Creative Automation

While the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has promised not to raise rates in 2010, many mailers are still struggling with expenses. Rates increased earlier this year, and these increases—coupled with the struggling economy—are making it a very difficult year for direct mailers. They're scrambling for new and efficient ways to keep their direct mail costs down.

It’s official. On December 1, the National Bureau of Economic Research declared the United States has been in a recession since December 2007. In a statement, CNNMoney.com posted a report on the same day in which White House Deputy Press Secretary Tony Fratto was quoted as saying: “The most important things we can do for the economy right now are to return the financial and credit markets to normal, and to continue to make progress in housing, and that’s where we’ll continue to focus. Addressing these areas will do the most right now to return the economy to growth and job creation.” Nonetheless, several

Creative Automation, Hillside, Ill., has obtained chain-of-custody certifications from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). The FSC and SFI certifications will be valid through July 14, 2013 and July 21, 2013, respectively. Chain-of-custody certification is the process of tracking and recording the possession and transfer of wood and fiber from the forests of origin through the different stages of production. “Having these certifications in place not only allows us to do something positive for the environment, but they also give us the ability to offer our clients more options when it comes to accomplishing their own green initiatives,” stated

A little change never hurt anyone. With that in mind, this year’s big show promises a change of pace, a change of scenery and a change in demand. The newly revamped PSDA (formerly DMIA) will host its annual Print Solutions Conference and Exposition on Oct. 23-25 at the Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore. This year’s featured general session keynote speaker will be Charlie Pesko, founder and president of InfoTrends, a leading market research and consulting firm in the digital imaging and document solutions industries. Technological advances and refined marketing strategies are just some of the issues gaining momentum in a slowing economy. To encourage print

During the month of June, Hillside, Illinois-based Creative Automation—a leader in direct mail printing and database management services—conducted a reforestation program in partnership with American Forests, which resulted in the planting of 4,000 trees. The program applied to all orders placed with the graphics printing division, and for every $5,000 print production order, 25 trees were planted in the customer’s name. “The trees are being planted through our partner, American Forests, ... as part of the American Forests California Wildfire ReLeaf effort in the Tahoe National Forest,” said Michael Turano, executive vice president of manufacturing and production. The types of trees [include] Ponderosa

Creative Automation, Hillside, Ill., will run a reforestation program during the month of June. The company is partnering with American Forests for this program due to its strong commitment to protect, restore and enhance forests throughout the United States and around the world. The program, “Reforestation with Creative Automation,” will apply to all orders placed during the month of June with its Graphics Printing Division. For every $5,000 print production order a customer places, Creative Automation will plant 25 trees through American Forests in the name of that customer. “We feel this is the perfect time to start a program like this,” stated Michael

It’s a winning formula for Hollywood blockbusters—a small town, major city, even planet Earth as a whole, finds itself under attack by some monstrosity. But, when an intruder abandons the big screen and infiltrates our mailboxes, it becomes personal. Of course, monsters aren’t hiding in our mailboxes waiting to attack as we retrieve the contents; nevertheless, a deluge of unsolicited direct mail can be just as horrific to find. To make matters worse, unlike the movies, there is no director to shout “Cut!” Unless we stay on top of paper disposal, we will soon be buried on the living room floor under mountains of

In 1872, Aaron Montgomery Ward had a burst of inspiration. In the tradition of the general store, he printed a single sheet featuring 163 items and mailed it to potential customers, allowing recipients to receive what they needed through the mail and with a discount, rather than paying higher prices at local stores with lower inventories. It was the beginning of an onslaught of direct marketing that has continued for more than 100 years. Throughout the 20th century, many other innovators followed in Ward’s wake. Sears-Roebuck took the mail order idea a step further, offering the Sears Modern Home, available from 1908 through 1940

DMIA’s annual Print Solutions conference and exposition will be held Oct. 3-5 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill. The conference will provide three days of educational sessions, including a presentation by this year’s keynote speaker, Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House and co-author of “Contract with America.” Join Gingrich as he analyzes the current political climate in Washington, DC, and educates attendees on effective leadership. This year’s conference will feature equipment demonstrations, offering distributors better insight into how various applications are produced. In addition, exchange centers will be located on the show floor with more than 34 hours of