Industry Headlines
ProForma Adds 500th Distributor
— The Cleveland-based ProForma distributor network has added its 500th franchise. ProForma One Stop Marketing, Memphis, Tenn., has been opened by Kurt Wulff, a former sales representative for Moore.
Wulff said that the decision to establish the distributorship was based on quality-of-life issues. Wulff chose ProForma because, "It will allow me to have more free time and minimize financial risk."
ProForma was third among the Top 100 Distributors with sales of $175 million. The company expects to top $200 million in total sales for the 2000 calendar year.
Precept CEO Deason Resigns
Doug Deason has resigned as president and CEO of Precept Business Services, Dallas. Lee Hassell of Hassell & Associates, a private consulting firm, has been named interim president and CFO. Hassell & Associates has been engaged to provide operational and financial oversight of the company.
Deason will remain a member of Precept's board of directors and will become chairman and CEO of Precept Builders.
Ennis Sales Up in Second Quarter
Net sales for Ennis Business Forms, DeSoto, Texas, increased 44.5 percent for its second quarter to $55.1 million compared to $38.2 million last year. Net earnings for the same period decreased by 3.1 percent to $3.8 million.
The company attributes the lower earnings to charges related to the closure of its Louisville, Ky., plant and increased interest expenses funding the acquisition of Northstar Computer Forms.
For the first half of its fiscal year, Ennis reported net sales of $101.9 million, compared to $77.8 million last year and net earnings of $7.6 million, compared to $7.1 million last year.
PrintXcel Expands Mailer Capacity
The Clarksville, Tenn., plant of PrintXcel has increased production capacity for its VersaSeal mailer product line.
Equipment installed in September, dedicated to pressure seal production, will double current capacity of the mailers. With capabilities including 11 and 14 C-, V- and custom-folds, the mailers are available in stock, imprinted or custom formats.
For more information, call (334) 928-4022.
58k.com to Share RFQs
An information exchange has been established between 58k. com, New York, and printCafe, Pittsburgh, that will channel print job requests for quotes (RFQs) directly from 58k.com to printCafe's e-commerce customers who have elected to be part of the open exchange.
According to Doug Belkofer, director of integration at printCafe, the agreement opens up new business opportunities for the company's e-commerce customers.
Workflow Shifts Management Structure
Workflow Management has realigned its management structure, returning Tom D'Agostino Sr. to CEO, in addition to his position as chairman of the board. Tom D'Agostino Jr. and Steve Gibson are now serving as co-presidents of the company.
D'Agostino Jr. remains CEO and president of iGetSmart.com and continues his responsibility for Workflow's Integrated Business Services division and the corporate marketing department.
Gibson manages the company's Fulfillment division, which includes U.S. and Canadian print manufacturing operations. He is also responsible for the company's mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and accounting, corporate human resources, investor relations as well as financial strategies for iGetSmart.com.
MAR Adds Variable Imaging Capability
MAR Graphics, Valmeyer, Ill., has added a Xerox 6155 to its Digital Print Department. The printer provides high-speed, black-only variable imaging capability, which augments the company's color variable imaging abilities.
For more information contact Theresa Fuchs at (618) 935-2111.
New Check Standard Slated to Take Effect in January
Beginning in January a new standard governing all business and personal checks is scheduled to take effect. The new ANSI standard specifies the location and background design of essential check data fields.
Compliance with the standard is important because automated equipment for reading checks used by financial institutions will be set to read the new configuration. Non-compliant checks will have to be processed by hand, causing delays.
Check with your supplier to be sure your customers are in compliance.