• The 3D PrintShow 2014 will take place from
    Feb 12-15 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City – 125 West 18th
    Street, NYC, NY 10011
    I’m planning
    on attending this show.  If any of you
    are also planning to attend and would like to meet up for a drink, please let
    me know.
    Link to
    information about the 3D PrintShow:

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  • For those of
    you who have been following the Textura “story”, in other words, the (accusatory)
    comments that Citron Research has made, (rebuttal) comments analysts have made
    and (denial) statements from Textura, here’s another “part” of the story – a
    follow-up note put up on Citron Research’s web-site on January 13
    th.
    (First, some context; When Textura talks about its potential for
    growth, it always refers to the “total addressable market” – using the
    construction market!)
    Before I
    show the link to Citron’s site, I’d like to share with you my favorite
    paragraph in Citron’s latest note:
    “So instead of discussing management credibility or how
    Textura has been operating for 10 years, and has booked losses of over $185
    million, they would rather rely on such meaningless phrases as “total
    addressable market”. Shit, if that’s the case they might as well open a pizza
    shop … everyone loves pizza … the total addressable market is huge!”
    Link to
    article on Citron’s web-site:

    User
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  • I just noticed that Carl Peter Clampit,
    previously Chief Sales and Marketing Officer / Sales Optimization of Service
    Point Solutions (and previously based in Barcelona), recently took on the role
    of Managing Director of SPS’s business in Germany (Koebcke GMBH)
    Best wishes to Carl for lots of success in
    his efforts to reorganize and grow Koebcke’s business.
    Carl Peter Clampit
    Managing Director at SP Koebcke GmbH
    Current
    .   
    Koebcke GmbH
    Previous
    Education
    August 2013 – Present (7 months)

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    Koebcke GmbH is a technology-enabled digital print
    company specialised in high quality colour printing for photo merchandise
    companies and other businesses who require image-intensive print products. With
    a 6-day, 24-hour print production centre in Berlin, the company specialises in
    fast-turnaround, pan-European distribution of photobooks, cards, calendars,
    marketing print, personalised books and large format products like canvases and
    posters.
  • Yesterday
    (or the day before), Textura (NYSE: TXTR) reported its financial results for
    the quarter ended 12/31/13.
    Based on
    what Textura said in that report, Textura paid $34.9 milion to acquire Latista.
    And,
    apparently, Latista is generating revenues in the neighborhood of $133,000 to
    $200,000 per month, and, apparently, Latista has been and is losing money.

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    The amount
    that Textura paid for Latista well exceeded the price that Textura paid for
    PlanSwift, even though PlanSwift is, apparently, generating revenues of around
    $500,000 per month.
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    We are so excited for 2014!!! We would love a SHOT at earning
    your business this year with a breeding to I Am Shotgunner!! Remember that his
    stud fee has been reduced for 2014 to $1300 from his normal $2400 fee. We have
    additional discounts for earning and/or producing mares, as well as multi-mare
    discounts. Contact us for more info… brad@kingequine.com. Happy New Year!!!
  • According to
    a Form 13G filing with the SEC on January 17, 2014, Blackrock, Inc. owns
    approximately 5.6% of the outstanding common stock of ARC Document Solutions.
      The 13G was signed by Mr. Chris Leavy, Chief
    Investment Officer of Blackrock, Inc.
    From the “about us” on Blackrock’s
    web-site;
    “As the world’s largest asset manager, we
    help individuals and institutions from all over the world build better
    financial futures.”
    According to
    information furnished by MSN.com (finance), these other investment outfits own
    more than 5% of ARC’s outstanding shares: 
    Capital World Investors, Pzena Investment Management, and Stadium
    Capital Management.  And Ariel
    Investments’ percentage holdings are just under 5%.  A mutual fund’s interest (American Funds
    Small Cap World Fund) is approximately 5.77%

