Okay, okay, I finally trimmed my e-mail signature down a bit. I had a notoriously long e-mail signature that listed everything but my social security number. I like being up to date on everything that's going on, so naturally, I want everyone to know how to get in touch with me.
Shortening my signature feels like one of those "Home Invasion" remodeling shows, that comes in and throws away all of the home owner's bobbling-head-doll collection. It was sad to see most of it go, but I'm grasping on to what remains: my cell number, Acme's website and address, the "FSC..certification", and of course, this blog's URL.
I can't believe I just dedicated two paragraphs to this topic. :-)
FYI - I'm sending out a very valuable piece of information on the next e-mail newsletter about "green" coated paper. I'm giving out THE list of all lists. Send me an e-mail if you want to get in on the fun.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Monday, August 20, 2007
Nobody told me this was a race!
I had the opportunity to ponder during a quiet car ride this weekend, so I pondered about the past, present, and future of the printing industry. Although I wasn’t around the commercial printing industry during the 20th century, I’ve heard enough stories to gain an appreciation for history. Nowadays, (unfortunately) commercial printing is considered a commodity product. Somewhere between the past and the present, the art and craft of FINE commercial printing became obsolete.
It seems that my generation, a generation dependent upon "all-in-one-mobile-devices" and "drive-thrus", has prioritized the needs of a purchase as: 1. Price, 2. Speed, 3. And that other stuff (e.g. quality, a trusting relationship, reputation, etc.). Don’t get me wrong, on any given day I can be seen pulling up to my local Dunkin’ Donuts drive-thru, but where do we draw the line? Is"speed dentistry" a possibility? How about "Get your own new home built for three easy intsallments of $19,999!"? The thought makes me cringe.
My father is a sales rep for highly reputable design and construction firm. He and his company bring the elements of a quality and trustworthy reputation to new clients. But often their "no corner cutting" and "no surprise costs" attitude equates to a higher price than their competitors. Most of the time, price is the reason that they lose a project.
On the radio, I heard a story about Power Fasteners Inc., the company whose sub-par epoxy caused the fatal July 2006 Boston, MA accident. Now I know I’m stretching a bit here, but really, where do we draw the line?
Well, my point is that great commercial printing is a craft; a craft that we still take very seriously. It’s sad to see so many companies and commercial printers treat it as a commodity business. But on the other side, it’s optimistic to still meet so many clients that still have as strong of a passion for commercial printing as we do.
As always, I welcome plant tours to see fine commercial printing come to life. Please let me know if you’d be interested, and I’d be happy to give you the nickel tour.
It seems that my generation, a generation dependent upon "all-in-one-mobile-devices" and "drive-thrus", has prioritized the needs of a purchase as: 1. Price, 2. Speed, 3. And that other stuff (e.g. quality, a trusting relationship, reputation, etc.). Don’t get me wrong, on any given day I can be seen pulling up to my local Dunkin’ Donuts drive-thru, but where do we draw the line? Is"speed dentistry" a possibility? How about "Get your own new home built for three easy intsallments of $19,999!"? The thought makes me cringe.
My father is a sales rep for highly reputable design and construction firm. He and his company bring the elements of a quality and trustworthy reputation to new clients. But often their "no corner cutting" and "no surprise costs" attitude equates to a higher price than their competitors. Most of the time, price is the reason that they lose a project.
On the radio, I heard a story about Power Fasteners Inc., the company whose sub-par epoxy caused the fatal July 2006 Boston, MA accident. Now I know I’m stretching a bit here, but really, where do we draw the line?
Well, my point is that great commercial printing is a craft; a craft that we still take very seriously. It’s sad to see so many companies and commercial printers treat it as a commodity business. But on the other side, it’s optimistic to still meet so many clients that still have as strong of a passion for commercial printing as we do.
As always, I welcome plant tours to see fine commercial printing come to life. Please let me know if you’d be interested, and I’d be happy to give you the nickel tour.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Offline Co-Mail Service...An Opportunity For An Entrepreneur?
Many long hours…that’s the amount of time invested in researching mail-prep service providers that offer co-mailing and/or co-palletizing services. The results to my research were worse than disparaging.
I recently read an article that contained interviews from a number of small publishers that was heart-breaking, to say the least. One publisher explained that they were "closing their doors" due to the recent postage increases AND new postal regulations that charge full postage for non-registered addresses (regardless of the pre-sort discount that the piece originally had).
Currently, there are only a few major international printers that offer these services. And in addition to the limited options, scheduling a publication or catalog for co-mailing is extremely difficult. First, the catalog or publication must fit well with the predominant catalog/pub’s mailing list (e.g. they must have a combined minimum quantity for each mail-drop). Second, they must share the same ink-jet location. And third, they must share the same binding and trim size.
