Reprographics 101

(more than you ever wanted to know about the reprographics industry)

recent posts

about

  • IRgA Launches New Membership Structure, Directories

    0
    0
    1
    202
    1157
    Proactive Management
    9
    2
    1357
    14.0

    Normal
    0

    false
    false
    false

    EN-US
    JA
    X-NONE

    /* Style Definitions */
    table.MsoNormalTable
    {mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
    mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
    mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
    mso-style-noshow:yes;
    mso-style-priority:99;
    mso-style-parent:””;
    mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
    mso-para-margin:0in;
    mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
    mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
    font-size:12.0pt;
    font-family:Cambria;
    mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
    mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
    mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
    mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}

    Ed Avis, Managing Director of the IRgA, asked me to post this on the Reprographics 101 Blog

    For Immediate Release
    September 13, 2013
    Contact: Ed Avis, ed.avis@irga.com,
    708-218-7755
    IRgA Launches New Membership Structure, Directories
    The
    International Reprographic Association (IRgA) has developed a new membership
    structure that includes four levels of membership and new searchable member and
    vendor directories.
    New Levels of Membership
    The
    new membership structure continues free membership for those shops and
    individuals that only need a basic membership, and offers three paid levels for
    members who would like more benefits.
    The Basic level is free and includes the new IRgA biweekly newsletter,
    access to members-only content on our website, and a basic listing in our new
    member directory.
    Bronze membership, which costs $25 per year, includes the privilege of
    placing your logo with your listing in the membership directory, priority
    placement in the directory ahead of Basic members, and access to
    behind-the-scenes data of the new IRgA Index.
    Silver membership, $75, includes all of the above benefits plus priority
    placement above Basic and Bronze members in the directory.
    Gold membership, $250, includes all of the above plus special recognition
    in the directory and other member publications. Gold membership also allows an
    unlimited number of locations to be listed in the directory.

  • Textura: Selling Shareholders ("insiders") soon to cash in, big time!

    0
    0
    1
    90
    518
    Proactive Management
    4
    1
    607
    14.0

    Normal
    0

    false
    false
    false

    EN-US
    JA
    X-NONE

    /* Style Definitions */
    table.MsoNormalTable
    {mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
    mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
    mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
    mso-style-noshow:yes;
    mso-style-priority:99;
    mso-style-parent:””;
    mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
    mso-para-margin:0in;
    mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
    mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
    font-size:10.0pt;
    font-family:Cambria;
    mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
    mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
    mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
    mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
    mso-fareast-language:JA;}

    What’s that
    old expression, “strike while the iron is hot”?
    Well, that
    certainly applies to Textura’s “selling shareholders”, who, if/when Textura’s (NYSE:
    TXTR) secondary offering closes, will receive close to $120 million bucks!
    Keep in mind…..
    that Textura first went public only 3 months ago and that Textura’s annual
    sales revenues are currently less than $50 million … and that Textura hasn’t
    yet achieved profitability.
    http://finance.yahoo.com/news/textura-announces-proposed-offering-113000571.html

  • Reprographers; interested in equipment that will allow you to produce work for non-A/E/C customers?

    I received this “ad” from Xante in my email in-box yesterday afternoon.

    If you are looking for ways to replace revenues from plan and spec printing, perhaps you might want to consider (?) acquiring equipment that would allow you to produce work for non-A/E/C customers?

    Box printing?

    Envelope printing?

    Label printing?

    >
    >>xante.com / 1-800-926-8839
    Xante Must See Ems for Print 13
    Excelagraphix 4200P High Speed Inkjet
    Impressia Digital Multi-Media Press
    New Universal iQueue RIP-Workflow
    Excelagraphix L850 Digital Label Printer
    Join us in Booth 5007 or visit xante.com

    >>>>*Up to 75 full color Monarch Envelopes per minute. Call for details.
    >>

  • FMI’s Nonresidential Construction Index Remains Constant

    0
    0
    1
    824
    4281
    Proactive Management
    85
    13
    5092
    14.0

    Normal
    0

    false
    false
    false

    EN-US
    JA
    X-NONE

    /* Style Definitions */
    table.MsoNormalTable
    {mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
    mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
    mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
    mso-style-noshow:yes;
    mso-style-priority:99;
    mso-style-parent:””;
    mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
    mso-para-margin:0in;
    mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
    mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
    font-size:10.0pt;
    font-family:Cambria;
    mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
    mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
    mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
    mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
    mso-fareast-language:JA;}

