Commercial Printing

Saying that 2008 ended on an unsettled note may be the mother of all understatements, but it is the most meaningful way to characterize the economic outlook for 2009. And, bad news for the economy is worse news for printing industry sales.

Victor Printing, Sharon, Pa. announced the promotion of Greg Matta to general manager. Since joining the company in 1991 as a part-time bindery employee, Matta has held several positions. including commercial estimator and materials manager. Throughout his years of service, he has played an integral part in the growth of Victor Printing as the company transitioned from primarily a forms manufacturer to a provider of forms, commercial print, wide format printing, conceal-and-reveal promotional printing and direct mail services. In his new role, Matta oversees daily production operations and leads and supports the management team. Victor Printing is a full service trade printer offering complete

Lexington, Kentucky-based WhatTheyThink—an online media organization serving the printing and publishing industry—announced the availability of its most current report titled: “Monthly U.S. Printing Shipments, Issue #33.” It is authored by Dr. Joe Webb, director of WhatTheyThink’s economics and research center. “June printing shipments were $8.16 billion, down $218 million (or 2.6 percent) compared to June 2007,” said Webb. “On an inflation-adjusted basis, shipments were down $638 million (or 7.3 percent) compared to June 2007.” Data collected within the past few months indicated it has been a particularly difficult time for the industry. “Even though the recent GDP estimates for the second quarter were positive,

It’s David vs. Goliath all over again. With the U.S. economy on the brink of a recession, the major industry players seemingly have the advantage. Yet, when given the chance to do battle against its competitors, the smaller—but driven—company can leave the playing field victorious. Commercial printers are no exception. Similar to those in other market sectors, commercial print specialists are feeling the crunch of escalating oil and natural gas prices, postal increases and sustainability pressures. Larger suppliers may possess scale advantages in purchasing materials, such as paper and ink, but studies indicate profitability is ultimately linked to effective sales operations. As a

Are you a distributor new to selling commercial print? If so, check out some recommendations made by some of the experts. David Jensen, sales and marketing director, J&A Printing, Hiawatha, Ia.: Be sure to ask the following questions: • Does your direct mail reach across the country or only locally? • Do you need to ship your printed materials across the country or only locally? • Do you have any projects that are demanding, detailed and time-sensitive? Dan Reid, marketing manager, THP, Freedom, Pa.: • Understand the project and then, have the right partner who can put it together. •

Newtown, Fredericksburg, Va., complements its current business forms and integrated products lines with very competitive four- and six-panel, four-color process brochures. The products come in an 81⁄2x35⁄8" trifold, as well as an 81⁄2x11" four-page style, and stock options include both 80 lb. and 100 lb. gloss text and cover text. The minimum order for the brochures is 500 pieces. For more information, call (800) 336-2110.

True story: Even in this day and age, people still enjoy going to the library. Why? They love books. With the ubiquitous Barnes & Noble and Borders bookstores, it could be the strong coffee and sugary treats or perhaps the off chance of meeting Ms. or Mr. Right drawing the crowds. But at libraries, it’s purely book lure. Better yet, check out the way yard sale and flea market browsers immerse themselves in orphaned tomes stacked on tables or packed in boxes. They’ll caress leather bindings, gently turn yellowing pages and almost always leave with a dusty volume or two. That’s why bound publications

Margie Dana, founder of Print Buyers International, Chestnut Hill, Mass., offers a little glimpse into a huge aspect of commercial printing in her article “That’s a (Building) Wrap”, which is reprinted below. Enjoy! You know those building wraps, where a massive promotional campaign is printed digitally and installed on the outside of buildings? Maybe you already know how these giants are produced, but I didn’t. So I interviewed Judd Morgan of USA Image (www.usaimage.com)—a Louisville, Kentucky-based company specializing in grand format printing—to answer basic questions about this specialty. MD: I understand your focus is—and has always been—grand format printing. Can you

The Print Professional team congratulates everyone who participated in this year’s design contest for their creativity and ingenuity. It was exciting to receive new entries in the mail each day, and to see how industry professionals used their talent and supply chain expertise to deliver effective, high-quality solutions. With loupes in hand, a distinguished panel of judges from North American Publishing Company, Philadelphia, evaluated entries based on print quality, technical achievement and the degree to which a solution satisfied the intended application. They were so impressed with the submissions, that in addition to designating winners in the various categories, the judges felt compelled

As far back as 5000 BC, ancient cultures used illustrative pictograms to represent concepts, activities, places and events. The same innate human desire for aesthetic appeal, creative expression and clear, effective communication drives commercial printing success to this day. Given the variety of work commercial printers produce—everything from high-end, four-color process advertising pieces to printed letterhead—it’s a difficult category to define. Perhaps the best definition is one Eric Strom, general manager of Norwalk, Connecticut-based Accurate Graphics offered: “A commercial print shop is one that doesn’t run a store front. Otherwise, if you’re putting ink on paper and selling it, you are a commercial