| What
Happens in Vegas... Can Help Your Business
Most conferences
focus on one or two aspects of business management, but the
Offset & Beyond Conference 2009--being held May 4-6 in
Las Vegas, NV--covers ALL the bases, with the resources,
tools, and connections you need to succeed. This conference
is designed by and for printers, so its focus is increasing
your profits and saving you money with practical tools, cost-reduction
techniques, and revenue-generating solutions to implement
immediately. Scheduled seminars include:
• Energy Management/Reduction—reduce your energy
costs today
• Sustainability/Green—differentiate yourself
from the competition
• Where Are the Savings in Consumables?—ink savings
are quantified on press
• Leaders’ Strategies in Turbulent Times
• Sustaining Lean Manufacturing Gains—discover
how to “Live Lean”
Plus, attendees get face-to-face benefits from
networking with peers and learning and sharing what works
and what doesn't. There's still time to register! Download
the form and fax to 412-259-1800.
International
Mailings on the Rise
According to the U.S. Department of Commerce and Bureau
of Economics, U.S. exports grew by
12% in 2008. As the nation recovers
from the recession, it is likely this will continue--is
your firm prepared to profit from this trend? Even if you
are not currently processing a large number of foreign addresses,
you probably will be soon; so to stay competitive, you may
want to consider partnering with an international mail consolidator.
A mailing expert will have the most current info on international
postal rules and regulations, which vary by country and can
make foreign addressing a difficult task. They can also advise
you on mail solutions that will improve client service and
increase profit. Your PGAMA membership directory lists member
mail processing/fulfillment partners. Make the most of your
membership contacts and consult one of the listed companies
today! --This
story was excerpted from an article by Jerry Conrad of member
firm APC Postal Logistics LLC that recently ran
in a Printing Industries of America publication.
Postal
Increase Presents Opportunity
New prices for mailing services go into effect May 11th,
and industry consultant Dick Gorelick says this can be a
good opportunity to create business. Remind customers that
the increase includes a two-cent increase in the price of
a First-Class stamp to 44 cents, and they may opt to print
and mail prior to May 11th, in order to beat the rate increase.
And in other USPS News....
Beginning in January, the USPS provided commercial base pricing
for Priority Mail customers using permit imprint, and asked
customers to conform with the commercial base price barcode
requirements by May 2009. Due to a large number of requests
for additional programming time, the USPS has extended the
exception to the barcode requirement until January 2011 for
all permit imprint customers.
Printers'
Disability Trust-A Valuable Benefit
For most workers, the ability to earn a living is their
most significant financial resource. But if a disabling
illness or injury occurs, income stops, additional
costs arise, and the building of retirement assets is restricted.
Listed below are some statistics published by the National
Association of Insurance Commissioners and Society of Actuaries
that highlight the need for disability insurance:
-Most workers' savings will only last
a few months
-Workers' compensation benefits cover
disabilities arising on the job-but that is only an estimated
4% of long-term disabilities
-The risk of disability is greater than the risk of premature
death, which people routinely insure
-During their working careers, more than
20% of males age 35 will suffer a disability lasting 90
days or longer; more than 25% of females age 35 will suffer
a disability lasting 90 days or longer
Call PGAMA for a brochure on this program,
and learn how to protect yourself and your employees with
the affordable short and long term disability programs
offered.
Bid
on PGAMA Membership Directory
The Association is seeking bids from members for printing
the 2009 Membership Directory. Quantity needed
is 475. The PDF is available on www.pgama.com on
the home page (under the Excellence in Print Awards feature
& Upcoming Events listing.) Contact Paul
Foster with questions, 410-319-0900.
Tech Tip of the
Week-VDP Design
Julie Shaffer, Director of Digital Printing Council/E-Business
Council, offers these tips on what to consider when planning
a personalized piece:
Choose a paper that has been rated for use on a digital
press. Conventional papers may not be able to withstand the
high heat toner-based engines use to fuse the toner to the
paper. Cracking, curling or even toner flaking off the paper
are possible results of using the wrong paper for a project.
When you’re creating a variable piece that will address
the recipient by first name, make sure you use the name this
person actually uses. For example, many people go by a middle
name or nickname, and it is unlikely that a person identified
as “J. David Smith” in a database would actually
go by the first name “J.” So make sure you have
a nickname field and use that for any piece that addresses
the recipient by first name.
When designing a variable piece, make sure that the text
fields are created with enough space to accommodate the longest
possible text entry into that field. Otherwise, you run
the risk of going outside of the allotted space or wrapping
to the next line. Designers and the print provider should
be provided with the longest entries in the database to ensure
that the text fields are properly sized. This is especially
important when the variable copy has to fit into static layouts.
Member
News
Traypml has moved. Their new address is
681 Hollins Ferry Rd, Suite A Glen Burnie, MD 21061. Phone
and fax numbers remain the same.
