Are Web and Offset skills like Strippers to Digital prepress in the 90’s

More and more as I speak with offset and web press operators I find myself asking if they have exposure to digital printers. Its not just me thinking that things are going more in that direct, but that it is what my clients are asking me to provide them. What this reminds me of is the way it went for strippers in the 1990’s.

During the 90’s there was a fundamental shift in printing firms on how prepress was done. No longer were companies using traditional strippers, they were installing digital prepress systems. While the traditional stripers had a lot of critical experience such as understanding color separation and the capabilities of the printing presses, they were no longer needed unless they also had digital prepress skills, both software and hardware. This change had very telling effects on the prepress positions. First, those that did not want to learn new skills were no longer able to find work and when they did, it was at substantially lower payrates. Those that did make the effort and invested in themselves to learn the new skill sets were able to stay in the industry as digital prepress people. At first those with traditional and new skill sets were in the biggest demand. As time has gone by digital prepress workers no longer need the skills of the traditional strippers and people with just digital prepress skills have all the tools for the modern prepress jobs.

Traditional offset and web press operators are now in a very similar situation. Those segments of the industry are shrinking and with that comes fewer jobs. Those that are relectant to increase their computer skills and spend time learning about the new digital equipment will find themselves with fewer and fewer job options. While I do feel at this time that having both offset/web skills and digital print skills will be valuable in some situations, it seems that a digital printer doesnt need to rely only on an ink on paper back ground. Many digital prepress operators are able to run the digital printers at this point. In fact most firms will ask for someone  with offset backgrounds OR prepress backgrounds to be trained on a digital printer.

If you are an offset or web press operator and pondering your career moving forward, please heed the lessons of strippers in the 1990’s. Look at gaining better computer skills and seeking opportunities to get your hands on digital printers. Do this while your current skills can still keep you employed. This way you will be positioning yourself for your future, as it is likely you may need both skills sets to finish out your career.

The more noise social media creates the more clarity print provides.

Received a “Thank You” card in the mail last week that excited me. Please check out the brief video I made in regards to it.

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO

My excitement spilled over into adding it as a discussion point I had with varies print industry people. Many of them also agreed it had some potential. As Social Media (SM) grows it becomes harder and harder to keep up with and filter out the noise that it generates. In fact at this point the noise of SM is at a roar level. That simple Thank You card coupled with SM had a very profound impact and most importantly, it made me LOOK at the website and possibly become a buyer on that site.

Sitting in Dallas last week with Joe Polanco from PIA-MidAmerica helped further expand on this SM noise. By the time we finished 2 beers and a nice conversation the tag line “The more noise social media creates the more clarity print provides” had been formed.

Dont get me wrong I am a huge fan of SM and think it is an extremely valuable tool in many ways. It is the combining of the two that I find interesting. It is similar to how I look at things like Google AdWords. The first few results in a search doesnt mean legitimacy in my mind, it can also mean someone that is good at getting top rankings for key words, but otherwise not having much value. Thus as many people do, I look at the paid for advertising as a solid option.

The coupling of the two mediums is a strong fit. What better way to filter out the noise than to receive a card in response to something connected with on SM. In fact it is a barrier of entry as the printed piece costs a small amount of money to send and thus acts a good filter from spammers and others that just use free communication tools aggressively, but have a product that has no value or limited value.

Better filters will certainly come soon for SM and like all things the adaptation of the new tools will need to be assessed and relooking at the value proposition of print will need to happen.

Brian

Semper’s quarterly printing industry survey results.

Hi, Thanks to all of you who participated. Please find the results of the survey.

Q1 Survey Analysis – January 2009

Thank You again for your responses – this was the first time we posted on twitter and other Social Networks and the response was trebled.

Let us get right to it- WOW. Glad the fourth quarter is over, but the first could be just as interesting.

The highlights: 

Profitability seems to have increased again- clearly this indicates the cost cutting measures and the reduced costs of raw materials and fuel are helping.

The question regarding how you find employees was interesting. Notice that many more of you are using online resources like printworkers.com or Gain’s job bank than help wanted ads in newspapers. I wonder about the reasoning behind that fact, considering the parallel decision our clients must face between print and new media expenditures.

The hiring section – the Staying the same percentage is continually dropping, with laying off increasing but hiring actually started to show an increase. This would indicate that companies top lines are still being squeezed; they lay off but then find they are unable to meet demand when it comes in. So they have to rehire- A shameless plug but this is a classic temp staffing utilization situation.