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  • REPROGRAPHERS, just so you’ll know…
    Canon U.S.A. Launches Updated Managed Document
    Services Program to Support Clients’ Current and Future Print, Document &
    Content Management Needs
    MELVILLE, N.Y., January 7,
    2014 – Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today unveiled
    an updated, end-to-end program to deliver Canon Managed Document Services
    (MDS). At the core of the new program is the availability of the MDS Cloud
    Platform, which provides tools and services to help businesses design,
    implement and centrally manage the infrastructure and processes that support
    the flow and output of printed and electronic documents. The enhancements will
    be offered through Canon U.S.A and the Canon Dealer Channel, allowing Canon Dealerships
    to support end-to-end MDS customer engagements and help augment their current
    program.
    “Until now,
    implementing a Managed Document Services program typically required an
    investment in different software applications, as well as several employees to
    manage and administer that software,” said Sam Yoshida, vice president and
    general manager, Marketing, Business Imaging Solutions Group, Canon U.S.A.
    “MDS Cloud helps automate many functions that have previously required
    multiple systems or manual processes, and pulls it all together into a
    centralized management system delivered over the cloud.”
    Companies can more easily
    reduce the total cost of ownership and operation, improve device availability
    to users and streamline business processes through Canon’s updated and
    comprehensive Managed Document Services program. Canon MDS consists of a global
    methodology and menu of customized onsite and cloud-based offerings that allow
    both flexibility and consistency in design and scalability.
    “The key to efficient
    and effective basic MPS delivery is offering an integrated, cloud-based fleet
    management infrastructure, which the new Canon program accomplishes,” said
    Ed Crowley, CEO and Founder of Photizo Group. “Canon’s MDS Cloud offering
    is a comprehensive program that includes not only basic fleet management, but
    also Advanced Document Services, resulting in a very complete end-to-end
    Managed Document Services offering. We at Photizo Group advocate for the
    importance of integrating the dealer ERP with the fleet management
    infrastructure, which Canon’s new program also accomplishes. As with most
    things, the secret to success is in the execution, so I am anxious to see how
    the program is deployed. But clearly, in terms of comprehensiveness, Canon has
    launched a very nice and very comprehensive program.”
    The updated Canon MDS
    program is built upon the company’s proven Managed Document Services
    methodology and program, which launched worldwide in 2009. The Canon MDS
    approach provides a single source of accountability at each stage of a managed
    services engagement, including Discover, Design; Implement and Transition; Support
    and Manage; and Review. The new updates to the Canon MDS program build upon
    this foundation with a comprehensive suite of services to benefit clients at
    every stage, from controlling the fleet to business process optimization.
    Discover
    At the start of a MDS
    engagement, Canon and Canon Authorized Dealers will conduct a discovery
    assessment using remote monitoring software and user surveys that help
    determine the current costs and capabilities of the existing document output
    environment. Going beyond basic meter counts, Canon’s discovery assessment
    services can provide a detailed, thorough and accurate view not only of a
    client’s assets, but also the unique needs and behaviors driving workflows in
    that particular business.
    Design
    Using the results of the
    discovery assessment as a guide, Canon and Canon Authorized Dealers can develop
    a hardware and software solutions plan to help the client achieve its workflow
    goals; reduce inefficiencies; address over- and underutilized devices; reduce
    print, service and supply costs and increase document accessibility and
    security for onsite, remote and mobile employees.
    Implement and Transition
    Before any new hardware is
    installed or document workflow solution is implemented, Canon and Canon
    Authorized Dealers can help prepare staff with a clear communications strategy
    that outlines the transition. Users are trained to use new devices, as well as
    the new document workflow processes. The entire change management process is
    supported by monitoring users on an ongoing basis, quickly identifying
    potential roadblocks during deployment and resolving issues with additional
    training or adjustments to the plan.
    Support and Manage
    Maintaining the health of
    the fleet and supporting users on a day-to-day basis are at the heart of the
    Canon MDS program.
    Designed to help clients
    stay focused on their core business while removing the resources and time
    required to manage their print infrastructure, Canon’s available service
    delivery offerings include:
      MDS Remote Monitoring Service through the MDS Cloud. MDS Cloud is a new, cloud-based offering
    hosted at Canon Business Imaging Online that helps reduce internal IT resources
    by automating many functions that have typically required multiple systems or
    manual processes, including meter read collection, supply level management and
    break/fix service alerts for Canon and non-Canon devices. The MDS Cloud further
    helps reduce the deployment and management time of Canon technology through the
    ability to remotely change device configurations and user settings. MDS Cloud
    will have integration with Digital Gateway, Inc’s e-automate® software, the
    leading ERP software system servicing tool used by many Dealers today. DGI’s
    e-automate software is an integrated system used by office equipment Dealers to
    manage business that features sales, service, purchasing, inventory, contract
    management and accounting tools. This integration provides fast customer
    support and easy billing through Canon’s Dealer channel.
      MDS Cloud Intelligence Portal, another new service of the Canon MDS Cloud, turns device and
    user data into actionable intelligence. The intuitive, easy-to-read dashboards
    and customizable reports can help administrators identify trends and quickly
    pinpoint the equipment, supply and usage pattern changes needed to improve
    productivity and reduce costs. MDS Cloud Intelligence Portal architecture can
    be utilized on its own, or can be integrated with other third-party data
    collection software solutions to further enhance their capabilities. Canon
    U.S.A. is a new member of the PrintFleet LINK™ program. Through participation
    in the LINK™ program, MDS Cloud and PrintFleet technologies will offer tighter
    integration with both solutions in the near future. MDS Cloud integrations with
    other data collection solutions are also under development for release in 2014.
      MDS Total Managed Care Program*, a new, proactive supplies and service fulfillment offering,
    manages supply levels and service requirements on devices in the fleet. It also
    predicts when and where new supplies will be needed and ships them to the
    department or user before they run out. Canon offers helpdesk services to
    triage potential service issues and provide national service coverage across a
    mixed manufacturer line of desktop devices under contract.
      Enterprise and Production Output Management, featuring uniFLOW software from NT-Ware, provides many
    advanced management tools for output, including granular level reporting by
    device, user, department and application. Administrators can set rules for
    printing based on corporate or department policies or objectives, so that print
    jobs are sent to the device or central reprographic department best suited for
    each job. uniFLOW also offers “follow-me” secure printing for easy print
    and retrieval on most devices across the network.
      Content Management and Workflow featuring Therefore™ delivers document management basics, such as storage, version
    control and expiration, as well as advanced content management functions, such
    as designing procedures and guidelines around document creation, workflow,
    security and access. With Therefore, manual paper workflows can be replaced
    with streamlined, automated processes that support users’ needs for business
    process optimization within their organizations.
      Mobile Services1
    include several cloud-based and peer-to-peer solutions for mobile device users
    in the office to securely print from their laptop, tablet or smartphone. During
    an MDS engagement, customers can be deployed and trained with an optimized
    mobile solution that is seamlessly integrated with their mobile strategy.
      Security Services
    can provide clients with security improvements to their current document and
    information infrastructure and be developed to secure information at the
    device, on the document, or throughout the network. Fleets can be enabled for
    secure printing using PIN codes or proximity/swipe cards to release print jobs.
    Documents containing certain keywords can be flagged and monitored to identify
    when, where and by whom they were accessed.
      Further intelligence
    can be provided to customers via ongoing quarterly business reviews in order to
    stay on top of a client’s changing document management needs. During these
    reviews, standardized reports will be provided that analyze printing and
    document workflow patterns and detect trends regarding specific devices or
    departments. By monitoring changes in page volumes, supply shipments, service
    errors and calls on a regular basis, Canon and Canon Authorized Dealers can
    pinpoint issues quickly and propose solutions that not only address current
    requirements, but also help plan for future print and document management
    needs.
    Availability

