Lynn Zima

Don't gloss over the importance of these strong sellers By Carol Katarsky Laminated labels continue to play a big role in distributors' sales. Chemical-, water- and wear-resistant, the applications for these labels are obvious—but durability isn't the only attraction the products offer. "Lamination can also be used to achieve a high gloss, which can enhance the appearance of simple items, such as business cards," noted Michael Stoeck, product marketing manager at New Century, Kansas-based Stouse. "Laminating the label lends a premium look, as compared to plain-paper labels with varnish," agreed Lynn Zima, sales and marketing supervisor, Atlas Tag & Label, Neenah, Wis. She noted that laminated labels are

Bar codes mean profits for both the distributor and the customer By Janet R. Gross The industry is nearly 30 years old and its traditional products still account for a majority of sales, but new technology and applications are transforming it as the market grow rapidly. No, it's not forms, but bar codes. Bar codes represented an $8.3 billion North American market in 1997, according to Venture Development, with industry growth rates pegged at 13.5 percent annually through 2001. Distributors can profit in two ways--by selling bar-coded products and by offering supplies. Either way, knowledge of the customer's hardware, software and the application is essential. Rowan Business Forms,