Seattle Bindery Newsletter: Issue No. 48. We welcome your comments.

1. Upturn, downturn. On the heels of earlier good news from the National Association of Purchasing Management that its manufacturing index, which rose from 43.6 percent in July to 47.9 percent in August, signaled a country poised for recovery, the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks have rekindled fears of recession. In a front page story in the 9/12 WSJ, some
analysts suggest the catastrophic events may be comparable to the 1990 Gulf War, “spiking oil prices and depressing confidence,” while others, such as UCLA’s Edward Leamer, believe such disasters rarely have extreme economic consequences. Apparently, it’s too early to forecast what impact, if any, this new unspeakable terrorism will have. 

2. Tip of the Week. Choosing the right binding method for jobs involves careful evaluation of end use, budget, and aesthetics. Mechanical bindings may be ideal for books that need to lay flat due to their use as reference tools, like cookbooks, How To books, etc. However, run length, durability, cost, even the environment in which the books will be used, must also be considered. Your client and your bindery should be involved in making this important decision. Call us for more information on mechanical binding design.

3. Pay attention to employees. During rocky economic times, employers are necessarily focused on maintaining and securing new business, often at the expense of employee relations. A 7/16 piece in Adweek gives these tips: Make sure noticeable expenditures benefit the group, not just one employee. Boost morale by maintaining a clean work environment. Promote deserving people with the understanding that monetary compensation will follow when business improves. Provide opportunities for growth; people don’t want to be stuck in dead-end jobs, no matter how bleak the economy. Work with staff members to develop effective ways to position your company as a great place to work; you’ll have your pick of talent when the economy rebounds.

4. Coupon books. These jobs may seem simple, but they require careful attention in collating to ensure accurate number sequencing. A recently completed job came to us 5-up on press sheets. The 8 5/8 x 2-inch coupons were prenumbered, scored, and perfed. Our job was to trim the coupons to 1-up, collate, side-stitch, and package for shipping . . . 20,000 of them! We’re very proud of our work, so if you’d like to see samples, just stop by.

5. Ink-in-Motion. Last issue, we updated you on eBooks developments. Both PI Weekly (www.piworld@napco.com) and Seybold Reports ran articles in August on E Ink Corporation’s unveiling of its Ink-in-Motion product, the first commercially available electronic ink displays for retail advertising. The product consists of “paper-thin sheets that display flashing images and animations, powered by two AA batteries that can, according to the company, provide up to a year of continuous operation.”


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