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Serving Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming
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Print Still Going Strong!
The printing industry has been doing very well lately as North American print markets have enjoyed robust growth over the past couple years and printer's pricing and profits have strengthened. The latest US Department of Commerce Census of Manufacturing reports show printing shipments up 1.6 percent through the first four months of 2016. In comparison, all US manufacturing shipments declined over the same period by minus 2.8 percent so print exceeded all manufacturing by more than 4 percentage points!
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Drupa Highlights Shared At Tech Session
A special Drupa overview featuring Julie Shaffer, Printing Industries of America's Vice President of Education and Marketing Strategies, was held in Phoenix on June 13, 2016.
At the session Ms. Shaffer shared what technologies were the buzz at the world's largest printing equipment show from the latest in ink jet printing to new software taking the industry by storm.
To view Ms. Shaffer's presentation, visit the Tips and Tricks Section on WSPA's website.
If there is enough interest from Denver area printers, a similar session will be organized for Colorado in early fall.
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WSPA Members Do Well In Worldwide Premier Print Awards
Kudos to eight members of WSPA who did exceptionally well in the international Premier Print Awards, a competition which received 2,500 entries from all over the globe. O'Neil Printing scored a treasure trove with one Benny (Best of Category), 6 Awards of Recognition and 5 Certificates of Merit. Cereus Graphics won 3 Awards of Recognition and 1 Certificate of Merit. Lithotech won 2 Awards of Recognition and 2 Certificates of Merit. Publication Printers won 1 Award of Recognition and 3 Certificates of Merit. AlphaGraphics #4, ASU Print Lab and Vision Graphics (Denver) each won an Award of Recognition. Henry Wurst, Inc. won a Certificate of Merit.
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Lithotech Presents Print Excellence Awards To Corporate Client Philosophy
Lithotech knows how to treat its customers. At a beautiful luncheon in New York City this week at the headquarters of the Coty Corporation (also home to the Empire State Building), the company unveiled its new corporate logo and brand and outlined the many additional services it can provide its customers. The function also provided the opportunity for Lithotech to share the Print Excellence Awards it won for producing stunning pieces for its customer - Philosophy. PIA CEO Michael Makin was honored to attend the Lithotech event and personally presented the Print Excellence Awards to the winning designers. Following the luncheon, Philosophy executives arranged for a VIP Tour of the Empire State Building. Pictured left to right are Lisa Platt, Michael Makin, Russ Wall and Sue Mehihalf.
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Time To Hit the Links!
The dates are set for WSPA's golf tournaments in Denver and Phoenix. DENVERWSPA will return to the Heritage Eagle Bend Golf Club on Friday, September 9th.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 Golf Committee Chair Sandi Neuman of Vision Graphics at 303-909-7410 or sandi.neuman@visiongraphics-inc.com. SPONSOR DENVER TOURNAMENT
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PHOENIX The Phoenix Golf Tournament will return with a vengeance on Saturday, October 22, 2016 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!
Last year the tournament sold out quickly so book your foursomes early! Sponsorship Opportunities
Interested in sponsoring the tournament? There are numerous opportunities still available including individual hole sponsorships - many helping to support future GCEF Scholarships. Title Sponsorship ($5,000) - Have your company's name on all marketing pieces for the event with exclusive sponsorship rights "Partee on the Green presented by..." - 2 complimentary foursomes
- 2 minutes to present at event
- Company name on golf shirts
- One hole sponsorship
Platinum Sponsorship ($3,000) - 2 complimentary foursomes
- Signage, choice of (pick which item you want your name on) gall balls, golf towels, water bottles
- One hole sponsorship
Gold Sponsorship ($1,500) - 1 complimentary foursome
- Hole sponsorship (pick one of the contest holes) Men's long drive, Women's long drive, Men's Closest to the Pin, Longest Putt
Silver Sponsorship ($1,000) - 1 complimentary foursome
- One hole sponsorship
- Combined lunch sponsorship
Hole Sponsorship ($275) - Signage at either the tee box or the green
All sponsorships include signage at the event plus recognition in program and on website. Email current HIGH RES LOGO in jpg, eps or vector format. In-kind raffle prize donations are also welcome.
For details contact tournament chairman Gary Matchinsky at 480-829-8890 or garym@bctarizona.com.
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2016 MIS Survey Available
Printing Industries of America has just published the 2016 Survey of Management Information Software, marking the 11th consecutive year it has produced this free, useful guide for members.
