Konica Minolta’s Print Production Blueprint for the Future

At an analyst, press, and customer event in New York City last week Konica Minolta launched two new color products and hinted at (but did not provide specifics on) announcements to come later this year. Rick Taylor, Konica Minolta U.S.’s President and Chief Operating Officer, and other Konica Minolta U.S. executives also outlined the company’s strategy in a presentation titled “Blueprint for the Future” that showed how print technology remains at the core, but is surrounded by solutions and services.

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Konica Minolta Dealer Meeting 2013: Asking the Right Questions

There was an awkward moment in one of the conference sessions at Konica Minolta’s recent dealer meeting. Polly LaBarre, co-author of Mavericks at Work, was summing up her presentation and she asked listeners if they would promise to ‘walk into the office stupider, and ask more questions.’ Promoting stupidity seems like a losing proposition but the ‘asking questions’ part is right on the mark, and I think it is a good reflection of the way that Konica Minolta conducted its ‘Shape the Future’ event, which took place November 17-19 at the Venetian/Palazzo Resort in Las Vegas.

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George Will and the Blues Brothers

I was in Los Angeles Monday at the Konica Minolta “Power of Performance” Conference & Product Expo. About 30 analysts have been invited to report on this event that this year is bringing together Konica Minolta dealer and direct sales channels in one giant lollapalooza held from May 2-5 at the JW Marriott Hotel at L.A. Live (next to the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles). About a thousand people are here and we’ve just completed the first day which started with presentations from Konica Minolta executives, continued with a keynote from conservative commentator George Will, and has finished up with a rousing performance by the Blues Brothers (Dan Ackroyd and Jim Belushi) at nearby Club Nokia. I think from the A-list entertainment line-up you can see that Konica Minolta is going all out for this event, but the real risk, as Konica Minolta Business Solutions, USA Senior VP and CEO Rick Taylor put it, was getting all of the dealer and direct sales people in the same room for the first time. This strategy, however, has enabled Konica Minolta to bring a consistent message to the two groups that most need to hear it, despite the fact that by their very nature they are often in conflict.

Konica Minolta Power of Performance attendees take a break from the morning's festivities

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