Almost
Time for Form 300A
OSHA requires that employers post
a summary of the total number of job-related injuries and
illnesses that occurred last year from February 1 to April
30, 2010...
IRS
Suspends Tax on Business Cell Phone Use
IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said
last week that the Service is suspending any update of rules
for taxing employer-provided cell phones...
5
Fresh Ideas to Boost Business
Turn
your delivery truck or van into a mobile billboard; Work
with a charity...
Becoming 'The Go-to Guys'
The turmoil in the economy,
including rampant downsizing, has led to frequent
changes in the people that you deal with at client
firms. Seemingly, this is a chance for a competitor
to get in the door...
Watch
Out for Falling Prices
According to
the AP, the economic slump has prices for Super Bowl commercial
time falling. Meanwhile, retail prices in the Washington-Baltimore
area have also dropped...
De-stress
with a Neat Desk
If you want to be more at peace internally, then
try to keep your world in order. "Outer order contributes to inner
calm," says writer Gretchen Rubin...
Member News
Offit-Kurman is
featured on p. 60 of the January issue of Baltimore CEO...
Upcoming Events
|
Cool Link of the
Week
The American Advertising Federation
of Greenville SC (AAF Greenville) has put together a great little promo for the
ADDY® Awards. Watch the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ3Je3zpMqg
and listen carefully for the punch line!
Reminder: New
Mileage Rates
The Internal Revenue Service recently issued
the 2010 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate
the deductible costs of operating an automobile for
business purposes. Beginning on Jan. 1, 2010, the standard
mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups,
or panel trucks) will be 50 cents per mile for business
miles driven.
|
Almost
Time for Form 300A
OSHA requires that employers post a summary of the total
number of job-related injuries and illnesses that occurred last year from
February 1 to April 30, 2010 (Form 300A). Employers are only required to
post the summary, not the OSHA 300 Log.
The summary must list the total numbers of job-related injuries and illnesses
that occurred in 2009 and were logged on the OSHA 300 form. Employment information
about annual average number of employees and total hours worked during the
calendar year is also required. Companies with no recordable injuries or
illnesses in 2009 must post the form with zeros on the total line. All establishment
summaries must be certified by a company executive.
The form should be displayed in a common area wherever notices to employees
are usually posted. A copy of the summary must be made available to employees
who move between work sites, such as construction workers, and employees
who do not report to any one location on a regular basis.
Employers with 10 or fewer employees are normally exempt
from federal OSHA injury and illness record keeping and posting requirements.
IRS
Suspends Tax on Business Cell Phone Use
IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said last week that the Service is suspending
any update of rules for taxing employer-provided cell phones and other mobile
devices, and expects Congress to act soon to change the antiquated law.The
1989 law, written at a time when cell phones were viewed as a luxury perk
for corporate executives, added cell phones to the “listed property” rule
in the tax code, requiring employers to maintain detailed logs of all employee
calls, text messages, and emails. Legislation was introduced last session
to remove cell phones from the listed property category, but Congress did
not act on the bill.
5
Fresh Ideas to Boost Business
1-Turn your delivery truck or
van into a mobile billboard. Wrap it with sharp graphics to get your message out on the street.
2- Work with a charity. Not only is it the right thing to do, but it's
a great way to make connections with other businesses.
3- Talk digital. Even if the job
is offset, you use digital prepress and CTP, so call it a "digital process"
to sound cutting edge.
4- Downsell. The client wants 5,000? Suggest less to
'test results,' then add margin to the shorter run and charge
for changes.
5- Fight the low cost opposition. Create an in-house
brokerage that buys from other sources and prices low, then
keep the margin.
Becoming
'The Go-to Guys'
The turmoil in the economy, including rampant
downsizing, has led to frequent changes in the people that
you deal with at client firms. Seemingly, this is a chance
for a competitor to get in the door with a bid to provide
services, since the new person probably has no
experience with your firm or what you produce. But if handled
properly, this situation presents a real opportunity.
Your company's top management
should be first in line to connect with the newbie,
and bring them up to speed on the successful projects you
have collaborated on in the past. Find out what the new person's
role is--they are likely expected to do more than their predecessor--so
suggest new services/products that could help achieve their
goals. If you help someone succeed in their new job, you
will become an invaluable resource, and your company will
become "the go-to guys" for providing solutions
to their needs.
Watch
Out for Falling Prices
According to the AP, the economic slump
has prices for Super Bowl commercial time falling for only
the second time in its history, but it is still the most
expensive on television. TNS Media Intelligence said Monday
that 30-second commercials during next month's Super Bowl
on CBS are selling for between $2.5 million and $2.8 million.
That's a drop from last year, when ads averaged $3 million
on NBC. Some big players like Pepsi and General Motors are
staying on the sidelines. This leaves holes for smaller companies
like Diamond Foods, Dr. Pepper and Snapple to use the Super
Bowl to get their wares in front of 100 million viewers who
are practically guaranteed to watch their ads. It's unclear
how much revenue Super Bowl advertising will generate for
CBS. Nearly all of the 62 commercial slots have been sold.
While not conceding that ad rates have slipped, CBS said
the pace of sales has been better than it was for NBC a year
ago.
On a related note...
