WhatsApp chatter when a printing press closed down - The Noel D'Cunha Sunday Column

So many printers shutting down. Sad yaar
 

You know, I had anticipated this day, four years ago

There is no respect for a printer these days
 

Yaar, I used to love the good old days, sitting with clients and selecting the right paper

That Marwari paper merchant in Singapore used to send brand new paper swatch books every week. Amazing stuff

Now the buyer doesn't know the difference between coated and uncoated. All these new MBA kids in marketing

Sab kuch sarvanaash
 

Why did he shut down?
 

He should have diversified sooner. I told him to go for in-house embossing, die-cutting, foil-stamping, coating ...

I told him to opt for packaging
 

Arre Reddy, which packaging?
 

Meaning what, Gandhi Saheb?
 

Packaging can be flexible, folding carton, or labels na. One has to pick the market segment carefully.

Arre, I heard D Vishwanath has invested in a ten acre plot in Sri City

Really? He produces ten million packs daily. Bol!!!!

I met him while he was taking a walk in Lodhi Gardens on Sunday. He is so down to earth. He was asking about the press closure

Oh! Kya bola tu?
 

Bad debts, I tell you
 

Bad habits, I tell you
 

Bad investment, I tell you. He shouldn’t have purchased that casemaker. The supplier thugged him

His accountant thugged him
 

Thank god, my Bhabhi is a CA
 

His operator quit and took away all the customers
 

It’s all because of China
 

Jindal, how is your business doing? Affected by Yuan fluctuation?

My business is good, but could be better
 

Does anyone in this group know which industrial head I should use for barcode?

Arre Rohit Bhai, RFID has replaced barcode
 

Oh. Ok.
 

Print revenue is getting squeezed na? Too much under-cutting!

Mihir-ji: What is the ROI for textile printing?
 

Sidhesh Bhai: Kaem chho? What is the ROI for ceramics?

Anand Saar: What is the ROI for direct mails?
 

Listen da, customer service for direct mail needs to be tip top

His customer service was very poor. I called him five times, but he never picked up the phone

Really? But his father was a wonderful gentle soul
 

My grandfather knew his grandfather
 

My grandfather knew your grandfather. Your father worked in Monotype with Mr Prabhakar?

Prabhakar Uncle was a genius. He was Supreme Sultan of Supercasting

Your grandfather migrated from Rangoon to Karachi na?

No, no. That was my Dadaji’s Dadaji. Come home na? When you are free? Mummy will be so happy to meet you

Does anyone in this group know which industrial head I should use for RFID?

Arre Rohit Bhai, look at low-cost printed display screens which are being integrated into packaging for printed batteries and printed electronics. That's the future.

Oh. Okay.
 

What will they do with the premise? That politician had an eye on it

His brother was always mixed up in some such stuff

He carried a pistol with him at all times
 

Very ambitious fellow. I know him na. My cousin and he went to Bhola Classes together

Good thing, his son is studying law in UK
 

His daughter is unmarried
 

I printed two jobs with him. He didn’t take a paisa from me. Proper gentleman

Still sad na? It’s not good for a commercial printer anymore

The government must do something about all this
 

Arre, Modiji kya kya kar sakte hain?
 

You are attending the Association meeting next week?

The Association must do something about this
 

Does anyone in this group know anything about printed batteries and printed electronics.

Arre Rohit Bhai, first you master barcode.Then look at all this.

Oh. Ok.
 

Jhunjhunwala, you will pick me up on the way? My car is going to the garage

Send me a ping on WhatsApp
 

But sad na
 

I had a dream about him last night
 

I met him at Juhu Beach. He was taking a walk. He looked dull and clueless

What’s gone is gone
 

Can someone in the group help me? My screen angle variation is not matching my LPI variation

Aaj, India match jitegi kya? Any bets?
 

Bye
 

See you later