American Solutions for Business Acquires Health Print
Distributorship American Solutions for Business, Glenwood, Minn., acquired Health Print Ltd., a division of Amarillo, Texas-based Graham Data Supplies Ltd.
American Solutions for Business ranked No. 4 on Print Solutions 2004 Top 100 Distributors list with more than $223 million in sales. The company recently was awarded a contract by Novation, the largest volume group purchasing organization in the health care field. Health Print specializes in providing the health care industry with business forms, promotional products, fulfillment and warehousing services, e-commerce capabilities and more. It has 25 locations nationwide, with 32 employees.
Graham Data Supplies ranked No. 23 on Print Solutions 2004 Top 100 Distributors list with $17 million in sales, including $7.5 million in sales in the health care vertical market.
B. Charles Graham, president of Graham Data Supplies and a former member of the DMIA Board of Directors, cited long-term planning as his reason for selling Health Print. "We didn't have anybody in Health Print or any of our junior partners at Graham who were interested in devoting the time to take over my position," he says. "I realized I must find a home for our employees, customers and vendors." Graham will continue to work at Health Print until he retires in "five or six years."
After reviewing four potential buyers, Graham chose American Solutions for Business. One deciding factor was the distributorship's Employee Stock Ownership Program. "American is 100 percent employee owned, he says, "It gives all of our employees in Health Print the opportunity to earn shares in American's ESOP."
Ennis Q4, Annual Report
For the fourth quarter ended Feb. 28, Midlothian, Texas-based Ennis' net sales were $134.5 million, compared to $63.1 million for the same period last year, an increase of 113%. Net earnings for the quarter amounted to $6.9 million, compared to $4.9 million for the corresponding period last year, an increase of 42%. For the 12 months ended Feb. 28, net sales were $365.4 million compared to $259.4 million for the same period last year, an increase of 41%. Net earnings for the 12 months were $23 million compared to $18 million, an increase of 28%.
"The acquisitions of Crabar/GBF, Inc., Alstyle Apparel and Royal Business Forms, Inc. were easily the most significant events in what was the most active acquisition year in the history of the Company," Keith S. Walters, chairman, president and CEO of Ennis, Inc. and a member of DMIA's Board of Directors, said in a press release. "The addition of Alstyle Apparel establishes a new growth platform for the Company [and brings] estimated annual revenue in excess of $200 million. Crabar/GBF, Inc. and Royal Business Forms, Inc. strengthen the Forms Solutions Group by adding estimated annual revenues of approximately $70 million."
Full story.
Additional Information on Year-End Results.
Meet Meredith and Gretchen in Orlando
Meredith R. Smith Jr., CAE, and his wife, Gretchen, stars of the CBS-TV reality show "The Amazing Race," will be featured speakers at DMIA's Print Solutions Conference and Expo, Oct. 18-20 in Orlando, Fla.
Many DMIA members know "R" Smith from his days as executive vice president of the National Business Forms Association, which today is DMIA. In 1963, Smith became the first full-time staff member of NBFA. He began many of the products and services offered by the association today, and retired in 1991. He also hired his successor, Peter L. Colaianni, CAE, executive vice president of DMIA.
"R was telling me on the phone the other day that he was doing yard work and noticed a car stopped in the street nearby for several minutes," Colaianni said. "Finally the woman driving the car inched closer and said, 'I thought it was you. You're Meredith from The Amazing Race!'" The show draws more than 12 million viewers each week.
Colaianni suggested that the Smiths come to Orlando and tell conference attendees about their experiences on the 2-time Emmy-winning reality show that airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. EST. "Lots of members have been asking me about R and watching him and Gretchen on the show," Colaianni said. "He thought it was a great idea to meet old friends in Orlando, and I think attendees will get a big kick out of hearing what they have to say. Ask any long-time DMIA member and they'll tell you what a great speaker R was and how they loved his keynotes."
Only two Amazing Race episodes remain, with four couples in the running for the $1 million prize. The race started with 11 couples. Meredith and Gretchen are the oldest (Meredith is 69; Gretchen is 65) to compete in any of the show's seven seasons, and they have become famous for their tenacity and resourcefulness. A 49- and 50-year-old husband-wife team finished second in the Race's third season, but no one as old as the Smiths has lasted so long.
