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I'm Charged!
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Steve Bova, CAE
Executive Director
I love golf. But I don't keep an official handicap. Instead, for the past two years, I have been recording my scores on a website that calculates my unofficial handicap for FREE. This morning, I logged on to record my 2005 scores to date. And guess what? They now charge for these services!
Likewise, I used to be able to log onto the Consumer Reports website and get tons of information for free. One day I logged on to find the most current review of video cameras. And guess what? They required a charge if I were to gain access to the information. It used to be available for free!
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The reprographics industry is not alone on whether and how to charge for digital services.
A third example is closer to our business. I bought a digital camera a couple years ago because my wife was spending a fortune on film, often shooting an entire role to capture just one good image of our kids. I learned about a website where I now download my images, archive them for free and pay only for the images I want – no more waste! What's more, I can order any image I want, at any time, and for any quantity and size. Of course, I pay a slight premium but save in the long run. I don't print fewer images, but instead print more. The images can also be packaged in the form of calendars, T–shirts, coffee mugs, etc.
Doesn't this sound like a consumer's version of a plan room?
Like reprographics customers, I have to pay for my images. Fortunately, for the time being, I can archive hundreds of my photos for free. This is a great service to me – my images are accessible in an organized fashion (instead of thrown into a shoe box), and they are backed up in the event of an emergency. They don't get lost or ruined.
There are several other examples but you get the point. As a customer, I have been reaping the benefits of free services for years during this digital evolution. It makes sense and is reasonable for me to pay for services rendered – so long as I perceive them to be fair. It's only a matter of time until I log on to download more images and a pop–up window will emerge notifying me that I must now pay an annual fee for my digital images to be archived. They'll get no argument from me.
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Industry News
Kodak Announces Encad Brand will be Replaced
Kodak introduced the 1200i inkjet printer as the first printer since Kodak's purchase of Encad that will not feature the Encad badge. While Encad and NovaJet have been successful longstanding brands, the Kodak brand will be utilized for all products, services and organizations within the new Graphics Communications Group. Read more...
Paradigm Imaging Group Raffles Graphtec JW1100 at IRgA 2005
Steve Mueller of BPI, Milwaukee WI, won a Graphtec JW1100 6–color, high–speed printer as a raffle prize presented by Paradigm Imaging Group at the recent IRgA 2005 Annual Convention and Trade Show. Paradigm Imaging arranged the raffle to celebrate the unveiling of its new EIS Series, a large–format MFP and document management solution. Read more...
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Drytac is a leading manufacturer of mounting adhesives and overlaminates for all types of graphics. We also offer an extensive line of banner stands, finishing equipment (including laminators and edge finishing, plaquing machines), specialty print media, magnetic materials, mounting and finishing accessories.
www.drytac.com
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Joseph Dawson joins Roland as Business Development Manager
Roland DGA Corporation announced the addition of Joseph Dawson as Business Development Manager for the Color Products Division. Dawson is responsible for developing alternative markets for these industry–leading products. His responsibilities include the identification and management of new vertical markets and OEM partnerships. Read more...
Lynn Imaging opens Downtown Louisville Store
Lynn Imaging celebrated the opening of their sixth store with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Tuesday May 24th. The Downtown Louisville store located on the corner of 7th Street and W. Market Street celebrates growth, expansion, and the creation of a large format digital printing center for Downtown Louisville. Read more...
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Reprographers – How can you best streamline your digital workflow?
With Spicer Universal Viewers you can scan, view, edit, mark up, print and easily exchange hundreds of business and CAD file formats–ALL from one source. Download our FREE Imagenation®, ViewCafé®, Image a*X™ and DocuJet™ trial software today. www.SPICER.com |
Consolidated Reprographics Announces New President
Consolidated Reprographics announced Keath Lauderdale as its new president. Lauderdale was most recently CR's vice president of sales and marketing, and has a deep background in the Orange County reprographics scene. Read more...
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On Center Software, Inc. brings software solutions to the construction industry since 1988. Digital % Complete®, On–Screen Takeoff® and Quick Bid focuses on automating estimating, takeoff and project management processes by improving accuracy, effectiveness and time through use of leading edge technology. On Center Software is your innovative solutions partner. www.oncenter.com |
House Passes Fax Legislation
The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation maintaining the "established business relationship" exception that allows associations like the IRgA and companies like yours to send unsolicited faxes to members and customers. The Senate has taken similar action and the legislation is expected to be signed into law by President Bush possibly this week. The FCC rules were scheduled to go into effect July 1.
In addition to restoring the "established business relationship" language, the newly passed fax legislation also:
- Requires that all unsolicited commercial faxes include an opt–out provision on the first page of the fax, providing a cost–free, 24–hour means for the recipient to request to be removed from the fax distribution list
- Requires that fax numbers be obtained either directly from the recipient or from a public source to which the recipient gave the number for publication (i.e., a Web site, advertisement or directory)
- "Grandfathers" in fax numbers in the possession of the sender at the time of enactment.
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ReproCentral™ allows reprographics professionals to offer customers an online planroom to easily review bid information, order plan sets, view prints and specifications, and request automatic e–mail notification of addendums and revisions. You host your customer’s files, control access to files and, most importantly, provide new services to keep their business.
www.fasterprojects.com/reprocentral
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Inside the IRgA
Phyllis Atkins wins iPOD for IRgA 2005 Evaluation
Phyllis Atkins of Mesa Reprographics, San Diego CA, won an iPOD Shuffle in the IRgA 2005 evaluation drawing. The IRgA thanks everyone who completed an evaluation form, as the information is used to make improvements in the future. Convention evaluation forms continue to be available online for attendee feedback and suggestions for 2006.
2005–2006 Membership Renewal Underway
As August 1st signals the beginning of the IRgA 05–06 membership year, be on the lookout for your membership renewal notice and continue your participation in the IRgA community. Prevent a lapse in your membership and ensure inclusion in the printed Membership Directory! Renewals must be received by September 1, 2005. If you have not received a notice, please contact 800/833.4742.
IRgA Bylaws Revised
The IRgA Board of Directors has approved revised bylaws that are current with association law and within best practices in association management. They are now available online. Stay informed of the important decisions made on your behalf.
Feature
Talking 'bout the Next Generation
Succession planning ensures a family business has the right stuff to carry on.
(Part two of a three–part series on family businesses in reprographics)
By Scott Cullen
Arguably, one of the greatest threats to the survival of a family business is the death or retirement of a founder. Without that guiding force, family businesses can sometimes flounder and even fail once that founder's daily vision has been silenced or his attention diverted elsewhere.
Donald Hopp, president of Hopp Accounting & Tax in Elgin, Ill., says that succession planning is the one area of a family business that families devote the least amount of attention to. "There's tremendous emotional stress when doing succession planning," says Hopp. And those emotions can sometimes be damaging to the family structure and the business.
The number one reason a family business has a succession plan in place is to take care of their family. Unfortunately, more family business owners talk the talk rather than walk the walk. "The end result is less than 50% of family businesses have a written plan, and if they have a plan it hasn't been reviewed or modified in eight to 10 years," says Hopp.
"What I often see with family businesses is that by the time we're doing anything, it's already too late because there's been an event that's taken place–the majority owner has passed away or has a major medical issue where they can't perform at the level they used to."
The full article on this subject will appear in the July/August 2005 issue of REPRO REPORT.
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For advertising information, contact Erin Beekhuis at IRgA Headquarters: ebeekhuis@irga.com or 800/833–4742. Or, click here to fill out the Advertising Information Request and information will be emailed to you.
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