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RB&O Launches New Identity, Market Positioning
Riley Barnard & O’Connell (RB&O), Maryland Heights, Mo., announced that it has re-branded with a new name—RBO PrintLogistix—and a new visual identity—a colorful fingerprint. The name and logo symbolize the company’s expanded capabilities and its ability to turn each customized, complex project into a time-saving, money-making solution for its clients. On the logo, bands of colors from the inner ring out (which represent the ink colors used in 4-color process and digital printing) signal the company’s ability to handle intricate jobs across digital and traditional print media.
Webb/Mason Expands Corporate, Chicago Offices
Webb/Mason Inc. expanded its corporate headquarters to 80,000 square feet and its Chicago offices to 26,500 square feet to accommodate increased space requirements resulting from the company’s continuous growth. The company’s Baltimore headquarters now includes 12,000 square feet of additional office space, a promotional products showroom and an employee fitness center. The company also converted its 110,000-square foot warehouse to a narrow aisle format, which increases storage capacity by 20 percent. The Chicago facility now has office space of 5,000 square feet, including an employee fitness center and a 21,500-square foot warehouse.
InnerWorkings Responds to Critical Column
InnerWorkings, Chicago, responded to a column published Jan 15. in Barron’s magazine, saying that the column contains numerous factual errors and mischaracterizes its technology and business. In the Barron’s column, author Bill Alpert pointed to the company’s 80 percent stock price increase and suggested that hucksterism might be involved. InnerWorkings said its technology was proprietary, and denied that the number of vendors in its supplier network was inflated in its IPO offering documents, and that acquisitions have driven much of the company’s growth.
PrintConcepts to Relocate Headquarters
PrintConcepts relocated its corporate headquarters and print management center to 7046 Snowdrift Rd., Allentown, Pa. The 18,000 square-foot building allows the company to continue its growth, and expand its offerings in printing, advertising, direct mail and fulfillment to local and national clients.
Study: Direct Mail Popular With Women
About 85 percent of women between the ages of 25 and 44 read printed direct mail marketing pieces despite the influx of electronically-generated ads, according to a study by Vertis Communications. The Customer Focus Direct Mail study indicates that marketers can increase the effectiveness of direct mail campaigns by offering exclusive deals and coupons. Seventy-two percent of adults surveyed said they have replied to direct mail containing a “buy one, get one free” offer. The study also shows that direct mail response rates are significantly higher among Hispanics, and that consumers are becoming more comfortable providing credit card information online.
Deluxe to Lay Off 145 Employees
Deluxe Corp. said it’s laying off 145 workers, and 37 of the cuts will be from its Minnesota facilities in Shoreview and Arden Hills. The rest will be from other locations, according to a Jan. 11 story in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. The company laid off 250 workers in November to streamline its workforce.
FedEx Kinko’s Adds Direct Mail, Online Print Services
FedEx Kinko’s introduced two offerings — FedEx Kinko’s Direct Mail Services and Print Online. For advertising and marketing campaigns, the direct mail services help small and medium-sized businesses easily communicate with target audiences. Services include design, production, professional finishing, address cleansing and verification and mail processing in one place. Print Online is a web-based print management tool that allows customers to digitally send documents to FedEx Kinko’s Office and Print Centers for printing. Customers can select from extensive printing and finishing options, track order status, reuse saved print jobs, and review order history.
IBSA, SATO Sign Deal on Patient ID Technology
International Business Solutions Alliance signed an agreement with SATO Corp. to offer a more secure method of administering patient care and improving patient safety. SATO’s Positive Patient ID solution offers health care providers cost-effective patient identification technology, including SATO DuraMark thermal wristbands, code-colorized fastening clips, thermal printers and Label Gallery HC application software. The solution improves an organization’s method of banding, tracking, and administering medications to patients.
e-Quantum Adds 64 Clients
e-Quantum, Reno, Nev., announced that it added 64 new distributor clients in 2006. The company saw a 73 percent increase in online orders on Quantum Net in 2006 from 2005. Imprint/template orders and office product orders increased 48 percent and 41 percent respectively, the company said. Currently, 17,704 companies conduct online business with e-Quantum distributors via Quantum Net, an integrated e-commerce platform for electronic ordering, client catalogs, credit card purchases, custom imprint templates and sales of print, ad specialty, office supplies and computer consumables.
It’s All Work, No Play for Business Managers
Almost half of U.S. small business managers work during time meant for family, and admit to making business calls and checking email while driving, according to a national survey that reveals the unusual lengths taken by workers to sustain productivity. Conducted on behalf of Staples Inc., the telephone poll explored the balance between work and personal time for 300 leaders of companies with fewer than 20 employees, a group representing nearly 90 percent of all U.S. businesses, according to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). Overall, respondents reported long hours, diminished vacation and an ever-blurring line separating work from time-off. For most of the managers surveyed, the standard 40-hour work week doesn’t apply. Nearly two-thirds work well beyond a 40-hour week, and one in five (21 percent) work a double week, logging an extra 40 or more on-the-job hours. Participants cited business growth (9 percent), added responsibility (7 percent), and “trying to keep up” (5 percent) for their heavy workloads.
R.R. Donnelley Completes Banta Acquisition
R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co. completed its $1.3 billion purchase of Banta Corp., which provides printing and supply chain management services. The deal was first announced in late October. The company has said it will retain a majority of Banta’s employees but will seek $75 million in cost savings by eliminating overlapping businesses and operations.
