Stivison — Are the Barbarians at the Gates?

"Will we be sold again?" "Will I still have a job?" "What will happen to my pension?" We've all heard these responses and many more like them. And, while much of it is just talk, it diverts too much attention from the issues that really matter: serving our customers.

Why the turmoil in the corner office? One big reason is recent consolidation enabled by stock swaps. Printing firms that once supported a single family or small group of owners now have to satisfy shareholders. Moreover, many of these stockholders are anxious to make an immediate profit on their swap. As a result, they are much more interested in short-term stock prices than in the long-range growth of the firms. They want higher stock prices and they want them now. Period.