Print is immortal, says Avijit Mukherjee of Ricoh India

PWI:  What is the present and future scenario of print? 

 

Avijit Mukherjee (AM): Print is immortal. Its death means the death of every industry. Similar to other industries, the present time is for value-added services. Print can add value to your work or products.  Mail Order Solutions, Seshasai Business Forms are the few examples. The kind of work they are doing, people must learn from them; especially, in digital commercial printing. Many offset printers complain about thinner margins but there are few who are marking money by adding values to their jobs. 

 

PWI: What are new trends in graphic art industry?

 

AM: Graphic Arts Industry is embracing digital technology as digital technology is supplementing traditional offset process. Also using digital printing, designers are turning into entrepreneur and it is a new trend for the market. They start working with a printing house at the age of 20-years and after an experience of five to ten years and jump with both feet into the world of entrepreneurship with their own facility. We have sold more than 20 mid-size printing engines to such first time entrepreneurs. 

 

PWI:  What are the reasons for their success? 

 

AM: They are putting their sweat and blood in the business and have personal relation with most of the customers. Most of the new entrepreneurs are from designing background. 

And the age group of these entrepreneurs between 25 to 32-years. Most of the new entrants are solution providers rather than engaging in the usual sheet-printing model of business. 

 

PWI:  Does the price war affect equipment manufacturing side of the industry also? 

 

AM: If we had gone for low price then we could sell around 50 more units last year but we said no because price war is a double-edged sword. Nowadays, value addition is the key factor and we have ample solutions for it. 

 

PWI: How did you find Indian market and what are the possibilities that exist in the market? 

 

AM: We want India to be a print BPO for the globe, and we are capable to do it. Big players of the industry must come in to change the landscape of the industry.