Page 34 - Print21 Magazine May-June 2021

Exhibitions
PacPrint timed
for economic upswing
As the first details emerge on what visitors can expect to see at the September show, PacPrint organisers say it will be ideally timed for businesses to capitalise on better- than-expected economic conditions post-Covid, with leading suppliers primed to assist.
PacPrint comes at an interesting time in the world, with businesses adjusting
to a new post-pandemic normal without supports
like JobKeeper, but with an economic outlook that is more robust and promising than most had expected.
In March, the International Monetary Fund had upgraded Australia’s economic growth outlook, saying the economy is recovering “faster and stronger” than previously expected, with something like
4.5 per cent growth forecast for 2021. This is mirrored in the most recent Australian Performance
of Manufacturing Index from the Australian Industry Group, which saw its sixth consecutive rise, up 1.2 points (1.1 seasonally adjusted) to 59.2, which is the highest monthly result since March 2018.
There’s no doubt that Government 34 Print21 MAY/JUNE 2021
Ideal timing: PacPrint 2021
support – including JobKeeper
– has been a key to keeping businesses in the print and graphic communications industry going,
as it was across many sectors. Now, that scaffolding has been removed, continuing incentives – like the instant 100 per cent asset write-off
– together with low interest rates, means businesses are not only keen to invest, but will find it more affordable than it’s been for some time.
This is seen in the success of the first business events to be held since Covid restrictions eased. Again, supported by government investment via the Business Events Grants, these have attracted excellent and, in some cases, record attendances and levels of business transacted.
Covid, too, seems to be loosening its grip, with restrictions now eased across Australia, and hope on the horizon for international travel.
This will doubtless make all kinds
of business – including exhibitions and events – much easier to manage, and certainly increase confidence not just in attending in-person events, but also in making the investments which can only really be considered when the threat of lockdowns eases.
In particular, the news of a travel bubble arrangement with New Zealand, which took effect from mid- April, was welcome news to the many industry businesses which have strong ties across the Tasman and, of course, to PacPrint organisers who now hope to see a strong contingent of New Zealand businesses travel to Melbourne for the show.
Against this backdrop PacPrint, together with the co-located Visual Impact Expo and Label & Packaging Expo, would seem to be coming at just the right time.
Peter Harper, CEO of Visual Connections, which organises the three shows and hosts the PacPrint event with the Print & Visual Communications Association (PVCA), says confidence is high.
“There’s absolutely no plausible scenario I can see where the show will not go ahead as planned,” Harper says. “In fact, I believe it could potentially be the biggest and most important in PacPrint’s 50-plus year history.”
Show taking shape
That confidence seems to be shared by both suppliers, who are lining
up to exhibit, and by visitors, who have responded with overwhelming positivity to a recent survey.
More than 50 companies are already inked-in on the floorplan for the three-show event, including some of the industry’s biggest names, and many more are in discussions with organisers to secure a spot.
The majority of those have sensibly taken advantage of the Government’s offer to cover 50 per cent of their exhibition expenses, with a number of applications already approved and many more pending in the $50m programme.
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