NEWS
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etrinsic Wins Two Contracts
Print management firm etrinsic, a DMIA member based in West Midlands, U.K., recently was awarded two three-year contracts worth $26.8 million. etrinsic will provide print management, design, storage and distribution services to Procurement for Housing, a national procurement organization for the housing sector, and to private hospital group HCA, which operates six facilities in London.
Creo Urges "No" on Burton
The directors of Creo Inc. have urged shareholders to reject a slate of board nominees including Robert Burton as CEO and chairman, expected to be proposed by dissident stockholders. The dissident group, holding about six percent of Creo's shares, is made up primarily of investment firms Goodwood Inc. and Burton Capital Management LLC. Burton is the former president and CEO of Moore who improved the company's bottom line by slashing payroll and other expenses. Creo's management accused Burton of demonstrating a history of confrontational management techniques, and said he "has no experience in managing a high-technology developer, manufacturer and distributor of innovative hardware, software, digital media and service solutions."
Full Story.
'Freight Dogs' Fly Paper Checks
Inside this Learjet is nearly 2,500 pounds of paper worth more than $1.5 billion being flown from Chicago to Columbus, Ohio. To collect their money, U.S. banks depend on pilots called "freight dogs" to transport an estimated 36.7 billion checks a year from one financial center to another. Check 21, a federal law that took effect in late October, lets financial institutions send digital copies of these checks to one another over the Internet. That will allow banks to collect payment sooner, and eliminate the physical process of moving checks across the country. Click here to read the full text of this L.A. Times story.
SOLUTION OF THE WEEK
Large-Format Print Rewards Provider with Repeat Business
Earning repeat business is a priority for Brenda O'Toole and her husband Don, owners of Signs PDQ, Cleveland. Once they've secured an order, they try to form a long-term relationship. "We like to be their go-to sign partner," Brenda O'Toole says. The couple previously worked in sales for consumer products companies. Don used to call on Wal-Mart at its Bentonville, Ark., headquarters. "Once you've dealt with [Wal-Mart], you don't have a problem walking into somebody's establishment and finding a solution to their problem," Brenda says. Full story.
WHAT'S NEW AT DMIA?
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TradeMart 2005
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 |
| Jan. 19 |
Irving, TX (Dallas) |
Seminars |
| Jan. 20 |
San Antonio, TX |
Seminars |
For more information on TradeMarts, click here.
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.
PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
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Formalizing the Manufacturer/ Wholesaler Distributor Relationship:
How to Do It
What manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors must do to confront the rapid changes in distribution. Is an equitable contract between suppliers and their distribution partners really attainable? The author believes it is, if the parties work together in an open environment that provides a fair return on their investments in the relationship. The book not only substantiates why a written, mutually beneficial contract is an absolute necessity, but tells you how to do it! Code: PM143. $30. To order, contact Tina Davis.
TOP TEN
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Here are this week's top unusual source requests received by DMIA:
- Neon Signs; 12" x 18"; 3 colors; QTY=1 each of 6
- Memo Pads; 4" x 6" and 5 1/2" x 8 1/2"; prints 1/0; 24# white bond; 100 sheets per pad; QTY=199M-150M-250M pads
- Business Cards; 3 1/2" x 2"; prints 2 colors; removable transfer tape on back; QTY=82M
- Beach Balls; 1 color imprint; QTY=71M
- Evidence Bags; 6" x 9"; clear plastic stock; 4" x 5" white square to be written on; transfer tape closure; QTY=500-1M-2M
- Lenticular Post Cards; prints 4cp; QTY=200M-1MM
- Snellen Eye Exam Charts; 1 color imprint; QTY=Minimum
- Ping Pong Balls with eyes printed on them; QTY=300 each of 5 colors
- Metal Business Cards; 3 1/2" x 2" prints 1-2 colors; QTY=Minimum
- Post-it style Pads; 3 ft. x 4 ft.; blank; used during meetings for illustrations; 20-25 sheets/pad; QTY=10-30 pads
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.
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Sales and Marketing Tip
Get Offline Buyers Online
Many businesses make the mistake of classifying all of their offline customers under the label of direct mail or "retail-only" customers. Converting your offline customers to online customers will enable you to effectively communicate with these individuals through multiple mediums. Full story.
E-Commerce Spotlight
The Future of the Internet
Last September, the Pew Internet & American Life Project, a research organization in Washington, sent out a survey asking 24 questions about the future of the Internet to a wide range of technology specialists, scholars and industry leaders. Some 1,200 responded and, as you might expect, widespread agreement is hard to find, but most agree that:
more government and business surveillance will occur as computing devices proliferate and become embedded in appliances, cars, phones, and even clothes.
virtual classes will become more widespread in formal education and students might at least occasionally be grouped with others who share their interests and skills, rather than by age.
as telecommuting and home-schooling expand, the boundary between work and leisure will diminish and family dynamics will change because of that.
The full report on the study is at this link.
Hot Sites
Animals on the Underground
Navigating London's subway, the Tube, requires a detailed map of the underground rail lines, stations and junctions. Stare at this map long enough and you might start seeing more than you'd expect. This web site is devoted to the many images of animals that sharp-eyed commuters have found hidden in the map. Among these are an elephant, a whale, a flamingo and even an emu. Visit the site.
Portion Distortion
Trying to lose some holiday pounds? Pay attention to portions. You probably know by now that "super sizing" your lunch isn't a good idea, but even standard portion sizes have increased over the years—some now provide enough food for two people. These quizzes and slide shows from the National Institutes of Health will help you determine the appropriate amount of food to eat and how much physical activity you'll need to burn off the extra calories in today's large meals. Visit the site.
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