    FMI’s Nonresidential Construction Index Remains Constant
    September
    3rd, 2013
    RALEIGH,
    N.C. (September 3, 2013)
    – FMI (www.fminet.com), a leading provider of management consulting and
    investment banking* to the engineering and construction industry, announces the
    release of the 2013 Third Quarter Nonresidential Construction Index report. The
    NRCI score of 60.3 is a .2-point improvement over Q2.
    NRCI
    = 60.3
    Although
    the numbers aren’t drastically rising, the sustainability and continuing upward
    movement is encouraging. This score remains the highest score for the NRCI
    index since Q1 2009. The index for the overall economy rose to 72 points and
    the combined index sentiment for economies where panelists are doing business
    rose 3.2 points.
    Cost of
    construction materials, cost of labor and productivity continue to hold down
    the index. Additionally, investments in technology, equipment and training are
    needed to keep the economy from going stagnant.
    Panelists
    for this quarter’s NRCI suggest that the uncertainty for investments is a
    result of the immigration/labor bills, delays in implementation of
    “Obamacare” and the impact of residential growth on nonresidential
    construction. These issues are causing the industry to sit back and wait to see
    the outcomes before making any risky investments.
    To download a
    copy of the full report, please log in. For reprint permission or to schedule an
    interview with the author, please contact Sarah Avallone at 919.785.9221 or savallone@fminet.com.
    FMI Releases Q2-2013 Construction Outlook Report
    July
    8th, 2013
    Annual Put-In-Place Construction Predictions Shrink to $913
    billion
    RALEIGH,
    N.C. (July 8, 2013)     –
    FMI (www.fminet.com),
    the leading provider of management consulting and investment banking to the
    engineering and construction industry, releases today its Q2-2013 Construction
    Outlook. The strength of individual markets is shifting, reducing annual
    Construction-Put-In-Place predictions to $913 billion, a 7% growth from 2012.
    This is down nearly $6 billion from the $918,897 million, 8% growth estimated
    in the Q1’s Outlook. However, FMI does expect growth to return to 8% growth in
    2014 with annual CPIP reaching $989 billion.
    The
    major markets adjusted downward with lower expected growth are:
    Residential
    Construction (-1.8%)     —
    FMI continues to forecast a 23% increase in construction put in place for
    single-family housing. However, multifamily housing has dropped from a strong
    increase of 42% in 2012 to a current 31% increase for 2013.
Commercial
    Construction (-0.8%)     — The current forecast calls for about a 1% drop in
    commercial construction from the Q1 forecast. However, this still represents a
    modest increase of 6%, to $49.8 billion for 2013. One of the contributing
    factors is that sales for retail and food service businesses is slower than
    initially anticipated.
Healthcare (-3.15%) — Contributing factors for
    the decrease include hospital beds per 1,000 people trending downward and
    shorter patient stays.
Amusement and Recreation (-2.0%) — Given the
    belt-tightening attitude across the country right now, it will likely be much
    more difficult to get funding from taxes and municipalities to build new
    stadiums in the near future.
Sewage and Water Disposal (-3.8%) —
    Construction for sewage and waste disposal was off 2% in 2012. FMI forecasts
    another 2% drop in 2013. The ability to fund necessary water infrastructure
    improvements is central to the decline as many municipal water systems still
    depend on the tax base for funding.
Water Supply (-3.2%) — Construction
    for water supply projects will drop 1% in 2013 after dropping 7% in 2012. On
    the bright side, in March the Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee
    unanimously approved a Water Resources Development Act, including a measure to
    create the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act. WIFIA would provide
    $50 million per year from 2014 to 2018 to help fund large-scale water
    infrastructure projects.
    While
    there is no singular reason for the drop in these markets—each is evaluated on
    its own criteria—there are a few economic concerns that touch all of them.
    •    The decline in public construction
    •    Expectations of more cuts as the
    sequestration continues
    •    Tight lending criteria
    •    Consumers cautious about increasing
    their debt load
    This
    economic climate will keep the heat on A/E/C industry competition, especially
    if companies that make their livelihood in government construction start
    looking for work in the already competitive private sectors.
    The
    report details CPIP in three residential building, 11 nonresidential building
    and five non-building structure categories. To login and download a copy of the
    full report, click here. For reprint permission or to
    schedule an interview with the author, please contact Sarah Avallone at
    919.785.9221 or savallone@fminet.com.

