Short-Term Pain for Long-Term Gain

When budgets get tight, among the first expense areas to be scrutinized are the lines for advertising/marketing, and staff training and education – lines associated with business development. Investments for the long-term become compromised for the present.

These efforts unquestionably save the company needed dollars when cash is in relatively short supply. But the long-term impact on the business and the cumulative impact on morale, can be significant.

To illustrate the power of marketing, William Wrigley once was asked why he continued to advertise when seemingly everyone knew about his chewing gum empire. He replied, “For the same reason a train doesn’t disconnect the engine from the rest of its cars.” Momentum is critical for any businesses to succeed. READ MORE

Drytac® is a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of mounting and finishing equipment and products. This year Drytac® debuts its line of UV curable and aqueous liquid laminators with models ranging from the wide-format VersaCoaterTM XL to the ultra-small VersaCoaterTM. DocuMate. Visit the Drytac website at www.drytac.com to learn more. Drytac.com

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IRgA Annual Convention & Trade Show Continues to Build Momentum

Registration and housing are now open for the 2009 IRgA Convention & Trade Show, April 29-May 1 in Pittsburgh, Pa. Get the greatest return on investment by securing your spot now. All IRgA members receive $300 in savings on registration over non–members and an additional $100 discount when registration is received by March 20, 2009. The IRgA has also negotiated discounted room rates at the Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh and the Omni William Penn when rooms are reserved by April 3, 2009. Start your new year out right by visiting the quick links below for all the up-to-date information:

The Details

• Register online
• Watch the convention preview video
• Download 2009 advance program
• View the schedule of events
• Book your hotel reservations
• View keynote speaker details
• View educational breakout sessions
• Register for the annual golf tournament
• See who’s exhibiting
• Read convention FAQs

About Pittsburgh

• Learn more about Pittsburgh: here and here
• Get an inside look at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center

Important Dates to Remember

• March 20: Early registration deadline (Save $200)
• April 3: Reserve hotel to receive discounted rate
• April 17: Register for IRgA golf tournament
• April 29-May 1: IRgA Convention & Trade Show

Visit the convention Web page to access full event details as they become available or contact the IRgA at 800.833.4742.

IRgA’s Hosts its Annual Golf Tournament at the Quicksilver Golf Club
The 2009 IRgA Annual Golf Tournament will be hosted at Quicksilver Golf Club, the premier golf destination in Western Pennsylvania. Former home to Senior PGA and Nation Wide Tour events, Quicksilver sits among rolling farmlands, meandering streams and rich forests that provide for a scenic, challenging and enjoyable golf experience.

Designed in 1971 by Don Nagode and reworked 19 years later by Bob Murphy and Sean Parees, Quicksilver weighs in at a healthy 7,083 yards from the silver tees and a much more tame 6,389 yards from the whites. Seventy-three bunkers and five lakes dot the landscape of the course. Visit www.quicksilvergolf.com for additional information.

Transportation will be provided to and from the Westin Convention Center and Omni William Penn to Quicksilver Golf Club. Continental breakfast will be provided before tee time. Luncheon, awards and prizes will be presented at the conclusion of the tournament.

For registration information, visit the www.IRgA.com.

The IRgA would like to thank its exhibitors and sponsor companies of the 2009 IRgA Annual Convention & Trade Show.

Exhibitors as of Feb. 6. 

Sponsors as of Feb. 6.

ARC
Avanti
Bowe Bell and Howell
Canon
Contex
Cylix
Digital ES
Drytac
eDistribution
ES-TE Folding Systems
GreatAmerica Leasing
HP
Image Products of CA
KIP
Mutoh
MV Software
National Azon
Nukote
Oce
Paradigm
Pinnacle Infotech
PLP
Precision Paper
Reprographic Technology
ReproMAX
Ricoh
RSA
Seiko
Sepialine
TechParts
Thoroughbred Software
Universal Media Solutions
Valley Supplies
Xerox

The IRgA has formed the Green Reprographics Task Force to educate the reprographics industry about running a green reprographics shop and to build industry alliances to further the green initiative within the construction industry.

Visit the Green Repro Task Force Web page at IRgA.com for resources to help make your company green.

The IRgA wants to hear what your company is doing to be green! Let the IRgA know what you are doing and your company might be featured on the IRgA Green Repro page! E-mail your green initiatives to info@IRgA.com.

