Jeffrey Hayzlett is the Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President for Kodak. He recently took the time to answer a few questions about Kodak and its influence on the future of the print industry. Hear what Jeffrey and Kodak have to offer both print and consumer markets as we talk print.
Christian: I recently visited the Kodak Customer Center for Graphic Communications in Rochester, NY. It was a very impressive tour and it appeared Kodak has some great things in the works. What can you tell us about new products and technology from the Graphic Communications Group?
Jeffrey: Thanks for visiting! This is an exciting time for all of Kodak – including our graphic communications business. We just announced our latest innovations for commercial print, data print, publishing and packaging customers at PRINT 09 Media Days in Chicago.
As CMO, I had the privilege to announce the new brand name for all our products using KODAK Stream Inkjet Technology – PROSPER. And, that our first product using this technology – the KODAK Prosper S10 Imprinting System – is now commercially available. Stream Inkjet Technology will change print forever and it’s already helping several beta customers deliver more value to their clients.
See the announcement and a testimonial of PROSPER on YouTube
We also announced the new KODAK NEXPRESS SE Digital Production Color Platform which leverages new Kodak innovations in image quality, dry inks, and software to deliver superior offset class output. If you’ve ever ordered a photo book on KODAK Gallery – it was printed on a NEXPRESS press.
Other new products include the KODAK DIGIMASTER EX300 available this fall – the fastest cut sheet black and white electrophotographic printer on the market; new KODAK Unified Workflow Solutions including KODAK INSITE Campaign Manager and KODAK PRINERGY Digital Workflow; and additions to our Prepress portfolio and award-winning KODAK FLEXCEL NX Digital Flexographic System for package printers.
Kodak delivers the industry’s broadest portfolio of integrated solutions. In fact, we are THE ONLY provider of conventional, digital and blended production solutions within a unified workflow.
We’ve also recently launched a new integrated marketing campaign – It’s time for you AND Kodak. The “And” theme symbolizes Kodak’s commitment to being the best partner to help customers grow their business.
Christian: A relatively new technology in the commercial digital print arena is Kodak’s raised printing capabilities on the new Kodak NexPress. I had a demo of this up in Rochester and was blown away by the possibilities that this brings to the market. How is the ability to produce a physical raised print on-demand going to change the way we use and think about digital imaging and direct mail?
Jeffrey: It’s print you can feel – how cool is that? Kodak has the only inline digital, tactile printing available on the market. KODAK Dimensional Printing gives specified text and images a raised or 3D effect that can help communications stand out in a crowded marketplace – and it helps designers and print service providers stand out from their competition.
This also brings up an important point – print is alive and well! As part of an integrated campaign, print remains one of the most vital tools for marketing and communications. It’s key to helping marketers build one-to-one relationships with customers. And it’s the foundation for motivating consumers and helping marketers achieve a favorable return on their marketing investment (ROMI). Print may be changing, but it’s here to stay. And Dimensional Printing is making print even more powerful.
Christian: Kodak has always been a leader in film products both for print and video. When it comes to digital, what types of products do you see Kodak leading the pack with?
Jeffrey: Everyone has a Kodak moment. Consumers place tremendous value on the power of personal images and video to strengthen and improve relationships. Kodak has always been there to help you bring your personal content into your daily life. Our products – from still cameras to pocket video cameras to wireless digital frames – give you high-quality results, and the power to quickly and easily share life’s moments. Whether shooting a spontaneous video on a Kodak digital video camera and uploading it to YouTube in a flash, or sending new pictures of the family directly to Grandma’s wireless digital frame, Kodak makes it easy and fun.
On the commercial side, our leading digital printing portfolio includes our PROSPER S10 Imprinting System and upcoming PROSPER Press, our NEXPRESS SE Platform, DIGIMASTER EX System and VERSAMARK Systems. Digital print solutions – from digital presses to campaign management software – help marketers connect more personally and effectively with consumers, which boosts return on marketing investment (ROMI).
Christian: We are seeing the ads for Kodak’s new consumer products such as All-in-One Printers with affordable ink and the new Pocket Video Cameras. Tell us a little about Kodak and its latest surge of consumer photo products.
Jeffrey: Kodak is the consumer champion. With our All-in-One printers, we offer high quality at-home printing for consumers who are tired of overpaying for ink. We understand the needs of today’s consumers and make our products to meet their needs – whether printers, pocket video cameras, digital frames or digital cameras.
Kodak offers reasonably priced printers that use fairly priced ink – $9.99 for black cartridges and $14.99 for color cartridges – because that’s what our customers need and deserve. With Kodak All-in-One printers, consumers save an average of $110 annually in ink costs.
Learn more at http://www.printandprosper.com
Christian: Today, there are many companies – large and small – adopting to social media. I follow your updates on twitter as well as your “chief blogger” Jenny Cisney. How has social media changed your marketing strategies and have you been able to measure its performance?
Jeffrey: We’ve integrated social media into our marketing and communications – from Twitter to Facebook to YouTube to blogs. We believe we should be where our customers are. For us, it’s about the four E’s: Engage, Educate, Excite and Evangelize.
Social media provides a platform to connect with customers and amplify our messages. And it’s fast and low cost. We’re seeing great results – from the feedback we get from our customers and followers to the recognition we receive as an industry leader in this space.
Engagement is the new ROI. Another way to look at ROI is: what’s the Return on Ignoring? We think it’s important to be engaged.
Christian: Give us an update as to where Kodak is in this little “recession” we are going through. How strong is your position in the Graphic Communications and Consumer markets? What can we expect from Kodak next?
Jeffrey: Kodak is well positioned for the future. As we manage through this recession, our number one priority is meeting the needs of our customers in all the markets we serve. We continue to maintain or grow market share in our key businesses, which means our products are winning with customers. In short, Kodak has the technology, the strategy, the people and the financial resources to succeed.
What can you expect next from us? More innovation! Kodak will continue to deliver innovative solutions that enrich the lives of consumers and creative professionals, and help our commercial customers grow their businesses.
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Big thanks to Jeffrey Hayzlett for taking time to answer a few questions with me to share on PrintedProof.com. I have always been a Kodak fan and its great to have one of the leaders in the Graphic Communications available on social media to promote print and the value it brings to professionals and consumers alike.
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