Law Would Give Business Tax Relief
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives passed the “American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act” (H.R. 4213), which included several business tax relief provisions.
Included were a one-year extension of the Research & Development credit, refundable AMT credits for printing companies making a 2010 investment in capital equipment for use in domestic facilities, and a one-year extension of a tax provision that provides eligible small printers with a wage credit for activated military reservists. Also included was multi-employer pension plan funding relief that would allow an optional use of 30-year amortization periods, optional longer recovery periods for plans in endangered or critical status, and alternative default schedule for plans in endangered or critical status.
The Senate must pass its version of a jobs bill before President Obama is able to sign the legislation into law.
News from the IRS
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced the 2011 inflation adjusted amounts for health savings accounts (HSAs). Annual contribution limits for calendar year 2011 are unchanged from 2010 amounts:
*Deductions for an individual with self-only coverage under a high deductible health plan: $3,050
*Deductions for an individual with family coverage under a high deductible health plan: $6,150
High deductible health plans (for calendar year 2011): A “high deductible health plan” is defined as a health plan with an annual deductible that is not less than $1,200 for self-only coverage or $2,400 for family coverage, and the annual out-of-pocket expenses (deductibles, co-payments, and other amounts, but not premiums) do not exceed $5,950 for self-only coverage or $11,900 for family coverage.
More Support for Pro-Print Movement
Two more organizations have jumped on the bandwagon of promoting print: Printing Industries of Southern California (PIASC) and The Millcraft Group. PIASC's campaign is called Choose Print and its goal is to reach advertising and promotional decision makers that print gets the message out. The affiliate launched their effort with truck wraps bearing the message "Choose Print." A website, direct mail campaign and billboard and radio ads are also in the works.
Meanwhile, The Millcraft Group, an Ohio based distributor and converter of printing and business papers and envelope, has debuted its own print advocacy and sustainability campaign, Do You Know The Facts. The group's marketing campaign includes an animated video and website that aim to dispel the misconception that paper and print marketing campaigns are bad for the environment. The video, direct mail pieces, and print and web ads direct audiences to visit www.doyouknowthefacts.com which features facts and statistics gleaned from sources such as the Environmental Defense Fund, American Forest & Paper Association, and Direct Marketing Association.
Of course PGAMA has taken part in the pro-print message too, with its own "Print Grows Trees" movement. Members and non-members alike have enthusiastically embraced this grassroots effort, and are spreading the word on books, labels, websites, and more. Look for a full re-cap of how the membership is supporting the Print Grows Trees campaign in the upcoming summer issue of Print Matters. Learn more about Print Grows Trees at www.printgrowstrees.org.
Don't Let This Happen to You
Recently a member firm referred a five-figure account to a collection service when it was 14 months past due. Unfortunately, at that point the company had gone out of business two months prior, and with no personal guarantee, no collection was possible. Don't let this happen to you. If a client isn't paying you on time, doesn't respond to requests for payment or breaks promises to pay; it is time to enlist a third party for assistance. True, you will lose part of the collected money to the cost of collection, but getting most of what you are owed is a big improvement over getting nothing. In these challenging times, even a brief delay may leave you with nothing in your pocket. Let PGAMA partner CMI (Credit Mediators Inc.) help you collect. For more info, go to http://www.cmiweb.com/
Labor Shortage Predicted by 2018
Barry Bluestone, dean of the School for Public Policy and Urban Affairs at Northeastern University, predicts that within the next eight years there could be at least 5 million potential job vacancies in the United States. Bluestone's prediction assumes a return to healthy economic growth and no change in immigration or labor force participation rates. His paper also theorizes that nearly half of the openings will be social sector jobs in education, health care, government, and nonprofit organizations. Bluestone's research is one of four papers written by independent experts. All four papers assert that engaging workers over 55 in encore careers will be vital to meeting workforce shortages and critical social needs. Read the papers at www.encore.org/research.
2-for-1 Deal from Printing Industries Press
Now through July 1, 2010 Printing Industries Press is offering a 2-for-1 deal when purchasing any Customer Education Training kit. The kits are designed to improve communication between printer and client by creating ready-to-implement training on color and print-ready PDFs. Printers who use the kits will find it easy to set up and conduct a professional, 90-minute training session for clients. Materials include:
- Instructional CD-ROM with a customizable Power Point presentation
- Textbook and handouts
- Instructors manual with hardcopy of the PowerPoint slides, talking points, and teaching tips
- Customizable promotional materials
Available training kits are "Communicating Color Effectively" and "Creating Bulletproof PDFs." To take advantage of this offer, call a Member Central Representative at 800-910-4283 ext. 770. To view the Training Kits online, go to www.printing.org/page/4491.
