Newsletter
Issue No. 215 May 9, 2008

Bindery
Folding
- Miniature to Map
- Closed Gate
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
Transfer Tape
Drilling
Round Cornering
Shrink Wrapping
Eyeletting
Film 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. Book Review. Thanks to Mike Howisey at HP/Indigo for his recommendation of the book The Long Tail by Chris Anderson, editor-in-chief of Wired Magazine. While the book is aimed at much larger businesses and generally promotes high-tech solutions, the thesis is similar to what we've been doing for awhile now, namely do many little things at a profit and come out ahead. We provide lots of varied services so we don’t have to rely on just a few to make money. Also, I want to point out the reference to printing on page 70 of the book where Anderson says the print media is “sitting becalmed praying for a business model,” and another on page 77 where he discusses the sea change in self-publishing brought on by digital presses. Buy it here or, do like I did, and check it out of the library here.  Thanks Mike!

2. A New Outlook on Email. Microsoft Outlook is the most used email program on the market. But that doesn't make it the best. Now, a small company Called Xobni (in-box spelled backwards and pronounced ZOB-nee) is hoping to solve the problem, not by introducing a competing email program, but by fixing Outlook itself. “Using Outlook today is like taking a Volkswagen Beetle into space,” Adam Smith, Xobni's co-founder, told the New York Times. Xobni's free downloadable software automatically indexes emails and makes them quickly searchable. While I find my '73 VW Beetle to be a perfectly practical car, I do understand the frustrations with Outlook. I'm on it every hour of every day and find the more emails I save the slower it functions. Fixing that issue would be tremendous. For The Times article, click here.

3. Quickbinder Pricing – We started our Quickbinder services in December 2006 with introductory pricing and carried that pricing through the summer. However, we adjusted our pricing at the end of 2007. Recently, a few jobs came in with purchase orders with the outdated pricing. If you are planning to use our Quickbinding service please get an updated estimate from John Lindgren, our estimator, at johnl@seattlebindery.com. The service is aimed at very short-run perfect binding jobs that fast turns and low makeready. For more information, see our ad on page 13 of the April 2008 Printers Northwest Trader (page 15 of the pdf document) here.

4. Selling More for Less. Whether or not we are in a full-fledged recession (recent indicators say we aren't), times are tight. And during difficult times companies tend to cut back on marketing. I assume that means a number of you may be experiencing a drop off in direct mail printing orders. Target Marketing Magazine had an article recently about how to sell programs that reduce costs for clients, but keep your presses humming. The article does not offer a panacea, but it may provide some helpful tips. For the article, click here.

5. Greener Pastures. Print CEO Blog writer, Adam Dewitz, writes that WhatTheyThink has launched a new section on its website called "Going Green." The section will run stories, reports, commentary and the like about how printers can "green" their operations. But as one commenter noted on Print CEO Blog, "At a time when we are facing a slowing economy and printing companies are closing in growing numbers, one must remember that a printing company can only be green if (it) continues to focus on the green benchmark of profitable operations." I couldn't have said it better myself. For more click here.

For past issues, please visit our website at
www.seattlebindery.com

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

Learn more about our
Heidelberg Quickbinder 200.