Past
Due Report Form Now on
PGAMA.com
Do
you have a client with a past due account? Prepare other members for
doing business with such firms by completing a Report of Past Due Accounts
Form, now available on the PGAMA website for member convenience. PGAMA
retains records of the companies reported on the forms to keep the membership
informed about delinquent accounts. The forms are kept confidential and
are recorded by a code number in our files. If you have a past due account
to report, download the form from Industry Forms, Guides, Fact
Sheets in the Members Only section of the site. User name
and password required.
USPS
Reports 3rd Quarter Loss
The USPS announced
that it ended its third quarter with a net loss of $2.4
billion. The ongoing economic recession and a changing
business environment have continued to reduce mail volume
in the U.S., resulting in a $1.6 billion decrease in revenue
for the quarter, USPS said. The agency
has incurred net losses in 11 of its last 12 fiscal quarters.
The Postal Service has made cost reductions, but is still
expected to post a net loss of more than $7 billion by
year’s end.
Last week, the Postal Service released a list of nearly
700 post offices that could be closed or consolidated in
the next fiscal year, starting Oct. 1. Other savings are
coming from consolidating mail processing and transportation
networks, realigning carrier routes, halting construction
of new postal facilities, freezing USPS executive salaries,
reducing travel budgets and more. Postmaster General John
Potter said the USPS is on track to implement more than
$6 billion in cost reductions by the end of the year and
continues to maintain a 96 percent on-time rate for First
Class mail delivery. “Our commitment to customer
service is paramount,” Potter
said. “We will continue to provide the dependable service
our customers need. We also will keep a balance with our
critical focus on reducing costs so that service is not diminished.” Source:
ASAE Inroads Newsletter
Target
Your Mailings with GeoSelector™
PGAMA member DirectMail.com shared this helpful tip for
companies offering (or considering offering) mailing--GeoSelector™.
It's a great tool for clients such as realtors, retailers,
and home and personal services providers because it allows
users to pinpoint homes and households in particular neighborhoods
or target nearby residents. Pre-defined selections like school
boundaries, election districts and census tracts are also
available by request. Once complete, download the zipped
file including full names and addresses. The
file can then be opened in Excel. With GeoSelector™ you
are no longer constrained to having to buy your mailing list
by zip code, city, county, or other selections commonly offered
by list providers. It puts you in control of where you want
to mail. Check it out at http://www.directmail.com/directory/hplinks/6/.
2010
Census Sparks Print vs. Pixels Debate
The 2010 Census forms are
being printed and bloggers everywhere are getting all stirred
up: should the forms be online only, printed only, or both
online and off? Census Bureau
Director Robert M. Groves says, “The Census Bureau
has gone to great lengths to make the printing process
as efficient and eco-friendly as possible...using 30
percent less ink than 10 years ago and printed on 30
percent recycled paper.” In reply, TreeHugger.com
came back with a piece pushing
for an online version, saying, “Okay, now in another
decade maybe the government will use vegetable-based ink and
100% PCW recycled paper, plus other green printing processes.
Or do you think there will be an online version to eliminate
or reduce paper altogether in 2020?”
Peacekeeper and WhatTheyThink.com
writer Gail Nickel-Kailing thinks the forms should come
in both versions. In her article "Pixels
vs Paper: 2010 Census Forms" (click to read the
whole story) she notes that, "While Internet adoption
is topping 80% of American households, that still leaves
a lot of people unconnected." Interesting point, and
yet another illustration of why print and pixels do not
have to be mutually exclusive, but rather, can work together
to get the message out...no matter the content or who it
is from.
New
Tricks for Old Advertising Problem
Developing effective advertising is a concern
that 'dogs' many business owners, so here are a few tricks
worth yapping about that could re-energize your company's
image and keep the firm's name visible.
-One of the best promotions to gain
actual leads is "direct response" advertising, which asks
the reader to respond in some way. -Coupons with special
offers or a giveaway in return for the reader answering a
few questions are usually successful techniques.
-Client newsletters, either
print or electronic, are also extremely effective and create
good will. Stories should offer tips and suggestions on how
your company services can save time and money, or improve
quality. The shorter you keep them, the better newsletters
are received.
-Finally, don't fall into the trap of print-only
ads. Placing banner ads on a website is a low-cost advertising
investment that really works. Find
out what sites your customers visit, and put your company
logo in the spotlight.
This article was excerpted from "Marketing:
The Key to Weathering the Storm" by Rosemarie Monaco of Group
M, Inc., first published in the August, 2009 GAA Update.
Name
Change for National HR Group
Printing Industries of America's
HR forum has changed its name to HR Network,
and its email address to hrnetwork@lists.printing.org.
Individuals who were using PIAHRNetwork@lists.printing.org
should change to the new address. This national forum of
HR professionals sharing questions and ideas is one of
the Association's most frequently used channels of communication.
Member
News
Smith Litho is
celebrating 36 years in business! The company, located in
Rockville, MD, marked their anniversary in June. Congratulations
on your continuing success!
Distinctive
Stationery in
Baltimore, MD announces the acquisition of J.S. Steel Rule
Die, Inc.
