|
Serving Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming
|
|
Update On Printing Scam
In April, Printing Industries of America alerted you to a major scam involving a fraudulent direct marketing agency operating out of Montreal and Toronto. Federal authorities believe the targets in this case have been operating under the following names: Direct Market, DMW Direct, API Global Fulfillment, DMG Group Corporation, Global Media, Slim-Tab, and LipoCitrex. The scam artist purports to represent clients marketing weight loss products such as Axera International, BeSlim, and Nutrim. The scam is simple but effective and has claimed a number of victims. The marketing agency contacts printers via their website with a potential windfall job to produce millions of marketing pieces. The marketing agency literally banks on printers offering a line of credit based on initial feedback from credit references, which are similarly fraudulent. When printers ask for a check to cover postage, it is promptly sent via UPS. The check looks completely official, including a hologram, and printers deposit it thinking all is well, not realizing that any check drawn on a foreign bank account will take 2-3 weeks to validate and collect funds. This is the scam-some companies will drop the printed pieces and mail them before the check clears leaving the printer to cover the postage and printing costs. Sadly, a significant number of PIA members are now out tens of thousands of dollars because of this scam. The United States Postal Service (USPS) and law enforcement officials on both sides of the border are investigating the matter, and in fact progress has been made. USPS officials now want to hear specifics from those who have been injured by this scam. If your company has fallen victim or you were approached by any of the aforementioned entities, PLEASE CONTACT POSTAL INSPECTOR MATT SCHMITZ at 920-869-3719 or via email at mbschmitz@uspis.gov. Hopefully justice can be served with perhaps restitution even paid to those swindled by this scam. |
|
Did You Know?
According to (24)/7's "2016 US Customer Engagement Index," anger over poor service has led to 47 percent of consumers saying that they would take their business to a competitor within one day (if price and products are of equal value).
In addition, 79 percent say they would do it within one week. The report survey 1,200 U.S. consumers across four age groups: Millennials (age 18-30), Generation Xers (age 31-49), Baby Boomers (age 50-69) and members of the Greatest Generation (age 69-plus).
Interestingly (but perhaps not surprising), members of the Millennial and GenX generations are less patient than previous generations.
|
|
Printing Industry's Largest Wage And Benefit Survey- Please Participate
With the recent Department of Labor re-definition of exempt vs. non-exempt parameters, employers are analyzing their current employee compensation structure to ensure compliance. A crucial part of this analysis is compensating employees fairly, within the company and marketplace.
PIA's Wage & Benefit Survey is THE tool that can be used to help managers make these types of decisions. It's the most comprehensive survey available within the printing industry and provides salary/wage information on over 100 positions as well as current benefit practices.
If you participate in the confidential survey, we will provide you the report - a $250 value ($1,000 for non-members) - FOR FREE.
All WSPA member companies have been forwarded paper copies of the survey along with usernames and passwords should you wish to complete the survey electronically (CLICK HERE). Should you wish to participate online, go to http://www.cvent.com/d/cfqyjb.
Please take the time to participate and take advantage of the intelligence you will glean from the survey findings such as are you leaving money on the table? What are my competitors paying? And what are the prevailing benefits in the industry?
The deadline to participate is August 8, 2016 and the report should be available in October.
FAQ
1. Can I partially complete the survey and come back to it later with my earlier responses still there? Yes, Just go back to the survey link. You may have to re-enter your password.
2. Can print out my responses when completed? Yes, near the completion of the survey you will have a screen with all of your responses that you can print out. Note that you will have to hit the "FINISH" button at the bottom of that page to submit the results.
3. Can I see the jobs and job descriptions for the survey first? Yes, Click Here. There are plenty of open fields to enter other job titles that are not listed.
4. Who do I ask if I have a question about the survey? Contact Jim Kyger at 1-800-910-4283 (ext. 503) or jkyger@printing.org. |
|
Lessons From Lindgren:
What Should we Charge For Our Work?
The answer to this question is incredibly central to the success or failure of your company. It will determine whether you open up opportunities and grow, or you live with the consequences of a declining client base.
Because we have estimators and estimating software, we're used to thinking that the source of the price is the cost. After all, there's a comforting logic in the idea that we just want our costs plus a reasonable mark-up. If we think about it for a moment, there's a disturbing element in the idea of costs. A substantial part of them consist of the premises we occupy, the equipment and the front office which are unchanged by the presence or absence of a particular job.
When our system includes them in our idea of costs it has to make an arbitrary assumption about the volume of business which will be true only by chance. More importantly, our system has no explicit recognition of the importance of the job to the client nor our competitive positioning in the situation. How then, should we answer the question?
