Ep 52: Web-to-Print, AI, and Mental Health in Print with Chris Minn

In this episode of Taktiful Tuesdays, Eric Vessels talks with Chris Minn, founder and CEO of Digital Ink, about the evolution of web-to-print, print on demand, automation, AI, and why print businesses need to rethink how their systems, marketing, sales, operations, and production connect.

Chris explains why web-to-print is not dead, but the old way of thinking about it is. The future is not just a storefront or a customer portal. It is connected software stacks, cleaner data, integrated workflows, APIs, automation, and print on demand systems that help printers deliver the kind of buying experience customers now expect.

Eric and Chris also discuss how AI is changing search, marketing, and software development in print, including why printers need better content, clearer websites, and more useful information if they want to be found by AI-driven search tools.

The conversation also turns to Mental Health Awareness Month and Chris’s work with She*t 4 Brains, an industry effort focused on creating more honest conversations around mental health, stress, leadership, burnout, and the human side of print.

Topics include:

• Why web-to-print has evolved beyond storefronts
• How print on demand changes business models
• Why software strategy needs to come before implementation
• Where AI creates real value in print today
• How search behavior is changing with AI tools
• Why printers need to tell their own story better
• The importance of mental health conversations in the print industry
• Why being present matters at work and at home

Featuring Chris Minn of Digital Ink.

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 in the United States to connect with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.