COBRA
Modifications for VA and D.C. Members
Virginia and D.C. members are among the
the companies with lengthened periods of coverage for mini-COBRA
(which applies only to firms with 2-19 employees.) This means
that people will be eligible for continued coverage at least
as long as they are eligible for the federal subsidy (nine
months.) Previously, these areas provided only three or six
months of continued coverage. This ensures that state residents
laid off by small businesses have access to the COBRA subsidy
for the full duration provided by the ARRA.
Are
You on OSHA's Hit List?
OSHA has released its 2009 list
of target companies subject to inspection because they
are considered High Hazard Workplaces. These companies has
five or more injuries and illnesses resulting in days away
from work, restricted work activity, or job transfer for
every 100 full-time workers. Nearly 800 companies within
the printing industries are included, and these businesses
should expect inspections. To find out if your company is
on the list, contact the Environmental, Health & Safety
experts at our national Association, Printing Industries
of America. Gary, Rick, or Christopher can be reached at
1-800-910-4283.
Major Decline
of Direct Mail Predicted, Disputed
A Virginia consulting
firm (Borrell Associates) predicts a decline of 39% direct
mail spending over the next five years.
The authors add that “direct
mail has begun spiraling into what we believe is a precipitous
decline from which it will never fully recover” as
businesses move marketing online. Could this be true?
Another
Perspective
Direct mail is going into decline, in part because of
pressure from the somewhat misguided "anti-green" message
tied to bulk mail. Another reason is that companies have
become aware that impersonal mass direct mail has low
response value and often ends up in the trash. However, businesses
that use well-structured, multiple media, data-driven marketing
programs are getting results. This is the wave of the future!
It is also interesting to note that this change has not come
from the email companies pushing new forms of marketing,
but from print related companies using digital printing.
The switch from "junk mail" to targeted and personalized
mail is a development that has come from the success of digital
printing and the software from the variable data companies.
PURLs (personalized URLs) were first used
in volume in campaigns linked to digital printing. As printers
continue to utilize 'transpromo' printing (adding promotional
or educational messages to transactional documents such as
bills), they will further push the switch away from "junk"
direct mail to personalized targeted marketing. The arrival
of the latest high-speed inkjet continuous feed color presses
will speed the trend.
The bottom line is that the message
in the "doomsday" report named above is not new;
the printing industry already knows the problems and has
been working through them for many years. In fact, progressive "printing"
companies in the industry are largely driving the changes
that are happening. It is all part of the evolution of the
industry from being one that simply puts marks on paper into
one that works with its clients to create and deliver
profitable marketing programs.
Wiping
Towel Survey Results
Recently, PGAMA sent all members a survey to gauge satisfaction
with wiping towel service providers. The survey was sent
electronically (with an online link) and via fax. A total
of 32 members responded, but not all respondents answered
all questions. A summary of the results follow:
Predominant Provider: G&K Services
(24/32)
[Domestic Uniform
Co. (3); Cintas (2) Coyne (2) Unknown (1)
Satisfaction Level: 14 respondents were either dissatisfied
with service and/or want to find a new vendor
[Of the dissatisfied respondents 13 were G&K customers, the
other was a Domestic Uniform customer. The two Coyne customers
were very satisfied, but Coyne no longer services the greater
Baltimore/Washington area. Of the Cintas customers, both were
satisfied, but one noted that there was poor customer service
and frequent over charging.
Average number of towels laundered
each month: Largest amount
was 8,000. Smallest amount was 100
[Average is 1,518 towels laundered a month.]
Frequency of Pickups/Deliveries: 16 respondents
said weekly
[9 said twice a month; 6 said once a month]
Cost per towel for laundering: Most expensive
recorded was $1.20 per towel; least expensive was .06 per
towel
[Note: Two participants skipped this question. The lowest price
was paid by the respondent with the largest amount of towels
per month; highest price had the lowest number of towels.]
Percentage charged for automatic
replacement of lost towels: 24 respondents said yes.
[Rate charged ranged from 2%-12%]
Environmental fee: 29 of 32
respondents pay one
[Amount charged ranged from .03 cents per towel to $49.79 per
month.]
Fuel surcharge: 20 of 32 respondents pay
one
[Amount paid ranged from $4.00-$7.00 per week.]
Reminder:
Printers' Disability Trust is Online
It's easier than ever to find out about adding disability
insurance to your benefit plan with the new PDT (Printers'
Disability Trust) website. You can submit a quote
request, download forms, and access a needs calculator at
www.standard.com/mybenefits/pdt.
Open enrollment is underway, and during this period the evidence
of insurability stipulation is waived. PDT is the only disability
insurance designed for printers, by printers.
Tech Tip of the Week
Julie Shaffer, Director of Digital Printing Council/E-Business
Council, offers this week's tip. To help ensure a good
result, choose a paper that has been rated for use on a digital
press. Conventional papers may not be able to withstand the
high heat toner-based engines use to fuse the toner to the
paper. Cracking, curling or even toner flaking off the paper
are possible results of using the wrong paper for a project.
Don't forget, PGAMA members have FREE access to the many
other technical experts at Printing Industries of America
via the Technical Hotline- 1-800-910-4283.