Svec Conway Printing celebrated Earth Day
this week by promoting their own sustainability efforts and
encouraging others to follow suit. The firm delivered
posters to their clients which endorsed
reuse and recycling in print and product--the poster was
printed on previously printed make-ready sheets. See the
poster here.
Upcoming Events
April 28
|
Webinar: The
Intelligent Press--Automating Profitability, 1:00-2:00pm.
As printing presses gain in capability, they also become more complex to operate.
Longer, faster and more automated, presses today are also smarter. Seated in
the console is an active intellect that can coordinate intelligence from all
over the plant. In some cases presses even retain
and learn from previous jobs. Tune in to this broadcast and get up to speed on
this hot topic. This is a FREE presentation brought to you by Graphic Arts Online. To
register, go to http://email.graphicartsonline.com/cgi-bin7/DM/y/hBGXY0ZgYw60DPB0HadY0Eq. |
| April 30-May 1 |
Mailer
Strategies Conference, in Washington,
D.C. PGAMA has partnered with the Mailing & Fulfillment
Service Association (MFSA) to give members access
to special rates on all future MFSA events. This
is their next event and attending will help
you find out what works in direct mail. Learn
more and sign up at www.MFSAnet.org. |
| May 3-6 |
BIA Mid Management Conference,
Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas, NV. This conference is
designed to bring together mid-managers from trade
binderies, graphic finishing, information packaging,
custom loose-leaf manufacturing, and the suppliers
to those industries. Fee structure: BIA Trade Bindery/Loose-Leaf
Manufacturer-$275; BIA Supplier (non-exhibitor)-$325;
Printing Industries of America Member-$475 (includes
one year membership in BIA). Complete info and register
at www.printing.org under Events & Training. |
| May 4-6 |
Offset and Beyond:
Printer to Printer Business & Technology
Conference, at Caesar's Palace in Las
Vegas, NV. Every company has the potential for greatness,
but few conferences provide you with the resources,
tools, and connections that you need to succeed. Offset & Beyond
2009 offers topics that cover business opportunities
and trends as well as the most comprehensive technology
and production sessions for printers, regardless of
process. Download brochure and register at www.printing.org under
Events & Training. |
May 6
POSTPONED |
Special Event: Prepress Panel
Discussion, POSTPONED5:30-8:30pm
at the Admiral Fell Inn in Fells Point.
Co-sponsored by PGAMA and the Production Club of
Baltimore, this event is a great opportunity for
Production Managers, Print Sales Reps and Creatives
to listen and learn from each other!
Topics to be addressed include file issues, color
proofing, software, file prep tips, and more. Cost
is $20. Lite fare and drinks included.
Register on pgama.com or
call Debbie at the office, 410-319-0900. The Admiral
Fell Inn is located at 888 South Broadway, in Baltimore,
MD 21231 PH: 866-583-4162. |
| May 12 |
Webinar: Employee Free Choice
Act-Avoiding Unionization,
2:00-3:00pm. Many expect the number of unionized workers
to triple over the next several years due to the economy
and the new political climate. Learn effective management
practices that undermine union overtures and organization
strategies, lawful means for eliminating unions, and
union interferences as well as how to negotiate new
cost-savvy bargaining agreements. This FREE webinar
is brought to you by Offit-Kurman. Register on pgama.com. |
| May 19 |
Workshop: Post-Recession Planning, 10:00am-3:00pm
at PGAMA. Is your firm ready to face the post-recession
print market? Find out what to expect from the economy,
what the hot trends will be, and how to get in
on the action. Featured
speaker is Dr. Joe Webb from WhatTheyThink.com! This
event will be FREE for members and includes lunch.
Register with PGAMA, 410-319-0900 or at www.pgama.com.
Sponsored by member firm Presstek, Inc. |
| May 21 |
Special Event: Cocktails &
Connections Happy Hour,
5:30-7:30pm at Liberatore's in Timonium, MD. Join us
for this strictly social gathering to meet and mingle
with your professional peers. FREE event--but you
must RSVP in order to attend. Sign up www.pgama.com or
call the office, 410-319-0900. Liberatore's is located
at 9515 Deereco Road, Timonium, MD 21093 (PH: 410-561-3300).
Sponsored by member firms Advantage Book Binding
and Group Benefit Review, and non-member firm Atlas
Container. |
| May 28 |
Eastern Shore Print & Graphic
Arts Association Golf Tournament, 12:00 noon
shotgun start at
the Easton Club in Easton, MD. Cost is $69 per person
and benefits the group's scholarship fund. For more
info contact Cliff Collison, 410-228-3565. |
| June 8 |
PGAMA Golf Outing, 8:45am
shotgun start at Crofton Country Club. Make contacts
with other members and business associates at our annual
golf outing. A challenging course, an outstanding lunch,
and prizes for Longest Drive, Closest to Pin, Hole
in One and Putting. Cost is $145 per person for golf,
breakfast and lunch; $45 for lunch/awards only. Early
Bird Discount! Register by May 11 and pay $135
per person! Look for flyer from PGAMA with registration
info, or call the office, 410-319-0900. |
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