Upcoming Events
| August 20 |
CSR Webinar Series Part
3: Winning More Profitable Work, Noon-1:00pm.
Learn how to improve your request-for-quote hit
ratio; find out what an effective estimate/quote
should contain; and gain ideas for questions to
ask to improve quotes and proposals. Led
by business development expert Sid Chadwick. Member
cost is $90 per connection. Register at www.pgama.com. |
| August 27 |
FREE Webinar: Success Stories with JDF Automation, 2:00-3:00pm.
During challenging economic times, many companies
intensify their efforts to become more efficient
and drive out needless costs. The use of JDF (job
definition format) files to automate processes
is already having a profound impact in this way
for some printers. This webinar will focus on how
to incorporate new technologies via JDF automation
and its real world results. You will come to understand
the process of integrating JDF automation and how
it can effectively address today’s business
needs.This broadcast is FREE
for PGAMA members! More info and register at www.printing.org. |
| September 11-16 |
Special Event: PRINT
09,
at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. PRINT 09 is
where top executives come to learn, network and
make informed intelligent purchasing decisions.
From design to delivery you'll see the full spectrum
of equipment and services for: Commercial Printing,
Creative Services, Quick Printers, Book Printers/Publishers,
Mailing & Fulfillment, Package & Specialty
Printers, Wide Format Printers, In-Plant Printers,
Print Buyers, and MORE! Over 650 leading manufacturers
and suppliers will be exhibiting at the show and
80% of them will be showcasing newly released products,
technologies and services. More info and registration
at http://www.print09.com/My-Print.aspx. |
| September 16 |
Free Seminar: Protecting
Customers, Key Employees and Confidential Information, 6:00-7:00pm at
Intelligent Office (300 E. Lombard Street, Baltimore,
Md 21202.) In this economy,
it is critical for employers to protect their customers,
employees and business secrets from unfair competition.
In this presentation you will learn
how to effectively draft employee agreements; discover
the practical steps to protect customer lists and business
information; become familiar with the strategies for
enforcement and deterrence; and discuss strategies
for safely hiring employees who have non-competition
agreements with competitors. Presented by Scott Kamins.
RSVP to: coordinator@intelligentoffice.com. Be sure
to mention that you are a PGAMA member and the $20
attendance fee will be waived. Light refreshments and
parking included. |
| September 20-22 |
Conference-Label
Printing Industries of America Fall Management Conference at
the Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg,
VA. "Get Back to the Basics of Business" is
the theme of this conference, and educational programs
will show you why and how to become an
expert in your customers’ businesses
and guide the strategic
direction of their enterprise. More info and registration
online, http://www.printing.org/page/5307. |
| September 24 |
MAGE Crab Feast, 6:00-10:00pm
at Ten Oaks Ballroom in Clarksville, MD. Come to the
biggest MAGE event of the year and enjoy LARGE crabs
all night, plus a dinner buffet. By popular demand
there will once again be Blackjack 21 gaming tables--play
for prizes! New this year: your ticket stub enters
you into a drawing for a Garmin GPS system. Tickets
are the same cost as last year: just $60 per
person for ALL YOU CAN EAT LARGE CRABS! ($575
for a table of 10.) Reserve
your seats by 9/18. Call
PGAMA, 410-319-0900.Thank you to our current sponsors:
ASI, Kline, Heidelberg, Prisco, sappi, Xerox and xpedx.
***Sponsorship Opportunities Still Available. Contact Paul at
PGAMA for more info. |
September 30-
October 2 |
Workshop:
Total Immersion VDP, at Printing Industries
of America in Sewickley, PA. VDP is no longer an
interesting possibility—it
is now a driving force behind marketing campaigns everywhere
and it offers printers higher margins and great opportunities
to differentiate themselves from their competition.
The trick is in the execution. Find out what you need
to succeed in this workshop. Member
cost is $695 per person. Complete details and registration
at http://www.printing.org/vdp. |
| October 1 |
FREE Seminar: 10 Things
Keeping CEO's Up at Night, 10:00am-Noon
at PGAMA (9685 Gerwig Lane, Columbia). If you're
a printing company owner, president or manager
wondering how to increase profits in a down economy,
this is the best two hours you can possibly spend.
Member firm Heidelberg will give concrete answers
to questions like: "How can I reduce make-ready
times and save on labor and material costs with
the equipment I already have?" "Am I
really making money? How do I calculate actual
production costs for specific customers?" "How
do I get G7 certification?" This is a FREE
presentation for PGAMA members! Register
online at http://sso.us.heidelberg.com/pgama. |
| October 13-15 |
Employee Education
Event: Intro to Printing Class, at
PGAMA, 9685 Gerwig Lane, Columbia, MD 21046. Give
your CSRs or managers an understanding
of how the entire printing process works with
this 2-and-a-half day course. A great training
tool for new employees! Cost is $295 per person
for members/$495 for non-members. Includes all
course materials, lunch everyday, and a field trip
to see printing equipment in operation. MAGE members
get a $100 discount on fees! Sign up at pgama.com
or call the office, 410-319-0900. |
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