| Avoid
Layoffs with Workshare
Program
Are you a Maryland member looking to reduce payroll
expenses but avoid layoffs? Then look into the Maryland Workshare
Program. PGAMA first addressed the Program in the January
issue of Management Bulletin, and details are posted on pgama.com.
As the recession continues, however, it seems relevant to
remind members of this helpful support system. Basically,
the arrangement helps businesses avoid layoffs by reducing
full-time employees' hours. The program has operated in Maryland
since 1984 and is available in at least 17 other states.
Employees see their hours reduced by at least 10 percent
but receive some compensation for the time off through state
unemployment insurance funds. Advantages for employers include
the ability to maintain high productivity, quality and morale,
as the trained workforce remains in place and employees avoid
the insecurity of layoffs, state labor officials say. Employees
in the program retain their benefits in most cases, although
certain benefits, such as leave, may be reduced. Requirements
for participation include the following:
- At least two employees who would have been affected
by a layoff must come from an affected department or
unit.
- Employees must have been on the payroll continuously
for at least three months before a plan is submitted
and must not already be part-time employees.
- Employers must reduce hours by at least 10 percent
and by no more than 50 percent. The reduction may be
waived in some cases.
- Employees may receive work-sharing benefits for up
to 26 weeks in a benefit year.
For more information on the Maryland Workshare Program,
call 410-767-2671 or visit www.dllr.state.md.us/employment/worksharing.
This article was excerpted from a Gazette.Net article
by Kevin James Shay, originally published February 27,
2009.
FREE
Benchmarking Report for Digital Printers
New from Printing Industries of America - the first ever
compilation of digital printing metrics that can be used
to benchmark your operation. The report is FREE for download
from the Printing Industries of America website. The report
covers the following metrics categories: Measuring & Profiling
the Digital Printing Marketspace; Key Financial Metrics;
Key Operational & Productivity Metrics; Tracking Digital
Printers' Costs; Digital Printers' Ancillary Services; Marketing
& Customer Dynamics; and Compensation & Benefit Metrics.
Download your copy here: www.gain.net/eweb/docs/ebusiness/Digital%20Printers%20MetricsWPFinal.pdf.
Conversion
Tool for InDesign to Quark
Markzware has released an upgrade to its InDesign-to-QuarkXpress
conversion tool. ID2Q v4 was created to provide a quick,
easy, and affordable method for migrating Adobe InDesign
content into a new QuarkXPress document. This new version
will convert Adobe InDesign documents, in Mac or Windows,
up to Adobe CS4 to QuarkXPress 7 or 8. The new file can then
be opened on either platform, allowing interoperability between
the formats. The tool retails for $199. Get more info or
request a demo from www.markzware.com/id2q.
Learn
About Ancillary Services
Non-print-related services
and products are fast becoming
a key source of profitability for printers. If you are considering
enhancing your business with something beyond print, you
should download
"Expanding the Print Market Space: Printers' Diversification
into Ancillary Services. This report is FREE
for PGAMA members as a service
from Printing Industries of America. The 20-page
document examines the variety of services and products being
provided, and how adding these items impacts profits. Download
your copy (in PDF format) from www.pgama.com in
the Members Only section under Special Reports.
Sell Clients
on Your Company
When sales personnel leave a company and take clients
with them, who is to blame? The company is, according to
consultant Joe Webb. If the customer feels no loyalty to
the firm as a whole, then the company has failed in what
should be every printer's goal-- marketing itself as
a team of total solutions providers. To help avoid this,
owners and managers should get to know clients too,
not leave it an exclusive rep relationship. Clients need
to know that sales reps do not work alone, rather; every
employee, from CSR to rep to prepress to delivery truck driver,
is essential to completing their jobs. Another tactic to
selling your firm, not just your service, is to bring along
the company's strong financial statements to help reassure
the client that your business is here to help them for the
long haul.
Member
Anniversaries
Congrats to the following firms marking major anniversaries
as Association members this month:
10 Years
Beacon Printing
5 Years
Professional Press
Member
News
Welcome
new
member Clean
Currents,
a
total
clean energy solutions
company
for businesses and
people
in
the MidAtlantic region.
They
can
help
your business go green
through
clean
energy
purchases,
solar
installation, or energy
efficiency
improvements,
and
have already
helped
printers
in
the
area switch to clean
energy.
