Last week marked the end of another great awards season at PINE. With over 200 pieces entered from companies and schools across New England, this year’s judges were amazed and impressed to say the least. The competition covered the gamut in what New England’s printers are capable of; from beautiful books to outdoor wide format installations, to perfectly foiled invitations, and engaging college acceptance packets.
I am sure that all those who competed are impatiently waiting to hear if they won and you will, soon. Then you can bask in your glory and show off a little at the Celebration of Print on May 8, 2025. But, that’s not why you compete. Competing is not to show off among your peers and fellow print professionals, it’s to show off to your customers and potential customers. You take so much pride in the work that you have done for them, that you are willing to share it with your community. The positive exposure and marketing opportunities that come out of winning a regional print competition are exponential, not to mention if your piece goes to nationals!
For those, who did not compete this year, I’d like you to ask yourself, why not? Why not solidify the relationship that you have with your customer? Why not display that winning trophy for prospective customers to see? I have been part of three competitions now at PINE and every year I get the same feedback, adding the phrase print competition winner to a printer’s or student’s portfolio is invaluable. I hope that next awards season, you consider that and take a chance, submit that piece that you know you rocked. It will only strengthen the growth of your business.
When every piece had been thoroughly looked at and winners decided upon, I had the chance to stand in that empty conference room among all these amazingly crafted pieces and soak it all in. I speak for the entire PINE team when I say that we are proud of our members. The varying specialties and wide range of capabilities give us credence when we say that New England’s print industry is BOOMING and we are all truly WILD FOR PRINT!