The first step is to recognize that the answer is always external: we can't get more for the job than it's worth to the client (if we try it, they'll do without) and we can't get more than the client understands they could buy it from an acceptable competitor. If we turn our pricing process to the outside world, we've taken the first step toward selling work that we're now losing and picking up money left on the table (they'd have paid more if we'd only asked).
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.
|
|
Save On Employee Screenings With Caliper
For over 50 years, Caliper has consulted with over 28,000 companies on improving every aspect of their workforce from hiring and selection to employee development and succession management. Starting with accurate and objective insights our consultants gain from our time-tested, scientifically validate personality assessment, the Caliper Profile, the organization has been able to help its clients reduce the high cost of turnover, help first-time managers excel, and create solutions that are tailored, practical, and adaptable. Whether you are looking to hire top performers, develop talent, build teams, or transform your organization, Caliper can help.
And now as a member of WSPA and Printing Industries of America, you can access Caliper services at a 10 percent discount. To learn more about Caliper's services visit www.calipercorp.com. To get your 10 percent discount, simply call 609-524-1200. Make sure you identify yourself as a member of Printing Industries of America.
|
|
Sales Compensation Report Available For Just $99
One major category not covered in the aforementioned Wage and Benefit Survey is sales compensation (with the exception of salaried VPs).
Sp what do top printing sales reps earn across America? How is their commission structured? What percentage of companies pay on a value-add system versus gross sales?
These questions and many others are addressed in The 2016 Sales Compensation Survey of Printing Industries of America, available for purchase now.
Along with surveying compensation methodologies (salary, salary + commission, commission, etc.), we also attempted to gather information about these methods in regards to major production processes (heatset/coldest web; sheetfed; digital; mailing; fulfillment, etc.). Given the number of ancillary services added by many print providers the past decade, and that there have been marked differences between sheetfed and web compensation methods, it was important to differentiate the information gathered. CLICK HERE TO ORDER your copy for just $99. |
|
Congratulations to Mark Hammerbeck and the team at Herrada Printing on signing a five year lease on a new location for the growing company, which also has operations in Dallas, Texas. Mr. Hammerbeck hopes to grow his company exponentially in the new location, its first store-front.
Visit the company's website at www.herradaprinting.com.
|
 |
|
Last Two Weeks To Participate In Dynamic Ratios
Financial Benchmarking provides you with the business intelligence tools you need to make informed decisions about your company. Many printing operations across the United States actually run their businesses based on the numbers they gleam from PIA's annual ratios studies.
PIA's Center for Print Economics and Management is thrilled to announce a new financial benchmarking tool, the Dynamic Ratios.
The Ratios have long been a compilation of accurate financial information from hundreds of printing and related graphic arts firms. They allow companies to gain access to financial and productivity benchmarks that can help your company become more efficient, productive, confident, focused, and profitable.
The 2016-2017 Dynamic Ratios Survey
In addition to the look-under-the-hood financial details PIA has provided for 94 years, the new Dynamic Ratios study provides an online, interactive version of the Ratios study.
The central features of the new Dynamic Ratios include:
- New 24/7 Secure Interactive Dashboard allows printers instant access to industry financial and operating averages as well as profit leader benchmarks.
- New Instant Graphics provides easy-to-understand information. The quartile system allows for you to view where your company is compared to your peer group or to the industry financial and operating averages.
- New Shorter Survey Option-a 70 percent reduction in required submitted information. Now printers need only provide 31 line items to participate. To gain the most from the survey, peer groups are recommended to fill out the long version of the survey.
- New Focus on Key Performance Metrics to simplify management decisions.
- New Peer Group Report - allows printers the option to custom design which printers they would like to sync with.
- New Trend Analysis between Years - for those printers that have participated in the past
- Legacy Reports and Database still available.
Why should you participate?
Participating members of PIA through their local affiliate (WSPA) receive a free copy of the Dynamic Ratios report and access to the online tool-up to a $1,500 value! CLICK HERE to participate. Deadline: July 31, 2016.
|
|
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. CLICK HERE TO SPONSOR
|
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.
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 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: Oh heck no!If you come across a funny safety pic you think should be featured, email Michael Makin at mmakin@wsprint.org. |
|
Got 2 Minutes?
Are you taking full advantage of your membership in WSPA and PIA? Want to learn what you might be missing in just two short minutes?
Visit our website to get a video overview of the programs and benefits of your local printing association, including discount programs that could well pay for your annual membership dues
|
|
Quote For The Week
"If you're afraid to let someone else see your weakness, take heart: Nobody's perfect. Besides, your attempts to hide your flaws don't work as well as you think they do."
Julie Morgenstern
|
|
Want Others On Your Team To Receive E-Connects?
|
|
|
|
