President's Column Was Inspiring
I've intended to send DMIA President Gail O'Roke a note since I first heard her acceptance speech last year at the association's Informservices 2002 (i2002), the Print Solutions Conference & Expo. Her speech was refreshing, and she communicated new ideas in an interesting fashion.
Now, I'd like to make positive comments about her continued great information in Print Solutions' monthly President's Message column. It's delivered in a unique style. And after reading her July column, "Simple Tokens of Thanks Go a Long Way," I'm shamed into really doing something!
I admire the way O'Roke delivers her messages. I'm sure she's part of an interesting company and that she's carrying on her great family tradition in this industry with style. Thanks for your inspiration.
Daniel F. Smith, CPA
Vice President
Plantrol Systems Ltd.
Westfield, N.Y.
E-Forms Return Should Exceed Investment
We invested a lot of time and substantial money in gaining some expertise and some sales from e-form applications. As time (and money) went by, however, we eventually concluded that we could achieve a much higher return devoting our time to selling traditional forms products, commercial printing and labels.
We installed e-forms applications in our own business and use them successfully. Also, my clients are using e-forms. In many cases, however, they didn't get them from me, but received them as add-ons to software they purchased. Most customers, unless they have a dire need, aren't motivated to invest time and money to replace existing systems that involve familiar, traditional forms that work.
I do see opportunities for e-forms in internet applications, and there seems to be a move to standardization using PDFs. In the past, we had so many different e-forms options (some at considerable costs), it was difficult to decide which one to adopt for resale.
Are e-forms a viable growth area for distributors? Well, it depends. We have an application opportunity with an existing client, and I'm excited about it as a problem we can solve. Like most distributors, though, I still haven't found the means by which the amount of return will be more than our investment.
We're entertaining some ideas that would provide us with a continuing revenue stream from e-forms applications--if they work. If they don't, we'll continue to supply e-forms when requested by clients, but won't invest any more time and or money chasing after them.
If e-forms replace traditional forms and distributors don't receive ongoing revenue from them, distributors will have to look to other printed products and related services to sustain our businesses.
Hugh Maksylewich, CFC
President
Proforma Maksylewich & Associates
Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Talk to Us
We encourage feedback about stories published in Print Solutions, as well as in DMIA's E-Weekly and Independent Management Report e-newsletters.
Question of the month: According to a recent Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulation, companies wishing to fax unsolicited advertisements must obtain written consent from customers. Although the FCC has issued a stay of the regulation until Jan. 1, 2005, how might this affect the direct mail industry?
