The Death of Print - 12,000 Layoffs And Counting

"Print is Dead" - Dr. Egon Spengler, New York City, 1984

It has been a long time coming, and in my opinion, will never happen, but the move toward a 'Paperless Society' is plodding along.

According to preliminary figures released this week by the Audit Bureau of Circulations, circulation for 507 daily US newspapers fell 4.64 percent in the six months to September to 38.16 million copies.

Where are all the readers going?

And Toshiba Continues...Irvine is a Long Way From Memphis

Collins Distributing Company Now Designated as a National Distributor for Toshiba America Business Solutions

Originally walking in Memphis, seems the siren call of the "Best Coast" has lured yet another 'easterner' out here.

From the article:


IRVINE, Calif., Oct 21, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Toshiba America Business Solutions Inc. (TABS) today announced that Collins Distributing Company (CDC) of Memphis, Tenn. is now an authorized national distributor of Toshiba copiers, facsimiles and multifunction printing products (MFPs). For nearly 40 years, CDC has served dealers nationwide and has been an authorized Toshiba distributor in the Southeast since 1999, selling more than 1,500 Toshiba units annually. To help provide greater service coverage, CDC recently opened a new office supporting West Coast operations. CDC's newly inaugurated Toshiba National Distributor status will provide TABS an even stronger presence in this competitive market...

About Collins Distributing Company

Founded in 1971, Collins Distributing Company (CDC) is an office equipment wholesaler headquartered in Memphis, Tenn. CDC focuses on selling digital imaging equipment such as copiers, multifunction products (MFPs), parts and genuine supplies exclusively to office equipment dealers across the nation. CDC offers a full line of stocked Toshiba hardware products, onsite parts and supplies, flexible credit terms, and installation and technical support, both before and post product deployment. CDC's central U.S. location in Memphis, near FedEx headquarters, makes it a prime location for quick, efficient delivery of product, reducing the need for dealers to stock and maintain inventory. CDC's annual revenue is approximately $25 million.

Canon cuts forecast

1st profit fall in 9 yrs

TOKYO, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Japan's Canon Inc (7751.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) posted a 26 percent drop in quarterly operating profit and cut its annual outlook, predicting its first fall in nine years as the global downturn drives up the yen and hurts copier and camera sales.

The yen on Monday traded much firmer against the euro and the dollar than Canon's assumptions for October-December, raising concern that the company may miss its latest 2008 outlook and head into another year of profit declines next year.

Canon's downward revision, its second for the year, was widely expected after Sony Corp (6758.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) last week lowered its annual operating profit forecast by 57 percent, citing a stronger yen and slower sales of flat TVs and digital cameras.

Canon is the world's largest digital camera maker ahead of Sony and Nikon Corp (7731.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz).

"The economic slowdown we are facing is something that comes along once in 50 years or once a century. It is beyond what any one single company can deal with on its own," Canon Managing Director Masahiro Osawa told a group of reporters.

"Our basic stance now is we hone our corporate strength, so we will be running ahead of competition when the economic recovery comes."

Canon cut its operating profit forecast for 2008 by a quarter to 580 billion yen ($6.18 billion), down from 756.67 billion yen a year earlier and below the market consensus of 693 billion yen from 19 analysts polled by Reuters Estimates.

YEN CLOUDS 2009 OUTLOOK

The supplier of IXY and EOS brand digital cameras is assuming euro/yen exchange rate of 135 yen for the last three months this year, and a dollar/yen rate of 100 yen.

In comparison, the euro traded around 115 yen and the dollar at about 93 yen on Monday.

"With the euro at 115 yen now, I'm afraid their forecasts do not make much sense any more," Mizuho Securities analyst Ryosuke Katsura said.

If exchange rates stay at current levels next year and Canon's local currency-based sales are unchanged from 2008, its operating profit would fall by about 40 percent from this year to around 350 billion yen in 2009, Katsura said.

