The organisers will also place a significant focus on delivering a comprehensive, thought provoking and inspirational content programme. This will include the World Print Summit, which will follow the theme of ‘Strategies & Practices of Outstanding Leadership in the Challenging Business of Offline and Online Marketing’, where thought leaders from within and surrounding the print industry will come together to address the big issues and opportunities they face.

The conclusion to shape Ipex into a thought leadership event for the print-centric multi-channel marketing communications industry was made following a review of the results of an independent global market study during Q4 2012. AMR International carried out the research on the key trends impacting the industry and the events that serve it. 114 Qualitative telephone interviews were followed-up by an online survey which elicited 1600 international visitor responses, with the geographical spread representing the UK, Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

The results of the research clearly emphasised seven key trends impacting the graphic communications industry:

- consolidation in the Print Service Provider community in developed economies

- offset is changing

- the rapid rise of digital

- printers offering non print-related services

- growth in printed packaging

- growth in emerging markets

- interest in multi-channel marketing communications

The findings have been used by Informa Exhibitions to produce a White Paper, which provides an executive summary and detailed overview of the research results, its conclusions and future direction of Ipex.

“Informa Exhibitions is 100% invested in Ipex 2014 to ensure we respond to supplier and industry feedback and deliver a world-class international event that truly reflects and addresses the needs of the market it represents,” states Informa Exhibitions Managing Director, Peter Hall. “Ipex 2014 will reflect the medium-term future for graphic communications in developed markets as well as emerging markets in the coming years by placing a clear emphasis on digital and cross media technologies, strategies and solutions to effectively promote the power of print media and its integration in the marketing mix.”

During the Ipex Advisory Committee (IAC) meeting on 24th January, which was attended by a number of major exhibitors, this focus was discussed and agreed. As part of this, Informa tabled for discussion the duration of Ipex 2014. The decision of the committee was to reduce the duration of Ipex 2014 to six days (Monday 24th March – Saturday 29th March 2014).

Trevor Crawford, Event Director, Ipex 2014, says: “Ipex is moving from being a general print event to a highly focussed multimedia experience promoting the essential role of print. It is driven by an impressive content programme to inspire print service providers to add value and increase profitability, and recognise the importance of collaboration with end users. This is an exciting development in Ipex’s history and now offers a unique visitor experience in an unrivalled new major destination, London.”

He continues: “Now that Ipex has a clear digital and print communications direction, the logical conclusion would be to change the dates so that the multi-layered content programme can run throughout the event. After careful review of the research and consultations with the IAC, the decision was made to reduce the days to bring it in line with other major industry events today and ensure that we deliver a dedicated, ‘must-attend’ event that meets the needs of senior decision makers.”

Rapidly growing interest in blending print & digital media chimes with Informa Exhibitions’ established connection with multi-channel marketing communications and its successful launch of Cross Media in 2012. Cross Media provides the latest opportunities, technologies, case studies and seminars to address how brands and the creative, marketing, print and publishing communities can maximise the effectiveness of their communications to deliver a higher return on marketing investment. With the Cross Media event integrated with Ipex 2014, the Ipex 2014 will attract a wider audience than ever before.

Commenting on the new direction of Ipex 2014, David Preskett, President of Ipex 2014 and European Professional Print Director, Canon Europe, says: “The enthusiastic support of the IAC and the global industry report will provide the Ipex team and Informa Exhibitions with the confidence to further develop the new initiatives and to continue investing in Ipex 2014 as it evolves to meet the print and multi-channel needs of the printing industry.”