Alex Jordan recently joined the Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) Ltd team as its new Sales Development Representative. As a young recruit to the print industry, Alex is one of a new generation of professionals who are carving out a solid career in the world of print. Having originally set his sights on joining the acting profession, Alex gives his insights into what it is like to join the print industry and how his new role has proven to be an exciting change of course from his intended career.
What was your initial attraction to joining the print industry?
“Like perhaps many people, I have found myself entering an industry that I hadn’t originally planned but having worked for an agency that works in the sector, it opened my eyes to the career possibilities. There is so much more to print than the office or home printer that most people are familiar with, it has a direct effect on our daily lives - be it products we buy or use, or essential signage and packaging that makes everything else possible. Industrial print and embellishment are great examples that really stand out to me in the world of print.”
Your role as Sales Development Representative is very people-focused, how do you think your previous skills and training have helped you with it?
“There are more similarities with my drama training than you might think! It’s all about learning detailed information and presenting it in the right way, which is crucial in my new role too. Being able to bring together all those elements gives you the confidence to speak to people, even if you don’t know them, and also to ‘read’ your audience. In my sales role, there are the challenges and rewards of managing accounts, supporting customer needs, and ensuring we supply the right solutions at the right time, which all require confidence and planning to make it work properly.”
You constantly speak to people who work at the coalface of the print industry. What are your customers finding exciting at the moment?
“Embellishment has really caught the imagination of many of the customers I speak to. We recently attended The Print Show at the NEC Birmingham and had a display of embellishment products that got a lot of attention! People love the tactile feel of them, it adds an extra level of connection that surprises some people. Inkjet technology is also a very popular subject and especially with people who have been in the industry a long time, they can see this is the future and they are excited by it.”
The right training is essential for print professionals, how did you prepare before you got on the phone with customers for the first time?
“Obviously I have had a considerable amount of training for this role, but what has really brought it to life for me is seeing the technology ‘in the flesh’. The newly opened Konica Minolta Client Engagement Centre in Houghton Regis near Luton has been very beneficial for hands-on experience. Equally the discussions I have on a daily basis and meeting people at events such as The Print Show all have a cumulative benefit for my industry knowledge. Experience of real-world needs and applications is invaluable for success in the print world and you only get that by working closely with people who are doing the job.”
What is next in your career journey with Konica Minolta?
“There is an excellent development plan in place. The first thing is to increase my technical understanding of the machines and of course how they can be used. Looking after my own accounts means giving full demonstrations so this is essential. Also, taking part in lots of customer visits is important, seeing the print rooms and workshops in person, getting a better understanding of the real-world pressures printers face and finding new and exciting ways of addressing these needs to meet their budgets and availability of physical space. I am looking forward to the ‘armbands’ coming off and being able to swim in the deep end on my own!”
Do you feel the print industry is making enough effort to attract younger professionals like yourself as the next generation?
“There has definitely been progress, but there is still more to be done. It was interesting to be at The Print Show this year , as I didn’t see many people of my age or younger there. Some people had brought children with them, which could be a good way of generating interest in younger people, but I think the industry as a whole needs to continue making efforts to attract a more diverse range of people, to show the relevance of print to society, and to ensure there is a new generation of people ready to take the reins over time.”
What more do you think the industry can do ?
“I think changing perceptions is an important part of attracting young people. The only direct contact many people have with print is using a home or office printer and whilst these are still important, there is of course a much broader range to print. Packaging for example is an enormous part of the print industry but perhaps one that people outside the industry might miss. It is all around us. Think of all the items we all use each day that have print on them and you get an idea of just how crucial this sector is.
There are so many roles associated with the print industry as well. Art and design are very closely linked to print and there will always be demand for creative artists to fuel new creations and new uses of print. There are obvious applications for people who like engineering and technology – be that maintaining or repairing the print machines, or the associated IT technology that powers this technology.
I have found my niche in sales but equally, it’s great for all sorts of people in Business Planning, Marketing, Facilities Management, Finance and so on. It’s an industry driven by innovation and there are many wonderful SME businesses out there that are driving the unique benefits of print to meet the needs of consumers and other businesses.
In order to thrive the industry needs fresh blood so that it can continue to evolve and grow. With the digital world being so all-encompassing for many young people, it’s important that they understand the relevance of print so they can see it’s an industry that is worth building a career in. It’s up to those of us already here to continue promoting not only the products we produce but also the great opportunities to be part of this industry’s future.”