New York, NY -- We are still in the process of tracking down companies and representatives for interviews, but here is the next one in the series. The answers to our questions for this interview are courtesy of Mr. William Lucas, Director of Worldwide Product Marketing at Lexmark, Inc.
Over the last year, Lexmark has introduced a new line of inkjets that boast $4.99 cartridges. Is that a trend you see continuing, and has there been any talk of creating a lower cost color cartridge (and is it possible)? At Lexmark, we are always looking to improve the experience of our customers. Ink costs are something we have heard about over and over again from small business owners and people with home offices. With those types of enterprises, their printing needs are primarily black and white pages. Of course, we will continue to explore the possibilities going forward and if it is possible we will seek to further save our customers money. Ink is always a “top pain point” and thus it will always need to be addressed.
Is there any particular reason that the Prestige Pro 805 was discontinued so quickly? Is there a replacement? When the new products launched last year we were basing them on feedback we received from small business customers. The Prestige Pro 805 was based on the insight that they wanted a variety of features including touch screens, web access, low cost ink, etc. However, at the price we chose to market the Pro 805 at, people felt like a fax machine should be included in addition to the scanning, copying, and printing the Prestige Pro had. So, basically to address those concerns, we pulled it and replaced it with the Pinnacle Pro 901. It is basically the old 805, plus a fax machine. We were ahead of our time with moving away from fax machines. It is going to take more time for people to shed any reliance on that type of machine.
What other trends or new technologies does Lexmark see coming down the line both for themselves and the printer industry as a whole? Can Lexmark compete with Memjet for printer speed?
The first thing Lexmark is concerned with is that we try to deliver on our customer’s needs, and offering a competitive position. As time moves forward, devices like printers will become more than just output devices. They will be geared towards saving customers time and improving efficiency. We believe the services and solutions are were the industry is going. Having several web connected devices and smart solutions will be important going forward. We have just recently introduced “TripIt” on our web-connected printers. Through our enterprise printing division we have been able to funnel their experience and excellence down to the small business and home office part of our business. The interface between digital deliver and paper is being radically changed in light of the advent of cloud [printing].
An article in the Herald-Leader this week said that you have become that
exclusive provider of printers for the PGA. Did Lexmark initiate talks
or did the PGA? If so, will you seek others (if you can say)? Is that an
MPS contract? And, as far as you know, is Lexmark the only printer
company that has managed to strike a deal with a professional
sports organization?
In 2008, The PGA of America selected Lexmark as the exclusive provider of
printing solutions for The 37th Ryder Cup, held in Louisville, Ky. Since
then, we have expanded our relationship between the two organizations and
collaborated with them to explore ways that Lexmark's printing solutions
and services could benefit The PGA of America and its members. News
release with more info here:
http://www1.lexmark.com/content/en_us/about_us/newsroom/news_releases/lexmark_technology_pga_2008_ryder_cup.shtml
The specific terms of this latest agreement are confidential. What I can
tell you is that we are providing them with a wide range of technology
products, solutions and services. Most notably is our cloud printing
solution for golf, which is referenced in The PGA of America's news
release.
Lastly, while we can't comment on what our competition is doing, we can
share with you that Lexmark has also been selected as the official printing
solutions provider for the 2010 World Equestrian Games, which will take
place in Lexington, Ky. this fall. At the two-week event, we will be
supporting the high-volume printing needs of journalists from around the
world, security personnel and WEG staff.
