Bindery
Folding
- Miniature to Map
- Closed Gate
- In-Line 8pg Gluing
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. Fertile Fields of Opportunity? This article quotes a Harvard Business School professor who notes that "Downturns are fertile fields of opportunity" and that business winners are those who are "...better at walking into the space vacated by rivals..." He also quotes a Bain partner as saying winners aren't "...crazy risk takers," but those who are prepared to "take prudent risks." While this entire article is focused on very large public companies, I believe the concepts apply to small businesses. The printers who have been conservative in financial management are positioned to grow the most as the economy eases out of recession. Are you looking for opportunities to step out of the bunker and make prudent moves? For the article click here.

2. Teaming Up to Keep Costs Down. I tend to consider bartering services something out of the Middle Ages, but this article in the Wall Street Journal sheds new light on the topic. Apparently some small business owners are combining forces with complementary services to cut operational and other costs. Citing two companies in Indiana, a custom embroidery and screen print apparel company and a nearby print shop, the owners co-branded their businesses, with the printer providing the machine power and the apparel company owner charged with bringing in sales. According to the printer, they “were able to hire back a worker who had been laid off, and they're on pace to increase their combined annual revenues by 15%.” The idea might be one of those “opportunities” mentioned above? For the WSJ story, click here.

3. More on New Media. We have a running dialogue among some business friends about how to best embrace the new technologies of Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. One of those friends sent me this link that pretty well captures the essence—if you can overlook the misspellings and grammatical errors—of where the business world sits on these three technologies as of September 2009. Next month it will probably change, but here’s where we are today. I'm kind of tracking along with the author, except we have not yet embraced Twitter. I'm having a hard time believing that any of our customers will be interested to know that we just received a new shipment of laminating film. On the other hand, if we had some open machine time today, would a tweet be interesting for someone looking for a last minute job placement? I dunno, would you? Click here for the post.

4. Newspapers On Demand. I found this interesting, albeit a bit outdated, post on the PrintCEO blog: “Will the Printed Blog Save the Newspaper Industry?” The Printed Blog is working to reinvent the daily newspaper into printed versions of blogs. It basically aggregates user-generated content from the web and publishes it once a week via commercial printers located at key distribution points. According to its website, The Printed Blog “functions like a web feed – yet can still be enjoyed on the train or spread across the breakfast table, for an uninterrupted, pleasurably tactile experience.” The 11×17-inch ‘newspapers’ are three pages, six sides in full color. While it’s an interesting model, it may not have legs. . .the most recent issues on the site are dated June 2009. Check out some of the issues here. But be prepared. . .these clearly are written by and targeted to 20- and 30-something readers. 

5. Let There Be Light. The Federal Reserve’s most recent survey of 12 districts in the U.S.-Boston, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Richmond/Washington D.C, San Francisco, Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, Kansas City, Minneapolis, St. Louis, and New York—indicates a “cautiously positive” economic trend, according to Bloomberg reporter, Scott Lanman. Most businesses believe that economic activity has “firmed,” although high rates of unemployment will continue to drag recovery in consumer spending, which in turn will affect spending by advertisers, our bread and butter. On the plus side, however, is the news that “orders rose for semiconductors and other information technology products, and several regions noted more production for pharmaceutical products,” which should bode well for our region. Click here for the Bloomberg story.

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

Seattle Bindery
Finish Strong
With Index Tabs

Click Image For pdf