Links to stories about Meredith and Gretchen:
Print Solutions Magazine
USA TODAY
The Villages (Florida) Daily Sun
Standard Register Posts Q1 Profit
Standard Register Co. reported this week a profit in the first quarter due to revenue growth and margin improvement. Net income totaled $2.4 million, or 8 cents per share, up from losses of $6.5 million, or 23 cents per share, a year ago. Total revenue increased 5.3 percent to $232 million from $220.3 million last year. "We've seen good progress on our sales initiatives," said Dennis Rediker, president and chief executive officer, in a press release. "Our core document and label systems and our print-on-demand services businesses each reported 4 percent revenue growth, plus we had a significant revenue increase in our new commercial print operation. During the quarter, we also received several multi-year commitments from new customers that will contribute to future revenue." The company said margin improvement reflects progress in recovering last year's three paper cost hikes, plus positive results from company-wide cost reduction and productivity improvement programs. The company is forecasting modest revenue growth for the full year and for margins to continue to improve.
Ultra Forms Plus Acquires Assets of Alpine
Ultra Forms Plus Inc., Kalamazoo, Mich., has purchased certain assets of Alpine Forms Service of Grand Rapids. Included in the sale are distributor files, production records and other items. Ultra Forms Plus has been in business since 1991 as a DMIA manufacturer member serving independent distributors. The company specializes in short run laser and continuous checks, forms and unit sets.
MeadWestvaco Reports Improved 1Q Results
MeadWestvaco Corp., Stamford, Conn., reported earnings from continuing operations of $17 million, or 9 cents per share. Included in earnings from continuing operations for 2005 were after-tax gains on the sale of forestlands of $25 million, or 12 cents per share, and after-tax restructuring charges of $3 million, or 1 cent per share. In 2004, first quarter earnings from continuing operations of $26 million, or 13 cents per share, included a gain on the sale of forestlands of $40 million, or 20 cents per share, and restructuring costs of $7 million, or 4 cents per share. Full story.
3M Increases Price
3M, St. Paul, Minn., announced that beginning May 22, it will adjust prices of products such as adhesives, industrial fasteners, label materials, release liners, resilient roll stock, tapes and dispensers. "The impact of these price changes to each of you will vary depending on the mix of products purchased," the company told its customers. Raw material, energy and transportation costs have continued to increase since October 2004, and are affecting industry firms coping with price hikes for everything from freight and utilities to paper, plastics and laminates. The plastics business has been especially hard hit because plastic is a petrochemical-based product. Manufacturers producing integrated cards, labels and magnets aren't immune from price increases, too. Recently, Fasson Roll North America, Painesville, Ohio, announced that it will increase the prices of thermal transfer and direct thermal paper products, and other specialty products by an average of 4 percent.
RR Donnelley Wins $280M Contract
RR Donnelley & Sons Company, Chicago, was awarded a multi-year contract to produce magazines and books for Meredith Corporation, Des Moines, Iowa. The company will print nine titles, including extensions for producing Better Homes and Gardens, Ladies' Home Journal, More and American Baby, and 350 book titles. The contract, whose term value is expected to exceed $280 million, extends a 20-year relationship, and includes the addition of new work.
Deluxe Q1 Profit Drops 9%
Deluxe Corp., St. Paul, Minn., this week reported first quarter net income of $39 million, or 78 cents a share, down 9% from $48 million, or 94 cents a share, a year before, citing the loss of a large financial institution client and higher interest expense. Revenue rose to $437 million from $309 million. In other Deluxe news, the Financial Services unit launched the Deluxe Business Advantage program that maximizes business check programs by offering face-to-face personalized service for small businesses and branch employees. The program offers solutions to drive increased revenue, business check order penetration and customer loyalty, the company said.
Avery Dennison Reports Profit
Avery Dennison Corp., Pasadena, Calif., posted a quarterly profit but said demand weakened as the quarter progressed across most businesses and regions. The company earned $57.7 million, or 57 cents a share, in the first quarter, compared with $52.6 million, or 52 cents a share, a year earlier. Excluding one-time items, it earned 61 cents a share. Sales rose 8 percent from last year to $1.35 billion. Full story.
Bowater Posts 1Q Profit on Special Gains
Bowater Inc., Greenville, S.C., reported a profit in the first quarter, lifted by gains from special items. Quarterly income rose to $900,000, or 2 cents a share, from a loss of $32.5 million, or 57 cents a share, last year. Excluding special items, the loss narrowed to $12.6 million, or 22 cents a share, from $31.5 million, or 55 cents a share, a year ago. Revenue rose 12 percent to $837 million from $745.3 million. Full story.
