"Early indications are the show will be bigger in space, because exhibitors were very pleased this year," said Ralph Nappi, president of the Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC), which produces Graph Expo. "So they're already asking for more space and they have to do that now."

Nappi also told PrintWeek that next year's event, which will be held October 7-10 once again at Chicago's McCormick Place, will also feature some new seminar tracks, adding, "We're looking at new things next year that will continue to expanding our segments."

Of course the success of this year's Graph Expo can't be seen as a sign of a robust US commercial printing industry, he cautioned. "The numbers don't lie - even though the industry is improving, it's been a tepid and spotty improvement," said Nappi, who's also head of the NPES - The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies. "But the commercial printers in the US are realizing this is a new reality and that they've got to get back to business and that means investing as well as educating their staff. What we saw at Graph Expo was a recommitment, with people realizing they have to get back in the game."

In recent years Graph Expo has boosted the number of tracks and conferences held within the show, even branching into electronic communication. "We had an e-publishing conference during the Expo, we had a marketing discussion, and that's along with traditional interests like mailing and fulfillment." Nappi explained. "We now have nine different sessions, whereas five or six years ago, only a few of them would have been going on.

"These days, if you're just putting ink on paper, you're done," he continued. "But if you're thinking about much more than that - and the people at this year's Graph Expo definitely were -then there's a great opportunity. It's not going to be easy, but the potential is there."
 
That sentiment was echoed by a host of testimonials from attendees and exhibitors. Tim Palmer, Vice President, Americas Consumer and Commercial Marketing at Kodak, noted "The energy and enthusiasm among attendees was contagious throughout the show, giving us four strong days of leads and sales. Given the state of the industry, this year's event was an ideal opportunity to discuss the growth opportunities with digital and hybrid."
 
Though this year's expo did have its share of hardware sales, Nappi suggested the amount of actual business done at this year's show is a reflection of the current economy. "They may not be coming to the show with checkbook in hand, because the environment is still tough to buy stuff," he added. "But they're going to the show, thinking, 'I've got to learn what my next play is and what my next transition is.' And that's what I thought was exciting about this Graph Expo.

"What it clearly happening is commercial printers are realizing it will get better, but it will get better differently - now they have to figure what that new different is and how do they get there."