For more Information please visit our web portal.

Friday, December 4, 2009

PEiR Member In Print: Oregon StatesmanJournal Finds Our David Fox

You're a multi-talented bunch, PEiR has always known that, and periodically someone else discovers what we already know - as with this recent story on member David Fox in the Oregon StatesmanJournal.

David owns Fox Blueprinting Co. in Salem, Oregon and is quite a talented musician, serving as the front man for a San Francisco Bay Area punk band called "Coffee and Donuts" back in the day.

Fox has been at the helm of his namesake company since 1993, but has been in "the business" - the reprographics business, that is - for 23 years.

You're an interesting bunch, we've always said it!

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Paradigm Imaging Group Home Theater Giveway

Paradigm Imaging Group is offering a Sony Bravia home theater system to PEiR Group members who sell the imagePRO line of large format scanners. The more you sell, Paradigm says, the more chances you have to win.

Sell one or more of these...

imagePRO Gx 42E HD PLUS
imagePRO GxT 42E HD PLUS
imagePRO Gx 42C HD PLUS
imagePRO GxT 42C HD PLUS

...by December 18 to qualify for a chance to win the $2,200 system. Paradigm says the more you sell, the better your chances of winning.

Note:
Dealer Demo units, Multi-Unit and Dealer Serviced purchases do not qualify under this promotion. Dealer account must be in good standing to qualify for this promotion. Deadline the for Home Theater Giveaway is December 18, 2009. All P.O.s must be received by 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on December 18, 2009 to qualify. Drawing for the Home Theater Giveaway will be held on December 21, 2009 and the winner will be notified via email. Paradigm Imaging reserves the right to substitute brands or items in home theater system if necessary due to product availability.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

INDUSTRY NEWS: ABI Index Slightly Up, Still Below Break Even Levels

The American Institute of Architects Architecture Billings Index (ABI), which measures the number of architecture firms with increases in billings minus the number with decreases compared to the prior month, registered 46 in October, up from 43 in September and a 14-month high, but still below the breakeven level of 50, the American Institute of Architects reported Monday.

Subindexes by practice segment, which are calculated as three-month moving averages, rose from 45 to 49 for institutional practices but were virtually unchanged for residential, commercial/industrial and mixed practices. The index is a rough indicator of future demand for building construction.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Canon/Océ Seem Upbeat About Their Deal


While the nuts and bolts of the transaction will take months to comprehend fully—for us, as well as for them! - as a group, the Océ team seems to be embracing the deal and thinking of the merger in terms of their complementary product lines.

Specifically, they told us that Canon loves their wide format BW and color product portfolio, and their sales reach, while Océ loves Canon's WF color products.

Earlier in the week, the Canon team sent us a letter officially notifying us of their plans to acquire Océ.

Canon’s EVP and General Manager of the Imaging Systems Group wrote, “We see this acquisition as a great opportunity to expand our offerings and better serve the end-users who are your customers… Through this transaction, Canon is looking to bring together our strong offerings in office MFPs with Océ’s outstanding production printing lineup, as well as match our strong LFPs for graphics with Océ’s strong printers for sign display. We believe the two companies are a good fit as both Canon and Océ have technology-driven business models and have corporate cultures that stress the importance of R&D.”

The proof is in the pudding, but it looks like mutual respect and enthusiasm are there for the moment.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

6 Students from PEiR Group Members Companies win Crest Scholarships


6 Students from PEiR Group Members Companies win Crest Scholarships




Six students from 6 different PEiR Group Members Companies recently won Crest Foundation Scholarships.

The winners were from the following PEiR Group Members:

1) Acme Blueprinting - Worchester, MA
2) Triangle Reprographics - Orlando, FL
3) HB Digital Arts & Blueprinting - Huntington Beach, CA
4) CadCopy & Supply – Shelby, NC
5) Camelot Business Document Services – Albany, NY
6) Plan and Print Systems – Syracuse, NY

Congratulations to the students and their parents

Thursday, November 19, 2009

CREST Foundation Awards $125,000 to 21 Scholars for 2009/2010 Academic Year

This year, the CREST Foundation helped keep college a high priority for 21 ambitious and committed kids by contributing $125,000 toward achieving their educational goals.

These students are children of our industry peers working at reprographics shops throughout the nation. Altogether, the parents of these young scholars represent a collective 326 years in the reprographics industry—that's an average of fifteen years in the business.

This year's student scholars are: Delane Bass, Adam Cook, Jacqueline Corrigan, Ben Deininger, Ericka Dutton, Emma Garza, Anna Goodrich, Michael Hamman, Kyndra Hankins, Nathaniel Hansen, Kelcey Heman, Alexandra Iorfino, Jodi-Ann Kong, Nancy Lopez, Charles Mann IV, Allison McGlamory, Randall Panacek, Jessica Romero, Kaitlyn Stephens, Sara Taylor, and Kelly Wise.

Their parents work at: A&E The Graphics Complex; Ace Blueprinting; Acme Blueprinting; Blair Graphics; Camelot Consulting, Inc.; CAD Copy; Capitol Blueprint; Consolidated Reprographics; Cushing and Company; Duncan-Parnell, Inc.; Dunn Blue; HB Digital Arts & Blue Print; Imaging and Printing Corporation; Peninsula Digital Imaging; Plan and Print Systems, Inc.; Reprographic Consultants; Ridgway's; MBC Precision Imaging; SBD Reprographics; Technigraphics, Inc.; Triangle Reproductions, Inc.

In less than two years, 31 children of reprographics industry employees have received $225,000 from the CREST Foundation to help fund their college educations. This remarkable accomplishment is due entirely to the generous donations of individuals, reprographics companies, industry vendors and financial institutions.
The Foundation gratefully acknowledges KIP America, Oce, Xerox, Canon, Wachovia, Drytac, HP, National-Azon, Spiral Binding, Stone Tapert, National City Commercial Capital, as well as several financial institutions and nearly 20 individuals and family trusts. Without their continued support, these scholarships would not be possible.

This year's recipients were chosen by the CREST Foundation's Selection Committee, whose members include industry veterans Bill E. Thomas, Mike Carter, Cathleen Cushing Duff, John Deermount, and Miguel Garcia.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Report From Rhode Island: ERRA/SRA Addresses Challenges - Comes Up With Solutions, Shares Insight

By Shaun Meany
The PEiR Group

I attended the joint ERRA/SRA convention last week in Newport, RI. The turnout was lower than last year's gathering but the meeting was worthwhile for those of us who decided to attend.

The highlights, for me, were some good educational sessions along with the networking opportunities afforded by my many meetings with industry leaders.

The Keynote Speaker, Jessica Cox, set the tone for the convention with her "Don’t Let Adversity Stand In the Way of Success" messaging. Jessica is truly an amazing person. Born without arms she gave a straightforward, "take no prisoners" talk about her life and how she had overcome what many of us might think was impossible. Jessica drives and has actually gotten her pilot's license. If you think you're up against adversity in this challenging economy Jessica's message hits home. Think about those without work, or prospects, or who may never be in a position to own their own businesses. And then think about Jessica!

I also enjoyed the Construction Industry Forecast presented by McGraw Hill’s Robert Singerline. The outlook for 2010 is expected to be better than 2009 (thank God!) and there are definite bright spots ahead in 2010.

