Industry News

there is no doubt that the printed products industry is dramatically different from what it was twenty years ago. Continued growth and success require diversification across product lines, and the days of specialization in one single niche are dwindling. One-stop shop, value-added services, workflow solutions and a service-oriented approach are all catch phrases for one thing, end-users want fast, top-quality service for the best price. This is a fact that has always been and forever will be. So then, what exactly has changed? And, how can industry professionals continue to meet the needs of an end-user whose insatiable desire for technology and speed grow

1996, Bill Clinton was re-elected president, the economy was solid and Madeleine Albright became the United States’ first female Secretary of State. Compact discs were the optimum in sound quality and data storage. Labels crept their way into Business Forms & Systems Magazine, creating the BFL&S of today. And, mass numbers of pentium chip-powered PC’s and laser printers made their way into homes and businesses, paving the road to the World Wide Web. with only a few years remaining in the 20th century, the mystery surrounding the new millennium intensified. People anticipated big changes, but the details of those changes were uncertain. However, the

Gill Studios, Shawnee Mission, Kan., walked away a winner in three categories during the 2006 Promotional Products Expo held Jan. 9-13 at the Las Vegas Mandalay Bay Convention Center. The company was honored with the Supplier Star Award of Merit, the Supplier Golden Achievement Award for Screen Printing on Other Than Textile category and the Supplier Silver Web Award. For more information, visit www.gill-line.com.

Proforma chose Cleveland—home of its national headquarters—as the location for its first regional meeting, which occurred Jan. 30-31. Six more regional meetings will be held across the United States and Canada throughout March. “We’ve designed the meetings to educate owners about new growth opportunities and how to maximize their success, as well as network with other owners and our preferred limited partner suppliers,” said Greg Muzzillo, founder and co-CEO. Also, the company is launching ProApparel by Proforma at the meetings. The line of private-label wearables, including dress shirts, casual shirts and outerwear, comes in a wide array of styles, sizes, colors and embroidery options.

Greenwich, Connecticut-based Workflow Management, parent company of WorkflowOne, one of North America's largest providers of printing and promotional products, recently annouced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Dayton, Ohio-based The Relizon Company, a North American supplier of business process solutions for document outsourcing, billing and marketing. Upon the completion of the acquisition, WorkflowOne and The Relizon Company will be worth more than $1 billion in the North American document management solution market, with significantly increased client-focused capabilities. In addition, more than 5,000 employees and 25,000 combined clients from both companies will benefit from a broader portfolio of products and services. "The

It is an interesting phenomenon in the world of finance that a minority shareholder in a publicly held company can mount enough bluster to engineer a takeover. Then, in the name of shareholder equity, the raider will slash jobs, sell assets and gut pension funds so that the stock price rises. Then, sated with profits from stock options, salary and bonus, the raider melts away with a new pool of capital, ready for the next venture. This is the ultimate in capitalism. An entrepreneur, greedy for the growth, takes a company public. Growth ensues, but bureaucracy piles up until mismanagement sets in. Reorganizations follow as

MLC Holding Corporation, Garland, Texas, which includes Vallis, Metro Label and other printing-related subsidiaries, announced today that it is discontinuing all operations related to the Vallis Company, effective immediately. This decision does not affect the other subsidiaries, including Metro Label, which will continue to provide services to existing and new customers. Operations affected by the Vallis decision include plants in Baltimore, Chicago and Cherryvale, Kansas. MLC Holding Corporation expects to continue its plans to expand into growth markets and focus its economic resources on developing new opportunities within the printing industry.