“Smooth” SWUG Boosts Industry Image

“Smooth” SWUG Boosts Industry Image

The SWUG New Zealand 2013 Conference is being hailed as the best ever, with the line-up of technical and professional speakers helping underpin the core conference message that “print endures” in the magazine and newspaper sectors of the industry.

The 13th Annual Single Width Users’ Group Conference was held from July 17-18 at the Novotel conference and hotel complex adjoining Ellerslie Racecourse, in Greenlane.

The total of 16 addresses also ran very smoothly, making for a seamless conference that was given a humorous lift by the celebrity speaker Billy Graham.

A further highlight was a site visit to the new PMP headquarters in Enterprise Park, Manukau. PMP relocated to the purpose-built 22,000 square metre super-site late in 2011, allowing it to integrate its various divisions.

This is the first time PMP’s head office, printing plant and warehousing have been in one location, resulting in a far more cohesive business. It also creates one point of access to print, database marketing, distribution, subscriptions and news stand distribution.

Chairman Dan Blackbourn said the conference had attracted 74 delegates and 52 sponsor representatives, for a total registered attendance of 126, including several visitors from overseas.

“That is a fantastic response from the industry. It shows we are in good stead.

“When we restarted SWUG in 2010 we held it in Taupo on the back of the PrintNZ conference to save costs. A lot of people related to the industry suggested it wouldn’t succeed because the industry is facing challenges.

“But when you look at so many people here, and so many sponsors backing SWUG, it sends the message we have a real belief in print.”

Dan particularly thanked the sponsors whose financial contribution made this conference possible.

Other highlights of the conference were the announcement that Edmond Huch from APN Print Ellerslie is the new SWUG Apprentice of the Year; and the raffle of a huge wooden Maori taonga carved by APN Print Ellerslie’s Phil Ost raised $1350 which will be matched by the SWUG committee so that a total of $2700 will be donated to the Starship Children’s Hospital in Auckland.

The SWUG Quality Awards went to:

• Coldset Tabloid 42gsm: Gold Gisborne Herald for the Wairoa Star, Silver APN Print Hastings for Hawkes Bay Today, Bronze Gisborne Herald for the Gisborne Herald.

• Coldset Broadsheet: Gold The Dominion Post for the Dominion Post, Silver Allied Press for the Southland Times 20/5/13, Bronze Allied Press for the Southland Times 21/5/13

• Coldset Tabloid Enhanced: Horton Media for Platinum Sports Co, Gisborne Herald for the Weekender, APN Print Ellerslie for Kuk Punjabi

• Heatset Retail Catalogue: Gold PMP for Land & Lifestyle, Silver Webstar for Warehouse Winter Bargains. Bronze Webstar for Warehouse Stationery

• Heatset Tabloid: Gold PMP for Prestige Property, Silver PMP for AG Trader; Bronze PMP for Straight Furrow

The SWUG website www.swug.co.nz is being updated to include all of the presentations made at conference and all award winners.
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