Visual Connections: Delivering Value

- This article originally appeared in Textile Magazine

While its name is well known, exactly what Visual Connections does – apart from its flagship PacPrint and Visual Impact trade shows – is perhaps less well understood. We interviewed the supplier association's eight-member Board on why a supplier association is needed, and what value it delivers.

For Board President and founding Director, Mitch Mulligan, it’s about bringing together the industry’s suppliers with a united approach, to ensure they can make well-considered, meaningful contributions to the industry.  

Mitch, who is Managing Director of Böttcher Australia, says, “As suppliers, we have a responsibility to our customers to engage with them and identify ways we can contribute to their business success. Visual Connections provides the platform for such endeavours, whether that be trade shows, conferences and seminars, or through education, best practice information, or new ideas and technologies.”

Pulling these kinds of initiatives together in a way which benefits the entire print, sign and visual communications sector demands a varied group of Directors to direct strategy and planning. The Visual Connections Board delivers, with representation not just across the breadth of the sector, but from global OEMs to local, family-owned supply businesses.

Alongside Mitch, long-term Directors include John Wall, MD of Roland DG, Ian Martin, General Manager – Trade for Ferag Australia, Luke Wooldridge, National Product Manager for HVG Graphics Media and Russell Cavenagh, MD of Mutoh Australia. Vice President Andrea Trumble, Marketing Manager for Pozitive Sign & Graphics Supplies, joined two years ago, while Mark Canavan, Marketing & Vendor Relations Manager at Graphic Art Mart, and Alex McLelland, MD of ORAFOL Australia are the most recent additions.

“Bringing together the variety of backgrounds and experiences allows us to provide important guidance and a single, representative voice,” Ian says. John agrees. “The Board acts as an important industry sounding board, where we can address the ever-changing needs of the industry on a level playing field, to deliver value across the whole sector.”

And deliver they do. As well as trade shows and events, Visual Connections supports a range of other industry initiatives, including sponsoring many key industry events, contributing to training and graduate development, and, most recently, establishing the Sign & Print Career Connections initiative to attract new talent to the sector.

For Andrea, this focus on the future was a key driver to join the Board. “I appreciated the work Visual Connections does with expos, events and education, and the way they collaborated so closely with other industry associations – I firmly believe working together on projects which benefit all is the only way to build a strong and successful industry into the future.”

By combining the collective experience of the Directors, and being willing to seek insights from related sectors and associations, the Board has a broad perspective, with the kind of sharp focus that only comes from being closely involved in the ‘day to day’ challenges of the industry.

“It’s an ‘open forum’ for frank discussion, strategy development and planning,” Russell says, “but whatever we are working on, it’s all with one aim – and that’s to ensure industry businesses can meet the challenges they face and take full advantage of emerging opportunities.”

Peter Harper, CEO of Visual Connections, says the united approach is impressive.

“These are all industry leaders, with their own personal and professional priorities,” Peter says, “but they leave their individual interests at the door and focus solely on the good of the industry, even when a decision may be to the detriment of their own business.”

In Luke’s words, "you have to be prepared to take of your 'competitors hats' and work together if you’re going to act in the interests of the whole sector.”

It’s a remarkable level of commitment, particularly when you consider these Board positions are voluntary, so it’s perhaps not surprising that the idea of  ‘giving back’ came up a lot in our interviews.

“For me, being on the Board of Visual Connections is an optimal way to give back and contribute to the future of our industry,” says Mitch, while Ian adds, “You only get back what you put in.”

“Sitting on a Board can be hard work,” John concedes, “but I would recommend it to anyone who wants to make a contribution – new blood is vital to prevent complacency, keep Boards relevant as the industry evolves, and bring important new ideas and perspectives.”

On that note, perhaps it is latest to join the Visual Connections Board who should have the last word.

“I feel fortunate to be part of a dynamic, successful, and constantly evolving entity in which technology and creativity work in tandem to lead the way in helping industry businesses meet emerging trends and challenges as we move into the future,” says Alex.

“There has never been a better time than now to inspire contribution, influence and innovation for our incredible industry!”

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