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Upcoming Events
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 Printing Industries Launches PRIME
Integrated Print Center (PIA's newest online learning tool) brings members a new resource. This resource is called PRIME--an integrated marketing suite that enables any printer to easily create their own customized email, PURL, QR code, SMS, and social media campaigns and track the results.
PRIME is a unique tool because it can be used two ways:
- Training tool. The step-by-step online interface guides new users through the process of building a campaign, including creating and buying URLs, managing and acquiring lists, asset management, implementation, and analyzing campaign results (a free member service).
- Campaign launching tool. This allows printers to employ their customized integrated campaigns and measure the results through a detailed dashboard
Does PRIME sound like a useful resource for your business? You can be a key influencer and help shape PRIME for future innovative printers. Members are invited to join an exclusive group of beta testers and try PRIME free of charge. Let us know how it worked and suggest any improvements we can make. Just go to Prime.L2soft.com, click “Launch PRIME,” sign in, and get started!
Watch for the official launch of this integrated marketing platform soon. |
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PPACA Updates for Employers
January 1st is the launch date for PPACA (Obamacare). Starting then, employers
of 50+ will be required to provide health insurance or pay $2,000 annual penalty to the federal
government. Though you might think it’s
cheaper to pay the penalty and drop health
insurance, the math doesn’t add up. Primarily
because the net employer cost for
PPACA compliant coverage is quite low,
and tax deductible while the penalty is
not. Additionally, morale and competitiveness
problems may arise after eliminating
a key benefit.
Download this update from PIASC for additional information on PPACA.
Read the PPACA Compliance Employer Guide created by Printing Industries Benefit Trust. Questions? Contact Miriam Reimers at (858) 571-6555. |
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PIA Fights Costco's Newsletter Claims
The Printing Industry is under attack again. Costco Wholesale Corp. is planning to distribute the April 2013 issue of The Costco Connection with an article titled “Good for the earth and business” by Carrie Madren. This article claims to be dedicated to green and sustainability but contains several serious misconceptions about the negative environmental impact of paper and the superior performance of electronic communication.
In an open letter to Costco Wholesale Corp. CEO Craig Jelinek, PIA President, Michael Makin, encouraged the organization to consider the facts about print. Printing is the only medium with a one-time carbon footprint with all other media requiring energy every time they are viewed and, additionally, most of the energy is from non-renewable fuels, whereas paper made in North America is made with at least 60% renewable energy. Read Makin's letter here.
Stay Informed. For more facts about Print download the free mobile app, The Value of Print Flip-book! It is now available for Android, Apple, and Blackberry users. |
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Google Corrects Misleading Claims in Go Paperless 2013 Campaign
In a Special Announcement on March 19th, PIA President, Michael Makin announced, " It may have taken months, but I am pleased to report that as a result of the protest by Printing Industries of America—along with other groups such as Two Sides—Google has corrected its misleading claims made as part of its ill-conceived Paperless 2013 campaign. While the campaign to reduce office paper use will continue, its offensive tag line “Save money. Save time. Save trees” has been eliminated"!
Misconceptions like these are common in our industry, and that is why Printing Industries of America has spent time and resources putting together The Value of Print campaign, a tool that can be used to dispel many misconceptions about our industry.
Another victory for our industry!
Read Makin's letter that challenged Google. |
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 Get the Scoop with PIA/SD's Newest Publication: PrintScoop!
This month, we are excited to premier the latest addition to our long list of valuable member resources, the PrintScoop newsletter! The new PrintScoop newsletter communicates the most essential industry updates, resources and training in between editions of The Messenger. This exclusive publication will be mailed every other month to members of PIA/SD and will also be available online to supplement our goal of providing value and competitive gains through PIA/SD membership!
Read the February Edition. |
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Enter the web2awardsToday!
When it comes to promoting their businesses, printers today really know how to strut their stuff. They know that in order to reach customers, a well-rounded marketing mix is the way to go--and that the company’s website is the digital “front door” to their business.
If you want to showcase your outstanding website and attract new customers, let us help you stand out! PIA is accepting entries for the 2013 web2awards March 1–June 14, 2013.
PIA's web2awards competition honors websites that raise the bar on Web and Web-to-print technology for printing and graphic communication companies. So why should you enter the 2013 web2awards? First of all, you will gain exposure to and connect with thousands of potential clients. And then there are even more benefits:
- Press release announcing winners distributed to media and listing on the printing.org website where we detail winners and link to your website
- One-page announcement ad in the Premier Print Awards Supplement sent to 10,000 print buyers
- Opportunity to attend the Premier Print Awards Gala featuring the InterTech™ Technology Awards and web2awards on September 8, in Chicago, IL, in conjunction with PRINT 13®
- A stunning glass statue for display in the winner’s facility and at events across the country
There are five categories to enter, including two NEW categories: Print Service Provider’s Business Website (no e-commerce component), Print Service Provider’s Business Website (contains e-commerce component), NEW: Specialty/Promo Products, NEW: Self-publishing, and Social Media/Cross-media/Promotional Case Study.
Learn more and enter today!
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Value of Print
Help us fight back the misconceptions of print and spread the message of the true value of print. Printing Industries of America has developed these Value of Print tools—in Print, Web, and Mobile—to help spread the correct message about:
- Print's environmental impact
- Its effectiveness, and
- The true economic footprint of the printing industry.