Learn
more
at www.cleancurrents.com or
call 301-754-0430. ***Attention
Montgomery
County
businesses:
Now
you can
go green
at
extremely
affordable
rates
thanks
to the
county's
Clean
Energy
Rewards
Program.
Clean
Currents
is a certified
vendor
in
the
program
and would
be happy
to help
your
business.
For
more details,
email gary@cleancurrents.com.
Congrats
to member
firm
Bindagraphics on
their
recent
feature
in Printing
Impressions'
online
magazine,
PIworld.com.
The article
detailed
the firm's
many
successful
sustainability
practices.
Check
it out
at www.piworld.com.
Upcoming Events
| March 9-11 |
Sales Academy: Playbook for
Selling Success at Printing Industries
of America. PGAMA member T.J.
Tedesco leads this workshop, designed to develop
essential skills for sales personnel. Cost is $995
for members. More info and register at www.printing.org. |
| March 10 |
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. ****Registration
link was sent in an email from PGAMA on Tuesday, March
3. Please call the office if you need the link re-sent. |
March 12
|
Special Event: Excellence in
Print Awards Banquet,
5:30-10:00pm 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. |
| March 19 |
Special Event: Mailers' Education
Seminar, 8:00am-3:30pm
at the University of Baltimore Business Center. Get
the latest info on direct marketing, mailpiece design,
intelligent mail barcode, address management, and
more at this educational seminar. Cost is $90 per
person, but the info presented is priceless. Fee
includes breakfast, lunch, and parking. Contact James
Barlow for more info, 410-321-8821. |
| March 23 |
Webinar: 10 Tips to Improve
Your Finances, 2:00-3:00pm.
Stuart Margolis, of member firm Margolis Becker leads
this session, and will help you discover
the proper principles to follow to take advantage of
the opportunities available in the current economy.
Save countless hours of agony later by learning
from the mistakes and triumphs of others. Cost is
$69 for members OR sign up for the March 2 and 26
broadcasts too and pay just $150 for all three sessions!
Register at www.printing.org under
Events & Training. |
March 23-24
Event Just Listed! |
Special Event: NEPS 2009 Industry
Summit, in Washington,
D.C. Get all the industry and economic trend updates
you need now to plan for the months and years ahead.
PRIMIR Spring meeting follows, March 24-25. Stay on
to get an insider's preview of two new studies by
PRIMIR. More info and online registration at www.npes.org/blasts/industry-summit-09-2.html. |
| March 26 |
Webinar: 10 Tips to Improve Your Sales, 2:00-3:00pm.
PGAMA member T.J. Tedesco leads this webinar, and
will share practical ways to capitalize on simple
strategies that not only require fewer resources, but
also yield quicker results.
Cost is $69 for members OR sign up for the March 2
and 23 broadcasts too and pay just $150 for all three
sessions! Register at www.printing.org under
Events & Training. |
| March 26 |
Special Event: Production Club of Baltimore
Paper Show, 5:30-8:30pm
at Martin's West in Baltimore. Where food, fun, and
paper meet! Cost is $25. Register online through
March 25 at productionclubofbaltimore.org. |
| March 30-April 2 |
Special Event: ON DEMAND Conference &
Expo, Pennsylvania Convention Center
in Philadelphia, PA. Whether you come from the
commercial or in-plant side of the printing industry,
this conference can help you make connections with
peers, competitors, vendors, and business opportunities.
Register by February 23 and save $200! More info
and sign up at www.ondemandexpo.com. |
| March 31-April 2 |
Member Education: Introduction to Printing
Workshop. If you have employees who
are new to the industry, this two-and-a-half day
class is a must. Attendees will gain an understanding
of the entire printing process, from start to finish.
Cost is $295 per person for members; $495 for non-members
and includes all instructional materials, lunch
every day, and transportation for the field trip. Register
by March 23 at www.pgama.com or
call the office, 410-319-0900. |
| April 7 |
Members Only Seminar: How to Survive
the Economic Downturn, 8:30-12:30pm
at PGAMA.
Renowned consultant Tom Crouser developed this program
especially for small printing businesses (those with
less than $1.5 million annual sales.) In the half-day
session he explains why a tough economy can be the
best time for growth, and how expansion can be achieved.
All attendees receive a copy of Tom's book, "Prospering,"
and a personal consultation with him. Cost is $85 per
person/$125 for husband-wife owners. ***Money
Back Guarantee!*** If you attend and do not
find value in the presentation, ask for a refund. Limited
Seating-register early! Sign up at www.pgama.com or
call the office, 410-319-0900. |
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