Companies Offer to Help Hurricane Katrina Victims
As the damage and devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina still unfolds, many printing companies have come forward to help its victims.

Formsystems Inc., a distributorship in Pensacola, Fla., sent Thursday water, fresh fruit, cookies and ice to manufacturing partner SEF Inc. , Mobile, Ala. "Mobile is crippled," said Joe Webb, the company's vice president. "There's no power, no water and spotty cell phone service." Justin Goss, a company sales rep traveled north 80 miles and then west 70 miles to avoid the Mobile tunnel, which only has one lane open due to leaks. The distance between Pensacola and Mobile is 55 miles. Goss found no one at the manufacturer, but distributed the supplies to Formsystems' customers. Webb also plans to buy gas tanks in Florida to send to companies affected by the hurricane.

PrintXcel, a Quality Park Brand, said that it has launched a campaign where PrintXcel distributors can contribute to the American Red Cross when they place orders at any of the company's facilities. PrintXcel will itemize the contributions on the distributor's invoice for future reference.

"Many of our employees had relatives who lived directly in the path of this storm and lost everything," said Deanna Day, senior brand manager at PrintXcel, which was founded in 1949 in Fairhope, Ala. "Many of our customers have lost their homes and their businesses. It's difficult to believe the destruction left behind and how it can ever be rebuilt. Hopefully, we can provide some assistance to them." PrintXcel has several plants on the Gulf Coast. "While all locations came through this storm with no damage, they have all been impacted," Day said.

"For those of us who live here and are familiar with the area, the destruction is mesmerizing and horrific," she said. "We have evacuees and refugees in all of our shelters. Our entire county in Alabama has been out of gas and the schools are closed indefinitely. In Mobile, which is just across the bay, people spent the night at gas stations to secure a place in line once gasoline is delivered. It's expected that our school buses and schools will soon be housing many more of the now homeless. Right now the shelters are full with those trying to return to Mississippi or Louisiana to assess the damage."

Brian Coats, CDC, account executive at Valmeyer, Ill-based manufacturer MAR Graphics, said, "if there are any companies that need any kind of help-business-related or personal-just let me know." MAR Graphics was shut down in 1993 for a couple of weeks after the Mississippi River flooded the area. "We were able to fight it out," he said. "These people have nothing to go back to." The company had managed to remove prepress equipment and jobs that were ready from the offices before the floods. "There's no way you can prepare for something like this," he said.

Officials say the death toll from the hurricane is estimated to be in the hundreds. More than 2.3 million people are without power in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Florida, which have suffered $25 billion damage. As much as 80 percent of New Orleans is under water.

Michael Cole, CEO of Metroform, a distributorship in Rancho Cardova, Calif., said DMIA and member companies could find out from the American Red Cross where they could deliver water. "The membership can contribute money," he said. "As a group, we know how to get material to a destination on a rush basis. Put it all together and water gets delivered."

The Federal Emergency Management Agency already has issued guidelines on helping the victims.

Office Depot Inc. announced that it will contribute $1 million to the American Red Cross and encouraged other companies to make their own pledges to create a fund for assistance. The Deluxe Corporation Foundation also made a $50,000 contribution to the American Red Cross. Before the hurricane struck, Georgia-Pacific shipped sheathing-grade plywood--the material used to board up windows and doors--to the places in the storms' projected path. The company also will provide post-storm repair needs.

While it's been impossible to contact companies directly in the path of the hurricane, many firms in other parts of Louisiana resumed normal operations. Paul Ledford, CEO of Monroe, La.-based Peregrine Corporation, said Tuesday that employees at all the company's four offices in Monroe, Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Alexandria were safe. Monroe, located about 230 miles north of New Orleans, experienced some rain and wind.

Bonnie Boohaker, CEO of distributorship Innovative Business Products, Baton Rouge, said because the city, which is approximately 70 miles from New Orleans, lay west of the storm's eye, it was spared its wrath. "There was lots of wind, rain and power cuts," she said. The company backed up all computers and stored water, flashlights and batteries at its offices. "It's a pretty solid building and we were prepared for employees to use it." The company expected to resume normal operations Wednesday.

Alan Bratton, president and CEO of Dallas-based Global DocuGraphix, said that the company's two plants in Shreveport and Baton Rouge weren't directly impacted by the hurricane. "The main impact will be through our customers [who may have suffered damages]," he said.

[The link to the American Red Cross may not work due to heavy traffic. Some company links may not work because of servers affected by the hurricane.]

Cenveo Names CEO Malone Chairman
CenveoT Inc. appointed James R. Malone, who was named CEO of the company in June, as the chairman of the company's board of directors, effective immediately. Susan Rheney, who had served as interim chairman for eight months, left the board effective Aug 31.

Cenveo also announced that it's seeking additional independent directors. The board said it's interested in appointing individuals to the board who will provide additional viewpoints, and said that it welcomes dialogue with its stockholders in its search.

The move comes before the Sept. 14 special meeting of Cenveo shareholders. Robert G. Burton, chairman, CEO and managing member of Burton Capital Management LLC (BCM), Goodwood Inc., and others, asked Cenveo to hold the meeting after Cenveo rejected a BCM proposal that would have resulted in the appointment of Burton as the firm's chairman and CEO. Last week, Burton acquired additional Cenveo shares, making BCM Cenveo's largest shareholder.