The tools include:
- Value of Print Mobile App for Apple and Android with a live RSS feed and up-to-date statistics
- Value of Print Flip-Book with charts, graphs, and statistics
- Value of Print Web Edition for pdf download
Visit the Value of Print website to learn more about these tools.
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USPS Mail Promotions in 2013
The USPS is awaiting approval of six mail promotions for the 2013 calendar year. The promotions are designed to generate continued interest in the various uses and benefits of mobile barcodes in direct mail as well as to encourage the use of traditional mail campaigns. The promotions await approval by the Postal Regulatory Commission. For more information on the six promotions click here. |
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2012 Wage & Benefits Survey
The results from the 2012 Wage & Benefits Survey are out! This valuable resource surveys print firms across the country for compensation feedback on a variety of industry positions. For those of you that participated, your FREE copy should have been emailed to you. If you would like to purchase the Wage Survey, we're offering PIA/SD members a substantial discount! You can purchase the Wage Survey results for $175 ($300 for non members).
To purchase the survey please send an email to Karen@piasd.org. |
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Latest HR and Governmental Updates!
PIA/SD wants to keep you informed. As employers and employees of the graphic design and printing industries, being informed of the latest HR and Governmental updates is important! Check out the latest Governmental and HR updates on our Employee Relations page.
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 Brand Your Company Through PIA/SD!
PIA/SD has the best industry resources for promoting you products and services, and establishing brand recognition among your customers! With popular news outlets like The Messenger and Bulletin Board that are distributed to over 500 print professionals in San Diego – and a website that averages over 2,500 hits each month – gaining leverage through PIA/SD advertising packages is well worth the reasonable investment.
Our new year of advertising in our monthly printed news publication, The Messenger, is now open – and the first issue of new ads is slated for November. Check out our fantastic rates on display advertising that ensures your message remains prominent throughout the year. We have static display ads, options to personalize your ad, and we've even introduced QR codes this year! Download the rates and contract to start building your brand through Messenger advertising.
Want to go viral? We have a Premier Web Package where your logo will be placed in high traffic areas, and link back to your website, twitter page, facebook and more through packaged advertising on our website, social media sites, Print Access and our electronic news publication, The Bulletin Board! Get the word out via web on all your products and services, and all your integrated communication outlets! Download the rates and contract to start building your brand through our Premier Web Sponsorship.
Take advantage of targeted industry advertising that directly reaches print buyers and solution providers today! Questions? Call Caroline at 858-571-6555! |
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Choose Print is an educational campaign designed to promote the value of print and to reinforce the fact that print is a recyclable, renewable and sustainable environmental choice. Find out more and learn all that Choose Print has to offer and how it can help your company become more successful. |
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Communicating the Truth About Print
Print is often criticized for its loss of value and importance in the market, as well as its impact on the environment. It is essential to convey the message that print is important to brand recognition and the sales process, and that we are an environmentally and socially responsible industry.
Value of Print Poster: Renewable, Recyclable, Effective
from PIA: download poster and download brochure.
Combat Print is Bad
A Washington Post article "iPads and Kindles are Better For The Environment Than Books" beat up printed books. The article provides more ammunition for "print is bad." Printing Industries of America's CEO Mike Makin wrote a response which answered why print has a better story to tell. The data Makin provides in his letter needs to be communicated to more and more individuals to help them understand that being "green" does not mean doing away with paper. Download Makin's letter and share it with as many on your team as possible. Just as important, make sure you find ways to communicate key data in his footnotes with your customer's key decision makers. They need to hear the other side of the story.
The following tools and resources have been developed to help printers convey these messages to the media, your customers, the government, and other industries.
Also, please take a moment to read a special announcement from President & CEO of Printing Industries of America, Michael Makin, regarding this matter. |
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Executive Conference Room available for meetings
Is space at your office a little limited? The executive conference room here at PIA/SD is available for you to host your next meeting. Complete with its own private entrance, audio and video equipment, and refreshments the room is ready to host your company's next board meeting.
For more information or to reserve our beautiful room, give us a call today! |
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PrintPAC: Pro-Print, Pro-Business
Did you know that the legislation being debated right now in Congress includes:
- Mandated employer-provided health insurance
- Required levels of premium contributions
- Federally-set standards of coverage businesses must provide
- And tax hikes
Is your business ready to let this happen or do you want a second opinion? If your answer is YES on a second opinion, please visit the PrintPAC website for more information on the only political action committee dedicated solely to representing the interest of our industry.
One hundred percent of PrintPAC funds go to support pro-print, pro-business lawmakers who walk the walk on policies we advocate.
Visit www.printpaconline.org for more information. |
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Group Buying Spotlight
We are pleased to announce that members can now save BIG with Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI)! This new National Buying Power Program will provide members with the services to locate suppliers, source products, and sell branded products to clients and prospects. Members will also receive ASI's industry-leading technology at severely discounted rates. Learn more.
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PIA/SD Welcomes Its Newest Members:
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Remote Director LLC
760-444-9400
Specialties: Software developer
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Ranch & Coast Label
619-350-6390
Specialties: Pressure sensitive labels and tags
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West Coast Commerce LLC
619-476-1090
Specialties: Print & packaging brokers
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The Ryan Group
714-373-3688
Specialties: Website development, social media development |
LA Envelope
323-828-9300
Specialties: Trade envelope converting & manufacturing
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ReproMagic
858-277-2488
Specialties: Digital Printing, Commercial Offset |
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Last Update: 05/22/2013 |