Cenveo to Acquire Cadmus Communications
Cenveo Inc. signed a merger agreement to acquire all shares of Cadmus Communications Corp. for $24.75 per share. The agreement, approved by the boards of directors of both companies, is expected to close in 90 days. The cash value of the acquisition is about $237 million. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., Cadmus, with 3,300 employees, offers content management and production services to trade journal publishers. In the year ended June 30, 2006, Cadmus had more than $450 million in revenues. Through cost cutting, Cenveo expects to generate annualized cost savings of at least $20 million in the first 12 months after the closing. Last year, Cenveo sought to buy Banta Corp., a Menasha, Wis.-based printing company, which declined the proposal but later accepted a higher buyout offer from Chicago-based R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company.
Misprinted Tax Forms Pose Identity Theft Problem
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue urged taxpayers to guard against identity theft after Social Security numbers for 171,000 taxpayers inadvertently ended up on mailing labels for their tax forms, according to a Jan. 4 story in La Crosse Tribune. The labels were printed by Ripon Community Printers, a private company that received taxpayers’ names, addresses and Social Security numbers from the state. The state chose the company to print and mail its tax booklets three years ago in a bidding process.
Ennis Quarterly Earnings Rise
Ennis Inc. reported financial results for the three and nine months ended Nov. 30, 2006. Sales for the quarter increased 15.2 percent to $151.7 million from $131.7 million. Apparel sales were up 22.6 percent for the quarter to $66.1 million. Net earnings increased 6.9 percent over the same quarter last year to $10.8 million. Full-year earnings leaped to $5.5 million from $1.1 million in the year-ago period. Full-year revenue rose 8 percent to $145.2 million.
Champion Industries Reports Q4 Profit
Champion Industries Inc. said its fourth-quarter earnings jumped to nearly $2 million compared to $569,000 in the prior year. Last year’s results were partially hurt by $1 million in Hurricane Katrina-related charges and the settlement of various legal issues for a total of $777,000. The company said this year’s results benefited from improved gross margin and operating margin plus higher sales, especially in its printing business, which reported an 8.1 percent increase. Quarterly revenue for the period ending Oct. 31 rose nearly 7 percent to $37 million. Full-year earnings leaped to $5.5 million vs. $1.1 million in the year-ago period. Full-year revenue rose 8 percent to $145.2 million.
FormStore Reports Record Sales
FormStore Incorporated said that sales of its patented LaserWell membership identification cards and new digital print solutions set new sales records in both domestic and international markets in 2006. The company celebrated its record year by sharing special cash bonuses with 60 of its 98 employees who have 5-plus years of service.
Amgraf Wins Nomination for Two Awards
Amgraf Inc. won nominations for the Best Software and Best Technology Provider Awards at the Gartner Print & Imaging Summit held Dec. 4-6 in Carlsbad, Calif. The Best of Print & Imaging Summit Awards, which recognize companies that have demonstrated excellence and leadership in the print marketplace, were voted on by the attending IT executives after reading case studies and hearing briefings about the solutions. Amgraf demonstrated its OneForm Designer Plus and MECCA 2000 Integrated Electronic Publishing Systems.
WorkflowOne Facility Earns ISO Certifications
WorkflowOne’s Goshen, Ind., facility became the company’s first manufacturing plant to earn both the ISO 9001:2000 and ISO/TS 16949:2002 quality management process certifications from the International Standards Organization (ISO) and the International Automotive Task Force (IATF). The Goshen plant manufactures printed labels and business forms, with expertise in integrated form/label combinations, in-line pattern adhesive coating and pressure seal products.
Corporate Express Acquires Incentive Group of Companies
Corporate Express Inc. announced that its promotional marketing division, Corporate Express Promotional Marketing, has acquired London-based The Incentive Group of Companies Ltd. The division is a global supplier of brand merchandise programs to large corporations and organizations. The Incentive Group is a privately owned company that provides promotional products and services to customers in the United Kingdom. The company will be merged with Corporate Express Promotional Marketing’s existing European business.
OfficeMax to Install Xerox Systems
OfficeMax Inc. signed a three-year agreement with Xerox Corp. to complete the rollout of nearly 3,000 Xerox printers and multifunction systems to 900 retail stores nationwide. OfficeMax is replacing color and black-and-white production and office printing systems both behind the counter and for walk-up use. The agreement makes Xerox the primary equipment vendor for OfficeMax ImPress, the company’s print and document services operation.
Boise Cascade to Close Oregon Facility
Boise Paper, a business unit of Boise Cascade LLC, announced that it’s closing its paper converting facility in Salem, Ore. The converting operations will be phased out over the next nine months with permanent closure scheduled for the end of the third quarter 2007. The company plans to sell the property. Its future converting requirements will be provided by Boise’s paper mills located in Alabama, Oregon, Minnesota, and Washington. Boise’s corrugated container plant will continue to operate in Salem.
MeadWestvaco to Close Two Packaging Plants
MeadWestvaco Corp. will discontinue operations at its media packaging plant in Louisville, Ky., and its health care packaging plant in Garner, N.C., to improve operating efficiency. Production at the Louisville facility will discontinue and be moved to other U.S. facilities by March 31. The company will transfer production at its Garner facility to its manufacturing plant in Mebane, N.C., by April 30. Approximately 240 employees will be affected by the move and will receive 60-day notification and appropriate termination benefits.