLGA website.

Upcoming Briefs - FREE for GLGA Members:

Thursday, March 6 – March 2025 Marketing Brief: The Rise of Video in Marketing for Print and Graphic Arts
Wednesday, March 12 – March 2025 Talent Report – Artificial Intelligence and HR
Thursday, March 13 – March 2025 Company Culture Brief: What If Your Interns Ran the Company?
Tuesday, March 18 – March 2025 Sustainability Brief: Energy Efficiency

GLGA Print Academy Featured Course of the Week - FREE for GLGA Members

VERTICAL MARKETS FOR PRINT - Vertical Markets for Manufacturing

Editor's note: You will need a user name to the GLGA website to view. GLGA members, register for yours by clicking here.

Member News

What's new at your business? Send your press releases and social media post links to Sharon Flick.

Find more news about and featuring GLGA members on our LinkedIn networking group page.

Tired of Overspending on Packaging? DIA Packaging Host First-Ever Live Webinar

DIA Packaging, Marengo, IL, invites their fellow GLGA members to attend on Thursday, February 27. Their top product experts will unveil game-changing packaging solutions to help you save money, optimize space and streamline operations. Get exclusive insights, ask questions in real-time, and revolutionize your packaging strategy! Don't wait to register - seats are limited.

Fineline Printing Group: Supplier Diversity Improves Procurement ROI

Posted on LinkedIn by Fineline Printing Group, Indianapolis, IN.

Dan Topel of JHL Digital Direct Elected Industry Co-Chair for the Milwaukee Postal Customer Council

Posted on LinkedIn by JHL Digital Direct, Stevens Point, WI.

About Us

The Great Lakes Graphics Association is the trade association dedicated to representing the graphic arts industry throughout Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin through education, promotion, and public affairs. It represents approximately 13 percent of the total print market in the United States with its three-state region, accounting for combined annual shipments of nearly $19 billion. Founded in 1886, GLGA celebrated its 135 year anniversary in 2021 and continues to be the oldest print trade association in North America.

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Visit GLGA's Print Industry News Site.