This is it for me for 2012, and what a year it has been. The first half was compressed by all the pre-Drupa activity, then we had Drupa itself, and somewhere in between then and now summer evaporated what with the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics, and then we had our PrintWeek Awards and Top 500 to keep things suitably busy in Q4. Stand-out moments included seeing the vast array of amazing print technology at Drupa, including of course the Landa Nanography launch and Benny Landa's marketing masterclass. And those printed chimneys rising up at the incredible opening ceremony for London 2012. Despite some notable news of the not-so-cheery nature, I remain convinced that print has turned a corner over the past year – certainly for those companies, of all shapes and sizes, who have formulated the right business model in whatever sector they happen to be in. Our Awards winners and shortlisted companies include some notable examples. It was particularly pleasing to end the year on such a positive note with our Power of Print supplement, and the stand-out comments from the students about the connection made possible through print. "I think there is something a lot more lasting about print – with the internet, it is such a temporary medium, that messaging gets lost too easily," said one in words that must surely be music to the ears of all forward-thinking print folk. That these so-called "digital natives" recognise this is heartening indeed. Lastly, I must hand out a small personal gong, it's for "best use of print as viewed through the eyes of a print fanatic consumer". It goes to John Lewis Partnership and its design, print and publishing partners. Through catalogues, customer magazines Edition and Waitrose Kitchen, the Waitrose Weekend newspaper and nifty mailings on behalf of Waitrose and John Lewis – oh, and seasonal bollard covers and Christmas stocking bunting – the group really has been using a huge variety of print to great effect. Its package of marketing activity seems to be working: sales in the week to Saturday 15 December were up 11% year-on-year to £147.8m, with sales via stores and online "smashing records". Well done all, and keep up the good work in print.