  • Federal Reserve Beige Book Report – Sep 4th 2013 (Demand for non-res construction increased)

    0
    0
    1
    520
    2701
    Proactive Management
    54
    8
    3213
    14.0

    Normal
    0

    false
    false
    false

    EN-US
    JA
    X-NONE

    /* Style Definitions */
    table.MsoNormalTable
    {mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
    mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
    mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
    mso-style-noshow:yes;
    mso-style-priority:99;
    mso-style-parent:””;
    mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
    mso-para-margin:0in;
    mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
    mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
    font-size:10.0pt;
    font-family:Cambria;
    mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
    mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
    mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
    mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
    mso-fareast-language:JA;}

    The Federal Reserve released its most recent “Beige
    Book Report” yesterday (Sep 4th, 2013).
    This is from the overall “summary” section:
    Real Estate and
    Construction
    Activity
    in residential real estate markets increased moderately. The pace of sales of
    existing single-family homes continued to increase moderately in most Districts.
    Sales activity in New York City’s co-op and condominium market was described as
    unusually strong in July and August, and the Cleveland District reported that
    year-to-date sales of existing single-family homes were up substantially relative
    to the same period last year.
    Reports
    from several Districts suggested that rising home prices and mortgage interest
    rates may have spurred a pickup in recent market activity, as many “fence
    sitters” were prompted to commit to purchases. Sales of new single-family homes
    stabilized during the past few months in the Cleveland District after
    accelerating earlier in the year. New home sales declined slightly in parts of
    the Philadelphia and Richmond Districts in July. Philadelphia conveyed that
    some borrowers apparently preferred to lock in a mortgage rate for an existing
    home rather than wait for a new home to be completed and chance higher mortgage
    rates. Home prices climbed in most Districts. Richmond and Boston reported that
    houses in some areas were staying on the market fewer days and increasingly receiving
    multiple offers. New York noted that bidding wars were common in the Buffalo
    area. Many Districts reported that limited inventories of desirable properties
    contributed to upward price pressures. Single-family home construction was
    strong in the Minneapolis and Dallas Districts, and Chicago reported that a
    number of builders are planning new developments to begin later this year.
    However, several Districts noted constraints on the construction of
    single-family homes. San Francisco pointed to shortages of construction
    workers. In the Kansas City District, some building materials, such as drywall and
    roofing shingles, were in short supply.
    Demand for
    nonresidential real estate increased.     Office vacancy rates and other indicators in markets for
    office space improved modestly in the major metropolitan markets in the New
    York, Richmond, and St. Louis and Districts. Rents for Class B office space in
    Manhattan have risen more than 10 percent over the past twelve months. Demand
    for commercial real estate showed strong growth in the Dallas District and
    moderate growth in the Minneapolis District. Both Districts reported new plans
    for construction of industrial space. Philadelphia, Cleveland, Richmond,
    Atlanta, Chicago, Kansas City, and San Francisco reported modest growth in
    demand for commercial real estate. Philadelphia highlighted a shift in recent
    leasing activity toward larger commercial spaces. The Boston, Philadelphia,
    Cleveland, Atlanta, Dallas, and San Francisco Districts all reported increases
    in construction of multifamily residential properties.
    Here’s a link to the complete report
    (narrative, District by District):
    https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B81al4kFAU9JS2ZWdEIwbWZpZGM/edit?usp=sharing

  • Stratasys To Offer Retail 3D Printing In UPS Store

    0
    0
    1
    171
    892
    Proactive Management
    17
    2
    1061
    14.0

    Normal
    0

    false
    false
    false

    EN-US
    JA
    X-NONE

    /* Style Definitions */
    table.MsoNormalTable
    {mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
    mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
    mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
    mso-style-noshow:yes;
    mso-style-priority:99;
    mso-style-parent:””;
    mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
    mso-para-margin:0in;
    mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
    mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
    font-size:10.0pt;
    font-family:Cambria;
    mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
    mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
    mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
    mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
    mso-fareast-language:JA;}

    This
    press release appeared in an on-line publication in late August:
    Stratasys, Ltd. (NASDAQ:SSYS), a manufacturer of 3D
    printers and production systems, today announced that it has been selected by
    The UPS Store to provide its 3D printing systems to The UPS Store as part of a
    test program that will make it the first national retailer in the U.S. to offer
    3D printing service to entrepreneurs, architects, start-ups and other retail
    customers. This service will enable UPS Store customers to have their 3D design
    3D printed on-site, in six test locations, beginning in San Diego. The test
    signals a collaborative effort by Stratasys and The UPS Store to make 3D
    printing accessible to small businesses as awareness of the technology and its
    capabilities grows. Stratasys, Ltd. (NASDAQ:SSYS) 3D Printers can create
    on-demand, custom objects of virtually any complexity in a fast and simple
    process.

