Sometimes a subtle change can make a big difference.
That's our hope with the latest publication at Crain Communications.
Beginning with the April issue, European Plastics News will be known as Plastics News Europe. The thought behind the change is to overtly link Plastics News and Plastics News China with Crain's monthly plastics publication that covers the European market.
The move is already paying dividends.
Upon hearing of the change, one reader remarked that he always wondered if European Plastics News and Plastics News were published by the same company. (The answer is “yes.”) But with this name change, our hope is that readers and advertisers all around the world will now clearly see how Crain's plastics publications truly cover the globe in print and online.
Now, let me share some of the many enhancements that Editor David Eldridge is planning for Plastics News Europe.
• First, question-and-answer sessions with plastics processors and end-market users will become a staple of each issue. For example, David sits down with Len Sauers, Procter & Gamble's global head of sustainability in the April re-launch issue.
• Detailed polymer pricing charts and resin features will be part of each month's offerings as well.
• The editorial team will add more rankings and lists, too, to give readers trend information on markets and individual companies.
• Each month, in-depth features on automotive, packaging, recycling and design will live side by side with analysis of manufacturing processes like injection molding, extrusion, blow molding and thermoforming.
• In print, all this content will be served on a thicker, higher-quality paper stock that befits the executives who read it and our customers who advertise with us.
• Plastics News Europe will unveil a modern website in April. Here, David's team will keep the world updated on the latest breaking news from the European market. By covering breaking news online and features and analysis in print, Plastics News Europe and its website will provide unique content depending on the medium.
I'm confident you will enjoy the new Plastics News Europe. The entire team in our Croydon, England, office put in countless hours re-launching this title with you in mind.
And from the Plastics News team in Detroit, we offer our congratulations to David as well as to Managing Director Steve Crowhurst, business development director Sue Rothwell and sales director Matt Barber on a job well done!
Here's to subtle changes and all the grand attention that follows.
Lafferty is publisher of Plastics News.
