New Canadian Check Specifications
The Canadian Payments Association (CPA) has published new specifications of Check 21 image processing for Canadian checks. Under the specifications, all checks used by customers of financial institutions operating in Canada will require some changes. Dick Gray, CDC, president of Laguna Hills, Calif.-based Xtension Technologies Inc., who studied the specifications, said, "they did what should have been done here in the United States as far as changes in design, what's allowed and what isn't, and an end date when the change over must be completed (December 2006)." For more information, click here.

The Right Remedy for Fraud?
Report from Newsday May 8: A move by the state to provide physicians with official free prescription pads to prevent fraud is a dose of the wrong medicine, some printers say. The cost of tamper-proof pads, signed into law last year by Gov. George Pataki, will be paid by the state and provided free to all 66,000-plus practicing doctors, dentists and other prescribing health care professionals in New York. The law seeks to cut an estimated $100 million a year in Medicaid fraud by making available pads that are difficult to duplicate or tamper with. But some printers who provide medical forms to doctors are angry. Not only are they losing business, they say, they also feel it's wrong that the pads are free to anyone who prescribes. Full story. DMIA members in New York state should contact their state representatives to discuss the matter.

TopForm® Releases New Version
TopForm® Software Inc., Norcross, Ga., released TopForm Central, a new ASP version of its software. "TopForm Central packages the power of TopForm in a dynamic and flexible version that is fitting for all distributorships' budgets," said Julie Pritchard, president of the company, which is celebrating 30 years as a provider of workflow and business management software. The ASP version offers low cost of entry and short set-up times. For more information, visit www.topform.com/central.

Admore® To Upgrade Calif. Facility
Admore®, a division of Ennis Inc., will soon move its West Coast facility from Bell, Calif., to a larger facility in Anaheim, Calif., to expand. The new facility will open May 18. The phone number and fax number, and email addresses will remain the same. The new location also will offer the same shipping costs. Visit www.admoreonline.com.

NOVA Alert On Credit Card Scam
Atlanta-based NOVA Information Systems Inc., through which DMIA offers a credit card processing program to its members, issued a warning against a VISA/MasterCard scam. It said: "A 'representative' from either of these credit card issuers calls to inform you of suspicious activity on your credit card. The caller has your address, your credit card number, etc. The caller then asks you for the security digits on the back of your card, which prove you are in possession of the card. Once the caller has those security digits, he can make virtually any remote purchase—online, or by telephone or mail. If you're confronted by this situation, do not give those security digits. VISA and MasterCard will not ask for them—they already have them." For more information, call (800) 718-8583. Visit www.novainfo.com.

Paris Business Products Launches Computer Paper
Paris Business Products, Westampton, N.J., launched Standard Bond continuous computer paper. The company also offers a complete mill cut sheet copy paper program. Customers can order pallets of brands such as HP, IBM, Burlington and speed-loading boxes, it said.

Relizon Wins Multi-Million Dollar Contract
Relizon, Dayton, Ohio, announced that the Canada Post Corporation has awarded Relizon Canada a 5-year contract renewal worth $80 million (Canadian) to provide a broad range of document management services. Additionally, Relizon Canada won Canada Post's 2004 Supplier Award of Excellence, "for exceeding (its) contractual obligations and providing outstanding service to Canada Post."

The Perfect Prescription
A story in the April 18th issue of New York Magazine says: The standard-issue amber-cast pharmacy pill bottle has remained virtually unchanged since it was pressed into service after World War II. (A child-safety cap was added in the seventies.) An overhaul is finally coming, courtesy of Deborah Adler, a 29-year-old graphic designer whose ClearRx prescription-packaging system debuts at Target pharmacies May 1. Full story.

The Deadline Looms
The deadline for entries in Print Solutions Magazine's First Annual PEAK Awards Competition is June 1! A Print Excellence And Knowledge (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.

Xerox Offers "Solutions Catalog"
Xerox Corp. has published on online resource of solutions for document management solutions involving regulatory compliance, print-shop integration, workflow applications, document imaging, hosting, e-forms integration, AutoCAD management, Internet publishing for government Electronic Freedom of Information Act initiatives, hospital-contract management and HIPAA compliancy, e-commerce shopping cart tools, and more. It can be accessed at this link.