  • 3 Stocks Near 52-Week Highs Worth Selling (Textura mentioned in this article)

    0
    0
    1
    216
    1126
    Proactive Management
    22
    3
    1339
    14.0

    Normal
    0

    false
    false
    false

    EN-US
    JA
    X-NONE

    /* Style Definitions */
    table.MsoNormalTable
    {mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
    mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
    mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
    mso-style-noshow:yes;
    mso-style-priority:99;
    mso-style-parent:””;
    mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
    mso-para-margin:0in;
    mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
    mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
    font-size:10.0pt;
    font-family:Cambria;
    mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
    mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
    mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
    mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
    mso-fareast-language:JA;}

    On August 29th,
    Sean Williams authored an article (posted on The Motley Fool) that contained comments about three stocks he
    believes should be sold, rather than held, and, in that article, he mentioned
    Textura, a company I began posting about just prior to its IPO.
    Sean’s
    article begins with this paragraph:
    “Unrealistic expectations”
    “The construction industry may have
    found a floor with lending rates near historic lows, but I don’t think that’s
    going to be enough to save software developer Textura (NYSE: TXTR  ) from keeping its current market value.”
    Here’s a
    link to the full article that Sean wrote (and be sure to read the comments
    section as well):
    http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/08/29/3-stocks-near-52-week-highs-worth-selling.aspx
    Note:  Textura closed at $40.43 yesterday afternoon
    (Sep 4, 2013), up significantly from its IPO price.  Market
    cap is approaching $1 billion;     this, for a company that hasn’t yet reported
    a profit and whose projected annual sales are less than $50 mil.

  • ServicePoint Solutions manages catalogs for Puma

    0
    0
    1
    85
    445
    Proactive Management
    8
    1
    529
    14.0

    Normal
    0

    false
    false
    false

    EN-US
    JA
    X-NONE

    /* Style Definitions */
    table.MsoNormalTable
    {mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
    mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
    mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
    mso-style-noshow:yes;
    mso-style-priority:99;
    mso-style-parent:””;
    mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
    mso-para-margin:0in;
    mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
    mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
    font-size:10.0pt;
    font-family:Cambria;
    mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
    mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
    mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
    mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
    mso-fareast-language:JA;}

    SP issued a press release about this the
    other day, and I’ve placed in my Google Docs library a pdf file that shows (in
    the left-hand column) the text of the Spanish-language press release and (in
    the right-hand column) an English language translation of that press release.
    Here’s a link to the pdf file:
    https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B81al4kFAU9JaFdfTnZNZDZPUEU/edit?usp=sharing

  • National Association of Home Builders Market Index

    0
    0
    1
    96
    551
    Proactive Management
    4
    1
    646
    14.0

    Normal
    0

    false
    false
    false

    EN-US
    JA
    X-NONE

    /* Style Definitions */
    table.MsoNormalTable
    {mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
    mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
    mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
    mso-style-noshow:yes;
    mso-style-priority:99;
    mso-style-parent:””;
    mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
    mso-para-margin:0in;
    mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
    mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
    font-size:10.0pt;
    font-family:Cambria;
    mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
    mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
    mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
    mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
    mso-fareast-language:JA;}

    59.00
    As of 10:00:00 ET on
    08/15/2013
    Derived from a monthly
    survey that NAHM has been conducting for more than 20 years, the NAHB/Wells
    Fargo Housing Market Index gauges builder perceptions of current single-family
    home sales and sales expectations for the next six months as “good”, “fair” or
    “poor”.  The survey also asks builders to
    rate traffic of prospective buyers as high to very high, average or low to very
    low.  Scores from each component are then
    used to calculate a seasonally adjusted index where any number over 50 indicates that more
    builders view conditions as good than poor.

  • Sales of New U.S. Homes Fell More Than Forecast in July

    0
    0
    1
    59
    341
    Proactive Management
    2
    1
    399
    14.0

    Normal
    0

    false
    false
    false

    EN-US
    JA
    X-NONE

    /* Style Definitions */
    table.MsoNormalTable
    {mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
    mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
    mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
    mso-style-noshow:yes;
    mso-style-priority:99;
    mso-style-parent:””;
    mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
    mso-para-margin:0in;
    mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
    mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
    font-size:10.0pt;
    font-family:Cambria;
    mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
    mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
    mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
    mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
    mso-fareast-language:JA;}

    Article by Victoria Stilwell & Lorraine Woellert,
    reporting for Bloomberg.com, Aug 23, 2013
    Link to article:
    http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-23/sales-of-new-homes-in-u-s-plunged-more-than-forecast-in-july.html