Singerline sees an increase in construction ahead for all all areas of the country in the coming year. South Atlantic, South Central and the West are all expected to see double digit growth. It is important to keep in mind that even with so rosy an outlook the industry is down so low that these positives really do not translate into big numbers - especially when compared to 2006 when construction was at its peak. Residential construction should signal the early stages of a recovery. Next year, Singerline says, there will be continued growth in government projects along with some institutional and non-building construction.

Other sessions I attended but will not delve into deeply (at least in this blog post) focused on Construction Project Delivery Methods and Integrated Project Delivery (IPD). Construction is evolving and new methods (processes and contracts) are being adopted by owners, designers and contractors to maximize productivity and return on investment for stake holders. Check back to POV again for more information about these trends and what they might mean for you and your business.

There's a lot more to consider out there, lately, and I've been reading all of it. In a recent FMI report it was noted that: "As the construction industry responds to the changing economy, technology is expected to emerge as a leading factor that will alter the industry over the next five years. Although maintenance technologies such as GIS and GPS were rated among the least important factors to corporate owners this year, by 2014 technologies such as integrated project delivery will become significantly more important. Other influential factors changing the industry today include globalization, social norms, economics, politics and environmental concerns."

Whew! It's time to get ready and develop a plan to participate with these new initiatives or we might miss the boat!

No reprographics conference can be held without time for entertainment and socializing and Newport was no exception this year. The Newport "Mansion Crawl," where attendees visited incredible getaway “cottages” of the rich and famous, was fun - but humbling!

Next year the ERRA and SRA will formally merge into one organization. They'll be meeing under their new charter on November 3-5, 2010 in Norfolk, VA.

Beautiful part of the country, I hope to see you all there.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Take A Look At The Sub-Hub Upgrade!

Over the past two weeks or so there’s been a quiet sort of buzz building around the newest version of Sub-Hub.

If you’re looking for new ways to get customers off the dime and into bidding take a good hard look.

David Swider, Director of Business Development, has posted a quick primer video on YouTube* and new release notes on sub-hub.com to help you get familiar with the new features and functionality. Click on the screenshot to watch!

Click here to go to YouTube to watch!

Customers can create their own projects now, on the fly, without waiting for the reprographer to do it for them. Just as important, they can upload their own documents, too! This is a very big deal.

There are also new features that allow users to publish, un-publish, and republish projects as project workflows change, and even track a sub’s willingness to bid. In addition, customers can now choose from three different levels of access for different roles in their company, and control who can see or manage what parts of their project. (Sort of a light version of PlanWell permissions.)

Check out the video for more detail on the new upgrade to Sub-Hub.


* If your company server blocks video content, you may not be able to view the video.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

BIM & IPD 101: First Of A Series - "The Nail In The Coffin"

By Shaun Meany
The PEiR Group

Over the next few weeks I will be posting a series of articles to Point of View dealing with the impact BIM and, later, IPD (Integrated Project Delivery) will have on the future of the reprographics industry.

There is no doubt that the design and construction industry is embracing these technologies in their attempts to drive down costs and increase productivity. One such technology that is quickly being adopted by architects, engineers and contractors is Building Information Modeling (BIM).

And the following chart may best explain the reason behind this push:

What Is BIM?
BIM is a business management process that uses software to design and develop scaled 3D models of a structure’s components and systems, including material quantities and properties. It can be used throughout the building’s life-cycle — from estimation to construction to operation — to track progress and maintenance.

Why It's Important:
I am sure many of you have heard of BIM and most probably you have customers who are working with it in some capacity or another. If your design consultants are using Bentley Architecture, Graphisoft ArchiCAD, VectorWorks ARCHITECT and Autodesk's Revit and Architectural Desktop they are working with BIM.

But what you might not be aware of is that BIM is rapidly replacing traditional 2D CAD. A recent report by McGraw Hill reported the following statistics:

• Half of the industry is now using BIM or BIM-related tools - 75 percent more than in 2007.
• The U.S. West Coast leads BIM adoption with a 56 percent rate, far ahead of the Northeast (38 percent). Canada closely resembles the North American average at 48 percent.
• Current BIM users of all skill levels expect to double their application of it on projects over the next two years.

So, if you know your design companies are moving towards BIM what can you conclude about your contractors? Yep, they’re moving in the same direction, maybe not as fast but they, too, see the huge benefits of using models to test and plan implementation of building projects.

What can you do as a reprographer to help your customers who are using BIM technologies? Here are a few things:

1. Let them know you understand what BIM is and that you are interested in helping them take advantage of its capabilities.
2. Demonstrate reprographics services that complement BIM technologies - e.g. Color perspectives. 3D Model Printing. FM solutions.
3. Let your clients know that you can host their models in your document management systems.
4. Attend local workshops to learn what challenges users of BIM are facing.

BIM is the new CAD of the 21st century. You must be aware that it has the potential to dramatically change the future of the reprographics industry. For many reprographers BIM will be just another technology to understand and to adapt to.

For those who refuse to adapt and move forward with technology, it may prove to be the proverbial nail in the coffin.

Canon - iPF710 36in Plotter Special.... While Supplies Last




Miguel Gonzalez
National Account Manager
888/550-8543 Ext: 4247
864/277-2859 Direct
864/420-9829 Cell
864/277-2632 Fax
e-mail: mgonzalez@tekgraf.com

Monday, October 26, 2009

There IS Strength In Numbers - Especially When You're About To Go "Belly To Belly!"

By Rick Ysunza
The PEiR Group

Besides being a lot of fun it was great to see the interaction among PEiR members at our Executive Conference in Las Vegas last March. It was a fun dynamic, with a lot of great ideas and success stories bouncing back and forth.

Something that came out of that meeting for me is a simple tale of numbers equalling strength. We are now more than 150 member companies across the country - and internationally. I couldn't help but wonder if any of you were tapping into the strength of those numbers, picking up the phone and asking a colleague a hundred or three thousand miles away how things were going in their market.

There's a list of more than 450 names in our PEiR Group contact roster. You may want to take advantage of that and call. Your peers are a great resource and have a wealth of knowledge about survival in this at-time crazy industry.

I picked up the phone recently for a quick talk with P.J. Vidani of Green Bay Blue. Always fun to talk with, P.J. eagerly shared some of his secrets - including his "belly to belly" approach to pitching prospective customers - standing there and talking with them firsthand to determine their needs.

P.J., and others, also talked about "taking off the AEC hat" and seeking out non-core opportunities these days. Needs are shifting but business is still business, some people may have a different perception of what it is you do - you may have to take some time and explain it to them.

There will be lots of time to do this at our next Executive Conference but nothing is stopping you from reaching out right now and getting a few ideas from your fellow PEiR members. It may not be "belly to belly," but it's the next best thing!

Oce' Colorwave Promotion thru November 30th, 2009


Oce’ Colorwave 600 promotion thru November 30,2009


Oce is having a promotion for on the Colorwave 600 thru November 30, 2009

Ask you local Oce’ representative for details, or call the PEiR Group at 925-658-0200

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Drytac introduces recyclable blockout banner material for UV flatbed printers







Drytac introduces recyclable blockout banner material for UV flatbed printers

Richmond, VA, -Drytac has added a recyclable blockout banner material, for UV flatbed printers to its line of print media.

