Newsletter
Issue No. 136 March 18, 2005

Bindery
Folding
- Miniature to Map
- Closed Gate
- Glue in-line 8 Page
- Fugitive glue closure
Presentation Folder Gluing
Stitching
- 10 pockets
- Loop Stitching
Trimming
Rotary Perf & Score
Gathering & Collating
Perfect Binding
Wire-O™
Plastic Spiral
- Autospin 30mm elements
- 2.5:1 Oval Hole Pattern
Kleensticking
Drilling
Round Cornering
Shrink Wrapping
Eyeleting
Laminating

Tabbing
Custom Index Tabs
Copier Tabs
Tab Reinforcing
Spine Reinforcing
Patch Edge Reinforcing
5 Hole Drilling

Finishing
Autoplaten Diecutting
Diecutting to 41"
Scoring & Perfing
Embossing
Foiling
Numbering

1. Inflated Hopes. Industry guru, Dr. Joe Webb of Whattheythink.com reports January 2005 printing shipments totaled $7.5 billion. The figures are up $238 million compared to January 2004. But don’t get excited just yet. When adjusted for inflation, shipments were flat compared to 2004, and actually down 3% when compared to January 2003. The economy’s long term outlook is a little depressing. Analysts believe interest rates will rise to offset fears of inflation. High interest rates discourage investment and, well you get the picture. Printers may be out of the dot-bomb’s long shadow, but it’s not so warm here in the sun. For more, Click Here

2. Then Again. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that annual advertising spending increased 9.8% in 2004. According to the Publishers Information Bureau, magazine advertising revenue rose 11.1% in 2004. The magazine ad revenue growth is the first since 2000. However, about two-thirds of the increased advertising sales were fueled by higher pricing. Sources made no mention of inflation adjustments, so it’s hard to tell how much of the gains are real, and how much illusory. Ad page counts increased 3.8%. For more, Click Here

3. Postal Woes. According to GATF World, there is a looming crisis at the post office. Mirroring the problems experienced by the airline industry and the Social Security System, the USPS is looking at enormous legacy retirement costs. Crisis arises from the fact that when the retirement plan was put in place when ground-mail was a given. But with the rise of electronic communications over the past 20 years, the USPS is looking more and more obsolete. What does this mean for printers? Expect potentially significant hikes in postal rates. In the meantime, PIA has assembled a coalition to lobby for the industry in Washington.

4. Creative License. Suzanne Morgan of Printbuyers Online ran an interesting piece about selecting the right design firm with which to work. According to Morgan, the “creative team should show openness and objectivity in their client relationships. Look for the people who are flexible and show interest in your ideas.” We have a great relationship with our creative partner, Traversant, a brand communications firm in San Francisco that specializes in the print industry. The strength of our relationship is directly related to an open, thoughtful, and thought provoking give-and-take. It’s been a mutually beneficial relationship for almost nine years now. For other tips on creative firms, Click Here

5. Humbling Humidity. Both printers and binders have to deal with the vagaries of moisture in paper. Perfect-bound books, in particular, can be adversely affected. Heat-set webs generally leach most of the moisture out of signatures when they’re run through the press. To compensate for the post-press reconditioning of the paper to surrounding humidity, it’s best to allow extra time for trimming and binding. If the piece is time sensitive, try setting the web oven temperature at its lowest level so that as little moisture as possible is sucked from the stock.

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email at miltvine@seattlebindery.com
6540 South Glacier Street Suite 120 Seattle, Wa 98188
Phone 425-656-8210
Fax 425-656-4400