Former USPS Employee, Printing Pros Guilty in Bribe Case
A former printing specialist with the U.S. Postal Service's headquarters in Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty to receiving bribes and conspiracy to commit money laundering in a case in which at least four employees of different printing companies also pleaded guilty. Daniel J. Williams Jr., 62, of Accokeek, Md., admitted to taking bribes that netted him nearly $800,000 over a 12-year period from companies seeking printing contracts with the USPS. In return, the printing companies received confidential bid information and preferential treatment from Williams, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Williams also took steps, with his tax preparer, to launder those bribery funds by setting up shell companies. The investigation resulted in guilty pleas from employees of vendors seeking printing contracts with the USPS through Williams, including former or current employees of Largo Press, U.S. Tag & Label, Keener Manufacturing Company Inc. and Todd Allan Printing. When sentenced on Feb. 11, 2005, Williams faces up to 35 years in prison and a $500,000 fine under the statute. To read the complete U.S. Department of Justice press release, click here.

Ennis on Forbes list
Ennis Inc., Midlothian, Texas, appeared for the third year on the "200 Best Small Companies" list of the Nov. 1 issue of Forbes magazine. Ennis ranked 172 on the list that comprises publicly traded companies with sales of $5 million to $600 million in the past 12 months.

Printegra Installs RDM Image Qualifiers
Printegra, Peachtree City, Ga., installed ANSI-certified RDM Image Qualifiers nationwide. The RDM Check 21 testing equipment is available at the company's nine national check-manufacturing locations. Users can perform testing at no charge on any new or repeat job to verify Check 21 compliance. The company also has redesigned its FormSource and FormSource Limited Software Compatible checks, ODT VOID pantographs and Copy Alert Security Paper to make them Check 21-compliant.

Avery Dennison, RF Code to Unveil RFID Tags
RF Code Inc., Mesa, Ariz., and Avery Dennison Corp., Pasadena, Calif., organized two demonstrations of the SecureStrap security monitoring and electronic seal technology. Available next year, the SecureStrap tags contain electronic seal technology for tamper monitoring, tracking, and locating containers and other physical assets. SecureStrap consists of a radio lock (an active RFID real-time locating device) that's attached to a fiber-optic, tamper-sensor cable. If the cable is compromised, SecureStrap sends out a radio distress signal including its identification code and a tamper indication. An encrypted reset key allows reuse of the SecureStrap's radio lock component.

Debit Cards Give Plastic Edge Over Paper
A Dec. 7 story in The Washington Post reads: Americans kept their checkbooks in their pockets and instead flashed debit cards in record numbers last year, making 2003 the first time plastic and other electronic payment methods beat out paper, according to a survey released Dec. 6 by the Federal Reserve. Full story. (Register with The Washington Post to access the story. Registration is free.)

Corporate Express Completes Mobile Proof of Delivery Deployment
Corporate Express Inc., Broomfield, Colo., deployed its Mobile Proof of Delivery (POD) solution across its entire fleet of 1,400 delivery vehicles in all 28 U.S. divisions. This technology provides Corporate Express real time data on deliveries, from the time a package leaves the warehouse to when it reaches the customer. Features include integrated bar code scanning, electronic signature capture, electronic manifest management, route log and delivery information, and the ability for customers to check online the status of their packages.

ProDocumentSolutions Celebrates 25th Anniversary
ProDocumentSolutions, Paso Robles, Calif., recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. It organized a 2-day event where more than 40 distributors visited the company's recently acquired 177,000 square-feet Porterville manufacturing plant. Attendees also learned about the company's latest products and services.

Foil Simulation Attracts Cosmetic Company
The lure of shiny packaging is difficult for some consumers to resist. That's why a cosmetics company met with sales representatives at Sandy Hook, Conn.-based printed packaging provider Curtis Packaging Corporation. "They wanted a very high-end looking carton, but they didn't want to break the bank when it came to the pricing," says Donald Droppo Jr., vice president of marketing. "They didn't need the entire sheet to be metallic. It was going to be in certain spot sections of the box." Full story.

CEO Summit
This year's program is packed with information, discussions and details you need to further your success. Join your fellow members with sales volumes of more than $2.5 million in St. Petersburg, Fla., Feb. 2-4, for what has proven year after year to be a great program!
Click here for more.

Small Distributor Summit
This summit is for distributors with sales volume below $2.5 million. This year's program has new topics, new technologies and new insights. Designed exclusively by member distributors, this program brings top-notch education in a format that works for you. Your peers developed all of the programs, the schedule and the manufacturer sessions. Join us from March 12-14 at Embassy Suites Outdoor World, Dallas.
Click here for more.

Here are this week's top unusual source requests received by DMIA:

1. Roofing Instruction Sheet; 22 1/2" x 8"; prints 2 colors on wax paper; QTY=5M-10M
2. Patches; in the shape of a basketball; 2" diameter; 2 colors; QTY=2-3
3. Santa Clause Hats; purple and red; QTY=150-200
4. Anniversary Seals; 1"-2" diameter; black stock with gold foil stamp; Q=1MM
5. Sugar Sticks; 1/4"-1/2" x 3-4"; imprinted 1pms-4cp; QTY=Minimum
6. VHS Tape Duplication; 5 minutes; sleeves prints 4cp; insert tapes into sleeves; address and mail; QTY=20M
7. Direct Mailing Piece: Brochures; 8 1/2" x 11"; folds to #10; prints 4cp/4cp; these will be inserted into a mailing box that can be converted into a counter brochure holder; flat - 10 1/4" x 10 1/8"; folded; 4 1/2" x 9 1/2"; 14pt.-18pt. stock; special die-cuts; QTY=2M
8. Crime Scene Tape; 2" and 3" wide; 1,000 ft. per roll; QTY=50-100-120 Rolls
9. Megaphone; black with gold lettering; QTY=200
10. Continuous Checks; 3 parts; 9 1/2" x 7"; Rotary Tape Lock; prints 1/1; void pantograph; QTY=25M

If you have a source request—for anything—call the Hotline at (800) 333-2828 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time, or use the Source Hotline Database online. For new sales ideas every day, try our 1,000 Sales Ideas Database. Manufacturers, if you produce any of these items and would like to check your listing with the Source Hotline, please email Cheryl Rush.

Sales and Marketing Tip
10 Traits for Success
The following personality traits are fundamental to securing your place in the world of business. If you see yourself in these descriptions, then you're well on your way to making a success out of your business and discovering unlimited worldwide market opportunities. Full story.

E-Commerce Spotlight
Web Sites Good for Business
According to a survey of more than 500 small- and medium-sized businesses, web technology helps generate sales leads and actual sales. Also, most businesses are expecting a happy holiday season. Full story.

Product of the Week
Re-Examining Roles & Relationships in the Evolving Document Industry
No longer is the manufacturer the supplier's only customer, and the distributor the manufacturer's only customer. All must act as partners to truly satisfy the end user's needs. This white paper examines the industry's channel challenges and identifies opportunities to develop partnerships. Code: ROLES. $25. To order, contact Tina Davis.

Hot Sites
BBC Four: Interviews
The BBC offers online audio and video clips (and some transcripts) of fascinating interviews with artists, scientists, intellectuals and numerous other notables.
Visit the site.

Roadsign Online
If you love greasy spoons, er, diners, this is the site for you. The folks at Roadsign Online LOVE diners and treat them with the same reverence deserved by any endangered species. One page shows the 607 diners visited by one author—he visited 13 diners last March. Visit the site.