Top 100 Distributors Info Is Due!
Final call for distributors to be included in Print Solutions' June 2005 Top 100 Distributors issue. The issue will rank distributors by fiscal 2004 sales and include top sales by product, top sales per employee, the fastest-growing distributors and top sales by niche market. The best way to submit your Top 100 information is to complete the online form. If you'd like to fax a hard copy instead, download a PDF and fax completed pages to Darin Painter, Managing Editor, at (703) 549-4966.
Call for Entries: 2005 Print Solutions Magazine PEAK Awards
The deadline for entries is June 1! Win a Print Excellence And Knowledge (PEAK) Award and show your talent to the marketplace ! A PEAK award can raise your company's profile and show clients and prospects that your work is the best in the industry. PEAK awards recognize companies that meet customers' printing needs through creativity in design, manufacturing, fulfillment, cost savings reporting or other services that solve problems or improve a client's business. Click here for complete information and entry forms.
SOLUTION OF THE WEEK
 |
Racing to Success with Marathon Items
More than 250,000 spectators line the streets of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn., each year to watch the annual Twin Cities Marathon (TCM). This year marks the 24th running, and the race is designated as the U.S. national marathon championships for both men and women in the open and masters fields. "This race is sort of Minnesota's Boston Marathon," says Char McNeely, sales representative/account manager at Document Resources Inc.. Full story.
WHAT'S NEW AT DMIA?
|
The industry is moving faster than ever, and DMIA's TRADEMarts make it easy and convenient to stay updated. Attending a TRADEMart is your best chance to take advantage of the product innovations and dynamic ideas that are hitting the marketplace.
| Upcoming TradeMart Dates and Locations |
| May 4 |
St. Louis, MO |
Seminars |
| May 5 |
Lisle, IL (Chicago) |
Seminars |
St. Louis Seminars Include:
Selling Variable Data Solutions for a Marketing Campaign
—Wise
Pressure Seal for the Financial Services Market--Distributor Case Studies
—InfoSeal, LLC
Closing The Sale With Pressure Seal
—Wilmer
Lisle Seminars Include:
Beyond Ink On Paper
—National Data Services
Selling Variable Data Solutions for a Marketing Campaign
—Wise
Pressure Seal for the Financial Services Market--Distributor Case Studies
—InfoSeal, LLC
Security Required--Document Risk Management
—Appleton
Closing The Sale With Pressure Seal
—Wilmer
Distributor Turns a $500 Folder Quote into a $7,000 Filing System Sale--A Case Study
—ASE Dealer Source
Don't Touch that Stationery Order
—Business Stationery Inc.
For more information on TradeMarts, click here.
2005 Manufacturer & Supplier Print Conference
Join print manufacturers and suppliers from May 18-20 in Philadelphia at
this business development conference and find out where the industry is
headed and where you might want to go in the next five years. The industry's most noted experts will share their insight on emerging markets, new products and alternative distribution channels. For details, click here.
TOP TEN
|
Here are this week's top unusual source requests received by DMIA:
- Pocket Folders; 9" x 12"; prints 4cp; one 6" pocket glued on both sides; 3/8" spine; QTY=5M-20M
- Stock Coloring Restaurant Place Mats; imprints 1 color; QTY=5M or less
- Booklets; 8 3/4" x 11"; prints 2 colors with marginal words; 11-30+ pages; there will be multi-part forms that are lined glued both sides and collated into the booklet; all pages are perfed 1/4" from left; side stitched in three places; QTY=300-5M
- Name Plates; both sides are engraved; prints 1/1; two hole punched; 6 lots QTY=254 total
- Provided Envelopes; imprint MICR numbering; QTY=250M-500M
- Muslin Drawstring Bags; 7" x 11"; prints 1 color; QTY=15M-30M
- Envelope Converters; #9 regular; special perfs and punch holes; prints 2 colors; QTY=250M-500M
- Diver Instructional Flip Charts; 16" x 20" or 8 1/2" x 11"; plastic material; 10-20 pages; QTY=10-500
- Letterhead; 8 1/2" x 11"; prints black+1 on 28# White Bond; 4 business card slits; QTY=2.5M-5M-10M
- Sign with Repositionable Numbers; 5 1/2" x 8 1/2"; prints 4cp/4cp; UV resistant inks; White vinyl material; repositionable adhesive; Q=500-2M
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.
The