Again, we suspect the GDP numbers to be released on Jan 30th 09 will have to be revised even in six weeks lower than even the shocking contraction they first indicated. We are glad to see many of you understood the severity of the situation and took the steps needed to reduce costs last quarter.  All the doom and gloom from Davos aside, we feel that the upturn will start sooner than later. The speed of its improvement is the question. It seems that most responded that business was stable  the last two weeks and expected things to stay the same for the quarter. Lets hope we start to see improvement top line wise shortly there after.

The number one concern of respondents was the economy and it’s impact on clients budgets followed by predatory competition for those budgets. The Fed calls that deflation. Let us all hope that trend and fear is fleeting.

We have enclosed the entire Survey results below, if you have questions or would like to see additional areas explored please let me know.

daver@semperllc.com

Survey Charts: CLICK HERE

Personalized print content/news/editorials

Things that seem relevant and important to keep an eye out for or create.

 

First is the ability to print content that is relevant to you and unique to you. Personalized news and information delivered daily.  The ability to pick and choose interesting topics as well as selecting editors/content providers I am interested in hearing view points from.

 

The important question would be:

a)     Would I pay for this service?

b)    Why not just read it from a website?

 

I believe the answer to the both questions is YES. There are many points in a day where I just don’t want to or can’t whip out a laptop to read content. The ability to have paper in my laptop bag to read is very appealing and even more so when it is personalized content. Paying for this personalized information is worthwhile as it condenses my habitual reading into a single source.

 

Just my $.02

 

Brian

Semper’s Q2 Survey Analysis – April 2008

First, Thank You all for the huge number of responses. 

We honestly use this survey as a benefit for the industry in general 

and not for commercial reasons.

 

I think we all can be glad the first quarter is over; except for the fact that the 

second quarter, so far, seems to be even worse then the first. The last 2 

months have seen a severe contraction in most areas of the economy and 

in all geographic areas. The Fed’s actions last Summer came several sessions 

too late to avoid this contraction. The relentless negativity from the media over 

the last two years reached a crescendo of hysteria in August that has scarcely 

abated till just recently. We all are grateful for the news media’s recent more 

positive bias!!

 

A Big question now is have the stock markets hit bottom? If so, then the 

recovery will be approximately six months from that bottom. If you look at the 

current stock charts for Apple, the Dow and the NASDAQ over the last two 

years, It appears that we have hit the bottom and are on the upturn (barring 

another terrorist shock). If the charts are correct, then we should start to see 

improvements as early as September – October. Flex Staffing tends to be a 

leading indicator, like the stock market, so we at Semper should see improvement 

three to four months after the bottom. We will let you know. 

 

Another BIG change in the Industry this year was the demise of Annual report 

printing. One manager I spoke to, mentioned that last year they printed 100 Annual 

reports- this season only four. The result of the SEC allowing companies to post 

the reports “online.” This single change has had a huge negative impact in that 

segment of the industry. I think of what will happen to Blockbuster and the movie 

theatre chains once the movie studios release first run movies directly online. It 

will likely be a similar issue- MAYBE I should sell any holdings.

 

Now to the survey results:

 

As you recall, the results are in the new easier to read and understand format 

which reduces the need for commentary.

 

The question on profitability I am sure is high on everyone’s list. The trend line is 

clearly indicative of the stress we would expect to see ; this is a MACRO issue 

not just your firm.

 

The question on profitability I am sure is high on everyone’s list. The trend line 

is clearly indicative of the stress we would expect to see ; this is a MACRO issue 

not just your firm.

 

The hiring question reinforces the above two responses. Hiring has dropped off, 

but it seems staying at the same staffing level is the course most firms are going 

with. Maybe others agree that things will improve sooner than later. (br>

Clearly, keeping expenses limited is on everyone’s mind, with base pay and benefit 

costs showing big jumps in concern from respondents. Supply costs in general are 

now the largest percent concern of firms as opposed to technology issues.

 

In closing, we see positive news here in the expectations of sales for this quarter. 

Take a close look at the actual results and feel free to ask questions or give 

feedback – daver@semperllc.com

 

Click here to view the Survey:

http://www.semperllc.com/printing_survey/Semper_Survey_2008_Q2.pdf

                                                                  

Thank You

Cost saving strategies for slow economic cycles

The continued dismal economic news from the MEDIA harpies is definitely becoming a reality. Things are getting really tough out there!