Retail prices in the Washington-Baltimore
area, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban
Consumers (CPI-U), edged down 0.2 percent from September
to November following four consecutive bimonthly increases,
the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Sheila
Watkins, the Bureau’s regional commissioner, noted
that lower prices for housing and apparel were responsible
for the recent decline, while higher prices for transportation,
education, medical care, recreation and food and beverages
moderated the overall decrease. The November 2009 CPI-U
was 1.6 percent higher than in November 2008. Over the
same period, the core inflation rate, as measured by all
items less food and energy index, rose 1.5 percent in the
Mid-Atlantic region. The overall national average was 2.7%.
De-Stress
with A Neat Desk
If you want to be more at peace internally,
then try to keep your world in order. "Outer order
contributes to inner calm," says writer Gretchen Rubin.
Rubin is the best-selling author of The
Happiness Project, a book that
details the year she spent testing studies and theories
about how to be happier. She states that "...taking
care of small tasks such as cleaning off
your desk and filing papers can make you feel less 'harassed'
and lead to greater happiness and calm."
Member
News
Offit-Kurman is
featured on p. 60 of the January issue of Baltimore CEO.
Check it out at http://www.smartceo.com/issues/archives/Baltimore/2009.
Upcoming
Events
| January 26 |
Seminar:
Women [and one Man] in the Environment-1:30-5:30pm
at The National Museum for Women in the Arts (1250
New York Avenue, Washington, D.C.) PGAMA member Derek
Smith & Associates, LLC is sponsoring
this event, which features executives from "Corporate
America" who will speak about the growing sustainable
market and what they want from print, paper, packaging
and design partners. Registration & list of speakers
at www.paperleadership.com.
Major credit cards, PayPal accepted. |
| February 4 |
PGAMA Tech Talk: Using
Technology to Track Clients & Prospects-Join
us for a MAGE Lunch & Learn hosted by
PGAMA’s
VP Paul Foster about FREE web-based tools that
can be used to create a “virtual assistant” that
will automatically update you when clients and
prospects are in the news. This info can help you
spot industry trends and give you an inside scoop
to make phone contact. Bring your laptop to participate.
Geared to all sales & marketing personnel and
LIMITED TO 20 ONSITE PARTICIPANTS. Simulcast available
on request. Cost is $15 for MAGE members or $25
for non-MAGE members. Includes lunch. Reserve your
spot by calling 410-319-0900 or sign up at www.pgama.com. |
| February 16 |
MD Legislators’ Luncheon-11:30am-1:30pm
at the Governor Calvert House (58 State Circle/Annapolis,
MD 21401.) Make contact with
the people who pass the laws impacting your business! Join
other industry members for lunch and conversation and
show your elected officials the impact our industry
can have. Get the names and phone numbers of your State
representatives by calling PGAMA or visiting PGAMA.com
and clicking on the Legislative
Action button. Input your address (business and/or
personal) to get contact information, then call or
email them with an invitation to stop by. Cost: No
charge for the first two executives from a PGAMA member
company. We are requesting a contribution of $40 to
PIPAC for each additional attendee. Non-member cost
is $75. RSVP to PGAMA (410-319-0900) or sign
up online, www.pgama.com. |
| February 19 |
Educational
Field Trip: Glatfelter Paper Mill Tour-During
this interactive tour of the Glatfelter Pulp and
Paper Mill, you will see how trees are used to create
paper and a wide range of other products, plus learn
how Glatfelter manages its environmental footprint
with sustainable forestry and other measures. A chartered
bus will pick up passengers at three Park ‘N
Ride locations: College Park Interchange (7:30am);
Rolling Road in Catonsville (8:15am); Warren Road
in Cockeysville (9:00am). Tour begins at 10:15am.
Box lunch on the bus following tour. Cost is $40
per person for members and guests of members; $50
for non-members. Sign up by February 5th on www.pgama.com or call 410-319-0900. |
February 28-
March 4 |
Printing
Industries of America Presidents' Conference,
Scottsdale, AZ-2010
is the year to reinforce the foundation of your
business. This year’s program was developed
with the intention of helping industry leaders
like you focus on the core elements of your business—those
things that can help you remain stable, as well
as increase profit margins. Topics to be addressed
Include: Communicating the Value of Print * Methods
for Cost Reduction * HR Issues * Economic Forecast
* And much more! Complete info and registration
at http://www.printing.org/page/3499. |
| March 15-17 |
National Environmental,
Health and Safety Conference: Printing for A sustainable
Future-at
the Sheraton Indianapolis, Indianapolis,
IN. The
one conference for the graphic communications industry
that intersects the needs of safety, environmental
and human resources. Today's workplace requires
multitasking -- and this conference provides you
with the tools and information to accomplish this
goal! Plan now to attend! More info and registration
at http://www.nehsconference.org/nehs10_site/index.html. |
| March 24 |
Save
the Date! Special
Event: Excellence in Print Awards Gala,
at Martin's Crosswinds in Greenbelt, MD. Come see
the big winners of PGAMA's annual printing competition,
plus enjoy the open bar, great food, and entertainment.
An essential networking
opportunity! Look for flyer
with more details in your upcoming PGAMA communications! |
| March 25 |
Save
the Date! Production
Club of Baltimore Paper Show, 5:30-8:30pm
at Martin's West. See
the latest innovations in paper, media, and all
things production. Vendor space still available.
Contact JoAnn at
the Production Club of Baltimore. For more info
visit http://productionclubofbaltimore.org/calendar. |
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