Print Oasis 2008 Print Buyers Conference a Resounding Success, With Over 400 Participants

AMELIA ISLAND, FL—February 21, 2008—Print Buyers Online.com, a free, educational e-community for print buyers, print communications professionals and their suppliers in partnership with Print Communications Professionals International (PCPI), the premier association dedicated to print buyers, hosted their seventh annual Print Oasis Print Buyers Conference & Exhibit February 9-12, 2008. The event took place at the exotic ocean-front location of Amelia Island Plantation on Amelia Island, FL. Over 400 people participated in the conference, including 228 attendees (232 registered).

Mark Hoog, the author of Growing Fields Books and executive director of Children’s Leadership Institute, set the tone for the conference by empowering people to make a difference by taking strides towards conscious leadership. A balanced and beneficial mix of superior educational sessions followed over the next three days.

During the conference, 228 print buyers, specifiers and production professionals learned the newest industry trends and discovered best practices for print production. Seminars were chaired by seasoned industry experts including Doris Brown of Pantone, Daniel Dejan of Sappi Fine Paper, Scott Paul of Greenpeace USA, and Derek Smith of Derek Smith and Associates. Peer-based panel discussions included an eclectic mix of print buyers, production managers, printers and suppliers to provide a well-balanced informational forum.

Exhibit space sold out early for Print Oasis 2008, which featured 65 exhibitors including printing companies, major technology firms and paper manufacturers. Mini-educational sessions were hosted by Concord Litho, ThePressCheckPeople.com, EarthColor, Sappi Fine Paper and Pictorial Offset. Attendees updated their paper libraries at the conference’s paper show and welcomed the opportunity to network with peers while roasting marshmallows over bonfires, participating in a group scavenger hunt and enjoying morning yoga sessions.

“The annual Print Oasis Conference was created by Print Buyers Online.com in response to the overwhelming requests of our print buyer members,” said Suzanne Morgan, president and CEO of Print Buyers Online.com and PCPI. “This year we focused on several important industry trends, including sustainability and integrated marketing communications. We also offered many “guru” sessions for seasoned buyers. It was our most successful conference to date and I am thrilled by the enthusiasm expressed by our participants, many of whom were repeat attendees.”

In addition to its comprehensive conference format, Print Oasis provided onsite certification testing for both Professional Print Production and Digital and Variable Data Printing.

Print Oasis 2009 will take place May 17-20, 2009 at JW Marriott’s Desert Ridge Resort in Phoenix, AZ. Companies who wish to exhibit should contact Kimberlee Sautter at 703-534-9307 or visit www.printoasis.com . For a free membership to Print Buyers Online.com, visit www.printbuyersonline.com .

About Print Buyers Online.com
With over 13,000 members who purchase over $15 billion in printing each year, Print Buyers Online.com is the premiere place for education and information for print buyers. A free, educational e-community, PBO provides tips, articles, Q&As, tools and resources to help print buyers learn new and existing technologies and best practices for the business of working with print suppliers. In addition to providing valuable information, Print Buyers Online.com conducts research to understand the needs and challenges of the print buying community. For a free membership to Print Buyers Online.com, please visit www.printbuyersonline.com .

About Print Communications Professionals International (PCPI)
Created by Print Buyers Online.com, the largest national network of print buyers, PCPI expands the services of PBO by offering robust education, resources and networking opportunities to help professionals who purchase print media provide greater value to their organizations. PCPI encourages best practices to enhance the buying and selling experience and promotes the exchange of information in a non-sales environment. The association also offers advanced certification for print communications professionals. For additional information about PCPI membership, please visit www.pcpi.org .