Seattle Bindery Newsletter: Issue #28. We welcome your comments.

1. How big is Seattle Bindery? We are proud of our growth over the years and don’t mind talking about it. Now, though, some customers are wondering if we are too big for their “little” jobs. When I told one customer that our average job is $445 and we serve over 500 active customers (sales within the last 2 years), he was astonished. I still think of us as a small business and I know we still act like one . . . quick decisions, active owner, personal accountability. I’m not sure how else to address these customers’ concerns except to share the figures. That way we are all “handicapped with the facts” together. Comments?

2. E-mail poll. Here’s a new e-mail poll for you. How many of you think owning the building that houses your business is the best way to go? Why? How many think it isn’t the smarter route? Why? I’ve had several great conversations on this subject lately. On the pro side, some think it is a great retirement vehicle, giving you more control of your rent expense and better control of lease terms. On the con side, others think too much capital is tied up, reducing your flexibility for growth or contraction, resulting in constant distractions from running the business. How about your views? Send your responses to miltvine@seattlebindery.com and we’ll put the names of those responding in a drawing for Starbucks coupons. We’ll announce the results in our next issue.

3. Top ten trends of 2001. Check out the December 4 issue of Red Herring magazine www.redherring.com for the top ten trends of 2001. Some of the major ones include fuel cells powering American homes and small businesses; a single electronic communications network controlling online trading of the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ; and the Internet falling under international regulation. The industries covered in this feature include Computing, Intellectual Property, Venture Capital, Public Markets, Wireless Communications, International, Government, Energy, and Biotech. While these may not talk directly about the Printing industry, it will enlighten about trends impacting us all.

4. Hard to find services: Where do you go to find services your clients ask you about, but that you don’t provide? We get lots of such requests, for such things as fugitive gluing, wafer sealing, UV coating, riveting, grommeting, 2-sided plastic lamination, kitting work, notebook inserting, signature sewing, book restoration, thesis binding, outserting, indexing, inside/outside inkjetting, blow-in cards, spot edge reinforcing, etc, etc. While we may not have the answers at hand, we’re nonetheless happy our customers come to us for answers. So where do we go to get help? Internet searches, a phone call to PPI, GAIN (PIA’s website), trade magazines (ads in the back of publications like Printers Northwest Trader, Printing Journal, Printing Impressions, American Printer, Binding & Finishing are a great resource), or just hang out at the Craftsmen Club and ask. Don't forget your own production people, too, who often are most informative.


Return to Newsletter Archive

If you wish to receive our fax newsletter please contact Judy.
email her at judy@seattlebindery.com
Phone 425-656-8210
Fax 425-656-4400