Expo Bound: Quad Eyes Solutions for Print-on-Demand Production

By Allee Bruce

As PRINTING United Expo approaches, Promo Impressions is catching up with promotional products decorators and suppliers to discuss industry trends, growth opportunities, and what they're looking forward to at the year's event. For this edition, we spoke with Wendy Knapp, vice president of branded solutions at Quad.

Wendy Knapp, Quad

Where is your business seeing growth right now?

We're seeing strong growth in print-on-demand promotional programs that give brands greater flexibility while reducing cost and complexity. Customers are increasingly looking for one-piece minimums, competitive pricing, fast turnaround times, and inventory-free solutions that eliminate waste, reduce carrying costs, and eliminate the risk of obsolete branded merchandise.

As distributed workforces and targeted marketing campaigns become more common, brands need the ability to produce and fulfill exactly what's needed, when it's needed. Combined with more traditional online company stores, kitting, and fulfillment, print-on-demand helps brands create scalable, personalized programs while maintaining brand consistency across every touchpoint.

What customer demands or decoration trends are having the biggest impact on the promotional products industry?

The biggest shift we're seeing is the demand for flexibility. Customers want one-piece minimums, quick turnaround, competitive pricing, and the ability to order on demand instead of committing to large inventories. More organizations are looking for a single partner that can seamlessly connect commercial print, promotional products, packaging, e-commerce, fulfillment, and custom kitting into one integrated brand experience.

Personalization continues to grow as brands create more targeted experiences for employees and customers, while on-demand production supports sustainability goals by reducing excess inventory and product waste. We're also seeing increased interest in premium packaging and curated kitting, as the unboxing experience has become an extension of the brand itself. Thoughtful presentation and custom packaging add value beyond the product, creating memorable moments that strengthen engagement and brand loyalty.

What do you think will be the biggest opportunity or challenge for promo products decorators over the next year?

The biggest opportunity is helping brands transition from inventory-based programs to agile, on-demand production models. Customers increasingly expect personalized products, one-piece ordering, and fast delivery without paying a premium.

We're also seeing growing demand for decorating premium retail brands, allowing companies to offer the products employees and customers already know and value while maintaining a polished brand image. Meeting these expectations requires investments in automation, digital decoration technologies, and integrated workflows that can efficiently process thousands of unique orders while maintaining quality and consistency. Decorators that can successfully combine production efficiency with expertise decorating retail-quality products, fulfillment capabilities, and integrated brand management will be best positioned to help customers lower costs, respond faster to changing business needs, and deliver exceptional brand experiences.

What technologies, applications, or production workflows are you hoping to see demonstrated live at PRINTING United Expo?

I'm especially interested in technologies that make true print-on-demand production more efficient. That includes advancements in digital decoration, direct-to-film, UV printing, automation, robotics, and workflow software that reduces manual touchpoints from order entry through fulfillment. I'm also excited to see solutions that improve mass customization, enable profitable one-piece production, and help manufacturers deliver faster turnaround while maintaining quality and controlling costs.

What makes PRINTING United Expo worthwhile for your business?

PRINTING United Expo brings together technology providers, manufacturers, and industry leaders in one place, making it an invaluable opportunity to see innovation in action. It's one thing to read about new equipment or workflows, but seeing live demonstrations and having conversations with peers provides practical insights that are difficult to replicate elsewhere. The event also offers a chance to better understand where the industry is headed so we can continue helping our clients stay ahead of changing market demands.

When you leave Vegas, what do you hope to take back to your team?

I hope to bring back ideas that help us work smarter, innovate faster, and continue delivering exceptional experiences for our clients. Whether it's a new production workflow, emerging decoration technology, or a fresh perspective from industry conversations, the goal is to identify practical opportunities we can apply within our business. Events like PRINTING United Expo also reinforce the importance of continuous learning, and I look forward to sharing those insights with our team as we continue evolving alongside our customers' needs.