 Huge Savings On FSC® Certification
We continue to see FSC® Chain of Custody Certification as a requirement of many our customers.
For many print providers, the cost and discipline required in order to be part of the supply chain is difficult to justify, but that may no longer be true. As a member of WSPA, regardless of your company size, we can provide technical support (control forms, logo approval, and planning) as well as the audit through well-recognized agencies (Rainforest Alliance or SCS) for a single fee at discounted pricing - including travel and FSC® fees.
So if you are currently enrolled in a Chain of Custody program, or contemplating FSC® certification, contact June Crespo. We'll be glad to outline our "Small Group" program as well as our just created "Large" printer program, and provide you significant savings! Many of our members have saved thousands of dollars a year through this program. |
Prices Are Dropping
One of the basic characteristics of a competitive, free market is that prices tend to fall (and if there was ever an example of a competitive, free market it is the printing industry).
Historically inflation has served to fudge reality by making people believe their plights are improving. If inflation was six percent, for example, printing prices might only rise by three percent. But with inflation at two percent or less, print prices have visibly declined. In an arena were price is already king, this reality can be financially painful. The good news for profit leaders, however, is that productivity improvements have enabled us to produce more product with fewer hours. Lean practices have further allowed printers to wring out costs. These factors, combined with a management focus on building volume, gives at least some of us a fighting chance.
|
Supreme Court Rules On 401(K) Fees
The Supreme Court has weighed in on the responsibilities of individuals involved in selected investment options for company 401 (K)s. In a unanimous decision recently, the Court ruled "a trustee has a continuing duty-separate and apart from the duty to exercise prudence - in selecting investments at the outset to monitor, and remove imprudent, trust investments."
Under ERISA, fiduciary claims normally have a six-year statute of limitations. However, the Court said that claims against a trustee's poor picks of 401(K) funds with high fees go beyond the initial point of time of picking funds. The subsequent reviews of fund picks and the obligation "to remove imprudent investments within a reasonable period of time" essentially resets the six-year clock.
If you are a company official or trustee who picks investment funds for your 401(k) plan you should annually review and discuss with advisers the funds offered in the plan. This review should be documented.
|
 Designer Tips: Toner and Large Solids
Software tools give creatives the ability to design with almost limitless boundaries. If you can think of it, you can design it. What must not ever be forgotten is to design within the limitations of the printing process.
One example of this point is reproducing large solids or tinted areas on a toner-based device. While lithographic presses have the ability to reproduce solids evenly, toner-based devices have a tendency to mottle, show unevenness, or even banding. This is because ink and toner are radically different materials.
When toner is applied to paper, it is dry. Toner is not actually absorbed into the paper fibers, instead, it is fused to the sheet using both heat and fuser oil, creating a bond. Consistency lies in how evenly the toner was applied to the paper, and how evenly it was fused to the paper. In contrast, ink on an offset press is applied to a sheet via a series of many ink rollers that carry a high volume of ink to the paper. Additionally, the ink is absorbed into the fibers of the paper, eventually drying through oxidation or some other means.
If tints and large solids must be used in a design, there are some ways to help counteract the uneven appearance associated with toner-based devices. First, try applying a filter (Photoshop Add Noise or Texture filters work well) to the large tint or solids. Another option is to also break up large color areas with other design elements such as text, images, or illustrations. By applying these simple yet effective techniques, you'll be able to produce a product that is not only engaging, but also prints better.
Applying filters to large solid and tints along with adding design elements (right) can help counteract the uneven appearance found in large solids and tints on toner-based devices.