Relizon Wins Northwest Airlines Contract
Relizon announced that Northwest Airlines (NWA) awarded it a 4-year, multi-million dollar contract for document management solutions. Relizon will optimize NWA's document workflow and usage that includes developing and producing printed and electronic documents such as eTickets and airway bills. It also will deploy its Relizonline electronic order management system.

Dupli-Systems Offers Perfect Binding
Dupli-Systems Inc. purchased a perfect binding machine, which can handle 80- to 300-page catalogs, directories, training manuals, booklets, and more. Dupli-Systems' web capabilities along with perfect binding offer distributors a competitive product to sell, the company said.

7 Banks to Use Harland Software
Harland Financial Solutions Inc. announced that seven banks have signed agreements to operate its PhoenixT system in an in-house or outsourced environment. The banks include Lydian Private Bank, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Community National Bank of the South of Lake Mary, Fla., First Community Bank of Harlingen, Texas, First National Bank of Pasco of Dade City, Fla., Northside Bank of Adairsville, Ga., Shoreline Bank of Shoreline, Wash., and Private Bank of Minneapolis.

GBS Document Solutions Wins Award
GBS Document Solutions received a Certificate of Merit from Denso Manufacturing Tennessee Inc. The award honors companies for demonstrating exceptional performance in quality, service and innovation.

Return Your 2006 Buyers' Guide Proof or Listing Form Now!
Manufacturers and suppliers: The deadline to return your proof or form is today! Print Solutions Magazine is editing its 2006 Buyers' Guide, which will be published in October. If your company was listed last year, you should have received a proof of that listing in the mail. If your firm wasn't listed last year, click here to download a blank form. Fax your completed proof or form to (703) 549-4966. Print Solutions' 31,000 readers include distributors of business forms, labels, commercial printing, tags, promotional products and other printing. The Buyers' Guide is your opportunity to let distributors know what you offer. For more information, call Print Solutions at (800) 336-4641.

Obituary
Former DMIA President Jim Russell died Wednesday. Russell, who served as DMIA president from 1979-80, founded RBF Inc. in 1964 as a distributor of business forms and printed materials. The company later evolved into a management services firm.

E-Commerce Ensures Customer Loyalty
Six years ago, Tim Catlett, president of Raleigh, N.C.-based distributorship Progressive Business Solutions, wanted to sell to a large regional bank that employs approximately 7,000 people and operates 800 locations. Catlett called the bank and landed small printing jobs. Gradually, the distributorship gained the bank's confidence by producing cost-effective and high-quality products on time. Full story.

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

TOP TEN

Here are this week's top unusual source requests received by DMIA:

1. Anti-fatigue mats; used by bank tellers; QTY=500
2. 36-oz. apothecary jar; imprinted 1 color; QTY=2500
3. Envelopes; need to have humidity-resistant remoist gum; QTY=1M
4. Booklets; 5 3/8 x 8 3/8; saddle stitched; 16 pages; 6-color cover to include metallic ink for "glittery" effect; 2-color text; QTY=1.5MM
5. Keno tickets; 27# or 45# newsprint; 5 1/2 x 5 3/4; 3/1; QTY=250M
6. Canvas or nylon bag with wheels; will hold A-frame poster; no imprint; QTY=4
7. Ink pen; used as a security feature; ink is visible under white light; ink will glow under UV light; QTY=1M
8. Label rolls; 2 x 4; 3 colors with bleeds; QTY=100M-300M
9. License plate envelope; 28# manila; 6 1/2 x 12 3/4; 1 color; QTY=500
10. Tear-resistant and water-proof paper; QTY=5M

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
Be a Better Listener
Here are tips for salespeople to become better listeners. Full story.

E-Commerce Spotlight
Find the Right E-Commerce Partner
Just because a prospective software company has the right experience and good references, it doesn't mean that firm is the right partner for you. Full story.

What's New at DMIA?
Excess Inventory Depot

DMIA's Excess Inventory Depot enables members to sell items such as excess inventories, blank forms and labels, pre-converted material, paper stock, converted material, new or used equipment and other business-related items. Take advantage of this introductory offer and post your items for free. Find out what's for sale. DMIA members can view postings 24/7 at no charge.

Product of the Week
Formtrac 2005
Many changes have occurred in the industry since DMIA last published Formtrac two years ago. Formtrac 2005 shows the current industry numbers and forecasts up to 2008. The report also breaks product lines and discusses the independent and direct-selling market shares. Code: ID05. Member Price: $179. To order, click here.

Hot Sites
Cyber Museum of Scams
This site covers a wide variety of financial scams and frauds, including the wacky "prime bank" frauds, exotic foreign currency scams, offshore investment frauds, tax scams, "Pure Trust" structures and more. Visit the site.

Crossword Puzzle Help
Built on a computer program that can solve tough crossword puzzles, this site is a great help when you are stuck doing a crossword puzzle. It accepts crossword clues, both ambiguous and specific, and answer patterns. 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.

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