We have some answers for you-  Flex Staffing – It saves hard cash by allowing you to pay for labor when you need it and not a second longer.

Imagine if your press payment or office lease payment was like that.

How does Flex Staffing work? You call us when you have a need and we send skilled professionals out. We bill you for the hours worked. The bill rate includes Work Comp, all payroll taxes and benefits. Many clients call us for the hourly rate and use that information to help bid jobs.

The idea is to treat Staffing as a flexible cost. Over time, it can save your company huge dollars. Even when the economy is slow, you get demand spikes. This is when we can help – Semper = Always. We will Always work our best to help you meet your clients demands. With many firms cutting back, the need for extra staff is even more critical and keeping clients satisfied is ever more important to your success. 

Last week we had an interesting experience with a Sir Speedy in the Southern California area. They needed a Docutech operator for a four week assignment.  The bill rate per hour was quoted as 23.50, which included all Payroll costs and insurance. The client told us he normally pays 16 per hour to his worker and had trouble paying us more then that amount. Believe it our not we run into this fairly frequently with clients. In this case we pointed out that there are costs associated with payroll above and beyond the base rate. These costs include Work Comp., Unemployment insurance, benefit costs (Health, Dental, 401 K, LTD, Vacation and Holiday- these usually add on 30 % in most states, but at least 35% in California. And this doesn’t include liability, Theft Bond or Professional errors and omission insurance costs we provide for each of our workers). So the client was realistically paying a minimum of 16 x 1.30 = 20.80 already and was unwilling to pay the additional 2.70 (108.00 per week) that would cover our additional costs and charge per hour.  The client felt they would try covering the period with over time and  having other workers try and keep the machine running with a monthly cost of $297.61. http://www.secinfo.com/dV179.96w.9.htm#1stPage It could be bringing in a contribution significantly higher per week.

We honestly do our best trying to explain but sometimes we fail – the is a reason they have that famous saying about throwing the baby out with the bath water – Some people are under so much stress to save a penny they definitely can hurt themselves which likely is part of the reason they are under so much stress in the first place.

So please, if your unsure ,  feel free to describe your unique situation and we can continue this discussion

The value of participating (Printing)

Every quarter end we conduct a survey of our client database to get a feel fro what they are seeing in their business. Of the thousands of emails we send out we usually receive about 1-2% response. While this still numbers in the hundreds, I find it interesting that the participation is so low. The value of information like this is very important in steering ones business and often times can help in decision making.

 

It is our hope that anyone reading our blog will participate in this survey and help us all have a clearer picture of where things stand today and what the next quarter may hold.

 

A always, we will share the results after they are compiled.

Follow this link
 
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=kSd_2bnMKfYs9ODpLm6V13LQ_3d_3d
to go directly to the web version of the survey.

 

 

 

 

Interesting post on Print CEO Blog

Print CEO blog had an interesting piece on Reading in America. Please find the original post here: Click Here Below is my comments on this. Brian Regan Comments:

Interactive media is here to stay. I was just having a discussion with my wife over the holiday weekend. We were at her parents home and I was silently watching their habits. My take was that their generation use media differently.

First off they watch TV, this medium tells them the story or information and they sit and watch it, not much interaction between them and the TV, although my Father in-law was not very happy about the Giants losing. During these times I would be online working on Second Life projects or posting on various forums about topics that interested me and I wanted to debate upon or on LinkedIN and networking.

The next was reading the newspaper. They spend Sunday morning reading a few different newspapers. At the same time I spent time reading my news online and using Google searches to dig deeper into things I found interesting and finding different things to read that spread out from there.

In both cases my in-laws sat back and read or watched what they were told to watch or read. Were as I spent time digging into things I wanted to learn more about and interacting with my media. We had some discussions at dinner and bother my in-laws and I knew about the latest news and various significant issues locally, nationally and globally.

In regards to reading less, I feel that I read quite a lot and find many things that interest me. From there I will tend to purchase access to sites with good material, buy books on the subjects and subscribe to magazines.

Interactive media is changing many things. Virtual Worlds like Second Life are drastically changing how our higher education schools are teaching future generations. No longer do they sit in classrooms and lecture, but use 3D worlds to explain their topics, allow students to interact with them with the environments.