If you have a question, call them! (You will need your
Printing Industries of America member ID number. The PGAMA
staff can access this number for you if needed.)
Member
News
WebbMason has
selected the printing companies of Strategic Print Alliance
as preferred partners. The partnership gives WebbMason access
to a network of six companies, 10 plants, and 100 presses.
Welcome new member Custom
Print Now in Columbia, MD. The company provides
web to print solutions designed to help organizations
manage and deliver highly customized marketing materials.
Contact Willie Brennan for more at 888-677-5770 or visit
the company website, www.customprintnow.com.
Member Bob
Mignon of Minuteman Press was featured in an online
article about how he is coping with the recession. Check
it out at Gazette.Net.
Many thanks to the sponsors
of PGAMA's third "Cocktails & Connections" member
happy hour, held last week at Liberatore's in Timonium. The
event had a great turnout--100 guests! Member sponsors
Chris and Christine Webbert from Advantage Book Binding and
Tom Benney of Group
Benefit Review are shown below.
(The representative for the third sponsor, Atlas
Container,
was unavailable at the time of the photograph.) See more
photos of the event on pgama.com.
Interested in sponsoring the next Cocktails & Connections?
Contact Jan at PGAMA,
410-319-0900.
Upcoming Events
| June 3 |
Webinar: Managing
in Turbulence-Surviving and Thriving in Today's
Economy, 1:00-2:30pm. This presentation
examines the causes of the current economic crisis
and possible solutions. It also provides guidance
for printers on how to increase their likelihood
of surviving and thriving. Cost is $59 per connection
for members/$118 for non-members. Register with
PGAMA, 410-319-0900 or at www.pgama.com. |
| June
3-5 |
Seminar:
Total
Immersion VDP,
at the Printing
Industries of America
headquarters
in Pittsburgh, PA.
VDP is the driving force
behind marketing campaigns
today, so it is crucial
for your company to
have the right
staff
and knowledge to give
you the highest profits
from this technology.
Attend this workshop
to get hands on training
focusing on converting
data to
images, colors,
and custom messages.
Member cost is $895.
Register at www.printing.org. |
| June 4 |
MAGE
Lunch & Learn
Meeting:
Sales Tips & Leads
from the Baltimore
Business Journal,
Noon-1:00pm at PGAMA.
This lunchtime session
will give you tips
on being a "Smart
Reader" of
the BBJ. Attend and
learn:
-About the Book of
Lists (what it is, how to get in it and how to use
it)
-How to “Skim & Decide”(techniques
for finding what you need from the Baltimore Business
Journal)
-How to recognize sales leads within news stories
and features
-How to use this information to support your networking
efforts
Cost
is $15 for MAGE members
and $25 for non-MAGE members.
Limited seating-register
early. To sign up go to www.pgama.com or call the office, 410-319-0900. |
| June 5 |
Baltimore Postal Customer
Council Membership Meeting,
10:00am-Noon at Conrad's Ruth Villa in Baltimore. Meet
and network with mailing industry peers. Speakers and
buffet lunch included. Cost is $55. More info and register
at www.baltimorepcc.com. |
| June 8 |
Special
Event: PGAMA
Golf Outing, 8:45am
shotgun start at Crofton
Country Club. Make
contacts
with other members
and business associates
at our annual golf
outing.
A challenging course,
an outstanding lunch,
and prizes for Longest
Drive, Closest to Pin,
Hole in One and Putting. Cost is $145 per person
for golf, breakfast
and lunch; $45 for
lunch/awards
only. Call
the
office to sign up, 410-319-0900. Please have
handicap information available. |
| June 17 |
Webinar:
Lead Generation & Customer Retention, Get
an inside look at how your customers and competitors
see the printing industry.
Survey results from more than 12,000 print customers
will be shared, covering areas such as service quality,
product quality, customer loyalty, client share,
and future expansion areas. You will also learn how
to implement your own customer feedback system to
stay in touch with what every client wants and needs
so YOU can keep their business. This 30 minute webinar
will be broadcast several times during the day.
Register online at: www.surveyadvantage.com/webinar/webinar.php?BizID=24. |
| June 19 |
Special Event:
Art Stowe's Retirement Party, 7:00-10:00pm
at Martin's West-6821 Dogwood Road in
Woodlawn, MD. Join current members, former members, colleagues, friends, and
family to salute PGAMA President Art Stowe who is retiring after a remarkable
39 years of service to the Association and to the industry. Join us for cocktails
and an appetizer buffet as we celebrate Art’s career with a toast, a roast,
and a chance to boast! Additional Roasters Welcome! If you have a special memory
of Art to share, please contact Carol Atwood at the PGAMA office, 410-319-0900.
Tickets are $62 per person. Invitations will be mailed. |
| June
30 |
Seminar: Women
in the Environment, 1:15-6:30pm
at the Museum for Women in the Arts, 13th and
K Street in Washington, D.C. This seminar, presented
by member Derek Smith & Associates, will
put to rest any doubts you may have about the
market for sustainable companies in the coming
years. Featured speakers include woman CEO's
and leaders from within the industry. A must-attend
for anyone in sustainability, procurement, printing,
paper, packaging, and graphic design! Cost is
$95 per person/group rates available. Register
at www.paperleadership.com |
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