SCREENPRINT INDIA AUGUST 2011

AB'S DIARY

August 2011 Top 18 Industry Milestones ! Some of the aspects that have been the most significant developments for the s creen printing community in India What have been the most memorable achievements for the screen printing industry in India over the past two decades? While each one of us would probably have a different take on the sequence, I am sure that where the compilation of milestones is concerned, most of us would find our lists tallying from an overall perspective. So here’s my take. A visible improvement in printing quality and commitment to higher standards. Creativity being given priority and prominence; with a growing realization that it helps our print jobs stand apart from the competition abroad. Investment in business development through automation; with both real estate and labour costs rising, this was a logical step forward. Diversification of business activities/ segments; traditional textile printers have set up additional sublimation units thereby increasing their scope. Shift from totally owner/ family driven to professionally managed businesses. Printers have been getting focused and catering to niche segments, getting into specialised printing for specific industries. There is a greater willingness to take big risks even at a young age; screen printers are comfortable raising finance for fulfi lling their vision. The ‘Made in India’ brand is fi nally getting recognizedand appreciated worldwide. Manufacturing and distribution joint ventures with global industry leaders are also on the rise. Most international brands are easily available across India through local representatives. Indian printers and their capabilities are being showcased to the world at exhibitions. International consultants are visiting as advisors to enhance process efficiency/ train people. Winning awards globally to an extent where Indian entries are expected in the medals list. Indigenous machinery being manufactured and customised for the needs of small Indian printers Companies are increasingly exploring business opportunities beyond our shores. Professional pre-press facilities being provided to enable printers to take on complex jobs. A ‘We can do it’ attitude among the community; they are no longer afraid of competition. All this facilitated by greater use of technology for increased awareness and networking. "While each one of us would probably have a different take on the sequence, I am sure that where the compilation of milestones is concerned, most of us would find our lists tallying from an overall perspective." Anil Brahmbhatt.

AB's Diary July SCREEN PRINT INDIA

AB'S DIARY

July 2011 India's potential is finally recognised Now that global brands increasing the number of tie-ups with Indian companies the significance of Asian leaders is being underlined Earlier this month, two developments took place that warmed the heart of the screen printing fraternity in India. Not because of what occurred but because of what both of them signified. The new manufacturing facility of a joint venture - Rutland-DCC Ink Manufacturing (P) Ltd. – was inaugurated at Vasai on the periphery of Mumbai in India. The joint venture is in recognition of the technology of an Indian company - Dhaval Color Chem Pvt. Ltd. - and its capability by the US-headquartered partner Rutland. An International brand will be using ‘Made in India’ technology because it had developed that confidence in it. Plus, the new facility will not only service India and the Indian subcontinent, but also Asia, Europe, North and South America and other regions. This means ‘Made in India’ is good enough for their customers across the globe. Similarly, Grafica Flextronica has entered into a collaboration with a French company Terascreen, which will undertake distribution and servicing of Grafica’s Nano series semi automatic screen printing machines and allied equipments across European markets. According to noted expert Michel Caza, Grafica’s Nano range of machines are perfectly designed to fi t the European market. So in effect we have two ‘Made in India’ brands taking the first step towards hitting the global market this month. Now consider the fact that Indian screen printers are doing job work for most prestigious brands when it comes to apparel, sportswear, electronics, and many more sectors. These developments underline the growing significance that India, as one of the Asian leaders, has in the world market. Increasingly, companies from across the world are coming to India, not just because we have cheap labour. Not just because we are at the centre of the Asia market which will be driving industry volumes in future. Not just because we have a huge domestic market here itself. They are also coming here because screen printing in India is becoming synonymous with quality. From the raw materials used to the processes followed, the emphasis on using machines and going technology to go the extra mile to ensure customer satisfaction, it is all happening here and the world has woken up to this fact. The best part is that this is not the fi rst instance; earlier companies like Indofl ex too have made an impact by tying up with a global brand and I am sure that many more will do so in the future. The Indian screen printing industry is poised to take a giant leap forward and it is my belief that these joint ventures will provide the much-needed impetus.. "So in effect we have two ‘Made in India’ brands taking the first step towards hitting the global market this month. The best part is that this is not the first instance; earlier companies like Indoflex too have made an impact by typing up with a global brand." Anil Brahmbhatt.