Member
News & Activities
Congratulations to Miller's Minuteman Press on winning Maryland Small Business of the Year!!! The Maryland Chamber of Commerce has announced the winners of the 2010 Small Business of the Year competition, and Miller's Minuteman Press earned the title in the 11-50 Employees category. Owner Keith Miller has run the franchise since 1999, and has grown the business substantially since then by acquiring four additional stores and a central production facility. Read the full story of the company on the Maryland Chamber of Commerce blog.
MOSAIC announces unsurpassed quality results for four months on its KBA Rapida 105 41-inch sheetfed press. Read the full story at WhatTheyThink.com.
Directmail.com has been contracted by the National Wildlife Federation to manage data processing and mail shop services.
Upcoming
Events
June 16
(continuing thru
June 23) |
CSR
Training Webinar Series, Noon-1:00pm.
Sid Chadwick's
CSR Webinar Series continues. Part 5 on June 16 focuses
on Improving Customers Trust, Loyalty, Work Won, and Margins and will address:
- Improving account profitability, and continuity of work
- Improved capture of alterations, and overs sold
- Negotiating and winning additional production time, and needed delivery dates
- Periodic business reviews, and the CSR’s role
Cost is $75 per session. All
you need to participate is a phone and a computer with Internet connection! Register
with PGAMA up to two days before broadcast, 410-319-0900/877-319-0906 or www.pgama.com. |
| June 16 |
FREE Webinar: Building a Strategic Marketing Plan, Noon-1:00pm.
To refocus your business on expansion into the more profitable world of marketing services, you don't need elaborate charts or high-priced consultants, but you do need a plan. Without one, you may be moving fast, but you might not be moving in the right direction. This Webinar will emphasize the essential steps to building an effective strategic marketing plan and you'll hear from print service providers who have successfully implemented their plans. Hosted by Xerox and moderated by Barb Pellow (Group Director, InfoTrends.) Featured Guest Speakers: Bob Selby, Owner, Business Card Express and David Anderton, President, MailMax Direct. Register online at https://www.seeuthere.com/rsvp/invitation/registration.asp?id=m2c714-47LOPXDNM181U&sutEventRoleID=m2c714-47DJXEWTSSYT2&sutGuid=40337. |
| June 22 |
Webinar: Controlling Unemployment Insurance Costs, 1:00-2:00pm. Employers across the nation are already facing soaring unemployment insurance (UI) costs, and unfortunately, higher UI tax liabilities will not be limited to 2010. That’s why it’s essential for business owners and managers to re-examine their UI cost management programs to more effectively deal with taxes and other costs. Tune in to Printing Industries of America new webinar, “Controlling Unemployment Insurance Costs,” to get insights on this issue. Led by Ronald Adler, a nationally recognized expert in unemployment insurance issues. Cost is $49 for PGAMA Members ($99 for non-members.) To register go to http://www.printing.org/node/6264. |
| June 22 |
Cocktails
& Connections-FREE Member
Happy Hour, at Caddies
on Cordell in Bethesda, MD. Member firm Xerox
is sponsoring this event, and invites members
for cocktails, appetizers, and an exclusive
opportunity to meet and learn from Roger Gimbel,
President of Gimbel & Associates,
who will discuss variable data color printing
with live examples of real world successful
applications currently being done. He will
have real business examples of personalized
and customized direct mail marketing,
trans-promo statements, and related marketing
campaigns he has used successfully. Join us
just for drinks, or beat the traffic and
come to the presentation first at 3:30pm, then
stay for happy hour from 5:30-7:30pm. This
is a FREE event for members ($25 for non-members),
but pre-registration is required. RSVP
to PGAMA by June 18, 410-319-0900/877-319-0906
or online at www.pgama.com. |
| June 23 |
FREE Webinar: Result Driven Sales, 10:30-11:30am. Owners, sales management and other top executives concerned with the profitability and viability of their firm should tune in to this broadcast. Speaker Jeff Riback of New Direction Partners will discuss measuring actions that drive sales results, optimizing sales opportunities, and establishing appropriate compensation. Brought to you by member firm MargolisBecker. Sign up with PGAMA: 410-319-0900/877-319-0906 or www.pgama.com. |
October 14-16
|
SAVE THE DATE! Plan now to attend the PGAMA/PIVA Fall Management Conference, and get the direction you need to ensure a successful future for your business. More info to follow in your PGAMA print and email. |
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