Print Solutions Magazine, April 2003 -- 433 E. Monroe

No Matter How Long the Winter...

Just when it seemed we had all the winter weather we could handle, spring arrived. But as much as we complained about the bitter-cold temperatures, shoveling our driveways, piling on layers of clothing, digging our cars out of snow drifts and suffering from cabin fever, winter is good. "If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant," wrote American poet Anne Bradstreet nearly 340 years ago.

Today, the forms industry is experiencing a rough winter. But as Bradstreet also wrote, "If we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome." Preparing for a bountiful spring, industry firms are embracing technology, focusing on marketing, targeting lucrative markets, and achieving company unity and client satisfaction.

Print Solutions' cover story this month, "Riding the E-Commerce Wave," beginning on page 66, highlights three industry firms that are sowing the seeds of success with e-commerce. Each has found practical ways to leverage existing capabilities with new online offerings. Thanks to e-commerce, one firm is streamlining its warehousing operations, another is partnering online with other firms to increase sales, and another is improving its supply-chain management.

With nearly 600 independent distributorship owners in the United States and Canada, business is flourishing at Cleveland-based distributorship franchise Proforma. "An Empowered Network," beginning on page 47, details how the company thrives because of marketing power and its cohesive Worldwide Support Center.

The sluggish economy and stiff global competition have hurt the manufacturing market, but many distributors say it's ripe with opportunity. "Winning in a Struggling Market," beginning on page 74, explains how document pros prosper in the market by saving clients time, effort and dollars.

Branch-Smith Printing Division, a printer based in Fort Worth, Texas, has reaped five consecutive years of growth despite a competitive market and weak economy. "Standing Tall as a Quality Leader," beginning on page 12, details how company unity and a thirst for client satisfaction helped the firm win the country's top award for quality achievement and performance excellence.

How is your firm preparing for a bright spring?

Kara S. Carpenter

Assistant Managing Editor

kcarpenter@PSDA.org

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Table of Contents

Editor in Chief

Peter L. Colaianni, CAE

Vice President,
Publications & New Media

Brad Holt

Managing Editor

Darin Painter
Assistant Managing Editor
Kara Carpenter

Assistant Editor

Preeti Vasishtha

Art Director/
Production Manager

Roxanne Rash

Contributing Editors

Dennis McGarry, CDC

Gail O'Roke, CDC

Publications Committee

Steve Visio, Chairperson
Ross Barker
Bob Bell
Cory Blatz
Chuck Calman
Skip Dragoiu
Carrie Fireoved
Charlie Graham
Jeff Hayzlett
Bob McAleavey
Mike Nawn
Tom Nelson
Gail O'Roke, CDC
John Smilko
Dan Swagler
Dave Tobik
Dave Wandling, CDC
Jerry Weidner
Bob Wilson, CFC

Advertising Sales

Jack Burris

The Townsend Group Inc.

4920 Elm St., Ste. 325

Bethesda, MD 20814

Phone: (301) 215-6710

Fax: (301) 215-7704

jburris@townsend-group.com

Print Solutions Online

Print Solutions, the only industry magazine to win awards for writing and design excellence, is available online at www.printsolutionsmag.com. The site includes daily news, a comprehensive archive of Print Solutions articles, a complete media kit, links to industry companies and other features not included in the magazine.

Print Solutions is the official publication of the Print Services & Distribution Association (PSDA), the Association for Business Printing Independents. Unsolicited manuscripts are welcome. Please address all submissions to: The Editor, Print Solutions Magazine, 433 E. Monroe Ave., Alexandria, VA 22301-1693. Phone (703) 836-6232, fax (703) 549-4966. You can reach us via email at editors@printsolutionsmag.com. Visit our World Wide Web site at www.printsolutionsmag.com.

Volume 41, Number 5, May 2003. Print Solutions (USPS 205-400, ISSN 1535-9727) is published monthly by DMIA, 433 E. Monroe Ave., Alexandria, VA 22301-1693, (703) 836-6232. Subscriptions: $29 per year for DMIA members included in dues, $49 for non-members (plus postage for Canada and foreign). Periodicals postage paid at Alexandria, VA, and additional mailing offices.

Postmaster: Send address changes to Print Solutions, 433 E. Monroe Ave., Alexandria, VA 22301-1693.

Statements of fact and opinion are the responsibility of the authors alone and do not imply approval on the part of the Publications Committee, Officers or Membership of DMIA.

Printed in the USA.