Update
The event also featured the roll out of the new AlphaGraphics logo and tagline that reflect the system’s increasing movement into the marketing services area. The theme of the closing awards dinner was ’60s Glam, with attendees urged to dress for the era. Franchisees Bill and Clare Meehan were honored for having a $400,000 month, and Carlos Amorim accepted the Rising Star Award on behalf of his family’s franchise in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Franny winners were Grant and Diana Richey of Bountiful, UT, who have recorded consistent record breaking sales since taking over the center. QP editorial director Bob Hall presented Network Builder awards to franchisees who “are role models in sharing their strengths and expertise with others.”
The 2012 AlphaGraphics conference will be held in Orlando, FL and will again feature a joint trade show with Allegra Network.
(4 AG photos)
www.myprintresource.com/10003758
Slow Growth for Print Profits
Printing industry profits were up 1.4% in 2010, compared to a loss of 1.4% in 2009, according to the recently completed 2011–2012 Printing Industries of America Ratios Survey. The sluggish economy and slowing print markets pulled down printers’ profitability in 2009, but improving economic conditions helped the print industry pick up steam and reverse the trends in 2010. The average printer’s before-tax profit on sales of 1.4% is still below the 3.0–3.4% range experienced from 1995–2001. This is the first increase in profits in the last three years; at this rate the industry earned approximately $2.1 billion in total profits in 2010.
www.myprintresource.com/10234209
Sales and Technical Skills Limit Cross-Media Growth
Of the 280 print service provider respondents to InfoTrends’ Leveraging Acquisitions to Accelerate the Pace of Cross-media Adoption survey, 119 were not currently offering cross-media services. When asked to identify the critical barriers that are hampering participation, the most common obstacles included limited sales skills and limited technical skills. Rather than building these skills internally, firms are aggressively buying expertise to strengthen their offerings and/or add services. Larger firms have begun to purchase smaller organizations that already have made the transition. These deals offer benefits to both companies. The acquiring firm buys the best practices, expertise, and a book of business, while the acquired firm has access to a larger resource pool. This trend will help accelerate the pace of participation in the cross-media space.
www.myprintresource.com/10013606
Consumer Bill Exempts Printing
The recently enacted Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) excludes children’s books and paper-based printed materials from third-party testing and certification requirements now in place for any and all products marketed to children under 12 years of age. “This is a big win for the industry!” Lisbeth Lyons, vice president of Government Affairs at Printing Industries of America said. “Even for printers who do not specialize in children’s books or printed materials geared toward children, this is still a significant industry accomplishment,” said Lyons. “Achieving an exclusion for books and paper-based printed materials from environmental and consumer regulation goes a long way to remind lawmakers that the printing and graphic communications industry’s products are sustainable, safe, and leading edge when it comes to environmentally sound manufacturing.”
www.myprintresource.com/10234209
Holiday Cards for Soldiers
For the fifth year, Pitney Bowes and the American Red Cross are teaming up to send one million cards to service members this holiday season. Each year Pitney Bowes’ employees and their customers contribute to this worthy effort by creating and sending cards to a special P.O. Box from which they are organized and distributed around the world to those who cannot be home for the holidays. The mailbox opens this month for holiday cards with heartfelt personal messages of support, gratitude and cheer from you. For a list of tips and ideas, please visit: www.redcross.org/holidaymail. You are invited to send a holiday card with your personal message to: Holiday Mail for Heroes, P.O. Box 5456, Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456. (PHOTO)
More Speed for Sir Speedy
Sir Speedy, Inc. recently announced it will sponsor Leslie Porterfield, “The fastest woman in the world on a motorcycle,” for a second year. Shortly after the announcement, Porterfield set two new records at Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats. First, at the mid-August Speedweek event, she rode a Honda CBR1000 to a remarkable 197mph. Then, at the BUB Speed Trials, held August 27-September 1, she broke the production 1000cc class FIM/AMA world record, taking the same bike to a blistering 200.137 mph. It was the first time a bike of this kind has had a record over 200 mph. Her next event is the Top Speed Shootout, Sept. 19-24. (PHOTO)
