Interview with José Antonio Pompa, new general secretary of Neobis

"Neobis has been able to adapt to each era without losing sight of its purpose: defending the interests of companies in a constantly changing sector."

You're taking over as general secretary after 20 years working at Neobis. How has the Association evolved over these years?

Over the past 20 years, we've navigated the significant economic crisis that began in 2007; unstoppable technological changes and accelerated digitalization have occurred; and we've suffered a pandemic with a tremendous economic and social impact. What can we say about the current situation, with uncertainty on the horizon? Neobis has managed to adapt to each era without losing sight of its purpose: defending the interests of companies in a sector undergoing constant transformation. Just over 20 years ago, I joined the "Gremio de Artes Gráficas" (Graphic Arts Guild), which has become "Neobis, the Graphic Communication Business Association." During this time, regardless of the excellent assessment of the quality of the services offered, the key has always been supporting companies and the people who comprise them; The added value of the Association's departments lies in the dedication to service of those who comprise them. As is only natural, we have been, are, and must continue to be the benchmark in the graphic communications sector. We achieve this by anticipating its future developments and providing members with useful information for decision-making. Neobis's evolution over these past 20 years can be perfectly summarized by the pillars on which it is based today: Advice, Information, Support, and a Meeting Point.

Another notable fact is that the Association has achieved financial independence, as it is funded by its members' dues and the services provided, allowing us to achieve a level of independence.

Neobis has made the concept of corporate humanism visible. What will be your particular approach in this new phase?

If we understand corporate humanism as the practical incorporation of ethical values into every action we carry out at neobis, we will undoubtedly continue along the same lines. I emphasize that one of neobis's distinguishing values is the human factor, the person; we don't just support companies, but we also pay special attention to people. A company can choose between simply having salaried employees or being aware of its capacity to foster the development of its members. Furthermore, in general terms, we see that those who join an organization take into account the development opportunities they will have there. I love the phrase I heard from Mario Alonso Puig, who says, "Our true strength is not found when we focus on ourselves, but when we focus on others." In this sense, neobis will always strive to become stronger. We will do everything with the necessary qualified technical support from the professionals who work with us as a team. Of course, there will be changes in approach in this new phase we have just begun, but this guiding principle will continue. neobis understands the company as an economic agent, but also a social one.

As privileged observers of the sector, how is it evolving in 2022? What are the prospects for 2023?

As in the national and international economic landscape, uncertainty is the key word. It is true that everything points to the fact that 2022 will likely close with revenue levels close to those existing before the pandemic , but the results will not recover to the same extent in all subsectors. There are many obstacles to the sector's full recovery, as we face factors common to other economic sectors, such as rising costs of raw materials, energy, or the late arrival of European funds, which affects competition with other European companies. Furthermore, we have our own problems that further hamper the success of a significant portion of companies in the sector, such as the particularly high price of paper and the problem of its supply, or the worsening and persistent problems with margins and price adjustments. On the other hand, there are subsectors such as packaging, labels, and some commercial printing products that, while not immune to all these realities, are experiencing positive developments. However, it is said that times of crisis are also times of opportunity , and perhaps now decisions will be made that lead not only to simple competition, but to collaboration between companies that strengthen the collective. Finally, it should be noted that negotiations on the sector's Collective Agreement have begun, and the outcome will also be key to the stability of many companies . We are facing the most complex negotiation process in recent years, both due to the issues to be discussed and the economic landscape in which it will unfold.

From Neobis, what actions are being taken to help your members?

In recent months, we have been working to provide them with solutions to many of the new obligations being imposed on companies, such as equality plans and payroll registries . We believe it is essential to provide them with as much information as possible to better manage their day-to-day work, and to this end, workshops have been organized on extremely important topics, such as the recent amendments to the Insolvency Law and the factors involved in price determination . The actions being carried out revolve around the four pillars I mentioned earlier: professional and specialized advice, objective information, a meeting point, and, above all and most importantly, supporting people. An action plan is also being developed, which will be implemented in 2023 .

What is the importance of trade fairs within the industry?

Trade fairs are undoubtedly important and should continue to be held , however, I believe it is necessary to adapt them to the economic, social, and sectoral changes that have occurred in recent times. A trade fair is still a market, in its own right, serving as a meeting point for many players in the sector, but the scenarios, business models, and networking have changed. We are facing rapid changes in sales methods, and trade fairs cannot ignore this reality. We must work to adapt their content and adjust their timing and frequency if we want them to remain successful.

Will you be participating in the next edition of C!Print Madrid?

Neobis will always be where the interests of the associated companies are and, without a doubt, many of them have interests in C!Print Madrid, so we will be there .