Printing SA is calling on you to join the global print community and help celebrate the theme of the International Day of Print, ‘Trend the Planet’, by involving your companies, customers, family and friends.
Now in its second year, Printing SA encourages all members to get ready for International Day of Print’s global 24-hour celebration taking place on 19 October 2016. The day is aimed at highlighting the creativity, importance and power of print and paper, and is celebrated by both the trade and its supporting industries.
Printing SA is also inviting all print and packaging companies and their staff to participate. To get involved, simply contact your local Printing SA chamber for your complimentary T shirt (from 17 October), stocks are limited. Wear your shirt on 19 October, take a selfie of you, your team or friends and family and upload to Printing SA’s website.
You can also share on social media, using the hashtags #PrintNOW and #IPD16. Be part of an initiative that aims to push print, printing and the print industry to the front of mind in a positive and deliberate manner by wishing a Happy International Print Day on your Facebook page, your twitter feed, your LinkedIn profile or any other social media channel where you already have a profile or page.
Further to your own social media platforms, you can also post on the Facebook page @IntPrintDaySA. For more information on this social media campaign, please contact Stephanie Gaddin, CEO of DolphinWorx, on Stephanie@dolphinworxs.co.za or visit the website www.dolphinworxs.com.
In South Africa, the print industry has an estimated turnover of R60 billion and directly employs around 45000 people while providing indirect employment to a further 60000. All of this is generated by approximately 1228 printing companies, 286 publishing companies and 1000 industry suppliers who provide pre-press and post-press services. The printing industry contributes between 1.6% and 2% to South Africa’s GDP.
‘As a trade organisation that represents the interests of the printing and packaging industries while ensuring that these are sustainable and that all stakeholders, in particular our members, continue to prosper, we saw it fit to celebrate this day with the people who are at the core of the industry,’ said Steve Thobela, CEO of Printing SA. ‘We felt they needed to be celebrated and reminded of the great contribution they make to our economy; and how we ensure that over 64% of paper is recycled and in excess of 260000 trees a day are replanted (by the pulp and paper industry).'
Print and paper has been the preferred communications medium for more than 2000 years and continues to be a highly effective communications tool along with paper packaging, which is the oldest reshape-able packaging material.
This year, for the first time, Printing SA will be involving and formulating a specific skills transfer training programme for one worthy school, that of Phomolong Secondary School in Thembisa, Gauteng. As part of its celebration, Printing SA will be offering forty of the school's top performing Maths and Physical Science learners the opportunity to participate in an interactive screen printing course as well as materials to complete various tasks on Monday, October 17th. The top three learners will each be awarded prizes for outstanding work, which will form part of a special assembly on 19 October.
Printing SA have also included a fun element, where the high school kids will be encouraged to send selfies of themselves, friends and families interacting with print as part of the day’s celebrations, and will be offering great prizes for those that capture the Trend the Planet theme best.