Made of low-density polyethylene (LDPE), EarthSmartT Eclipse can be recycled in commercial plastics recycling programs to become raw material for products like trash bags and landscape fabric. It is also certified by ASTM International (ASTM) to biodegrade in most landfills.

EarthSmartT Eclipse is a bright white 15 mil, curl-free banner material.
It is available in 54-inch, 63-inch and 72-inch wide rolls.

Using the EarthSmartT Eclipse banner material with Drytac's Panda StandT can provides a complete eco friendly display solution for the end user.

About DrytacR

DrytacR is a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of graphics finishing materials and equipment, including UV curable and aqueous liquid laminators and liquid coatings. It recently launched the EarthSmartT brand to help customers identify its eco-friendly products.
For more information about EarthSmart*T Eclipse* or to request a print sample, visit www.drytac.com

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Scott Schamens of Badger Blueprint Wins PEIR Group Drawing, Scott Gets Hotel Accommodations For The Next Conference!

The PEiR Group thanks all those who completed the PEiR Group Conference Survey recently. As we mentioned, everyone who filled out the survey form would be entered in a drawing for hotel accommodations at our next conference.

We held the drawing on Monday Nov. 19 and the lucky winner was Scott Schamens of Badger Blueprint in Waukesha, WI.

Scott, who didn't know his response would automatically enter him in the drawing, says he was "surprised" to find out he'd won and that PEiR would be taking care of his lodging when we get together next:

"I’m not one to respond to surveys very much and I did not read all the details... I have enjoyed going to the conferences (as they push) me further to learn about the business and what is happening on the technology side," he was kind enough to write. "I feel you have been a great value to me and do want to go and get something out of it. That is why I responded, I want to help out when you ask for input in order to keep the quality going."

Thanks, Scott! We appreciate that. You're a winner in so many ways!

Shaun Meany is reviewing all of the suggestions you were all kind enough to forward and will make an announcement soon as to where and when our next conference will be held.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Shaun And The PEiR Group Visit Chicago - City Of "Broad Shoulders"


A couple of weeks ago I went to Chicago to attend the Print '09 Trade Show. Talking with a couple of attendees, I learned that there was a significant downturn in attendance this year. Nonetheless there were over 10,000 attendees and probably just as many vendors, and everyone was ready to do business.

All major manufacturers of printing devices were there to show off their latest technologies. Heidelberg, Agfa, Xerox, Océ, Canon, EFI, HP and a host of others displayed a variety of new digital devices and workflows (see Shaun's video, left).

One manufacturer, Agfa, demonstrated a new inkjet press called the Dotrix Modular. This revolutionary printer is capable of printing at 75 lineal feet per minute at widths of up to 24 inches. Watch the video for a demonstration of this exciting new Piezo Inkjet Technology that might someday be available for our reprographics industry!

This year, Print ’09 included a Large Format Pavilion where HP, Océ, Canon and Epson showed their latest products. HP was well positioned at the show, demonstrating their Designjet Latex Technology which is targeted for environmentally responsible outdoor print applications (signs, car wraps and textiles). According to HP, the performance of these printers is comparable to low-solvent printers. HP Latex inks are made with water and are really safe and green when compared to other traditional ink technologies. Keep your eyes open for the announcement of HP’s new 42 and 60 inch models; you might want one of these in your shops!

One message that came through loud and clear at the show was that commercial printers are busy diversifying their businesses. Just as many of you are beginning to expand your services into non-AEC markets, off-set print shops are beginning to offer POP and other large format graphic applications, as well. Info Trend research indicates that 33 percent of offset print providers are planning to add or upgrade their large format printers .

Where is printing going? I see a convergence of the various printing sectors: off-set, reprographics, sign-shops, quick printers and Print on Demand. To be successful in digital printing in the future one will require capital, the right mix of digital technologies (hardware and software) and services coupled with market and application expertise.

Okay? What do you think of my amateur video? I promise to get better!

Regards,

Shaun

PEiR Group Conference Survey - Click The Link And Take The Survey!


The PEiR Group is preparing to schedule its 2010 conference schedule and we would like to have members give us some input as to our approach.

Now's the time to let us know what you want us to address in the coming year!

Click HERE to access the survey.

Webinar Alert: PlanWell DataBridge for Prolog Users


The PEiR Group will be hosting a webinar on the new PlanWell DataBridge for Prolog - a recently released application that seamlessly links the two powerful online planrooms.

When:

October 20, 2009
Time: 11:00 a.m . Pacific

Sign-Up Here

What are the key features that PlanWell Data Bridge offers your GC’s who use Prolog?

• Synchronized Project Information
– PlanWell project content flows into Prolog
– PlanWell updates Prolog with document information
– PlanWell automatically creates links in Prolog to PlanWell documents
– Creates a more complete project archive in Prolog

• Synchronized Bid Packages
– Bid packages, and documents distributed and managed by PlanWell
– BidCaster usage keeps address book current
– PlanWell provides a broadcast status report/Bid Call Report

• Synchronized Contacts
– Synchronized address book for PlanWell and Prolog

What are the Benefits to the GC Using PlanWell DataBridge with Prolog?

• Eliminate redundant data entry and reduce labor and administrative costs

• Experience dramatically increased productivity throughout the project management cycle

• PlanWell will index your drawings for you – getting them into Prolog then takes just a click of a button

• Dynamically updated packages are imported during the indexing process

• Sub-Contractor information is kept up to date as drawings are distributed through PlanWell

• Updated sub-contractor information may then be synchronized with Prolog

• Leverage digital workflow to generate more bids and win more jobs

• Dramatically increase team productivity by seamlessly sharing data between PlanWell & Prolog.

I look forward to seeing you at the October 20th webinar.

Sincerely
Shaun Meany/President
The PEiR Group

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

PEiR Group EasyPrint Program - Support For The PlotWave 300 Now Available

We are pleased to announce the availability of PlanWell EasyPrint™ support for the Océ PlotWave 300!

You can now order the firmware upgrade for the following PlanWell EasyPrint enabled printers:

 Océ TDS450
 Océ TDS700
 Océ PlotWave 300*

*Requires a separate software/hardware kit, which can be ordered at no charge. See below for the part numbers.

FAQ’s

Q: What components are in the Océ PlotWave 300 EasyPrint kit?

A: The kit contains the following: metal post and mounting brackets to attach the touch screen monitor to the PlotWave; touch screen monitor; cables; firmware CD; and installation instructions.

Q: How much does the PlanWell EasyPrint integration cost?

A: Océ does not sell PlanWell EasyPrint software so they are not charging anything for this integration, not even the hardware interface kit required with the Océ PlotWave 300. They have simply made 3 of their printers EasyPrint compatible.

Q: How do I order PlanWell EasyPrint software/hardware kit?

A: The part numbers to order the TDS firmware upgrades and the PlotWave software/hardware kit are below. Contact your Océ sales rep who can either add this part to your new machine orders, or add the kit as a component to an existing machine in the field.

