| Industry
Wins Delay on CPSC Regulation
Printers have scored a victory against the new Consumer
Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regulation requiring
testing of all children's products, including printing materials,
to ensure they do not contain hazardous chemicals. As mentioned
in previous issues of eNews, this type of testing could be
very costly and time-consuming to printers. Last week we
reported that the CPSC was allowing printers to issue a GCC
(General Cerifitication of Conformity) to customers based
on testing results provided by vendors of the products used
in print production. This week we learned that the CPSC has
granted a one-year stay of enforcement for testing and certification
of certain children’s products
and toys. That means the requirement
for printers to test and certify their
products will not be implemented
until February 10, 2010. However, the stay does
not prevent print customers
from requesting printers to comply with the testing and certification
requirements; nor does it postpone or relieve printers
from the CPSIA’s advertising and labeling requirements.
In summary, the stay provides a measure of relief but is far
from a permanent solution. The Printing Industries of America
will continue to work with the CPSC to achieve a permanent
exemption for the printing industry. For more information
about the stay, click
here.
Person
or Machine: How Do You Want YOUR Calls Answered?
If you answered 'person' to the above question, you're like
most consumers. But how are callers to your business
greeted? Automated systems with decision trees and call queues
are one of the best ways to alienate customers. A better
investment for your firm is to have a cheerful and knowledgeable
person who answers the phone by the second ring! (Which is
why PGAMA always strives to do exactly that!)
USPS
Losses Will Impact Industry
How will the USPS loss of $2.8 billion (for the fiscal
year that ended September 30, 2008) affect you? Brace for
impact! The loss occurred in a year when mail
volume declined by 9.5 million pieces and a continuing decline
is expected with changes in marketing, technology, and the
ongoing economic downturn. Add those facts to the extreme
political difficulty of closing postal facilities and the
no-cut union contracts, and the rate setting process
coming this May seems a foregone conclusion.
Another sharp increase in postal rates? Great! That's exactly
what our industry and the American economy do NOT need!
Vacation
Pay Trap
Keeping
track of the number of hours of vacation pay that employees
have earned but not yet taken can be useful
but hazardous if printed on the pay stubs. The problem is
that errors may creep into the process, usually as a result
of not deducting the vacation hours actually
taken or failing to apply an accumulation limiter (the "use
it or don't earn it" rule.) If the result of these errors
is that the amount on the pay stub exceeds the amount actually
owed to the employee, the employer may wind up having to
pay the higher amount ...particularly if the personnel manual
is unclear on the policy.
Designers'
Scam Alert
Before doing business with any individual found on Craig's
List, and seeking designer services for new magazines, please
contact the PGAMA office for info on a scam that recently
hit another member. Call Carol Atwood for specifics, 410-319-0900.
Member
Anniversaries
Congratulations to the following companies marking major
anniversaries as Association members:
45 Years
MOSAIC Express
35 Years
R&B Publishing Company
20 Years
Superior Binding
10 Years
Dada Typo
Member
News
The
Government Printing Office has
announced its top 50 suppliers
for the 4th Quarter of 2008,
and eight members were named:
Schmitz
Press, Quintessential
Color Group, EU Services, Peake
Printers, United Book Press,
District Creative Printing,
Techna-Graphics, Inc., and Vertis.
Government work can really
benefit
printers during an economic
downturn, filling
idle production
capacity.
Russ
Hewitt, Jr. of
member firm GraphTec is
featured
in the latest issue of Corridor
Inc.,
for his firm's eco-friendly
alternatives. Check it
out
at http://www.corridorinc.com/content/view/670/123/.
Welcome
to our newest member, Utility
Consultants, a full service
consulting firm specializing
in controlling utility costs.
The company works only on
a percentage of savings, so
unless your company receives
a refund, UC does not charge
a fee. To learn more, contact
Rick Lippert at 800-899-4801
ext. 154 to arrange a free
review of your gas and electric
bills.
Upcoming Events
February 10
Date & Time Changed!
