Seattle Bindery — Trade Binderies in a Bind?

Vine believes Microsoft's arguments for outsourcing also apply to printing companies. Buying out bindery and other services:

• Allows printers to concentrate on core competencies;
• Frees up dollars for critical investments in front-end technologies;
• Avoids bindery equipment expense and attendant headaches of finding skilled operators; and
• Allows for greater scheduling flexibility and faster turnarounds, since specialized binderies have more equipment and, therefore, are better able to provide services.

"On the other side," says Vine, "as a business owner, I have to look at Seattle Bindery's options for growth: sell more services to our existing customers or expand our market share in bindery services. I've chosen to pursue both strategies."