Océ PlotWave 300 Kit
9718037 – PlotWave 300 Easy Print Software/Hardware Kit

Océ TDS450 Kit
9718038 - TDS450 Easy Print Software Kit
4986354 - TDS450 Easy Print Enabler license

Océ TDS700 Kit
9718038 - TDS700 Easy Print Software Kit
4904999 – TDS700 Easy Print Enabler license

If you have any additional questions regarding these integrations, please contact your Océ sales rep.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

I’ll take Manhattan! - Shaun Visits The Big Apple, Gauges The Future













By Shaun Meany
President, The PEiR Group

Last week I traveled to the Big Apple to meet with some of our members and attend Canon’s ImagePROGRAF Reseller Roundtable. I took some time to walk this great city and see for myself if "the city that never sleeps" was awake or not in terms of new construction around town.

I was surprised to see so many open lots with nothing being built on them. Reprographers in Gotham tell me that many projects had been put on hold for a variety of reasons - the biggest and most obvious one being a lack of funding.

It floored me. Here I was in the financial center of America and things were basically standing still. An exaggeration, maybe, but it was a matter of perception - the financial capital of the world finally appeared to be asleep.

The Canon Roundtable was interesting, an event Canon hosts in conjunction with the US Open Tennis Championships in Queens, NY. It was great to meet with some of Canon’s top resellers and learn what they are doing to be successful in their respective markets during these challenging economic times. Canon let us in on some of their new market share statistics and they confirmed that Canon is serious about large format.

They are, it seems, quickly taking market share from HP and Epson in the aqueous inkjet large format market space.

Back out on the town, I had to resist the urge to hold a finger in the air to see which way the financial winds were going to blow. We're in a waiting game, I think, but there is an underlying sense of optimism that things will pick up once money starts flowing again.

PEiR members are struggling with the reality that they can't be focused solely on AEC - still. This confuses me. You don't have to look far to see that the people who are doing the best in these stagnant times are the ones who are out there hustling new business, owners networking and mining every last dime out of connections made at social networking functions and pre-established business contacts.

Others are streamlining their pricing model, removing every last barrier that would make a customer say "Hmm, I dunno..." and offering "Read the Meter" solutions charting a company's use of services at the beginning of the month and end of the month and billing them once for everything in between.

It's clean and it's working, particularly as businesses are watching every penny and can't afford to spend more time than they have to accounting for them.

There are some other trends developing in the market... we'll talk about them in the days to come.

In the meantime, stay in touch and let us know how you're doing.

Regards,

Shaun

Paradigm Imaging Group Releases imagePRO Gx 42 HD Plus Scanners






Paradigm Imaging Group is announcing release of their imagePRO Gx 42 HD Plus series scanners.

The company says the imagePRO Gx 42 HD Plus series scanners deliver the sharpest CCD image capture available on the market. With true 1200 dpi optical resolution, 2D LED illumination and low energy consumption, these scanners are the industry leaders in versatility and efficiency. Not only can the imagePRO Gx 42 HD Plus scanners handle high fidelity color graphics, these scanners are also capable of capturing fine line detail in technical documents. This unique combination of vivid color reproduction and highly accurate line and detail replication make these scanners the perfect fit for reprographics, fine art, design, architecture, engineering, and facilities management.

The imagePRO Gx 42 HD Plus scanners also boast a state-of-the-art paper transport system, allowing for the safe scanning of delicate originals. The thick media (T) models can accommodate mounted originals up to .8” thick, making the GxT 42 HD Plus perfect for fine art applications. All Gx 42 HD Plus models are Energy Star® compliant, reducing energy requirements by using 30% less power when in operation and 94 percent less power when idle.

Interested?
Contact:
Jane Hicks
1590 Metro Drive, Suite 116
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Phone: 714.432.7226
Fax: 714.432.7222
Email: jane@paradigmimaging.com

Monday, September 14, 2009

Support Your Local Museum: It Pays













By The PEiR Group

Recently we talked with a busy reprographer who had just packed up and sent off a sizable print job to "some fancy blah blah New York address."

Naturally, that got our curiousity up. "Really?" we asked, "what's the name of the museum?"

Our reprographer checked his invoice, mangled the name a little and then gave us the name of one of the most prestigious museums in the country, small but with ties going back to the Revolution. It turned out he had just provided them with banners and signage for an upcoming exhibit on the origins of freedom. Centuries old documents and other artifacts were being flown in from around the world just for this showing.

It was a big job. A nice job. And we were happy for the reprographer. But we were a little chagrined to find that he may not have fully appreciated what he had just done - and the marketing potential such a job brings to the party.

Museum curators are always looking for people to support important exhibits, and if your shop has the skill set to bring off the sleek sort of signage museums want - you'll be in demand. You may want to reach out to your local museum or historical society and ask them if they have an exhibit planned now or sometime in the future.

If they do, gauge the look and feel of the exhibit and submit your work. It can be steady, lucrative, and fun.

History, it turns out, really can pay.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Prospecting In The "Days of '09" - Sometimes, You Have To Toss The Little Nuggets Before You Find The Big One


By Rick Ysunza
The PEiR Group

As a salesperson out there prospecting for business these days, I have found that the comparison could be made between us and the old miners of yore - armed with pick and shovel and searching for the elusive Mother Lode.

What would you do if that first pan gave you a tiny, yet shiny return? Would you be excited? You're darn tootin' you would. And you'd probably go back to the same spot and dig up another pan full to see if you could wheedle away another tiny fleck.

But that's not how the successful miners did it back in the day. They were looking for larger nuggets, signs that they were on to a larger vein, and they would work their pans until they yielded three good-sized nuggets, then five - and then, if they were lucky and persistent, they shouted "Eureka!" when they finally hit it big.

My message here is drawn from this approach: don't be so enticed with those initial, glinty successes that you fixate and forget to focus your prospecting efforts where you can get the most return with a decision maker further up the line.

There's a payday at the end of the vein for those who aren't afraid to pass over smaller flecks of success and follow the signs to the "Mother Lode" we all seek.

Good hunting!

Rick

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Standees Proving Popular - Do You Sell Them?


With all the kids back in school and sessions ramping up again The PEiR Group thought we'd remind you of a potential market you may find lucrative.

Some shops we know run life-size standees for local schools - everything from easel backs of the principal to the entire football team for use in pep rallies and assemblies.

This usage has dovetailed into jobs requested by proud parents eager to capture an image of their child for use at graduation parties or special events.

Have you guys done any of these? Send us your images and we'll run the best of the bunch! Shaun says it may be worth something to you!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

“Bid Services, Can I Help You?”


By Shaun Meany
The PEiR Group

For the past two years the PEiR Group has been promoting bid communication solutions and some of the opportunities technologies like BidCaster and SubHub can offer General Contractors with their Bid Processes. Some of our members understand this area of opportunity. Many do not - or just don’t see how it can benefit their customers and their own businesses.

I have talked with several reprographers who understand the bid process, have embraced our bid technologies and have enjoyed new sales as a result.

As our industry continues to evolve, many of the traditional services that you have grown to depend upon for sales and profits simply will not be demanded in the same volume as before. As the construction industry begins to crawl out from under its current cloud many of your customers, like General Contractors, will be looking to change the way they do their business processes; particularly the pre-construction or bid process.

