Newsletter
Issue No. 219 July 04, 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. What Goes Around, Comes Around. There's lots of talk these days about how the decline of the dollar and the high cost of fuel may reverse the exodus of manufacturing jobs to countries overseas. Combine that with the rise in real wages in China and maybe that bodes well for a resurgence in domestic production. According to Business Week, however, it won’t be easy for American manufacturers to remake overnight the infrastructure that has been lost nor will it be easy to find skilled labor. Manufacturers are also cautious about the return of former customers who are finding China to be "too pricey" for fear that another shift in energy costs would send customers right back across the ocean. For more, click here.

2. Dick Gorelick suggests in his most recent column that increasing fuel and transportation costs may benefit those graphic arts companies that are selling “one-stop shopping.” The customer buying from several suppliers can lower transportation costs by buying a range of products and services from a single supplier. Hmmm. Sounds like us. To refresh your memory on all of our capabilities, click here.

3. How Is Business (by a Non-Economist). Our good friend and CPA, Gerry Michael, writes the occasional white paper on current business events. Last month he took on the subject of economic forecasting. Despite the ever-present doom and gloom in the media, Gerry says: "My guess is that the economy will continue to be marked by uncertainty and some parts of the country will do better than others. I believe we will avoid a recession. If not, it will be a minor one, and we should return fairly quickly to continued economic growth. I feel we are in better shape economically than the press would have you believe." I couldn't agree more. We are not on the “road to Hades in a satchel,” rather we are just in a very competitive environment and need to be creative. To read Gerry's article, click here, then click on the article titled “How is business – it depends.”

4. Midyear Checkup. Given the hike in fuel costs, Joyce M. Rosenberg of the Associated Press recommends a midyear audit to strategize ways to improve your bottom line, including replacing older wasteful heating/cooling systems, restructuring debt while interest rates are relatively low, and reviewing receivables to find ways to improve cash flow. Also, the feds’ rebate program contained two provisions that benefit small businesses. The first is a near doubling to $250,000 of what's known as the Section 179 deduction. The second is a bonus depreciation allowance under which businesses of any size can depreciate 50 percent of the cost of equipment bought and placed into service this year. We should also recalculate for the new mileage deduction of 58.5 cents from 50.5 cents. Click here for more.

5. Printing Green. A new report from Kodak, “Go Green: Making Sustainability a Reality in Your Business,” provides a practical guide to jumpstart a sustainability program. In the forward to the report, Don Carli, Senior Research Fellow, The Institute for Sustainable Communications, says “This is not a time for graphic arts companies to be complacent or rest on their laurels, rather, it is a time for companies large and small to redefine themselves and work together to identify, analyze and act on information relevant to the sustainability of print and address the challenges and opportunities presented in timely and innovative ways.” To downlosd a PDF of the report, click here, then fill out a short survey.

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

Contact our Estimator
John Lindgren for an estimate
on your next project.
johnl@seattlebindery.com