Experiential marketing. It was big in 2011 and it's set to get even bigger in 2012 as brands eschew more traditional advertising forms in an attempt to get a greater bang for their buck.

We all know the environment, and protecting it, is crucial for any business going forwards, and, as we have already explored and discussed, there are several elements within print as well as digital applications that have environmental benefits.

It's been a very busy and exciting couple of weeks for me. With FESPA Asia less than two months away, the marketing campaign is in full swing and we are working hard to stage the ultimate Asian digital print exhibition in Singapore in October. I recently travelled to Thailand and Singapore to observe the Asian market in action and speak to members of the industry about their hopes and expectations for the Asian print sector in the coming months and years.

Art and print have been happy bedfellows for years, with the likes of Andy Warhol through to Gilbert and George using the printed form as a means of artistic expression. This noble tradition is being continued at the moment in the French city of Arles as part of the annual Les Recontres photography exhibition. In an abandoned warehouse French artist JR – backed by a $100,000 prize fund from the creative non-profit organisation TED – has created a participatory art project called 'Inside Out' that's enthralling visitors.

The advertising and wide format print industries have been collaborating for years to try and make greener billboards, but no one has been able to master the trick – until now. With the unveiling of Europe's first 'eco-board' at a site next to the M4 motorway in London in late June, Ricoh has set the digital signage bar high for others to follow.

 

For investors looking to make an acquisition in the printing industry, the obvious choice appears to be wide-format digital.

 

Whether you're a manufacturer looking to add an important capability to your portfolio, or a printer wanting to keep pace with the times, the numbers bear it out: Wide-format digital printing (primarily 30" and above) will lead our industry in growth.

 

Here are 5 reasons why any investor, big or small (and that you means you, Mr. Mom-and-Pop Shop), should consider a merger and acquisition (M&A) as a potential growth strategy:

HP have announced new HP 781 and 791 Printing Supplies, available in early 2009, for the HP Designjet 8000, HP Designjet 9000 and HP Designjet 10000 Printer series.