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November 3–5, 2005
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Forrest O. Kenley II
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May 10–12, 2006
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A Best Practices Document for Digital Services?
IRgA Immediate Past President Charles (Chuck) A. Gremillion III, president, A&E - The Graphics Complex, Houston, Texas, has offered to lead a new committee within the IRgA that will explore the issue of digital services and ultimately develop what could become the IRgA's first best practice statement on the subject which defines these services as industry standards. Gremillion is working with other committee members, Chuck Hayes of OCB Reprographics, Irvine, CA, and Betsy Kahn of Copy Cat Print Shop, Wilmington, NC, to establish the project's objective and deliverables. Ideally, the committee would include three additional reprographer members. Please let Chuck (cgremillion@aecomplex.com) or me know if you are interested. What is envisioned is a document that states the best practices for handling digital services in a reprographics environment. Before defining the best practice in this area, it is necessary to define the current state of digital services by gaining feedback from the reprographics community. Many opinions will be necessary to define the range of practices currently employed, before we can begin to define what is considered to be a best practice. In the meantime, if you feel passionate about the subject, send me an email (sbova@irga.com) with your thoughts. I will share your collective input with the committee as a baseline for getting started. "Since the roots of our industry, no organization has ever attempted to document best practices for reprographics - until now," says Gremillion. "When the best practice statement is completed, the IRgA will provide reprographers with a tool they can use with their customers as an example of an industry standard as it relates to digital services." If this project is successful, the committee's role could be broadened to address other industry issues and define other industry best practices. One of the IRgA's strategic initiatives is to become a knowledge center for our industry. Establishing best practices in various areas meets this objective and helps to further our industry. At the same time, we must always remain cognizant of our nation's antitrust laws. For the IRgA's policy on antitrust, click here. I truly believe that the branding project, coupled with the incorporation of a best practice statement on digital services, and possibly other issues, by the IRgA will further demonstrate the value of the association to the reprographics industry. Industry NewsJP Reprographics merges with OCB Scanvec Amiable acquires Colorbus European Operations
Nashua Corporation Settles Patent Lawsuit KIP Announces New KIP 3000 Website
Bukovsky Award Nominations Begin New Publication available on IRgA Website Last Mounting & Laminating Seminar of 2005 IRgA Member Decal Arrives Selling on Service Rather Than Price Nevada Blue is not the lowest-priced reprographics shop in Reno. Judy Brooks, who owns the company with her husband Jerry, knows that. But the Brooks' aren't slashing prices to keep up with competitors, because they would rather be known as tops in another area: service. "We took the attitude that there are prices we wanted to maintain, and if the customer just wants the lowest price, maybe they'll have to go somewhere else," Judy Brooks says. "We don't base our price on what the other guy can do it for." Reprographics shops have been fighting price wars for decades. It's often impossible for the customer to tell a 3-cent-per-square-foot print from an 8-cent-per-square-foot print, so many reprographics firms have found it difficult to compete in any way other than price. But some firms, like Nevada Blue, have succeeded in competing without being the lowest-priced shop. They do it by providing great quality, powerful client relationships, enhanced document management capabilities, around-the-clock support and tender loving customer care. The full article on this subject will appear in the Nov/Dec 2005 issue of REPRO REPORT. 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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