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    The Canon MDS Program is
    available from Canon U.S.A. or through Canon’s Authorized Dealers. Prices for
    solutions and services are determined by the size and scope of each client
    engagement and the specific offerings selected.
  • Mentioned,
    yesterday, on the website, P4PHotel.com:
    “One other note,
    State of New Jersey Bill A1230, which would require printer manufacturers to
    list the cost of ink per 1,000 pages was not approved by NJ Governor!”
    Governor
    Christie got that right.
    Hard to
    believe that legislators would waste time on a matter like this.

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  • Within a
    document Service Point Solutions filed with Spain’s equivalent of the SEC on
    January 20
    th, SPS said that:
    Google-Translate Spanish to English translation:
    In view of the
    above, the proposed settlement offers by the company and rejected by
    banks, the serious difficulties the company is
    facing from the realization of collateral by

    part
    of the banks, and in the interests of all shareholders, creditors and employees
    of the group,
    and given that the
    deadline for filing bankruptcy ends on February 28, the
    Board of Directors of the Company at its meeting of
    January 16, 2014 has been agreed by 
    unanimously start preparing the paperwork to file bankruptcy Service Point Solutions, SA and certain of its subsidiaries.”
    Okay, here’s a bit more from the document filed by SPS with the
    Spain-SEC-like organization, but this is “in my words”, based on my reading,
    and interpretation, of what SPS said:
    1)   
    SPS presented three different offers to its lending group – the latest
    one was in mid-December – to bring about a re-financing, reorganization,
    pay-down, pay-off, etc., etc. of its debt. 
    SPS’s lending group were not agreeable to any of those offers.
    2)   
    Back in
    October, SPS filed for some sort of “pre-bankruptcy”.   I have no idea what a “pre-bankruptcy” is or
    what it accomplishes, other than putting everyone on notice that it (a full out
    BK) could happen.
    And, with
    its latest filing, it’s apparent that, short of some last-minute miracle, SPS
    will file for Bankruptcy before February 28th.  I don’t know anything about the
    bankruptcy laws in Spain.  So, no way of
    knowing if SPS’ bankruptcy filing will be “like a U.S. Chapter 11” BK or a
    “like a U.S. Chapter 7” BK.  I would,
    however, suspect the former rather than the latter.
    SPS has
    scheduled a shareholder’s meeting on Feb 23/24, 2014 in Barcelona.

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    I can’t even
    begin to imagine what SPS’s next financial-results report is going to say about
    SPS’ operations and results.  Apparently,
    lenders took control of SPS USA, SP UK, SP Sweden (Holmbergs) and SP Norway
    (Alkopi). SP Germany (Koebke) is reportedly in BK.
  • On January 16th, he resigned from
    his CEO position and resigned from his Director position.
    At present, Service Point Solutions is
    “CEO-less”.
    Well, Mr. Trenor wasn’t on board all that
    long, having first joined SPS’s team in September 2013.
    There’s an
    old slang expression that goes something like this, “if you can’t stand the
    heat …. get out of the kitchen!”

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    Mr. Trenor
    has “left the kitchen”!