WSPA Color Conference Discounts
The Color Conference is the premier educational event for color management, packaging, design, photography and print production professionals worldwide. Because this year's event is being held in WSPA's region at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort and Villas (December 6-9, 2014), we are offering you special discounts to attend the event. Use the special codes listed below and receive $200 off the cost of the full conference or $50 off the cost of the Saturday pre-conference program. Discount Code for Full Conference: 200Color14Discount Code for Pre-Conference Class: 50ColorpreRegister online right now at www.printing.org/color.
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 Leveraging Your Company Website
When was the last time you took a hard look at your company website? If a potential client was Googling for a resource, would they likely find your site? If they found it, would they be motivated to call you?
In many cases, the honest answer to these questions is "no." Yet, the data shows that an overwhelming majority of purchasing folks search the web for possible sources and then use it to learn about them before they reach out and call the likely sources. This is particularly true since the professional print buyer is a distant memory and the people doing this function don't have a Rolodex with favorite printers. The website should not be about the big new press or the amazing finishing capability but about meeting the prospect's communication needs. It should have short case studies describing how your firm helped a client build sales. It should focus on the power of print to get attention to the message and escape the internet clutter.
You should check sites like Yelp on a regular basis to look for negative postings. If you see one about your firm, you can post a response explaining your position. Don't forget that as a member of WSPA you get a free listing in www.printaccess.com, our internet yellow pages for printers which gets 40,000 hits per month! You can edit your listing to include all of the information listed above. For help with this, don't hesitate to contact June Crespo at jcrespo@wsprint.org.
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 How Much Should You Save For Retirement?
There is no single right answer. You could use an online retirement calculator to work up a figure, but that's based on several assumptions, such as the age when you'll retire, how much of a retirement paycheck you'll need or want, and the rate of return you'll earn on your savings.
You could also sign up for the default contribution rate in your 401K plan. The trouble with that is in many plans the default rates are set way too low. And of course, there's always Plan C - guessing but most people end up guessing too low as well.
Fortunately, the Boston College Center for Retirement Research (CRR) offers these helpful tips. The CRR's most basic advice is that contributing 15 percent of pay to a 401K plan might work for employees who earn average wages - if they start saving in their mid 30s and retire at 65. This target contribution amount includes any employer-matching contribution, so if your employer contributes 5 percent of pay you'd need to contribute 10 percent of pay. Perhaps even more useful is a table CRR provides that shows target savings rates that vary by the age you start saving and the age you assume you'll retire. For example:
If you start saving at 25 and you...
Retire at age 62: Save 15 percent of pay
Retire at age 65: Save 10 percent of pay
Retire at age 67: Save 7 percent of pay
Retire at age 70: Save 4 percent of pay
If you start saving at 35 and you...
Retire at age 62: Save 24 percent of pay
Retire at age 65: Save 15 percent of pay
Retire at age 67: Save 12 percent of pay
Retire at age 70: Save 6 percent of pay
If you start saving at 45 and you...
Retire at age 62: Save 44 percent of pay
Retire at age 65: Save 27 percent of pay
Retire at age 67: Save 20 percent of pay
Retire at age 70: Save 10 percent of pay
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 WSPA Book of the Month Mailing is an ever-growing area of interest for printers, and this guide delves deep into the workings of the mailing process in terms of business concepts, planning, production, and analysis, along with a wealth of operating tips. WSPA Member Price: $22Non-Member Price: $33Click HERE to purchase. Available at Printing Industries Press Printing Industries Press is proud to offer the widest selection of graphic arts titles in the industry. In addition to technical titles covering every aspect of the printing process, you will find economics, sales and marketing, and human relations information as well. Several types of resources are offered including primers, textbooks, training materials and how-to guides, and various downloadable products. Use the links on the left side of the the store's webpage to navigate through the subject categories and keywords to find what you're looking for.
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 New Employment Verification Form in Colorado Colorado employers now have an official form from the state Division of Labor that should be used to verify that all employees hired after October 1 are legally eligible for employment. Colorado law already requires employers to verify and document the legal employment status of all employees hired after January 1, 2007. That requirement must be completed within 20 days of hire and is in addition to the federal requirement of verification using Form I-9. Employers can obtain the form and instructions by clicking HERE. Employers must use the Division Mandatory Affirmation Form with a revision date of 09/01/14 for all employees hired after October 1, 2014. Employers should not submit the form or related documents to the Division of Labor. Instead, they are to retain it with the employee's personnel records for the duration of the employee's employment. The Division of Labor may periodically audit employers, at which time the employer must be able to produce copies of the form upon request.
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Weekly Photo Feature:
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
Each week E-Connects will share incredible photos on just how lax companies can be when it comes to safety.
The goal - to keep a safe work environment front and center on the minds of all of your employees.
Not the best way to get a leg up!
If you come across a funny safety pic you think should be featured, email Michael Makin at mmakin@wsprint.org
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 RSVP For Holiday Parties It's been a long year and what better way to celebrate the holidays than to attend the WSPA Mingle Bells festivities? We will be holding two holiday parties this year - one in Phoenix and one in Denver. Printed invites have been sent but please take a moment to RSVP. Phoenix Mingle Bells- Tuesday, December 9 (5:30 - 7:30 p.m.) The Hilton Scottsdale Resort and Villas 6333 North Scottsdale Road Denver Mingle Bells - Tuesday, December 16 (5:30 - 7:30 p.m.) Denver Bookbinding 1401 W. 47th Avenue (near Pecos) Please let us know if you can make either party by sending an email RSVP to Michael Makin at mmakin@wsprint.org.
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Quote For The Week
"Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored."
Aldous Huxley
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