WhatTheyThink
WhatTh eyTh ink is a for-profi t operation
and not an industry association.
It counts its subscribers as members;
some pay a nominal annual fee to
access premium content while others
are covered under corporate subscriber
and other agreements. Some
members only have access to free
content through a basic subscription
(Freemium model). Educators and students
are able to gain complimentary
access to all content. Th e company
continues to add areas of special interest,
including most recently fi nishing
and textiles, drawing on industry
experts to manage those sections and
contribute commentary and analysis.
Between basic and premium members,
WhatTh eyTh ink reaches more
than 140,000 people around the globe,
with about two-thirds being in North
America. Its base includes printing
and packaging companies, sign &
display graphics businesses, digital
textile printers, brands, vendors, consultants
and educators. Th e company
also off ers video services, webinars,
custom content and more.
WhatTh eyTh ink partners with most
of the industry trade and user groups.
Th ese encompass a wide variety of
activities, from content development
to barter agreements at events that
include video. Most recently, the print
resources of SouthComm, including
Printing News, Wide Format & Signage
and Inkjet’sAge, partnered with What-
Th eyTh ink. Under the agreement,
Group Publisher Kelley Holmes will
be joining the WhatTh eyTh ink family
as well. Th is combined operation
blends WhatTh eyTh ink’s extensive
knowledge and experience in the
online news and analysis world
with the former SouthComm print
publications covering the printing
industry to form a unique organization
dedicated to helping the
industry thrive while also encouraging
industry players to think out of
the box as they ponder the future of
their businesses.
Among other things, the newly
enhanced WhatTh eyTh ink plans to
create an independent, multi-channel
media platform for industry events,
covering commercial printing, wide
format, production inkjet, labels,
packaging, signage, speciality graphics,
textiles and other industrial applications
of print technology. Th e result will
be a print magazine to be distributed at
targeted trade shows and events. Th e
editorial focus will be on educating
the event audience about emerging
technologies, critical trends, and key
announcements during the event. Content
will also be published digitally on
PrintingNews.com and WhatTh eyTh -
ink.com. Th e fi rst event magazine and
show-specifi c digital content will be
launched at the Association for Print
Technologies produced PRINT® 18 in
the fall and is expected to be available
at other industry events, including
larger trade shows as well as smaller
user-group based events.
For more information, visit PrintingNews.com/10005400
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