GREEN TIP: Participate in local tree planting and tell your customers and the community how many trees your company planted and how many sheets of paper that is equal to.

IRgA recently released the results of the 4th Quarter 2008 Reprographers Survey. The survey was conducted independently for the IRgA by the Research Group within Robert W. Baird Company and is an IRgA members only benefit.

The 4Q 2008 Reprographers Survey featured responses from 51 IRgA member companies. Key findings included:

• Q4 business was below expectations;
• Respondents reported that revenue was down -4.9 percent on average during the quarter; by comparison, average revenue growth was -1.3 percent in Q3 2008; and
• Respondents expect revenue trends to be somewhat less negative over the next six months vs. the -4.9 percent revenue decline in the fourth quarter.

For more information, access to the full results, list price trends and non-residential construction information, please visit the report online. An IRgA username and password is required.  If you know your login but can’t remember your password, click "Reset my password." If you do not know your login or password, please call the IRgA Headquarters toll-free at 800.833.4742 and our friendly staff will assist you.

Given the recent economic downturn, it is now more important than ever to share industry knowledge on ways to get ahead during leaner times. To learn more about this topic, download IRgA's most recent free, member-only Webinar -- “Right Sizing Your Company in a Downturn.”

A panel of industry experts gave insight on the following areas:

• What the 'right size' for your company is in this market;
• How to make those painful downsizing decisions; and
• Creative ways to keep your people while reducing costs.

Panelists included Ross Banks, president, Ford Group; Roger Gremillion, regional vice president, A&E – The Graphics Complex, a division of Thomas Reprographics; and Myles Cowherd, president, San Jose Blue.

An IRgA username and password is required.  If you know your login but can’t remember your password, click "Reset my password." If you do not know your login or password, please call the IRgA Headquarters toll-free at 800.833.4742 and our friendly staff will assist you. READ MORE

Maximize Uptime with Extra Process Cartridge Each Teriostar printer includes an extra process cartridge so you can replace it without waiting. No other company in this industry offers this option. At 6.2 D-size PPM, Teriostar LED printers are the perfect solution in the CAD/AEC/GIS marketplace. Learn more at www.seiko-i.com (Seiko I Infotech (SIIT) is a division of Seiko Instruments USA, Inc).

Contex Appoints New General Manager in China

Contex recently announced the appointment of Jerry Cheng as general manager in China. Cheng adds to Contex’s strength in the Asian market, together with Nobuo Kanzaki, who is general manager in Japan. Both Cheng, in China, and Kanzaki, in Japan, emphasize the high-level technology that Contex scanners bring to the Asian market, as well as the large market share that Contex enjoys. They both stress the importance of working closely with Contex distributors to ensure success for the distributors, their dealers and for Contex. READ MORE

Colortrac appoints Malcolm Lane as President of Colortrac Inc.

Colortrac announced the appointment of Malcolm Lane as president of Colortrac Inc., its wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary, effective Jan.2. The appointment of Lane, a U.S.-based business leader with 20 years wide-format experience, follows Colortrac’s recruitment throughout 2008 of experienced specialist technical staff and quality assurance professionals to enhance its large-format scanner manufacturing and support infrastructure. Now, with a new generation of SmartLF wide-format scanners starting to ship, Lane’s expertise in large-format scanner distribution in the Americas and Japan will help Colortrac penetrate the markets further with their affordably priced SmartLF wide-format scanners and software products. READ MORE

In Other Headline News:

• EFI’s VUTEk QS3200 UV Superwide Format Printer Receives Seal of Approval for 2009 Inaugural Graphics
• LexJet Introduces Banner Recycling Program
• Contex SD4400 Technical/CAD Scanners Receive BERTL’s Best Award for 2008 
• Paradigm Graphtec CSX300HD Wins Bertl’s Award

Green Reprographics: Much More Than a Fad

While going green has seemed trendy lately; in reality, it’s a long-term commitment that won’t fade away in the coming decades. Investing in green isn’t like investing in hula hoops – your green investment will pay dividends
for generations.

This article originally appeared in the January/February issue of Repro Report, which is available for download at the IRgA Web site. Your IRgA Web site username and password is required to enter the archive area. If you know your login but can't remember your password, click on “Reset my password.” If you do not know your login or password, please call the IRgA Headquarters toll-free at 800.833.4742.