Serving Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming
March 4, 2015

Good economic news - for a change!
       

Recent news on the economic front may mean the long awaited recovery is gaining strength and the printing industry benefited. The employment situation has improved over the year with jobs growth averaging 324,000 per month in 2014. The manufacturing sector also added to payrolls in 2015 with an average monthly increase of 18,500 jobs. A fourth quarter survey of manufacturers by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) projects manufacturing sales will increase by 4.5% over the next 12 months with a gain of 2.1 % in employment. Print typically recovers at a slower pace than the economy but still should be provided a boost along with the rest of the manufacturing sector and general economy resulting in 2015 being an even better year for print.

 

In 2015 we expect economic growth of between 2.5 to 3.0%. The underlying fundamentals of our economy are improving causing us to adjust our forecast in the positive direction. The fundamentals that have improved include healthy hiring, expected faster household formation, and firming business capital expenditures resulting in strong domestic final demand growth. 

2014 Print In Review

 

The year started poorly for the printing industry when shipments declined by 3.8%, but thanks to a strong final two quarters of 2014 shipments increased by 0.10% to $84.8 billion.  

 

Capacity utilization steadily increased throughout the year to end at 72.8% just 4.4% below pre-recession highs. The price printers can charge for products and services increased for the third straight year by 0.6% in 2014. Paper prices remain in check only increasing by 1.4% in 2014 compared to 2.2% in 2013. The only measure that the printing industry saw a significant decline in 2014 compared to 2013 was profitability. We only have data on the first 3 quarters of 2014 and expect improved profits in the final quarter due to strong sales and low input inflation (material and labor prices). For the first three quarters of 2014 the printing industry has earned profits of 4.7% of sales or $2.495 billion which is 11% less than what printers earned last year.  

 

Average weekly wages increased by 1.5% in the printing industry in 2014. The increase was due to a 0.5% increase in the number of hours worked and 1.0% increase in average hourly earnings. We expected employment to decline by 1.5% in 2014 and were pleasantly surprised that it declined by only 0.5%. Employment grew during 6 months of 2014 and based on improving business conditions and survey results from the Institute of Supply Management (ISM) we expect 2015 to be a slightly positive year for employment growth.

 

If you would like to receive complimentary economic and print market updates, please let us know and we will add you to the distribution list.  Email June Crespo at jcrespo@wsprint.org.

 

Source: Printing Industries of America 


Why Designers Choose Print
       
This month the home page of the ChoosePrint website features the first video article and ad from the new "why designers choose print" series. Award-winning Designer and Illustrator Barbara Kosoff appreciates the fact that print is tactile. She knows that print has a physicality that stimulates the senses and arouses the emotions. It's a tactile experience that delivers results! Check out the video by CLICKING HERE.

Help us spread the word by inviting your employees to visit the ChoosePrint website, which is loaded with information that can help them sell more print! It reinforces the fact that print is the only medium that lets you reach out to your customers and give them something they can touch, feel and hold in their hands. Print lets you target your message to only the customers you choose, and deliver that message directly to their door.

Source:  ChoosePrint.org.  

Salute Your Stars!

Everyone enjoys receiving praise for their work and what better way to recognize your key staff than for them to receive a WSPA Employee Recognition Award in front of their peers.

 

This year in conjunction with WSPA's Print Excellence Award events, held April 23 at Rustler's Rooste in Phoenix and April 30 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Denver deserving employees will be presented beautiful certificates recognizing their contributions.

 

How can your recognize your key staff?  Simply download and complete the fillable PDF form on WSPA's website (www.wsprint.org/emp-recog) and return by email to June Crespo at jcrespo@wsprint.org or FAX (412-259-2016).  You can enter as many employees as you would like.   

 

The cost of each certificate is only $25 and you can recognize 5 employees for just $100.  Deadline for submissions:  March 31, 2015.  


Marketing Tip: Knock Their Socks Off

Much of marketing is about differentiation. You need to differentiate yourself from your competitors as well as from all of the other choices that your potential clients have (including the "do nothing" option). One way to do this is to expand your focus beyond your product or service, taking a close look at the entire brand experience that you present. If you can find ways to take your brand experience from "okay" to "wow" you'll create loyal customers who keep coming back for more.

Phoenix Training Session:
Becoming A High Performance CSR!        

Would you like to be a top performer?  Would you like less professional stress in your life, fewer fire drills and a normal work day?  This class will help you get there.

You'll learn easy ways to handle difficult customers and situations, control chaos, avoid emergencies, increase accuracy, repair strained relationships and recover when you're the one who "blew it."

This fast-paced three hour program will cover:
  • Professional Problem Solving
  • Successfully addressing customer complaints
  • Stick-handling irate customers
  • Delivering bad news
  • How to manage your time like a pro!

WHEN:  Thursday, March 26, 2015 (9:00 am - Noon)

 

WHERE: Pacific Office Automation (1305 W. 1st Street Tempe)

 

PRICE:  Only $39 for WSPA Members

 

REGISTER HERE   

 

A similar session is being scheduled for Denver for the month of May. 


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.

There are safer ways to stay out of the sun!

If you come across a funny safety pic you think should be featured, email Michael Makin at  mmakin@wsprint.org.

Printing Industries of America in new home 

On two of the coldest days on record in Western Pennsylvania, Printing Industries of America moved its national headquarters from Sewickley, Pennsylvania to Warrendale, Pennsylvania.

PIA CEO Michael Makin is pictured left in front of the new PIA headquarters building, which is adorned with a Benjamin Franklin statue made entirely in bronze.

For your records, the PIA new address is 301 Brush Creek Road, Warrendale, PA 15086.  Main line remains the same at 1-800-910-4283 and all individual extensions for personnel remain the same.


Quote For The Week 

"Nothing is too small to know, and nothing is too big to attempt."

William Van Horne