When it comes to the bid process (often considered an overhead activity) most GC’s want to reduce expenses and boost productivity. Reducing bid set printing is one of the most obvious areas that GC’s focus on when trying to reduce expenses. There are two primary alternatives that GC’s tend to choose for reducing their printing costs: (1) send out cd-roms (2) post drawing and specs to a FTP site. While both these methods will reduce printing costs for the GC, neither approach improves productivity for the subs and suppliers. Sure, the documents get to their intended parties fairly quickly, but there are still inefficiencies (and costs) that could be controlled more efficiently with bidding solutions like BidCaster and SubHub.

Let's look at distributing bid-sets on cd-roms. The cd-roms still have to be mastered, duplicated and distributed (by mail, pick-up or express couriers). Any updates to the documentation must also go through a similar distribution process.

The next time a GC asks you to create a bid-set to be distributed via cd-rom here are a few questions you may want to ask: Why are the music and video industries moving away from cd/dvd media? How do you (Mr. GC) plan to update your subs when changes take place? How long does it take to update and notify plan holders of addendums? As you already know, with plan rooms like PlanWell or SubHub the documents are always up to date. Changes can be made real-time and anyone who has access will know what the current documents to bid upon is.

The same applies to FTP sites. It may sound simple for a GC to upload documents to a ftp site and send out instructions on how to download the documents. But when you look at this process in more detail FTP actually creates more headaches than it alleviates. First, the sub needs to know about ftp. Second, the sub needs to know a user name and password. Often the same user names and passwords are used by everyone who want access to the FTP site quickly breaching security. Third, how does the GC track who has documents? If a sub just wants to look at a document he has to download it and then view it. This can take a considerable amount of time if they have a slow Internet connection.

Here's something to ask your GC’s: Why do subs want a digital file?

An important component of bidding is tracking who is interested in bidding and who is still kicking the idea around. CD-Roms and FTP sites do not track who is interested in bidding the project. Sometimes this is the most critical information that a GC needs to know. Does he have coverage of all trades required on the project and if not how can he get more bids before due day?

More than at any other time in our industry’s history, it is vital that reprographers begin to market services beyond mere printing - and bid communications offers a perfect opportunity.

There are two approaches that you can consider with bid communications:

1. Offer bid communication software tools such as PlanWell Bidcaster or SubHub that your GC's can learn and deploy.
2. If your customers don’t want to take on learning a new system there might be an opportunity for you, the reprographer, to provide “Bid Services“ as an outsourced service.

One very progressive reprographer I've talked with recently said they've introduced a new department in their business called Bid Services and they've put a person with construction industry experience in the manager's position to make sure things run smoothly.

Either way, be it with BidCaster, SubHub or a dedicated Bid Services department, you will be offering intelligent choices that can address your GC’s needs, help them reduce costs and increase productivity. It’s a win win for both you and the customer!

What's YOUR Service Offering? Fast Food Or Fine Dining?













By Mahil Maurice
Special To The PEiR Group

Today, printing has become a commodity and only a subset of a greater service offering. Customers are looking for solutions to augment their bottom line either by cutting costs, creating more revenue through sales, or through a combination of the two approaches.

Printing Companies and Reprographers are under increasing pressure to be responsive to customer needs and find it difficult to compete in a digital age where Cutting-Edge Solutions and Impeccable Service go hand in hand.

Our industry prides itself in providing outstanding services to its customers. One wonders how a small reprographer can upgrade to the latest technology and still provide the services levels required to effectively compete.

Two primary areas where changes need to take place are ‘Work Flow’ and ‘Technology.’ Together, these need to drive adequate compensation for the services provided.

Both Work Flow and Technology go hand in hand and can be discussed in the same breath. Customers want the fastest and easiest ways to send files (content) and track delivery of those files. And the preferred medium is the Internet.

Digital methods of file delivery like FTP (File Transfer Protocol) developed in the 1970s were not designed to meet today’s requirements of optimal work flow and fast delivery of large digital files anywhere in the world. Strong consideration must be given to replacing FTP and email technologies with more nimble and robust Web Based File Delivery and Work Flow Tools.

What is your service offering? A Fast Food menu or a Fine Dining experience? FTP or Digital Work Flow?

FTP is complicated and outdated technology, for these and other reasons:

• Too cumbersome to set up, administer and time consuming for IT – With FTP, time must be devoted to setting up the hardware and software after which maintenance involves managing new users, managing credentials, setting up folder structures for projects and helping users locate files and download them. This is time that could be devoted to more productive activities by your IT staff.
• Weak Security – Data transferred via FTP can be intercepted. As a result many firewalls actually close it to ensure system integrity. Because of the open nature of FTP, an organization’s infrastructure is susceptible to viruses and malware attacks.
• Lack of Track ability and Delivery Guarantee – Track ability and delivery guarantee are vital when business critical files (content) are being delivered and FTP does not provide this. Files may be incompletely transferred if it is interrupted or stopped. End users need to know the files were received and opened by the intended recipient.

With FTP you provide a “Fast Food” menu for your customers, not a superlative service experience!

Ask yourself, is your customer ready for a fine dining experience and are you committed to providing that level of service to them?

Consider ishipdocs as the “Work Flow” tool of choice to provide a superlative service experience. The cost of subscribing to ishipdocs is less than purchasing and maintaining a FTP solution. With ishipdocs, you get;

• Software as a Service (SaaS) – Sign-up as a Print Provider and start using the solution instantly. No infrastructure, software or maintenance costs. You are up and running instantly, the essence of SaaS. Your IT personnel can be doing other things.
• Highest Security Levels - The widely used “HTTPS” protocol. This is http over encrypted SSL (Security Sockets layer). This protocol is widely used for payment transactions on the web and for sensitive transactions in corporate information systems.
• Closed Looped Work Flow Manager – No more setting up folders or helping users locate files. One Web-based tool allows files to be sent, provisioned and fulfilled for the customer and the print partner.
• Track ability and Proof of Delivery – Both customers and print partners can track an order and obtain Proof of Delivery through the tool.
• Business Intelligence – Both customers and print partners can sort and export data into Excel and CSV for Business Intelligence, Auditing and Reporting purposes.

With ishipdocs you can provide that “Fine Dining” experience you customer is looking for at a fraction of the cost of an FTP solution and effectively compete in the digital age with a web based Work Flow Manager.

In addition, a print partner instantly becomes a Global player with access to over 350 locations world wide. This completes the fine dining experience with your dessert of choice! You can distribute and receive files from and to Anywhere, Anytime!

The Reprographics industry prides itself on providing outstanding service to its customers however it cannot be achieved with obsolete FTP solutions. ishipdocs, with its robust Work Flow Manager and World Wide Reach is the solution that will enable a Reprographer/Print Partner to provide that Fine Dining experience.

Custom Pocket Folders Are A Snap With Instafinish


Spiral Binding is now the exclusive manufacturer of the Instafinish Print On Demand Folders.

Color copies, brochures and laser printed documents can be turned into custom pocket folders in seconds - perfect for sales presentations, meetings, promotional materials and reports.

Easy to use with a quick four-step process, you can create beautiful yet durable custom folders. Printed documents insert under the laminating sheets on the front and back cover. Then folders run through any pouch laminator to seal the documents. After lamination is completed, the adhesive strips from the tabs are removed and pockets are pressed into place. You can laminate everything from thin photos to heavy-duty presentation materials with the same beautiful effect.

