Industry Decline Slows
Per NAPL's Andy Paparozzi, our industry's sales (all sources) fell 4.1% during the six months ending in May, the smallest decline over any six months in nearly two years and significantly less than the 15.3% decline during the same period a year earlier. During the three months ending in May, sales were down just 0.2%. The key question asked by many is when do we finally begin growing again? NAPL's perspective is that participation in the recovery ahead will be about growing at someone else's expense, not about growing with the market. Read the complete NAPL report on growth here.
Rules to Allow Easier Appeal of Healthcare Denials
The Obama administration is issuing rules under the health care bill that will require self-insured employers to allow employees to appeal denials of health care claims with external review boards, a change that one public policy expert called "huge." The White House says the new rules will give 31 million people in employee-sponsored plans the opportunity to be heard when their claims are turned down. The external-review requirement will apply, for the first time, to companies that are self-insured -- ones that pay their employees' claims directly rather than buying insurance to cover their workers. Most states already guarantee consumers the right to external appeals, though their rules vary widely. The new appeal rules won't apply to "grandfathered" plans -- those that existed on March 23, when the health law was enacted. Plans can lose their "grandfathered" status if they make significant changes to their plans regarding costs or benefits. Excerpted from "New rules make it easier for public to appeal denials of health insurance claims" by Phil Galewitz and Michelle Andrews, first published in the Washington Post.
New Partner & Funding for The Print Council
Unisource Worldwide, Inc., one of the leading distributors of paper, packaging and facility supplies in North America, has joined The Print Council to help promote the use of print communications. "The paper business has been a challenging industry to unify, oftentimes thriving on competition and an entrepreneurial spirit," said Unisource CEO Al Dragone. "Unisource Worldwide and The Print Council believe that now is the time to unify around the promotion of our industry so everyone benefits in the long run." Dragone also announced that the company has committed a $100,000 matching grant to The Print Council if other members in the group match that amount through pledges received by September 30, 2010. With this additional funding, The Print Council can strengthen its ongoing efforts of promoting the greater use of print media through education, awareness, market development, advocacy and research. Currently, the Print Council is promoting the industry through a series of brochures which explain the advantages of print communications; Print in the Mix, a one-of-a-kind print marketing information clearinghouse; and Print Delivers Seminars around the country, which share the message of the power of print to designers, agencies and media buyers. Excerpted from Unisource press release.
Customer Service 101: Keep Customers Happy
In a perfect world, every company would offer something in exchange for messing up an order, being late for an appointment, or not delivering what they promised. When a product or service doesn’t work, it costs the customer time and money, and whoever said “Time is money” was wrong because time is worth a lot more than money. That's why it is so important for your business to take the initiative in making up for that lost time, and here's the key: without being asked. If a client is forced to say, “I think I deserve a discount because of all this hassle,” they still won’t be happy if you agree. The fact that they had to push for fair treatment instead of you offering it takes away any good feelings associated with the compensation.
The incentive for keeping customers happy is simple: a happy customer is a loyal one. In the course of a year, a satisfied client will more than make up for any costs incurred in compensating for a mistake. Conversely, an angry customer will cause more damage than any company can afford to absorb. Excerpted from "A happy customer is a loyal customer" by Stevie Ray, first published on BaltimoreBizJournal.com.
Tech Tip of the Week-Empty Ink Cans
Gary Jones, Director, Environmental, Health, and Safety Affairs for Printing Industries of America, offers this tip on what you can do with your empty ink cans:
Since many printing companies are closely examining ways to reduce their environmental footprint as part of a sustainability program, empty ink cans are one of the most common, yet more challenging wastes to manage—especially if you want to recycle them. The first place to start is to contact your ink vendor to see if they are willing to take them back so they can be reused. If the ink company does not want the cans, the next step would be to find a local scrap metal dealer to see if they would be willing to take the cans. In many instances, they will take them as long as the cans are clean and free of excess ink. Many scrap metal dealers are reluctant to take cans with a lot of residual ink, as they are concerned about liability resulting from contamination.
Another approach to reduce the total number of cans would be to take a close look at the number and type of inks that are being purchased in cans. In some instances, it might be more economical to buy the ink in larger containers or look into getting an ink mixing program for spot or PMS inks.
The very last step would be to throw the cans away as trash. However, there are some regulatory requirements that need to be met as waste ink is classified as a hazardous waste by some states. The best approach is to remove as much ink as possible by scraping the cans, as those with less than one inch of product can be disposed of as solid waste. It is recommended that you clean the can out, remove both the top and bottom lids, and crush the can before putting it in the dumpster. Do not use a parts washer to rinse the cans prior to disposal, as that creates another waste stream that has to be addressed.
GraphExpo Preview: Eco-Friendly Option in Binding
Traditional types of bindings, such as spiral, double-wire, plastic-coated wire and plastic comb, must be removed from their documents if the paper in those reports and presentations is to be recycled. It’s a time consuming process that takes away some of the appeal of recycling. With Kugler-Womako’s paper ring binding, the entire report or presentation can go straight into the paper recycling stream at the end of it’s useful life. The Kugler-Womako paper binding system will be on display at GraphExpo 2010.