The survey results are compiled from questionnaires sent to MIS software vendors, documenting the functionality, cost, and other pertinent information for the vast majority of software packages available in the industry.
This year's edition is the largest ever. To download your complimentary copy, CLICK HERE. Forgot your username and password, contact PIA's Member Central at 1-800-910-4283, Ext. 770.
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Lessons From Lindgren:
Think Like A Broker
There was a time when brokers were looked down upon by printers as a kind of parasite who were looking for a slice for doing nothing.
More and more we see printers (folks with manufacturing capacity) acting like brokers. They see the importance of meeting all of their client's needs, not just selling their press time.
Doing this moves the focus from putting ink on paper to understanding and meeting the client's need to sell and support its product. It's not easy because it requires becoming an expert in their business, but the return can be really impressive. You can move from being the low bidder (do you have anything to quote on?) to a marketing resource (let's build sales together).
Getting there means developing partnerships with trusted sources for the things that you don't do and changing your compensation system to one based on value added to get your people on the same page with you.
Bob Lindgren is the President and CEO of Printing Industries Association of Southern California, the largest affiliate of PIA. Mr. Lindgren has more than 40 years of experience in the industry and is an expert in the area of print finance.
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Save On Towels, Mats and Uniforms
WSPA has partnered with Prudential Overall Supply to provide members with great prices on towels, mats and uniforms. Prudential's sole business is to provide environmentally based clean and reusable towels, uniforms and mats. Their cleaning system is designed to clean towels soiled with solvents (low and high VOC) and inks (petroleum and vegetable based).
Contact Ashley Carrol at ashleyc@pos-clean.com for more information and pricing. Make sure you mention you are a WSPA member.
To see what other discount programs are available to you as a WSPA member, visit our website.
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Arizona Legislative Update
The Second Regular Session of the 52nd Arizona Legislature adjourned in the morning hours of May 7, having passed 388 of the 1247 bills introduced. Fourteen bills got the veto stamp, including two that would have had a negative impact on the state's water management policies.
The biggest issues of the session included increased funding for education and joining the other 49 states in providing health care to children from families meeting federal poverty guidelines. Voters passed, albeit by a slim margin, a temporary increase to education funding through increasing the percentage distributed to schools from the State Land Trust. The close vote was attributed to voters' district of policymakers carrying through on the promise of further funding increases.
Voters also approved reforms to the state public safety pension system.
Elaine Arena
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Being the boss is a tough story. Lots of pressure, lots of decisions, lots of chances to be wrong.
If your people are used to upward delegating everything, it's an ego trip (you're smarter than everyone), but it's all-consuming and limiting. Firms that move ahead depend on team members who know what they're doing and go forward.
Do they make mistakes? Of course - but they do things and they move forward.
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You've just bought a new car. It usually makes sense for the car to be owned by your firm as you can ultimately write off the whole cost. The problem is that when you went to the dealer, you signed the paperwork as an individual, so now there is a tax problem, but more importantly, an insurance problem because the firm can't insure the car because it doesn't own it. Autos for business should always be owned by the business!
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Only Two Days Left To Participate In Ratios Study and Receive Free Report
Choosing to participate in the new Dynamic Ratios can lead to the possibility for greater sales and profit growth.
Even if the Dynamic Ratios allow you to increase in profits by a minimum of 1%, this equates to $10,000 for a $1-million-per-year printer.
Financial benchmarking through use of the Dynamic Ratios provides YOU with the business intelligence needed to make YOUR business more profitable. What are you waiting for?
Participants receive a free report volume and access to an online dashboard.
CLICK HERE to participate. Deadline: June 30, 2016.
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Weekly Photo Feature:
Are you Kidding Me?!
Each week, E-Connects shares incredible photos on just how lax individuals can be when it comes to safety. Some pictures showcase carelessness, others plain stupidity. The goal - to keep a safe work environment front and center on the minds of all of your employees. Pictured: Not the safest use of a staple gun.If you come across a funny safety pic you think should be featured, email Michael Makin at mmakin@wsprint.org. |
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Share Your Company News
Have exciting news at your facility? For example, recognized for community service or install a new press? Hire a new employee you want to show off? Held an open house or party?
Let us know so we can share in a future edition of E-Connects.
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Quote For The Week
"Individuality is either the mark of genius or the reverse. Mediocrity finds safety in standardization."
Frederick E. Crane
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