The Print On Demand Folders are sold in packs of 10 (or boxes of 100) and are available in letter-sized format.

Spiral serves major corporations, small to mid-sized businesses, printers, facility management organizations, as well as the United States government and education markets.

Contact Info: For more information, including specifications on this machine and other Spiral products visit their web site, www.spiralbinding.com or contact Ann Marie Boggio at 800-631-3572 ext 1231.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Turning Hospital Ceilings Into Cathedral Windows - How About You?


Not too long ago our John Bidwell, no stranger to the dentist's chair, mused about how cool it would be for reprographers to contact their area dentists and hospitals and work on adding a soothing mural to those sterile surfaces.

Well, one reprographer did just that recently, using their 350GT to turn out these pastoral landscapes for a cancer treatment center in their area.

The result? Instantaneous approval from staff and patients - who are much more relaxed when visiting and who comment often on the soothing qualities of the ceiling murals.

How about you? Have you run a job you're particularly proud of, lately? If so, contact us and we'll feature it in an upcoming Point of View!

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Housing Market Stirs - More Hammers Swinging












It's a tough call, trying to pinpoint the precise time our industry recovers from the most serious economic malaise since World War II, but there are increasing signs of life from the sectors we serve.

Toll Brothers Inc.'s stock jumped Wednesday after the luxury homebuilder posted its first annual increase in signed contracts in four years.

New home contracts rose 3 percent from the third fiscal quarter last year, and the number was up a surprising 44 percent from the second fiscal quarter this year. Toll told the Associated Press that demand was so robust the company has been able to scale back the incentives it offered to get buyers in the door.

Toll sold 792 homes, generating $461.3 million in revenue for the three months ended July 31. Revenue was down 42 percent from the same period last year because home prices have declined and Toll has fewer communities around the country.

"Although some of our markets are still stuck in the mud, many are improving," Robert Toll, the company's chairman and CEO, said in a statement.

Other major builders - including D.R. Horton Inc., Pulte Homes Inc. and Centex Corp. - all recently reported better earnings for the first half of the year.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

POV "New Product" Advisory: Drytac Introduces Flexible UV Curable Liquid Coating













Drytac®, a leader in liquid coating technology, has a new UV curable clear coat for use on applications requiring maximum flexibility.

InstaCure SuperFlex is a high gloss coating flexible enough to form around rivets and stretch into compound and complex curves. It is also thermo-formable.

Tests show that InstaCure SuperFlex has the ability to stretch up to six times its original size, allowing manufacturers of fleet and vehicle graphics to benefit from the low cost and high speed applications made possible with high UV curable liquid coaters.

INSTACure SuperFlex contains a proprietary blend of acrylate and non yellowing urethane UV curable polymers to give coated prints flexibility. The coating develops a tough exterior finish that is scratch and abrasion resistant and able to withstand the rigors of commercial truck washes using standard commercial cleaners.

“With coating costs as low as 6 cents per square foot and speeds of up to 60 linear feet per minute with our new roll to roll attachment, customers can now not only compete, but for the first time in a long time, make significant profits in this industry with this product application," says Jim Tatum, Drytac’s liquid finishing division manager.

Something to consider if you do auto wraps!


The PEiR Group

Friday, August 21, 2009

HP Says It's Time To Trade Up!


Take advantage of select HP Designjet printers and get cash back!

With the HP Designjet Cash In & Trade Up promotion, you can get up to $2,500 cash back* when you upgrade your eligible old product and purchase or lease an HP Designjet Z6100 or Z3200 series printer and submit the online claim form by October 23, 2009.

You have the option of keeping or trading in your eligible old HP or non-HP large-format product—you just need to show proof that you currently own one. The promotion runs August 1, 2009 through October 23, 2009.

Plus, you can save up to $200 when you add a qualifying HP Care Pack Service, which will help reduce unexpected repair costs and downtime.


*U.S. residents only. Cash back provided by mail-in rebate available for eligible purchases made August 1, 2009–October 23, 2009. Additional restrictions apply. Void where prohibited, taxed or restricted by law.
For qualifying product options, terms and conditions, and claim form, visit www.hp.com/go/cashin4.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Canon Offers Link For FREE Exhibits-Only Pass To Print '09

"Freebie" Notice!

Here's a link for all PEiR Group members interested in attending Print '09 in Chicago - and who would like FREE access to the exhibits during the show, courtesy of Canon.

Click HERE for your free Exhibits-Only pass to the show, Sept. 11-16.

All badges will be mailed directly to the customer if they register prior to August 14. Badges cannot be picked up on-site unless the actual person is present.

The cutoff for FREE registration is August 26.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

HP Invites PEiR Members To See Their NEW Latex Printer At Print '09

Message from Shaun to all PEiR members:

Frank Marzigliano, our HP representative, has extended an invitation to all PEiR members interested in getting an early look at HP's new Latex printer at Print '09 in Chicago.

Frank has booked a special meeting room for the informal demo on September 14th from 3 to 4 p.m. CST.

This is cutting-edge stuff. Here's the agenda:

• Demo (40 minutes)
• Company overview & sign non-disclosure (5 minutes)
• Overview of HP Signage portfolio (5 minutes)
• Latex technology (5 minutes)
• Demonstration (15 minutes)
• Key applications & media portfolio (10 minutes)

The official public announcement of the Latex machine will be at SGIA in New Orleans in early October, according to Frank. Print 'O9 would be a great early opportunity for us all to watch them put the machine through its paces.

If you're interested drop me an email and I'll make it happen. Should be fun.


Regards,

Shaun

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Signs Of Life And Recovery Around The Global Marketplace - How Are Things In Your Neck Of The Woods?







The PEiR Group

There may still be a long road ahead of us as some have said, but recent developments have given rise to hope that the nation is about to emerge from the worst recession since World War II.

“Recession is over, economy is recovering – let’s look forward and stop the backward-looking focus,” John E. Silvia, the Wells Fargo chief economist, wrote Tuesday.

“We’ve found the bottom,” says Mark Fleming, chief economist for First American CoreLogic, a data firm monitoring housing starts and sales.

Perhaps, we’re all watching and hoping, that’s for sure. But other indicators have arisen to indicate a return to more prosperous times for America and the world.

In China, that country’s largest state-owned construction company pocketed $7.3 billion from investors after an initial public offering of it shares attracted widespread attention. Although the slowdown in the country’s growth caused China State Construction Engineering Corp’s profits to fall last year, its IPO is by far the largest in China this year and the world’s biggest since Visa raised $19 billion in its IPO 16 months ago.

In Europe, nearly a quarter of wide-format printers in the industry today expect business to improve during the remainder of this year with 14 percent already reporting signs of recovery, a recent survey indicates.

In a survey of 400 European printers, 23 percent are pinning hopes on an upturn in the latter part of this year, 25.6 percent expect a change of fortunes to emerge in early 2010. A similar figure anticipates an upturn later, in the second half of the year and less than 12 percent expect conditions to last into 2011.

Fully 83 percent of the survey's respondents say their companies are well-positioned to “take advantage” of market conditions when it rebounds.