Not attending GraphExpo? Don't worry! The PGAMA/PIVA Executive Management Summit & Sales Symposium will recap all the "Must See 'Ems" from GraphExpo, like the paper ring binder. Save time and traveling expense by attending the Summit, to be held at the Gaylord National Resort near D.C. At the Summit you will get the latest technology and product news, plus so much more. Sign up for the Summit by September 1st and save $100! More info and registration at www.pgama.com/2010summit.
Member News-Equipment for Sale
H&N Printing has the following items for sale:
1 EA OF VARIOUS HP DESIGN JET 5000 SERIES CARTRIDGES & PRINTHEAD/CLEANERS
1 roll KODAK MATCHPRINT DESIGN SM 180 D MEDIA #0799490 36” X 100’
SELLING @ ½ PRICE! Call or email Lori @ H&N Printing if interested, 410-252-5300/lmiles@hnprinting.com.
Upcoming
Events
| August 5 |
Webinar: Cybercrime: New Risks in Light of Changing Technology, 2:00-3:00pm. Digital printing with customer databases is fraught with new and complex risks. Enter Cybercrime, as the fastest growing crime in America, where attacks can potentially wipe-out entire small and medium-sized companies given their limited resources. Participants will benefit from sessions that include real-life case studies and examples that underline the importance of staying on top of the latest security and risk management tactics, including Cyber-liability insurance. Cost is $49 for members, $99 for non-members. Register at http://www.printing.org/node/6368. |
| August 16 |
Early Bird Registration Deadline for MAGE Crab Feast-Sign up and pay by this date and member tickets are $55/person or $535 for a table. Early Bird Registrants also receive a FREE "Get Your Crab On" T-shirt! Call PGAMA to save your seat, 410-319-0900.
Sponsorship opportunities for the Crab Feast still available! Contact Debbie Woolbright at the PGAMA office for details, 410-319-0900.
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| September 1 |
Early Bird Registration Deadline for Executive Management Summit & Sales Symposium
Register by September 1 for the PGAMA/PIVA 2010 Executive Management Summit, and save $100! Introductory brochure for this event was mailed to members this week. Full brochure with full conference agenda coming soon. Get more info about the Summit and register at www.pgama.com/2010summit.com
Sponsorship opportunities for the Summit still available! Contact Carol Atwood at the PGAMA office for details, 410-319-0900. |
| September 9 |
Webinar: Creating Flawless Files that are Print-Ready, 2:00-3:00pm. A recent Printing Industries of America survey showed that 70% of printers need to repair more than half of all files submitted before they can be output successfully. Solid digital file creation is the key element to reproducing jobs in a time- and cost-efficient manner for print production. Go “under the hood” with Adobe CS5 and other desktop publishing applications and become a pro at preparing digital files for print production! Led by Joe Marin, Senior Analyst, Digital Technologies, Printing Industries of America. Cost is $49 for members/$99 for non-members. More info and register at http://www.printing.org/node/6166
***Printers: Purchase this webinar for your customers to strengthen your relationships, AND get problem-free files! |
| September 13-14 |
Workshop: Optimizing Color from Your Digital Press, Printing Industries of America headquarters in Sewickley, PA. Become or develop the "go to" person when it comes to troubleshooting color problems in your digital workflow. This brand new workshop was designed to supply you with a comprehensive look at what it takes to produce reliable, predictable, high-quality color on your digital press. It is a perfect blend of intense lab instruction and quality hands-on training, leaving you totally immersed in the subject of digital color and press optimization. Led by Julie Shaffer, Vice President of Digital Technologies, Printing Industries of America and David Zwang, Principal Consultant, Zwang & Company. Cost is $595 for members/$1095 for non-members. More info and register at http://www.printing.org/node/5960. |
| September 14-15 |
Government Affairs Event: Printing Industries of America Legislative Conference, Washington, D.C. This event serves to advocate public policy on behalf of individual companies, and helps build industry relationships with federal lawmakers and key administration officials. Meet Senators, Representatives, and Capitol Hill staff face-to-face! Attendance is FREE for members. Learn more and register at http://www.printing.org/printsvoice |
| September 16 |
Special Event: MAGE Crab Feast, 4:30-8:30pm at Blob's Park Pavilion in Jessup, MD. Plan to 'Get Your Crab On' at the biggest MAGE event of the year. New location, new menu and new activities will make this a fun-filled occasion for your clients, co-workers, family and friends. Tickets are $60.00 per person for members/$575.00 per table of 10. Non-member cost is $75/per person. Kids 12 and under are $20.
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL-Make your reservations and pay by August 16 and member ticket prices drop to $55/person or $535 for a table of 10. PLUS Early Bird Registrants receive a FREE "Get Your Crab On" Tshirt! Deadline for regular reservations: 9/9/10. Call PGAMA to save your seat, 410-319-0900.
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October 14-16
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Special Event: PGAMA/PIVA 2010 Executive Management Summit & Sales Symposium, at the Gaylord National Hotel just over the Woodrow Wilson Bridge near Washington, D.C. Get the latest information and new inspiration to lead your business to a successful future. Customize your conference experience and pick from an unprecedented 16 different presentations to attend, including an entire series of workshops geared just for printing sales professionals. More info and register at www.pgama.com/2010summit. |
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