Wise Business Forms

Think beyond short-run solutions to long-term profitability. At the On Demand Conference & Expo, held May 17-19 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, the energy was palpable, the excitement was infectious, and the opportunities were mind-boggling. Yes, for distributors who have embraced digital printing, these are the best of times. But, these can seem like the worst of times for those intimidated by technology. "It doesn't have to be like that," stressed Paul Edwards, president of Fenton, Missouri-based FormStore. "Attaching graphic and database files is actually much easier than sitting down and doing form designs, and paper and carbon tests. Time,

New perspectives lead to better profits for distributors. Many in the forms industry would agree that digital printing has had its share of resistance from distributors. Although the technology for this market has been in existence for a while, some still doubt its earning potential, and others have chosen to avoid the learning curve involved. But, two manufacturers offer another way of looking at digital printing. They both provide new perspectives to convince distributors that this niche is well worth their while. In addition, one manufacturer shines a light on more advanced technology, allowing distributors to profit from selling programs, as opposed to the

As detailed in our Upfront News section, industry consolidation continues, with the big news for independents being Crabar/Witt's acquisition of GBF Graphics. Crabar/Witt, which purchased Edison Business Forms earlier in January, has added all four GBF companies to its fold, instantly propelling the company into the top 10 independent manufacturers. Another January acquisition was the Wise Business Forms purchase of Fidlar Doubleday's business forms division. The move pushes Wise's revenue to more than $70 million and increases its foothold in the Midwest. On the Direct side of course, was the huge $1.1 billion acquisition of Wallace Computer Services by Moore Corp., creating a

Offering variable printing means big changes, but also high margins. When 52-year-old scuba enthusiast Jane Young of West Palm Beach, Fla., received a travel brochure from Charlie B. Travels promoting a cruise to the Caribbean that included a scuba diving package for those aged 50 and older, her interest was piqued. Just three months later, she was diving off the island of St. Lucia with a group of her peers. That is just one example of the effectiveness of variable data printing making it obvious that, in an industry where printed materials are distributed by the millions, it pays to get personal.