Here’s my thought: Is there anybody out there that wants to take a risk with some capital investments in PPE and labor to be the first to penetrate the market as an offline co-mail partner? Sure, there’s risk attached to it, but you may have your first customer right here.
I recently read an article that contained interviews from a number of small publishers that was heart-breaking, to say the least. One publisher explained that they were "closing their doors" due to the recent postage increases AND new postal regulations that charge full postage for non-registered addresses (regardless of the pre-sort discount that the piece originally had).
Currently, there are only a few major international printers that offer these services. And in addition to the limited options, scheduling a publication or catalog for co-mailing is extremely difficult. First, the catalog or publication must fit well with the predominant catalog/pub’s mailing list (e.g. they must have a combined minimum quantity for each mail-drop). Second, they must share the same ink-jet location. And third, they must share the same binding and trim size.
Here’s my thought: Is there anybody out there that wants to take a risk with some capital investments in PPE and labor to be the first to penetrate the market as an offline co-mail partner? Sure, there’s risk attached to it, but you may have your first customer right here.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Life On the Other Side
I am a subscriber to a number of printing and marketing news sources and one of my favorite sources to keep up with, is Margie Dana’s “Boston Print Buyers” (shhh, I even borrow some of her ideas). She frequently gives us printers an idea of what it’s like to be a print buyer; which, being on the other side, is much appreciated (…information I never had at high school dances). But it got me thinking that not many people know what it’s like to be a print rep. So, without further ado, I bring to you…
Well other than the Aussie Crocodile Hunter, overall, it’s the coolest job in the world (but slightly less dangerous). What other job can you work with somebody’s creative ideas, and custom build a product, to make their vision come to life? And I am fortunate to represent a company like Acme: Not too big, not too small; that “family-run feel” atmosphere; and an unprecedented reputation for quality, Acme’s outstanding client list, and a genuine, 100% concern for the customer’s well-being makes it easier on a print rep.
Though, there are plenty of bumps along the way. For the most part, I’m probably one of the youngest reps I’ve met in the commercial printing industry (by far). And in such a specialized industry, it’s often very difficult to convince companies that I visit, that I am a resident expert (even with 3+ years of printing experience). No, I am not an RIT graduate, nor was I raised in a “printing family”, but instead I learned the hard way: asking what seems like millions of questions along the way.
But like any printing rep, there is always a lot more to learn (fortunately, at heart, I’ve always been a student). As a printing rep, we must be the local expert on printing, paper, binding, finishing, die-cutting, postal affairs, marketing (thank God for the marketing background), and industry news (e.g. eco-friendly printing, etc.). Though, part of what makes this job so challenging AND so enjoyable, is getting to know my clients’ business and having a positive affect on their operational performance.
It’s been fun thus far and hopefully for much longer. And sometimes, I get carried away talking shop to friends and family (talk about “deer in headlights”). Which by the way, regardless of how often I explain my profession to my family, I am, in their eyes: an advertising sales rep, a paper sales rep, and a magazine subscription sales rep. I get this gut feeling that they think that somehow, printed product just sort of “magically appears”.
Well other than the Aussie Crocodile Hunter, overall, it’s the coolest job in the world (but slightly less dangerous). What other job can you work with somebody’s creative ideas, and custom build a product, to make their vision come to life? And I am fortunate to represent a company like Acme: Not too big, not too small; that “family-run feel” atmosphere; and an unprecedented reputation for quality, Acme’s outstanding client list, and a genuine, 100% concern for the customer’s well-being makes it easier on a print rep.
Though, there are plenty of bumps along the way. For the most part, I’m probably one of the youngest reps I’ve met in the commercial printing industry (by far). And in such a specialized industry, it’s often very difficult to convince companies that I visit, that I am a resident expert (even with 3+ years of printing experience). No, I am not an RIT graduate, nor was I raised in a “printing family”, but instead I learned the hard way: asking what seems like millions of questions along the way.
But like any printing rep, there is always a lot more to learn (fortunately, at heart, I’ve always been a student). As a printing rep, we must be the local expert on printing, paper, binding, finishing, die-cutting, postal affairs, marketing (thank God for the marketing background), and industry news (e.g. eco-friendly printing, etc.). Though, part of what makes this job so challenging AND so enjoyable, is getting to know my clients’ business and having a positive affect on their operational performance.
It’s been fun thus far and hopefully for much longer. And sometimes, I get carried away talking shop to friends and family (talk about “deer in headlights”). Which by the way, regardless of how often I explain my profession to my family, I am, in their eyes: an advertising sales rep, a paper sales rep, and a magazine subscription sales rep. I get this gut feeling that they think that somehow, printed product just sort of “magically appears”.
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