Showcase, which comprised an exhibition of printers and print-related suppliers and a seminar programme for an audience of print buyers, was held at the Royal Armouries in Leeds last week.

The aim of the event, which was backed by the BPIF and sponsored by Yorkshire Bank and Robert Horne Group among others, was to bring buyers and sellers together to share best practice and innovation.

It was based on events held by the Printing Industries of Northern California (PINC) and its executive vice president Jim Frey opened the event. US print buying consultant Margie Dana took the first seminar.

Dana, who is also a columnist for PrintWeek's sister title PrintBuyer, said the US market bore many similar characteristics to the UK's. "Printers are coming and going all the time, it's highly unstable and it's highly fragmented.

"Printers fail to promote themselves. They don't advertise and worst of all they fail to differentiate themselves. Because of that people think every printer is the same."

The event wrapped up with the Great Debate on print management hosted by PrintWeek editor Lauretta Roberts. TripleArc chief executive Jason Cromack was joined on the panel by Duffield Printers managing director Martyn Duffield and Arla Foods packaging manager Richard Taplin.

"I believe in business relationships at both ends," said Duffield. "We don't screw our suppliers and we look after our customers. It starts with value and ends with thanks."

Showcase 2005
No of exhibitors 50
No of delegates Circa 400
Sponsors Yorkshire Bank, Robert Horne, PrintYorkshire
Supporters Sun Chemical; Yorkshire Forward; BPIF; Oc; KBA, Jigsaw; Polestar
Date 6 October
Venue Royal Armouries, Leeds