How do you feel about the Bengaluru print market?

In the commercial market, we do not see much growth. The volumes are shrinking. Social media has played an important role in bringing the volume down.

Is it true about digital print?

The digital print market is on the ascendancy as there is scope for customised and personalised print.

What about packaging?

Of course, the packaging is doing well. A good package does not only exist to pack a product for protection, but the package design and graphics are vital. As it is said "Package is a silent salesman" due to the development of hypermarkets, supermarkets and department stores. So if the packaging is not attractive, consumers are reluctant to purchase the product. Therefore, to push the sales of a product, the packaging must be top class.

As you said, the digital segment is growing. Do you recommend that a print firm should have a digital unit to complement their print business?

Yes, they can, because the customer will not go anywhere else. If the customer requests for a smaller volume, he can print on a digital press. For larger volumes and offset quality, the customer can go for non-digital print.

What is the challenge?

My only concern is, digital machines are very expensive. The ROI is very tight, and click charges take a toll. Plus the re-value of the machine is low.

As per your understanding is there any commercial printer having both facilities in Bangalore?

Oh yes, there are many firms with hybrid technologies under one roof.

Are all the Bengaluru printers members of the Karnataka Offset Printers Association (KOPA)?

At the moment, there are 300 odd printers in Bengaluru. As you know, the Garden City boasts of very large print firms; as well as medium and small printers. Most of them are KOPA members. KOPA is an association of offset printers. The other printing technologies do not come under the auspices of KOPA.

Describe your tenure as the president of KOPA.

I will be completing my term. We have a very cohesive committee. Everyone has been very supportive and it was a good opportunity to serve the print community. KOPA conducted seminars, open houses to update our colleagues. Last year we had a technical seminar with the Department of Media Technology, MIT, Manipal. We want to continue it, this year too.

What else?

We have started six months free of cost training in pre-press for economically poor students under the umbrella of our association. This will help them to get jobs as technicians. Furthermore, it will help our industry. As you can see, KOPA not only works for the printers, we work for the society. We always rise to the occasion. In fact during the recent floods in South India, with the support of our members, we could raise funds and help people in Kodagu as well as Kerala.

Looking back how do you feel about your tenure?

Looking back I feel fully satisfied. I could address a number of issues. I met many people and extended my professional friend circle.

Any major problems?

As such we did not encounter any big problem. To some extent, we could settle the issues related to GST. In association with the All India Federation of Master Printers (AIFMP), we could submit lots of proposals to the GST Council, for changes. This benefitted the industry. I think, quite a bit of our proposals have been implemented.