And there you have it. Hopefully, we’ll all be on our way soon.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

ishipdocs Client Seats - Be Sure To Make Use Of Them

For those PEiR members who have taken advantage of the 90 day free trial of ishipdocs, have you implemented the five “Client Seats” that are part of the trial?

The client seats can lock in your customer, as well as save you and your customers time and money.

You just assign a client seat to a customer, then they will be able to send you files faster and more secure than through FTP.

The customer has an order number at their finger tips and can get the status of their order online without making a phone call. How much time do you spend handling phone calls to give the status of an order each day?

If you have any question on the “Client Seats” call The PEiR Group today at 925 658-0200.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Look Around - Did You Just Walk Past A Sale?












Obviously, construction projects are hard to find right now, and you may feel our services are not exactly needed. That said, there may be a few existing sales opportunities out there you’re walking past everyday.

Are you?

When you’re out on a sales call, don’t forget to take a good, hard look at the building registry in the lobby. Think it over: are there any prospects in the building you haven’t called on yet?

And let’s not forget about “Suite 100,” usually the building’s owners, management company, or leasing agents. Poke your head in and ask around, you may find the onsite manager and you may be surprised to find out how many drawings they have in storage.

Anyone seeing an archiving opportunity? Not only could you scan these drawings to CD for your customers but with PlanWell you could offer long-term storage solutions with PlanWell Legacy.

And where are these little gold mines of steady work located? Hospitals, Class A commercial buildings, school districts and assisted living facilities… to name just a few. They’re out there, are you walking past them or giving them the attention they deserve?

You may be happy you did.

The Author: PEiR Group Account Manager Rick Ysunza

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Giving Your Customers An e-Commerce Solution: We'll Show You How!












Over the last decade many reprographers have leveraged the capabilities of the Internet to improve their efficiencies and expand their services.

What can we do now that we couldn’t do a decade ago? Well, we can accept files via email or FTP, offer plan rooms for viewing and ordering and distributing documents, conduct long-distance business over Skype and mitigate the need for expensive business travel with Web conferencing. These are just a few examples of what I call e-Business successes. However, only a few reprographers I have talked with have fully adopted a true e-Commerce offering (pricing and charging customers through the Internet) and presented it to their customers.

I am not sure what is holding back the industry from online pricing; maybe it is because many reprographers are afraid to show prices, the pricing is so complex and every customer has a different price, or that the cost of shipping and other extra charges often associated with a job cannot be determined at the time of ordering. Whatever the reason, I believe it is critical that we get our act together and make it easy for customers to request services over the Web and know what they will spend before they place the order.

When you go online to Amazon or iTunes to buy a book or a song don’t you expect to know what you will pay at the time of transaction? Why should your customers be any different?

If our industry is to evolve we must embrace e-Commerce, make it work for us, and at the same time expand our scope of services that we offer over the Web. Sure, steady clients trust that you will bill them accurately but what about new customers who would like to be doing business with you? Are you making it easy or difficult for them?

As you are all aware, our industry is radically changing, customers who used to order most of the printing in the past are doing significantly less printing today. Many are transferring the printing costs to their customers or suppliers and these new customers are the ones that are actually paying your bills. Sure, the print volumes are less but the profit opportunities in many cases can be even greater than before. But there is one thing that we as an industry must understand: if we are to survive we must be able to sell our services over the Internet and that means we must offer online pricing and a pleasant e-commerce experience.

With this goal in mind, I would like to share with those who are interested, how PlanWell is prepared to take the Reprographics Industry a step closer to an e-commerce solution. Please join me Thursday, July 23rd at 10 a.m. (PT) for a webinar and demonstration on how PlanWell allows students, sub-contractors, realtors, insurance agents and a host of other retail customers to easily conduct e-commerce transactions with your company. We'll have another one on July 30 at 9 a.m. (PT) - we hope you can join us.

Sign-up for the July 23 webinar HERE.

Sign up for the July 30 webinar HERE.

As our industry continues to evolve I believe you’ll find many of your future customers coming to you not only with the expectation of ordering your products and services, but also to see your pricing up front, along with the ability to charge their credit cards at the time of ordering. What are you going to do about it?

Regards,

Shaun Meany

Monday, July 20, 2009

Let's Talk Turkey: Pick The Real One!


One of our members had a little idle time on his hands recently and he decided to see if he could come up with a decoy to beguile a nosy flock of turkeys hanging around his shop.

He snapped a picture, ran it out on gatorboard and staked it out to see if it drew any interest from the feathered set.

It did. In about ten minutes, apparently.

You tell us which one is the real thing...

Chalk Up Another Win For ishipdocs - Are You Using It?


Need an example of how ishipdocs can pull off a minor miracle for you and your team? Well, there's a reprographer in Houston who found the power in the offering recently - and is glad he did.

“A very good client of ours was in a rush to get a Duratrans printed and shipped to San Francisco overnight," says our hero. "At first, I thought about the traditional methods, but then I thought about using ishipdocs."

The reprographer went to the ishipdocs site, typed in the address and found the closest location of a partnering shop which, as it happens, was less than a mile from where his client was staying. That's when the light bulb went off in his head.

“I called and asked if they could print Duratrans and when they said they could, I sent them the file and they had it done and delivered within two hours,” he says. “I cannot see how anyone else could have done this and it was an added surprise to my client when it was delivered that soon.”

Steady revenue, higher customer satisfaction... miracle wins for your firm. If you're using ishipdocs, you're one of the smart ones. If you're not, why not?

Saturday, July 18, 2009

How To Show Your Customer What You're Going To Do For Them BEFORE You Do It



It was a big request for a big job - a 5'x40' site banner to be precise. The client was worried about its positioning, and whether it would be exposed to vandals.

That's when a production technician took the bull by the horns and worked a little magic with Photoshop, showing them in "virtual" terms how it would look in place. The upshot? Done deal...

Once the client saw them, “they couldn’t place the order fast enough,” the shop reported. “It couldn’t have worked out better."

Next time you're wondering how to make technology work for you, remember this little application. The ability to demonstrate your shop's capability before you do it is a powerful benefit.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Reprographers Turn To ishipdocs To "Ship Digitally," Business Remains Brisk


Point of View has talked about ishipdocs and what it can mean to firms who need to ship their documents digitally to far off locales. Those who use it call the application a "win win," with the client saving money and the reprographer capturing revenue from the job - as well as repeat business once clients realize how effective a service ishipdocs really is.

Rationale for using the model ranges from its speed to a desire to get around long customs lines, airports and the shipping chokepoints most commonly associated with traditional shipping methods.

In several cases, reprographers who signed up for the application have had jobs waiting for them upon their return to the office - and a whole new revenue stream open to their shops.

Who's using it? Check the list below, you may recognize some of the names:

Company,Country and No. of Jobs to Date
Air Graphics 1
Demaille France 3
FIS Japan Japan 1
Group Momentum Australia 1
Les Poly Quebec 5
Maxicopias Mexico 2
MS Dallas 3
Perkinson 1
Precision Blue 2
Profiman Dubai 3
Reprographic Technologies 1
Rotolite Elliot 1

Monday, July 6, 2009

Bertl's Names the Best of 2009: Canon's imagePROGRAF Shines


Bertl's has chosen Canon's imagePROGRAF iPF820 as the "Best Value for 44" Technical Document Printer for the 14th annual selection of top imaging equipment.

