Seattle Bindery Newsletter: Issue #33. We welcome your comments.

1. Quick fact. Last month, we produced over 1.3 million tabs, proving no tab job is too large for our 3 high-speed tabbers. But don’t get us wrong, no job is too small for us either, considering the total volume represents 140 different tab jobs of varying quantities.

2. WISHA it would go away. With federal OSHA standards in place, where does WISHA, our own state ergonomics mandate, fit in? That’s the dilemma faced by many Washington-based employers, who are wondering how they will reconcile fundamental differences between the two rules. HB 1127 seeks to remedy this by postponing implementation of the state standard for two years and adjusting it according to the outcome of hearings on the federal standard. A February 7^th  public hearing discussing the bill can be heard in the “House Commerce & Labor Committee” section of the “Audio & Video Archive” at www.tvw.org. I was particularly troubled by the testimony of one unfortunate businessman whose 26-year business was driven into the ground as a result of lawsuits and fines stemming from WISHA.

3. Another M&A tragedy. After failing to find a buyer, Nashville, TN-based Nicholstone Bindery shut down its business this past January. The tragedy is that Nicholstone was once the largest bindery in the country. However, a string of mergers and acquisitions followed, which then CEO James Thaden described as an attempt to “have more diversified capabilities and international distribution.” Looking back on this and also the huge losses incurred by other major mergers (think Daimler-Chrysler), I conclude that we small business owners should stay focused on what we know how to do, and skip the grandiose plans.

 4. Convenient new order forms. They’re here! By request, we now have padded order forms for your convenience. Keep them at your desk and whenever you need to put in a job request, just fill out a form, tear it out and fax it back to us. Contact Judy at 425-656-8210 or judy@seattlebindery.com if you’d like us to send some to you.

5. Installment sales basis reinstatement. If you’re planning to sell your business, there’s good news for you. Last December, the Installment Tax Correction Act of 2000 (HR 3594) passed in both the House and the Senate. The new law overturns a repeal on the installment method of reporting taxes from gains on sales of assets. If this was previously hindering the sale of your business, you can now return to the negotiating table.

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email her at judy@seattlebindery.com
Phone 425-656-8210
Fax 425-656-4400