"Printers undercut at the customers’ end due to little knowledge in the subject or their egos"

When you read your early morning newspaper, besides half tones and colour reproduction, you look for?
I look at the developments and infrastructure progress of the state and then turn to the sports section. If I get time, I try to solve Sudoku puzzles.

What is the first thing you do on entering the office?
I check on the bottlenecks in the production area, which requires my assistance to be sorted and later follow up on payments and orders to be received.

One person with whom you like to share your daily drive to office? Why?
My son, Varun Poddar. He is going to be the future of this group and it is best in both of our interests, that we correct each other.

Motive or idea behind entering the print sector.
We have been in the print sector since 1970. Thereafter it’s been a family-run business and we wanted to keep the service running.

How frequently do you interact with print production supervisors? What do you discuss, commonly?
My interaction with the print production team is very rare. My son takes care of that. I mainly discuss the wastage account, machine maintenance account and the quality details.

With the fierce competition, high cost of entry and above all the increasing threat from other media, do you find that traditional ink-on-paper is facing a serious threat to its survival?
It is too early to say. Conventional printing cannot die this fast with the packaging, book printing and point-of-purchase (POP) sectors booming.

Which press does the best printing in India? And why?
Every press produces equally good work, thanks to standardisation of the machines and technologies.

If you won Rs 10 crore, which printing equipment would you invest in? Why?
It should be thought well and no instant decision can be taken. I will go for the latest technology, where I can offer value addition.

Today, we hear of innumerable printing presses closing down or being on the verge of closing down. Why is this happening?
This is due to stiff competition and steep rise in the labour and raw material cost.

The best break-through in print technology in the past hundred years?
It has to be the converting of the conventional colour separation to digital pre-press. Also, the paper quality has improved a lot.
 

Most printers, repro houses and graphics art professionals complain about the manner in which profit margins are being squeezed. The reasons they cite for this are: unfair under-cutting; increasing presence of canvassers; etc. Are you encountering these problems? If yes, then why and how?
These squeezing problems are created by the printers themselves. They under-cut at the customers’ end due to little knowledge in the subject or their egos. This problem can be solved by educating the printers for costing.

For a working lunch if you meet Johannes Gutenberg, what would you do?
Congratulate him for such an ingenuous invention.

How do you motivate your sales and marketing team? Any new promotion strategy?
By telling them that perseverance is the only key to survival.

The most frequently used mantra in your organisation! Your corporate philosophy?
Get an open debate on rates with the printers in fray, for a healthier competition and better rates.

The craziest deadline that you've come across?
One where inputs were received yesterday and delivery was scheduled for today.

Your favorite excuse to your family when you’re late?
Machine breakdown or worker problem.

Please comment on the technology and machines that you have invested in, in the past few years?
Post-press machines (Bobst punching / UV coating / Bobst pasting machine / Bush joggers)

In India, the two most important barriers are technology and cost. What advise do you have for the printer?
All printers should first discuss the costing process and leave the ego element aside.

How do you stay in touch with the technological developments?
By visiting exhibitions and discussing with printers, machinery manufacturers, and suppliers

One person with whom you would like to have a face to face?
With my competitors.