Unisource Worldwide Partners with The Print Council; Offers Challenge to Promote Print Industry

NORCROSS, GA—July 23, 2010—Unisource Worldwide, Inc., one of the leading distributors of paper, packaging and facility supplies in North America, recently joined together with The Print Council to support many new initiatives in the world of print communications.

In addition, Unisource CEO Al Dragone announced that the company has committed a $100,000 matching grant to The Print Council if other members in the group match that amount through pledge commitments received by September 30, 2010.

“With this additional funding, The Print Council will strengthen its ongoing efforts to support paper-based communication in an increasingly digital world,” said Dragone. “This partnership demonstrates Unisource’s commitment to educating both our own printing industry as well as the creative design, media and marketing communities about why they should continue to include print in their overall marketing mix,” Dragone said.

“The paper business has been a challenging industry to unify, oftentimes thriving on competition and an entrepreneurial spirit,” said Dragone. “Unisource Worldwide and The Print Council believe that now is the time to unify around the promotion of our industry so everyone benefits in the long run.”

The Print Council – a business development alliance dedicated to promoting the greater use of print media through education, awareness, market development, advocacy and research – is currently promoting the printing industry through several programs. These programs include a series of brochures which help companies in the industry explain the advantages of print communications with customers, potential clients, educators and the general public; Print in the Mix, a one-of-a-kind print marketing information clearinghouse at the Rochester Institute of Technology’s (RIT) Printing Industry Center; and, a series of Print Delivers Seminars that have taken place around the country bringing the message of print to designers, agencies and media specifiers in cities such as Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, Washington DC, Dallas and New York.

About Unisource Worldwide, Inc.
Unisource Worldwide, Inc., (www.unisourceworldwide.com) is a leading independent marketer and distributor of commercial printing and business imaging papers, packaging systems and facility supplies and equipment in North America. Headquartered in Norcross, Ga., Unisource is one of the largest private companies in the United States and offers the most comprehensive suite of products and services in the industry. With approximately 5,000 Team Members – including sales, customer service and technical support specialists; approximately 85 distribution centers; and a fleet of “Big Red” trucks – Unisource Worldwide can deliver what your business needs when and where you want it – locally, regionally and nationally.

About The Print Council
Through education, awareness, market development, advocacy and research, The Print Council serves the industry to develop, maintain and increase the market for printed materials. The Print Council can be contacted through Ben Cooper, Executive Director, at (202) 973-5977, by e-mail at bycooper@wms-jen.com, or on the web at www.theprintcouncil.org. Print in the Mix clearinghouse of print media effectiveness is freely available at www.printinthemix.com.