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AB' Diary June 2011 SCREEN PRINT INDIA

AB'S DIARY

June 2011 Never betray your employer's trust Sales person who are paid a salary for their job by the company should not try to extort commissions illegally from dealers or customers When any company hires a sales person, it is a decision that has far reaching implications. This is because every step, every move, every single act of that person refl ects on the integrity of your company. It is almost as if that person becomes synonymous with your company’s brand identity, like a larger than life logo. Of course, while considering in the context of Indian companies, phrases like ‘acts of commission and omission’ can take on an entirely different meaning. It’s not just a matter of whether your sales people do what is expected or not. Sometimes you need to also figure out if they are doing what is not expected of them. Typically, sales persons are paid a salary for their job by the company that employs them. When they agree to take up that job, it is understood that the salary will meet their fi nancial needs. They should not expect anything over and above that - except perhaps a performance-linked bonus at the appraisal time, provided they have delivered what was expected. In spite of this, certain sales persons decide to leverage the company’s brand identity for their own personal benefi t. Betraying the trust placed in them by the company’s management, they try to extort commissions illegally from dealers or customers. Some of them try to downplay this as ‘perks of the job.’ I say this is unfaithfulness, plain and simple. To use a popular adage, this is basically biting the hand that feeds you. If such unscrupulous sales persons continue to indulge in these underhand activities, what will suffer the most ? Obviously it is the market reputation of the company employing them. For their short-term gain, these people end up damaging a brand that has been built up with sweat, toil and tears over the years by the management. The problem is that usually companiesdo not even know when those representing their brand take undue advantage of the trust that they have placed in them. Until people in the market start complaining to each other in private and these private conversations are made public, nobody really realises what has happened. By the time the company realises and takes action against such errant employees, it is too late. A reputation built over decades gets tarnished in just a short while. It is therefore, essential for us to eliminate the menace of illegal commission by its roots. Rather than trade favours with sales persons, distributors and customers should approach the management and nip such culprits in the bud when they fi rst make the ‘indecent proposal’ itself. "Typically, sales persons are paid a salary for their job by the company that employs them. When they agree to take up that job, it is understood that the salary will meet their financial needs." Anil Brahmbhatt.

AB'S DIARY

Sept 2010 Bangladesh beckons Indain brethren Let’s take trade relations with screen printing community members in our neighbouring country to a higher level Right from the very fi rst column of this series, I have always maintained that there are no strangers – only friends we haven’t met yet. Time and again, this contention has been proved right. Whenever people from the screen printing industry meet with their brethren from another country, there is always a meeting of minds and hearts. The scope for widening business options suddenly stares us in the face and one begins to wonder – why did we wait so long to take this fi rst step? I am not for one moment suggesting that it is completely smooth sailing for each and every transaction. There are teething troubles to be fi xed, reliable people to be identifi ed, unscrupulous people to be avoided, but then those are issues we deal with even while transacting business within our country itself. As long as one makes the effort to do a bit of homework, seek advice from established industry leaders and follow the business norms of prudence, there is a huge potential just waiting to be tapped. Bangladesh is one such area of opportunity that we have not exploited so far. What we need to ask ourselves at this juncture is how can Indo-Bangladesh printing industry ties be further strengthened ? There is immense scope for doing this because they have a national association in place – BGPA – and its offi ce bearers, especially President Mr. Zafar Iqbal Siddique, are helpful and likeminded. They have always guided us on local market conditions, aspects where there is scope for exploring joint ventures or collaborations, how Indian companies can work hand in hand with their Bangladeshi counterparts, and so on. They also understand the advantages of working together and leveraging the strengths that each country’s industry players bring to the table during a transaction. They too realise that it will take a series of transactions to bring the relations between business communities of both countries to a higher level. This will also require a major change in our mindset. Some of us believe (and logically too) that our neighbours are our biggest competitors. But then, consider the advantages of working together instead of as rivals? While there will always be areas where we compete, I believe that the remaining aspects where we can work together and the profi ts they will generate makes the challenge worth taking up. Remember the business adage - nothing ventured, nothing gained. I strongly believe that there is much to gain in this case if we extend our businesses across the Indian border and shake hands over business deals with our Bangladesh-based screen printing community brethren. "This will also require a major change in our mindset. Consider the advantages of working together instead of as rivals. While there will always be areas where we compete, I believe that the remaining aspects where we can work together and the profits they will generate makes the challenge worth taking up." Anil Brahmbhatt.

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