DMIA's Award-Winning E-Mail Newsletter for Members Only
July 16, 2004

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Revolutionizing Business Products Online -- myesolutions.com
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NEWS

HealthTrust Renews With <http://www.standardregister.com> Standard Register
Standard Register Co. said yesterday that HealthTrust Purchasing Group renewed its three-year contract for document handling and consulting services. The contract, effective July 1, is expected to generate $40 million in revenue each year. Standard Register will make standard and custom documents for HealthTrust, as well as provide copying, printing and consulting services to the company's member hospitals and clients.

In other SR news, Hewlett-Packard announced a five-year, $53 million contract with Standard Register to measure the agility and productivity of SR's infrastructure and applications and to provide tools and services to consolidate and streamline them. HP Services will manage a multi-vendor environment of 650 servers, a wide area network and 30 software applications for 4,100 desktops and 5,000 employees. SR will continue software development and management of its own e-business applications including e-procurement, print management, marketing automation, document automation and other solutions it markets to customers and uses internally.

In addition, HP and SR will pursue various strategic initiatives together, particularly in the healthcare and financial services markets, and will assist each other in exploring mutually beneficial business opportunities. Having collaborated on forms automation technology in the past, they will also work together to further enhance HP's print and document management activities. About 80 employees will transfer from SR to HP as a result of the contract.

<http://www.rrdonnelley.com> Donnelley Prepares to Regain Top Ranking
R.R. Donnelley and Sons Co. is hoping that new management appointments will shake up a company that has seen a lackluster performance. Over the past three years, Chicago-based Donnelley has seen its business prospects eroded by weak demand for printing services and downward pressure on prices. <http://www.dailyherald.com/search/main_story.asp?intID=38181101> Full story.

<http://www.printxcel.com> PrintXcel Installs RDM Image Qualifiers
PrintXcel, a Quality Park brand, recently installed RDM image qualifiers in all its facilities producing business forms and checks. The qualifiers will allow the plants to design and test check documents for image compliance to ensure that documents meet requirements of Check 21 legislation that goes into effect Oct. 28. The qualifiers are the only equipment that conforms to the latest ANSI X9.7 standards on check backgrounds.

Office Supply Turf War On
The battle between the two largest U.S. office supply retailers will officially cross over into Northeast territory late in the fall. That's when underdog Office Depot Inc., equipped with a new store design, will begin to double its presence in a region long dominated by industry leader Staples Inc. <http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/040708/retail_office_1.html> Full story.

Scanning a Paperless Horizon
The New York Times reported yesterday on new scanners ... As recently as a few decades ago, for example, you could still hear predictions that computers would one day create a paperless office. Of course, that turned out to be total bunk; the amount of paper consumed in the e-mail age has exploded. We may never eliminate our file cabinets completely, but it's too soon to give up on that dream altogether. New scanners from Hewlett-Packard, Fujitsu and Xerox/Visioneer can scan stacks of paper, unattended, with marching-band precision - both sides at once, in fact - and convert them into PDF files on your computer, ready for searching, sorting or sending.  <http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/15/technology/circuits/15stat.html?th> Full story. (To view this story, you may be required to register (for free) at the New York Times web site.)

Bar Codes To Get One More Digit
The New York Times reported this week that by Jan. 1, American retailers' bar-code scanners will be expected to read the global bar-code standard, the European Article Numbering Code. The required changes in computer systems and software programs has echoes of the Y2K computer problem. The American Universal Product Code, which turned 30 years old last month, has 12 digits. When the Europeans set up their bar code in 1977, they add extra digital space for more products and identifying countries. (There were 12 nations in the European Community at the time.) So the European code has 13 digits, one more than the code used in the United States and Canada. The 13-digit code took off and is used in most other countries. The Uniform Code Council, the North American arbiter of bar codes, has told North American retailers that bar-code scanners will have to read the 13-digit codes by January. The 12-digit codes do not die; systems that can read 13-digit codes can also read 12-digit codes. <http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/12/business/12barcode.html?th> Full story. (Register online with The New York Times to fully access the article. Registration is free.)

<http://www.ennis.com> Ennis Completes <http://www.crabargbf.com> Crabar/GBF Stock Acquisition
Ennis Inc. announced that it has completed the acquisition of the outstanding stock of Dayton, Ohio-based Crabar/GBF as of June 30. Crabar/GBF produces long and medium run printing, pressure sensitive labels and form/label combinations in facilities located in Cerritos, Calif.; Bellville, Texas; Princeton, Ill.; Medfield, Mass.; Edison, N.J.; El Dorado, Mo., and Leipsic, Ohio, along with an administrative center in Dayton, Ohio. Midlothian, Texas-based Ennis is a private-label printed business product supplier with 37 production facilities in 16 states.

SOLUTION OF THE WEEK

Pinch-Hit Idea Is Winner
Last summer, Dave Vener supplied 130,000 trifold schedules to a professional, AAA-league baseball team. The 4-color schedules, which folded to a 2 1/4-inch square, included a list of the team's home and away games, information about its stadium, photos of key players and more. Retailers, convenience stores and gas stations placed the schedules on their counters for customers to pick up. <http://www.dmia.org/sol_center/enewsletter/enews_articles/sow071604.html> Full story.

WHAT'S NEW AT DMIA

Print Solutions Conference and Expo 2004
You can't afford to miss the Print Solutions 2004 Conference and Expo-Fall Classic, Oct. 5-7 in Chicago. <http://www.printsolutionsshow.com/registration.html> Online registration is open. Register now and make your room reservations before you leave on your summer trip.

<http://www.printsolutionsshow.com/sponsors.html> Our Winner's Circle Sponsors offer you a chance to win two trips for two to Hawaii! But you have to be there to win! The Winner's Circle is a six-year-old partnership between an elite group of exhibitors and DMIA which has helped increase the visibility of the Print Solutions Conference and Expo as the premier event in the industry.

