Special Interview: Paper Shortage and Supply Chain Issues w/ Dean Hart, President @ MWI Direct

Paper shortages, production delays, and supply chain issues are all the talk of the non-profit sector heading into 2022. Dean Hart, President @ MWI Direct has been working in paper and production for nearly 3 decades. He joins Dan in this special interview to talk about what's driving the shortages, delays, and price increases and how mailers can plan around them for the coming year and beyond.  Topics Discussed Include:  * The current state of the paper supply  * Short term and long term factors which created the current shortages  * How demand for shipping materials impacts the availability of envelopes * Structural challenges that paper suppliers are facing   * Impacts of labor and raw material inflation on paper prices  * How production timelines have been impacted by issues with materials and labor  * What stocks of paper are most available right now?  * Shifting from an optimization mindset and aligning your 2022 plans based on what allows your organization to stay in the mail  * The value of unsiloed information sharing and communication to help your mailer overcome paper and supply chain issues * Why you shouldn't bank on supply issues resolving themselves quickly and why this could be the "new normal"  * What may surprise you most about the process of making paper  Dean also shares his thoughts on innovations in digital printing and how print vendors can help bridge the divide between direct mail and digital fundraising.  Our conversation with Dean Hart is a deep dive into the paper and supply chain crisis which will help you understand the root causes of how both are impacting the non-profit sector but, more importantly, is filled with solutions to help you navigate around them and fundraise with confidence into the future.  Thanks to Dean Hart for joining the show. If you get value out of our discussion, please subscribe to Dynamic Non-Profits on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you hear great podcasts.  Rating and reviewing the show is the best way to help us grow and bring you more groundbreaking interview like this.  Thanks for listening and supporting our mission to bring value to the non-profit sector.  Show Notes: https://mwidirect.com/ [email protected]