Now set
for 3/10 beginning at 2:00pm. |
Webinar: Pulling It All Together,
2:00-3:00pm. Xerox continues it's FREE Webinar
Series with this presentation that will help print
providers assess their company's operations, and use
the information to make informed purchasing decisions
to better meet customer needs and increase their capacity
to take on more jobs. Led by Gina Testa, VP of Business
Development for Xerox. Look for email from PGAMA with
registration link! |
| February 12 |
Webinar: How to Keep Your Company
Union Free, 2:00-3:30pm. This
informative session will help you avoid labor organizing
and navigate the sea of changes that will accompany
this shift in power. You'll learn to head off unwanted
organizing activities and identify your weaknesses
to organizing. Cost is $99 for members; $199 for non
members. More info and register at www.gain.net. |
| February 12 |
MAGE Dinner Meeting, 5:30-8:30pm
at Copeland's of Columbia (10200 Wincopin Circle, Columbia,
MD.) Find out the secret for successful selling in
a troubled economy from speaker Joe Mechlinski of EntreQuest
during his presentation, "It's Your EQ
Not Your IQ."
Networking is 5:30-6:30, and dinner 6:30-7:30. Presentation
begins at 7:30 to be followed by discussion and more
networking. Cost is $35 for MAGE members, $50
for non-members. Register at www.pgama.com or
call the office, 410-310-0900. |
| February 18 |
Webinar: Expected HR Laws for
2009, 12:00-1:00pm. There are dozens of
bills expected to be introduced to Congress this year,
that will affect how your company hires, fires, compensates,
promotes, disciplines, and provides benefits to employees.
Get a glimpse of what's ahead duirng this webinar. Cost
is $55 per connection for members, $95 for non-members.
Contact PGAMA to register, 410-319-0900. |
| February 18 |
Webinar: Rollers-The Forgotten Consumable,
1:00-2:00pm. What is your roller ROI? How will this "forgotten
consumable" effect your bottom line? Find out in this
educational webinar. Cost is $49 for members, $122
for non-members. Call PGAMA to register or sign up
online at www.pgama.com. |
| February 26 |
Webinar: What is Your Union
Risk? Noon-1:30pm. This webinar is a guided
vulnerability assessment. Participants will walk through
a self-audit of their union risks. If you find your company's
weak spots before the union does, you can immunize yourself
from unionization. Led by lawyer Michael L. Dodd, whose
firm specializes in representing employers with respect
to labor relations and employment law matters. Cost is
$149 for members/$249 for non-members. Call PGAMA to
register, 410-319-0900. |
| February 26 |
Seminar: Planning for
Profit in Tough Economic Times,
9:00am-11:45am at PGAMA. Former AGS President John
Green will teach you how to develop and implement
a proper financial plan for your firm that will
help you increase profits. Designed for businesses
with $1.5-$50 million annual sales.* Cost
is $150 for first company registrant, $75 per additional
attendee from same company. Not open to non-members.
MONEY BACK GUARANTEE! If you attend and do not
find it worthwhile, PGAMA will refund your fee!
Register at www.pgama.com or
call the office, 410-319-0900. *Financial planning seminar
for businesses with less than $1.5 million annual
sales coming in April! |
| March 3 |
Seminar: Get a Grip on Energy
Costs with EnerNOC,
9:00-10:30am at PGAMA. Learn more about EnerNOC's Demand
Response program, which PAYS YOU to cut down on electricity
usage when demand is high. Features a Q&A with PGAMA
members already enrolled in the program. NO COST TO
ATTEND! Limited seating--register at pgama.com or call
the office, 410-319-0900. |
| March 12 |
Special Event: Excellence in
Print Awards Banquet,
6:00-10:00pm at Martin's West Ballroom in Baltimore.
Be sure to attend the Association's biggest event of
the year, a night to celebrate print and salute the
best of our industry. Evening opens with networking
while guests enjoy cocktails and very heavy hors'douerves.
Brief awards ceremony follows, then the celebration
continues at Casino Night with plenty of great prizes
for participants. All Casino Night proceeds benefit
the PGAMA Education Trust Fund. Tickets are $55 each
or $525 for a party of 10. Call PGAMA to make reservations,
410-319-0900. |
| March 16-18 |
Special Event: National Environmental
Health & Safety (NEHS) Conference,
Indianapolis, IN. If you are looking to become a more
sustainable, green printer, plan to attend this conference--the
only one addressing this issue for the printing industry!
PGAMA members receive a special registration rate!
Learn more and register at www.nehsconference.org. |
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