An alternative to the marketing service provider (MSP) business model, which will also be showcased at the conference, a successful print-on-demand (POD) strategy addresses declining print volumes, overcapacity and price competition with digital printing solutions that give customers what they need, when they need it, at a lower cost.
I love this time of year because my mailbox is stuffed with lots of printed material. Good stuff like catalogs from Land's End, Tattoo World, Column Writers' Fashions and Victoria's Secret. All of the Christmas-related, printed material warms my heart. It's refreshing after being forced to watch all those TV political cartoons—er, I meant to say political "commercials" where I learned absolutely nothing about why any candidate deserved my vote.
While many magazine and catalog printers have reported some improvement in their sectors since 2009, economic and industry uncertainty still carried its weight into 2010. Reduction in advertising pages, a migration to digital alternatives, and the rising cost of postage and paper have remained key issues.
Consolidated Graphics, the world's largest user of HP Indigo presses, has purchased five HP Indigo 7500 digital presses. Three are being installed at PBM Graphics, another at CDS Publications and a fifth is bound for the company's European digital hub in the Czech Republic.
Good news was difficult to find in 2010 for the printers of direct mail, not to mention the direct marketing community. Even the United States Postal Service (USPS) struggled in its continuing efforts to offset dwindling volume and out-of-control costs, having seen its request for an exigent price increase denied in late September by the Postal Regulatory Commission.
With publicly held companies on the 2010 Printing Impressions 400 reporting sales declines for their most recently completed fiscal years, pay levels for the principal officers at these large firms didn't necessarily follow suit. For most of the executives appearing here, their overall salaries were up significantly.
Revenue grew 3.4% to $260.1 million and adjusted operating income improved to $17.0 million, a 59% increase vs. $10.6 million for the same quarter last year. Adjusted net income was $9.0 million, compared to $4.6 million for the prior year. Operating income was $15.4 million in the quarter, vs. operating income of $6.6 million in the prior year quarter, an improvement of 134%.
HOUSTON—Consolidated Graphics, the world's largest user of HP Indigo presses, has purchased five HP Indigo 7500 digital presses. Three are being installed at PBM Graphics, another at CDS Publications and a fifth is bound for the company's European digital hub in the Czech Republic.
CDS Publications, one of CGX’s five digital centers, installed the first HP Indigo 7500 as a beta test unit in its Medford, OR, facility. Three more are slated for PBM Graphics in Research Triangle Park, NC, and the fifth one is to be installed at CGX's European digital hub in Prague, Czech Republic.
Unlike traditional promotional product providers, Orange County Printing's Forte Select enables users to create one-off pieces such as mugs, mouse pads, and t-shirts that are personalized with individuals' names, images, or other custom content. Products are available and sold through OCP and all 70 Consolidated Graphics companies.