Champion Settles Lawsuit
Champion Industries Inc. has agreed to pay $440,000 to settle a Mississippi lawsuit charging the company with unfair competition in its hiring of employees from a competitor. Full story.

Correction
The story "IBSA's CEO, Staff Leave in Management Change," published in the May 6 edition of the E-Weekly, incorrectly reported that all IBSA staffers had worked for Best Business Systems. James Burchett worked for Best Business Systems, Bowling Green, Ky., for approximately 10 years before joining IBSA. He was the only former IBSA staff member who had worked for the company.

Tag Team Meets Rush Request
Creativity, communication and a cooperative relationship with the manufacturer helped Michael Bolingbroke quickly deliver an order of 2-part inventory tags to a customer. When a carpet installation company requested a special tag order for inventory auditing purposes, Bolingbroke realized the customer's needs were specific and driven by a deadline most manufacturers couldn't meet. Full story.

Have a solution? Click here to be featured in Solution of the Week

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 24	Philadelphia	Seminars
May 25	Danvers, MA (Boston)	Seminars

Philadelphia Seminars:
Security Required--Document Risk Management —Appleton
Pressure Seal for the Financial Services Market--Distributor Case Studies
—InfoSeal, LLC
Selling Variable Data Solutions for a Marketing Campaign —Wise
Distributor Turns a $500 Folder Quote into a $7,000 Filing System Sale--A Case Study —ASE Dealer Source
Closing The Sale With Pressure Seal —Wilmer

Danvers Seminars:
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
Technology Driven Print —Telemark
Distributor Turns a $500 Folder Quote into a $7,000 Filing System Sale--A Case Study —ASE Dealer Source

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:

1. Ink Jet Cartridge Return Envelope; prints 1/1; consecutive bar coding; perfed; delivered on rolls; transfer tape; QTY=300M-400M-500M
2. Baseball Cards; prints 4cp; foil wrapped; QTY=50M-100M
3. Decals; 3/4" x 1"; prints 1 color; water soluble; will be placed on piece of porcelain and fired in a kiln to permanently transfer image; QTY=10M-100M+
4. Music Boxes; custom tune; engraved; QTY=minimum
5. Comic Books; 48 pages + cover; 6 1/2" x 10"; prints 4cp; QTY=500-10M
6. Medical Exam Tables; QTY=1-2
7. Electric Embossers; used for county government seal; foot petal option; QTY=1-2
8. Consecutive Numbering on Provided Hard Hats; QTY=10M
9. Ice Cream Containers; prints 2 colors; 1/2 gallon; plastic; QTY=5M-10M
10. Billboard Signs; prints 4cp; QTY=100-250 each of 8

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
Transforming Problems
Into Sales
Do prospects know you have exactly what they need to solve their problems?
Full story.

E-Commerce Spotlight
How To Increase Your Average Sale Amount
You may have some merchandising strategies on your site, but where do you go from there? Full story.

Product of the Week
Breaking the Print Sales Barrier
This book is a result of three years of intensive research and testing. You'll discover hundreds of responses that overcome customer resistance and turn objections into sales. Code: SALEBARRIER. Member Price: $49.95. To order, contact Tina Davis.

Hot Sites
Backpack
Here's a site that claims it can be the personal information manager you've always wanted. Among other features, it helps you plan a personal or business trip, collaborate on a new business idea and even keep track of what your competitors are doing. Visit the site.

A9 Yellow Pages
These Yellow Pages make it easy for you to search more than 14 million business listings.
Visit the site.

Print Education & Research Foundation
DMIA and the former International Association for Document Technologies Foundation joined forces in 2003 and formed the Print Education & Research Foundation (PERF). Headquartered with DMIA, PERF's mission is to provide research and education that promote long-term growth and profitability of the industry's organizations that embrace supply-chain options. PERF initiatives include developing research reports on emerging products and markets; educational and training programs; and finding ways to improve the industry's profitability and functionality. Its staff is directed by a Board of Trustees. For more information, call (800) 336-4641.

Got News?

Email your press releases to: E-Weekly News. Send company logos as .gif or .jpg files (20k or less). Submissions may be edited and logos may be resized.