Bertl's called the imagePROGRAF iPF820 as "best value" overall and cited the rationale for its decision:
• Price point for a 5 color ink-jet two roll printer
• Two roll system with semi automated load of a roll
• DoD 52220.22M security compliant
• Top speed of 688 sq ft/hr
• Economy printing mode that reduces ink consumption
by almost half (40%)
• CAD/STATION PS+ color RIP for added color
matching and postscript support with the iPF820 Pro

Something to consider...

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Attention All BidCaster Users...

The PEiR Group is hosting an educational webinar on how end users can put the power of BidCaster to best use.

Please feel free to invite all your customers to sign-up, they'll be grateful to you.

The Webinar will be held on September 30th, 2009 10am pacific time.

Please click here to sign-up.

If you have any questions, please contact the PEiR Group at 925-658-0215

Monday, June 29, 2009

Learning From The Best: Get Back To Basics





By Shaun Meany
The PEiR Group




Last Sunday I had a chance to watch the U.S. national soccer team play Brazil in the Confederation Cup finals in Johannesburg South Africa. I normally don’t watch much soccer, but after the U.S. team surprised Spain (another world class powerhouse) with a score of 2-0 earlier in the week; I just had to watch the U.S. play Brazil.

It was a great game, and it wasn't long into it that I begin to see parallels between the match and our industry today. Like the U.S. and Brazilian players, we're playing to win in an environment full of challenges. Your business, of course, is not a game, your livelihood and those of your employees are at stake - not a silver cup and bragging rights. But if you look at your business and prepare yourselves like the Americans did before their games with Spain and Brazil there are lessons to be found as we enter the second half this challenging year.

Preparing for Sunday's match, the U.S. team was keenly focused on soccer basics: maintain ball possession, keep up a good defense and capitalize on scoring opportunities. This was clearly demonstrated as the U.S. built a 2-0 lead going into the second half.

But when play resumed the Americans were noticeably exhausted. They started to make critical mistakes. The rest was soccer history: the Brazilian’s closed the gap 2-1 then 2-2 and finally toward the end of the half they took the lead and the final with a last minute surge that put them on top at 3-2.

So, what are the lessons that you can learn from this?

The business challenges you are facing require that you have your best team available and ready to play.

This economic cycle we are currently facing is just finishing the first half. You need to pace yourself and your employees to maintain good practices, keep your business fit and lean so it can meet the second half with enthusiasm and creativity.

Remember the basics. Treat each customer and job as if it is the only one. Study your competition. What are they doing that you're not? Are you focusing on just AEC or looking for revenues in quick printing and copying, large and small format color, archiving, FM’s and growing digital services?

Here's my locker room sales talk: Don’t be like the US soccer team. Keep focused on the goal, remember the basics and keep pace with your competition - and save a little extra for when you'll need it!

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Social Media and Reprographics: What It All Means To You


"Shaun's Corner"
by Shaun Meany

YouTube, BlogSpot, Twitter, Yammer, Facebook, LinkedIn and a host of other online social networking sites, frequently used by the “Y Generation," are quickly becoming popular hangouts for businesses and business owners, as well.

But how do you use these online social networking sites to share your expertise, gain a following, and increase your income potential for your reprographics business?

I thought it would be helpful to share some of my research about online social networking and how social media can be put to good use for growing your business.

If you think online social networking is something you want to do, you ought to create a social media marketing plan (this could be included in your annual marketing plan as well). The plan should be in writing and should quantify your goals and identify the primary social networks you are interested in targeting. Be sure that you target networks that fit your needs and desires. For example, I am a member of LinkedIn Network and I have joined several special interest groups within LinkedIn such as: reprographics group, info trends, sales and marketing, wide format imaging, salesforce.com and a few others. By being a member of these groups I have the opportunity to monitor what others are thinking and talking about. This information is invaluable as it helps a business owner know what is on peoples minds and where the future of his or her respective industry may be heading.

Keep in mind that your access to and control of what is said on social networks is often very limited. Social networks turn individuals into marketers for your company, but it can be very difficult to control the messages they send.

Also, remember when posting a message on a social network site that it’s important to add value to your content, not just pitch your products.

The idea is to monitor people talking about the things your company does, and then join in with useful information and expertise that can help answer their questions and solve their problems. When you do decide to make your contribution to the social network be sure to refer to your blog or twitter account so people can check you out for the link.

New social networking sites are popping up all the time. Take Twitter. This micro-blog site allows people to follow a topic or a person and post daily, hourly and sometimes minute by minute tweets (updates). I am just starting to get into twitter and still am navigating through all the different subjects and looking for a way to apply to my business needs. If you want you can tweet me at http://twitter.com/shaunmeany.

The rise of instant communication technologies has created a whole new environment for doing our business. If we are to survive in the future we must learn to adapt and apply the new marketing paradigms of the Generation Y's.

There are some interesting tools available to us today. Instead of turning our nose up at them, we may be well advised to learn how to use them effectively.

Tweet me sometime... or even just pick up the old fashioned phone! Communication, in any form, is a good thing.


Regards,

Shaun

Update on Construction Outlook

McGraw Hill published its Spring 2009 Construction Outlook publication and here are some of the significant highlights of the of the report.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act includes a $787 billion stimulus of which approximately $130 billion will go to construction from 2009-2011. The bulk of construction related stimulus money is going to GSA and the DOT.

GSA Activity:

  • 70% of the GSA work will be in Washington DC with the majority of the remaining 30% going to projects in the larger states such as California and DC.
  • These projects will likely not start any time soon; the GSA needs to obligate $5 billion by mid-2010 and the remaining amount by mid-2011.
  • There are numerous rules and regulations that will go along with these projects; many of which may cause many of your customers to opt out of bidding.

DOT Activity:

  • There is immediate work with half of the funding required to be designated by June 30, 2009 and the remaining half by March 2010.
  • Current breakdown of funds is $27.5 billion for highways, $8.4 billion for transit, $9.3 billion for rail ($1.3 billion for Amtrak; $8 billion for high speed rail) and $1 billion to TSA.
  • This funding is “use it or lose it” which means it will not be wasted by the states stimulus plan eliminates the standard state fund matching requirement.
  • For roads, this is 20% of the total project cost; again supporting that these funds will not be wasted..

Monday, June 22, 2009

Spiral’s New Speedylam™ Is The Fastest Pouch Laminator Made

The SpeedyLam™ 330R10 is the fastest pouch laminator available. It will laminate up to 12' per minute, making it possible to laminate a letter sized pouch every five seconds. It offers six heated rollers, two cooling rollers and two outlet rollers. This unique 10 roller system and heavy duty cooling fans provide super fast lamination speeds while assuring high quality results even on difficult to laminate items such as photos, inkjet prints and color copies.

The SpeedyLam™ 330R10 features an LCD display that offers variable heat and speed controls and a reverse button to clear jams. A counter to measure the amount of lamination produced in a session and a memory feature to preset functions for frequent applications are also included. The removable top roller cover makes maintenance simple and a cool down cycle will automatically shut the system off when it reaches the proper temperature thus preventing damage to the heated rollers.

For more information, including specifications on this machine and other Spiral products visit their Web site, or contact Ann Marie Boggio at 800-631-3572 ext 1231.