Company news Pensord first for indpendant publishers

Pensord is the first name in the frame and paves the way for a small, select number of future strategic sponsors who will be closely associated with IPAC and its activities, including significant involvement in IPAC’s first annual conference – the Independent Publishers’ Conference ‘Strategies for a Profitable Business’ at the Millennium Mayfair, Grosvenor Square on January 23 2007.

Pensord’s three year deal is the latest move to connect with publishers and IPAC members. The printer has been an avid supporter of PPA over many years. They are heavily involved in the annual PPA Magazines Awards for Editorial and Publishing Excellence, sponsoring the award for the Publisher of the Year (for companies with fewer than 50 employees), and regularly chairing and appearing on judging panels. They also sponsor and are involved in the judging of the independent publisher awards and work regularly with PPA Scotland on their awards.

This new forum for senior executives in the independent publishing sector complements the annual IPAC Seminars and Awards at Magazines 2007, and further activities are under consideration to deepen Pensord’s involvement with IPAC in the future.

Pensord Chief Executive Tony Jones said: “The strategic sponsorship enhances further our relationship with independent publishers and PPA. IPAC represents the smaller publisher both inside and outside PPA, and the parallels with our business made the prospect irresistible for us. We like to be in the industry vanguard at Pensord, and so we were very keen to be the first Strategic Sponsor on board. We will be much more than nominal sponsors, we intend to add value and look forward to being closely involved over the next three years.”

Clive Foskett, Chief Executive of the fast expanding independent publisher, Signature Publishing Ltd, and Joint Chair of IPAC said: “IPAC member companies live in interesting and challenging times. It is tremendous that Pensord has made a very important commitment to IPAC as a major strategic sponsor. It is clear that Tony Jones, Pensord’s Managing Director, has a real understanding and empathy with the needs of the independent publisher, and strongly supports their future. Independent publishers are a vital part of the UK publishing industry and economy – without them literally many thousands of businesses and millions of consumers would lack a specific magazine/website for their industry or interest, millions of readers would be disappointed, and thousands of specialist advertisers would be unable to target their customers.”

PPA Deputy Chief Executive Nick Mazur said: "We are delighted to be working with Pensord in a strategic way on the first stand-alone IPAC conference.  Independent publishers who are close to their markets are key to many of the innovations and new titles within our sector.  A large number of the 600 or so launches from last year were from smaller publishing companies who have spotted a niche within the marketplace.  It is excellent news that Pensord is engaged in our activities to support these key PPA members."

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