This is the largest exposition for the business printing segment of the industry. Go to Chicago, see 400 booths featuring new products, services and programs that will make you money, visit each of the Winners Circle sponsor booths to validate your "Send Me to Hawaii" postcard (pick up your postcard free at registration), and start shopping for a swimsuit! The drawings for both trips to Hawaii, including airfare and hotel, will be held on the show floor Oct. 7. You must be present to win. For more information, visit <http://www.printsolutionsshow.com> www.printsolutionsshow.com.

Summer Special for DMIA's Latest E-Learning Session: Digital Printing Overview
Today is the last day to sign up for the Digital Printing E-Learning session--a must for those who want to understand digital printing , one of the fastest growing segments in the industry. The Print University's online program allows you and your employees access to high-quality education and training on your computer. Regular price $185, on sale now for $150 (registration is per student/participant). Sign up today and save.

Coming soon are two new modules: Prepress Overview and Electronic Prepress. These include comparisons of workflow, concepts and design, type and imagesetting, layout, paste-up, editing, image conversion, color separations, desktop scanning, PostScript output and more. Learn the hardware and software involved in electronic prepress, and trapping, dot gain, registration, digital proofing and more. For more information, visit <http://www.printuniversity.org> www.printuniversity.org. Questions? Call Harriet Carter, CDC, at (800) 336-4641.

TOP TEN

Here are the top unusual source requests received by DMIA:

 1. Maps; 17" x 12"; prints 4cp/4cp; Tyvek or another water-resistant, durable material; QTY=40M-50M-60M

 2. Brochure; two 22" x 21" sheets nested with a final fold to 11" x 10 1/2"; prints 4cp/4cp on a 40# white #3 coated sheet; QTY=177M

 3. Door Hanger; 3 1/2" x 7"; affixed label; prints 4cp/4cp; QTY=25M

 4. Barrier Bag; 41.73" x 37.01"; prints 2-3 colors; PE/AL/PET laminate; sealed on 3 sides; bags will be coded; QTY=200M

 5. Engraved Name Plates; Lamicore material; bulldog clip on back; QTY=230M

 6. Polypropylene/Polyester Film on Rolls; prints 1 color; .005 or .020 mil.; two sizes; 7 1/4" x 8"; QTY=60M each of 2 and 4 3/4" x 8"; QTY=100M each of 3

 7. Rotating Plastic Brochure Holder; 4 1/2" slots; QTY=12

 8. Unit Set Books; 5 5/8" x 17"; prints blk/blk; 3 part; four vertical perfs; third ply does not perf; 25 sets per book; Q=75

 9. Dinner Plates; Ceramic; 12" diameter; prints 1 color; QTY=1M-10M

 10. Custom die cut cards in the shape of a garbage can;  6 1/4" x 9 1/2"; prints 4cp/4cp; QTY=12M-18M-20M

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 <http://64.115.51.134/index.htm> Source Hotline Database online. For new sales ideas every day, try our <http://www.dmia.org/dmiasearch/am_pm/search/index.cfm> 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 <mailto:crush@dmia.org> Cheryl Rush.

SALES AND MARKETING TIP

Refresh Content
Nothing kills web site traffic like visitor boredom. To avoid that, features such as photos, quotes, products and sale specials can be generated randomly or scheduled to appear on specific days.
<http://www.workz.com/cgi-bin/gt/tpl_page.html,template=1&content=1856&nav1=1&user=cc5b369e490c.> Full story.

E-COMMERCE SPOTLIGHT

Email Marketing Boosts Sales
Email marketing remains one of the major ways that e-commerce sites can acquire new customers, promote sales and retain existing users. <http://ecommerce.internet.com/how/customers/article/0,,10363_3380591,00.html> Full story.

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK

Customer Service Over the Phone
This guide examines scenarios that a customer service representative is likely to encounter and shows how to handle each situation. It also offers tips on effective use of voice mail, email, fax and letters. Code: CUPHONE. $13.50. To order, visit DMIA's <http://www.dmia.org/about/prod_cat_logon.html> online product catalog, or contact <mailto:tdavis@dmia.org> Tina Davis.

HOT SITES

<http://www.wheredidthetimego.com/> Where Did the Time Go?
One day you walk by the mirror and there's some wrinkly geezer staring back. How could it happen? And so soon? You're just a few questions away from the answers: Tell the site how old you are and a little bit about your lifestyle, and you'll instantly see the truth.
<http://www.wheredidthetimego.com/> Visit the site.

<http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/fakewine/fakewine.html> Life, Explained
Here's a site that teaches you how to do all the things nobody taught you in school. Topics include setting up a budget, writing a business plan, making your own beer, faking an appreciation for art, and more.
<http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/fakewine/fakewine.html> Visit the site.

___________________________________________________________________________________
The E-weekly is designed by Christine Kenny and edited by Preeti Vasishtha with contributions from Darin Painter and Andy Brown. To subscribe, <http://www.dmia.org/sol_center/enewssubs.html> click here. To unsubscribe or change your email address, <http://www.printsolutionsmag.com/dmia/enewsunsub.html> click here. (c) Copyright 2004 <http://www.dmia.org> Document Management Industries Association, 433 E. Monroe Ave., Alexandria, VA 22301 (800) 336-4641, (703) 836-6232. Contact us at <mailto:eweekly@printsolutionsmag.com> eweekly@printsolutionsmag.com. Visit Print Solutions Magazine at <http://www.printsolutionsmag.com>  www.printsolutionsmag.com. To advertise, <mailto:ckelly@dmia.org?subject=Interested_in_E-Weekly_Advertising&cc=bholt@dmia.org> click here.