Reminder:
PGAMA will be closed for Thanksgiving
and on Friday, November 28.
Apple's
Black Friday
Sale
Apple, our newest
Buying Power partner, is having a special
one-day sale this Friday.
Members can save even more when they
combine their Buying Power discount
with the markdowns of this sale.
Shop at our exclusive
online
store.
Holiday
Survey Results
Wondering
what your
competitors
are doing
this year
with regard
to holiday
closings?
Check out
the results
of our
latest
member
survey, Plant
Holiday
Operating
Plans.
The
link will
update
as new
responses
are recorded.
Recession
Don'ts
Let's
face it: times
are tough
and everybody
is cutting back
on expenses. But there
are
a few things
that shouldn't
be cut no matter what.
Keep these "don'ts" in
mind as you develop your
business strategy for
2009 and beyond.
Don't
Cut Your
Ad Budget: It's
very important
to let
people
know you're
still out
there.
Keeping
your message
in front
of potential
clients
shows you're
alive and
well and
ready to
do business.
Plus, you
will trump
the competition
that does
cut back
on marketing.
Don't
Skimp on
Attending
Events: Make
every effort
to go to
industry
conferences,
trade shows,
classes,
and events
because
this is
the time
when a
different
perspective
could make
a big difference.
You might
get an
idea that
takes your
company
in a new
direction,
saves money,
or provides
a jump-start
to your
business.
Investing
in professional
development
or continuing
education
is also
important,
and gives
you the
opportunity
to learn
something
new and
meet others
in the
industry.
Don't
Be Afraid
to Share
Your Knowledge: If
business
is slow,
offer to
teach a
class,
speak at
a luncheon,
or give
a workshop.
Sharing
your experience
can attract
new clients
and establish
your reputation
as a knowledgeable
professional.
Artists
As A Market
It's tempting
to think
of an "artist" as
a Van Gogh
type who
never sold
a painting
in his
life. But
the reality
is reflected
in a recent
study by
the National
Endowment
for the
Arts, which
found that
almost
two million
people
are gainfully
self-employed
as artists
in America.
We all
know about
the serious
dollars
that lurk
in ink
jet proofs
(giclee),
but have
you considered
all of
the print
based spin-offs
from an
artist's
work? Don't
forget,
the only
medium
that will
permit
the artist
to earn
a return
is print,
and we
have the
vehicles
to make
their success
possible.
Help
for Your
Employees
If you
have been forced to lay off employees
due to the economy, be sure to direct
them to the PGAMA website (www.pgama.com)
where other printing businesses have
posted their staff openings. In addition,
the laid off individuals can post their
resumes for other employers to review.
This is a FREE member service, so take
advantage of it to help your dedicated
workers find another position.
Tax
News to
be Thankful for
Did you know that the Economic
Stimulus Act of 2008 contains two
tax provisions that benefit businesses?
Here's the scoop: Section
179 Expensing--In
general, this section provides that
a business with a sufficiently small
amount of annual property purchases
may choose to expense the cost of
the property. The Act increased the
maximum 179 expensing limit to $250,000
from $128,000, and also increased
the total amount of qualifying property
a taxpayer may purchase.
Special Depreciation
Allowance--The
Act provided a 50 percent special
depreciation allowance for property
acquired and placed in service during
2008. The types of property that
qualify are section 168 property,
off-the-shelf computer software,
water utility property, and qualified
leasehold improvement property. The
property must have been acquired
during the 2008 calendar year and
placed in service before the start
of 2009. In addition, the Act increased
the total depreciation amount a business
could deduct for a passenger automobile
to $10,960 instead of $2,960. For
trucks or vans, the new maximum depreciation
amount is $11,160 instead of $3,160.
Member
News
Congratulations to
Dan Kovalsky and Constellation
Energy. The firm was
recently FSC certified.
Congrats
also to Holly Budd
and Williams
& Heintz Map Corp. The
company
is a candidate, pending verification,
for SGP Partnership.
Cenveo has appointed Hampton
Jones to
head up Cenveo
Baltimore. Jones replaces
Carl Grossman, who has accepted a position
with Craftsmen Press in Cheverly, MD.
Upcoming Events
| December 2-4 |
Sheetfed
Press Operators Training, at
PIA Headquarters in Pittsburgh,
PA. Lead operators will learn
to control and optimize the
press and its components
resulting in decreased downtime,
reduced waste and spoilage,
quick makeready, more precise
troubleshooting, and improved
press performance. This workshop
can help your company reduce
costs and improve profitability
while reducing cycle time
and enhancing the quality
of print production. Member
cost is $1095. Register at www.gain.net under
Events & Training |
| December 3-5 |
Print
Industries Market Information & Research
(PRIMIR) Organization Winter
Meeting,
at the Sheraton Inner Harbor
in Baltimore. If you are involved
in product management, new
business development, strategic
planning, or sales/marketing
management in
the printing industry, attend
this meeting to investigate
industry trends, forecasts and
statistics. Frank Romano is a
featured speaker. PGAMA members
can register for the PRIMIR member
price! More info and sign up
at www.primir.org/meetings.
Register by November 11
to guarantee special hotel
rate! |
| December
7-9 |
PIA/GATF Color
Management Conference, Pointe
Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort
in Phoenix, AZ.
Beyond the
invaluable content, consider
the ultimate payoff—you
will leave the conference
with tools to reduce both
the time and frustration
of implementing an effective
color management system.
Many graphic communications
companies report they struggle
for at least four years before
they reap the cost-saving
benefits of color management.
Basic conference cost is
$895 for members. Activity
and other event fees apply.
Discounted hotel rate. More
info and register at www.gain.net. |
| December
10 |
Webinar:
Digital Color Management,
2:00-3:00pm. Michael Riebesehl
of Xerox will discuss
color management, including:
how to set your applications
for consistent color; where
and when color conversion takes
place; the proper use of RGB,
CMYK; how ICC profiles are
created and used; and how to
develop a color management
workflow that can optimize
both digital and offset print
reproduction. FREE
for members! Email
with registration links to
be sent soon. |
| December
11 |
Webinar: Inkjet
or Toner? Weighing Your Options, 2:00-3:30pm. Inkjet
printing technology emerged
prominently in 2008 and is
bound to have a long-lasting
impact on the printing business.
So is it time to jump on
the inkjet bandwagon? Whether
you’ve already invested
in inkjet, are currently
using toner-based digital
printing systems, or are
still considering both, you’re
sure to want to attend this
special FREE webinar from
PIA/GATF and RISO that will
compare and contrast inkjet
and toner printing techniques
and devices, discuss market
trends, and examine your
options. More info and register
at www.gain.net. |
| January
6, 2009 |
DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT
OF ENTRIES FOR EXCELLENCE
IN PRINT AWARDS! |
Check http://www.pgama.com for the latest industry news and event photos.
To
view back
issues of 2008 eNews, go to http://www.pgama.com/index/enews_archive.php.
If you have received this email in error or would like us to send it
to a different person at your company, please
contact PGAMA.
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