IBSA Outlines Long-Term Strategy
Its recent short-term success notwithstanding, Indianapolis-based International Business Solutions Alliance is taking the long view when it comes to marketing, promotion and growth. The Alliance was awarded national contracts this year with health care group purchasing organizations Novation and FirstChoice Cooperative (FCC), and it announced a partnership with Xerox Corporation.
IBSA owners communicated their strategy for maximizing potential business from these accounts at the organization's annual meeting held July 18-20 at the Flamingo Resort in Las Vegas. The meeting also featured educational sessions, roundtable discussions, presentations by Novation representatives and an awards banquet honoring IBSA affiliates and suppliers. Full story.
View photos from IBSA's annual meeting.
Cenveo Disapproves Burton Capital Management Nominees
Cenveo™, Englewood, Colo., said that it didn't approve of Greenwich, Conn.-based Burton Capital Management LLC's nominees for the Sept. 14 special meeting of Cenveo shareholders.
In response to the July 18 letter from Robert G. Burton, chairman, CEO and managing member of Burton Capital Management, James R. Malone, president and CEO of Cenveo, said, "We have received your letter of July 18 in which you state your belief that the election of your nominees in a contested proxy fight may not trigger change-of-control provisions in Cenveo's debt instruments and severance agreements, if the board takes certain actions. The simple fact is that you are wrong. Cenveo has entered into contracts with bondholders and others which have certain consequences in the event of a change in control (as defined) of Cenveo. Election of your nominees to the Cenveo board in a contested proxy fight would constitute such a change in control, and would impose upon Cenveo the contractual obligations that were bargained for at arm's length with third parties who have relied on Cenveo's promises in this regard. Indeed, the election of your nominees is precisely the sort of change of control against which these third parties sought and bargained for protection. The Cenveo board does not approve of your nominees. It cannot pretend otherwise for the sole purpose of depriving third-parties of their contractual rights, and will not be party to your attempts to manipulate events in an attempt to do so."
On June 10, Cenveo, Englewood, Colo., received a letter from Burton Capital Management, Goodwood Inc., and others, calling for a special meeting of Cenveo's shareholders. In May, Cenveo rejected a proposal from Burton Capital Management that would have resulted in the appointment of Burton as the firm's chairman and CEO.
MeadWestvaco Posts 2Q Loss
MeadWestvaco Corp., Stamford, Conn., posted a second-quarter loss, reversing a profit a year ago, because of one-time charges and the sale of a business. It reported a quarterly loss of $83 million compared with a profit of $47 million last year. It reported a loss from continuing operations of $13 million from a profit of $74 million. The company sold off its printing and writing papers business for $2.2 billion in cash in the latest quarter and used half the proceeds to pay down debt.
Wilmer is Approved Printer for California, Florida
Wilmer, Dayton, Ohio, announced that it's now an approved printer for security prescription pads for the state of California Board of Pharmacy and Florida's Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA). Wilmer meets all compliance requirements, including multiple security features manufactured directly into the secure prescription pads and California's mandatory watermark. The company prints the pads within five business days after approval. Minimum order requirement is four pads or eight books. Pads are available in sizes of 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches with one or two parts.
GPO's List of Top States
The Government Printing Office (GPO) released a list of the top states that generated the most revenue from working with the GPO in the first half of 2005. Maryland, Pennsylvania and California were the top three states on the list. Federal agencies have a demand for almost all printing and related services such as forms, books, posters, CD-ROMS, design services, bags, envelopes, signs, tags, mailing, distribution, web services and on-demand printing. The GPO procures such things as Social Security cards, treasury checks, Medicare statements, White House stationery and IRS tax forms, with contracts ranging from small copying orders to complex multi-million dollar procurements, offering huge opportunities for small, medium and large distributorships. Click here for the full list.
Consolidated Graphics Reports Profit
Consolidated Graphics Inc. announced financial results for the quarter ending June 30. Revenue for the June quarter was a record $209.9 million, up 16 percent compared to a year ago. Net income for the June quarter was $8.7 million, an increase of 28 percent compared to the June 30, 2004 quarter.
Avery Dennison 2Q Profit Up
Avery Dennison Corp. said its second-quarter earnings rose 31 percent, as improved gross profit margin and operating expense controls offset weaker-than-expected volume growth. It reported earnings of $89.4 million compared with $68.5 million in the prior-year period. Excluding one-time items, the company's earnings rose to $91.8 million from $78.5 million a year earlier.
Ikon Quarterly Profit Rises
Ikon Office Solutions Inc. posted higher quarterly earnings, driven by cost-cutting and strong revenue in Europe. Net income for the company rose to $24.4 million in the fiscal third quarter compared to $8.4 million in the year-ago period.
Georgia-Pacific Quarterly Profit Falls
Georgia-Pacific Corp. said its second-quarter profit fell on weaker prices for wood products and cardboard. Net income totaled $194 million compared with $220 million a year earlier.
SOLUTION OF THE WEEK
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That's the Ticket
Forget about setting new standards—Bryna Blum has created a class all her own. "We've been known as 'The Travel Agents' General Store,'" she says, describing her distributorship, WCBS/ E.H. Bickett & Co., Palm Desert, Calif. "It started as a joke, and it stuck."
Customers stick with the distributorship—Blum has kept many clients for decades. She doesn't begin a sales pitch by discussing envelopes. "No client has ever called us and asked, 'Do you do envelopes?'" she says. Instead, she touts them as integral parts of overall marketing strategies.
Full story.
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WHAT'S NEW AT DMIA?
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Print Solutions 2005 Conference and Expo
The nation's premier show for the business printing industry will be held Oct. 18-20 at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla. This year, the emphasis is on in-depth training and usable solutions. You will gain the expertise and know-how to do your job better and grow your business, whether you're in management or sales. For details, visit www.printsolutionsshow.com.
Train First
If you have new employees or veterans who need a refresher course on the basics of our industry, check out the Business Printing Curriculum at DMIA's Print University. The courses combine distance learning with residence training, and the results will put your company far ahead of the "do it yourself " training curve. Don't wait! Class size is limited for this once-a-year opportunity held in conjunction with the Print Solutions Conference and Expo in Orlando, Florida, Oct. 18-20. Click here or call Harriet Carter, CDC, at 800-336-4641.
TOP TEN
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Here are this week's top unusual source requests received by DMIA:
- Paint Brush Covers; 8 1/2 x 11; scored; folded; 4cp; 10 pt C2S; with button and string; QTY=1M-20M
- Electric Socket Covers; imprinted; QTY=2500-5M
- Security Labels; stock item; used on test tubes; if labels are removed, they will disintegrate to protect words underneath; black liner; pre-printed "Privacy Labels;" 1 1/2 x 2 1/2; QTY=5M
- Violation Tags; tag/label/form combination; US; 3 x 7; Part 1: 20#; Part 2: 4 mil pressure sensitive label; all temperature adhesive; QTY=25M
- Foam Puzzles; imprinted; QTY=1M
- Paperweights; shape of Bermuda islands; 5" base; crystal or glass; individual names to be lasered on base; QTY=100
- Banking Expansion Envelope; snap closure; 2 color imprint; Q=10M
- Name Badges with Carbonizing Ink; when visitor signs name, it copies onto carrier; QTY=200
- Cotton Swabs on Sticks; similar to Q-tips; QTY=5M
- Blank Static Cling Labels on Rolls; 4" outside diameter; Core size 2"; QTY=30M-45M
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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