|
 Hone Your Observation Skills To Reduce Turnover If you are serious about reducing turnover, start brushing up on your skills of observation. Employees will give you all sorts of clues that they are unhappy with their jobs. Here are six red flags that may be waving in your organization now. (1) Burnout. Employees who actually recognize that they are burned out and begin discussing it with colleagues are ready to jump ship if given the opportunity. (2) Behavioral Change. Coming to work late, leaving early, taking longer lunch hours - these don't necessarily mean an employee is planning to leave, but they do indicate that something has changed. You would be wise to investigate and assist, if possible. (3) Performance Decline. When an employee starts taking shortcuts with projects, missing deadlines, or turning in substandard work, dig to find out the cause of this shift in behavior. (4) Complaints. An employee who never complains becomes a constant griper. Your other employees were probably affected by the grousing long before you noticed it Not only do you need to deal with the squeaky wheel, but you may also have to do damage control with the rest of your staff. (5) Withdrawal. The individual who stops talking in meetings, stops participating in company social activities, and stays way from water cooler discussions may be in a downward spiral. Help this individual take control again. (6) Openly Fantasizing. When an employee starts talking about all the money he or she could make at another organization, or how many perks an ex-colleague now has somewhere else, you need to save your department from the "domino effect." The departure of one employee to greener pastures can trigger a host of defections (or, at least, a lot of negative chatter). |
 Cold Calling - Google Style Cold calling - the hunt for new clients - is one of those jobs that everyone is getting around to - tomorrow. The only problem is that waiting for the phone to ring will not pay the bills. The first step is to identify likely targets. The place to start is within your existing client base. Ask the folks who are buying printing from you on a regular basis to suggest some firms they know that you could call upon. Better still, ask them for an introduction to some of those firms. Beyond this, look for prospects among firms that are similar to your existing clients, since if you have become valuable to them, you would have a good chance to become valuable to a parallel business. Google is an incredible tool which enables you to search for them. If you are selling to a glass manufacturer now, type in "glass manufacturer Albuquerque" or "glass manufacturer Denver" or "glass manufacturer Phoenix" and see what you get. Then read their websites to get a flavor of their size and business model. When you develop a list of possibles, call and make appointments. |
 Denver Golf - Sign Up We have our date and location for the Denver Golf Tournament! Friday, August 28, 2015 at the Heritage Eagle Bend Golf Club.Described by Golf Digest, as "one of the best places to play in Colorado," the Arthur Hills designed course is a links-style 18-hole championship course that makes use of dramatic elevation changes, native areas, panoramic views and wide, accommodating fairways to appeal to players of all levels. Tickets are only $125 and include greens fee, golf cart and lunch. Foursomes and individual tickets will sell out fast so be sure to sign up ASAP. Don't golf? Join us for lunch for just $25. Interested in sponsoring the tournament? Contact Sandi Neuman at 720-398-6907 or sandi.neuman@visiongraphics-inc.com.
|
 $99 Golf Tournament.
Register now! WSPA's Phoenix Golf Tournament will return with a vengeance on Saturday, September 19, 2015 at the stunning Arizona Grand Golf Resort.
Join colleagues and friendly competitors from the industry for a day of fun on the links followed by the Par-Tee on the Green, where bragging rights will be on display and awards presented.
Tickets are only $99 and include greens fee, golf cart, lunch and two drink tickets. Foursomes and individual tickets will sell out fast so be sure to register as soon as possible!
Want to stay at The Grand Resort? Take advantage of special WSPA rates by clicking HERE.
REGISTER HERE FOR GOLF
Sponsorship OpportunitiesInterested in sponsoring the tournament? There are numerous opportunities still available including individual hole sponsorships - many helping to support future GCEF Scholarships. For details contact tournament chairman Gary Matchinsky at 480-829-8890 or garym@bctarizona.com |
Weekly Photo Feature:
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
Each week E-Connects will share incredible photos on just how lax individuals 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.
Hedging his bets...not the best safety choice.
If you come across a funny safety pic you think should be featured, email Michael Makin at mmakin@wsprint.org.
|
 Add Team Members From Your Company To Our Email List
If you would like to add other team members from your company to receive this weekly newsletter, just send us an email and we would be happy to add them to the list free of charge. Contact June Crespo at jcrespo@wsprint.org.
Meanwhile, if you want to access any back issue of E-Connects, simply visit our Archives Page. |
|
Quote For The Week
"You do ill if you praise, but worse if you censure, what you do not understand."
Leonardo da Vinci
|
|
|
|
|