Preliminary Injunction Hearing on the Sale of Ikon Office Solutions, Inc. to Ricoh Company, Ltd.

NEW YORK, Oct 23, 2008 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- The Brualdi Law Firm, P.C. announces a preliminary injunction hearing has been scheduled for Monday, October 27, 2008

The class action lawsuit was filed on September 23, 2008. The Complaint alleges that the proposed sale of Ikon to Ricoh protects the interests of Ikon's directors and Ricoh at the expense of Ikon's public shareholders. The Complaint also alleges that the directors concealed material information from plaintiff and Ricoh's other public shareholders in conjunction with the same.

HP IPG Re-Org

Leaner and Meaner?

I ran across this quick article about the IPG reorg.

As I have mentioned, there a lots of new faces. Faces from all over the world, current HP folks, who are now going to create "something from nothing" - a Value Added Printing channel. (wow)

All part of the Plan - “a printer company to a printing company,” according to IPG chief Vyomesh Joshi.

We are waiting for the year to end (October) to see what new "goodies" are waiting for "those who stayed..."

HP - Above the Fray...

HP Layoffs -

Selling and U of M Football

Carpou Goes to Profit Recovery Partners

IKON Veteran Joins Profit Recovery Partners

Posted by Apply Best Credit Card in Monday, October 27th 2008 under: News

All PR Newswire news

IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ — Profit Recovery Partners (PRP)

announced today that Bill Carpou has joined the company’s senior executive

team as vice president of sales and marketing. An industry veteran with more

than 18 years of experience, Carpou most recently served as area vice

president and general manager for IKON Office Solutions’ Southern California

operations, headquartered in Irvine, Calif.

Carpou joined IKON in 1990 as vice president of sales for the company’s

Philadelphia operation, and later became vice president of sales and marketing

for the company’s Northeast region. After relocating to Laguna Niguel, Calif.,

in 1998, he assumed responsibility for IKON’s Southern California operation, a

position he held until March 2005 when he transferred to the company’s

headquarters in Malvern, PA, to become vice president of marketing for IKON

North America. Carpou accepted his most recent position as area vice president

and general manager after returning to California in August 2007.

“Bill’s experience and credibility will further support the growth

objectives of PRP over the next 10 years as we expand the services we provide

to our existing and new customers,” said Don Steiner, president of PRP.

Carpou added, “I am thrilled to be part of one of the fastest-growing

companies in Southern California. PRP’s business model, which combines the

expertise of our staff with our long-term verification and support system

program, allows us to fully understand and meet the requirements of each

customer, regardless of their size or industry.”

Summary

Profit Recovery Partners (PRP) is a national consulting organization

headquartered in Irvine, California. It specializes in the development,

implementation and support of administrative expense reduction solutions for

Fortune 1000 and other middle market companies. Since its inception in 1997,

PRP has served its clients by producing competitive, lean cost structures

through the application of proprietary procurement management methodologies,

and by leveraging unique vendor knowledge and purchasing power.

SOURCE Profit Recovery Partners

Copyright 2008 PR Newswire

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Crime Blotter Update:Bribes and Ricoh

Mount Vernon SD official convicted of bribe receiving, official misconduct

My post dated May 24th now has an ending - of sorts.

From the Mid Hudson News:

"WHITE PLAINS – The former head of purchasing for the Mount Vernon City School District was convicted Friday of bribe receiving, official misconduct and receiving unlawful gratuities.

Arthur Rose, 49, of Mount Vernon, was convicted in Westchester County Court on two counts of bribe receiving as felonies, three counts of official misconduct as misdemeanors and one count of receiving unlawful gratuities as a misdemeanor.

Between mid-June and mid-July 2005, rose, the former head of purchasing at the school district, accepted a bribe of $3,500 from a sales representative of Ricoh Americans Corporation for his assurance that the company would receive a five year contract from the district for 73 digital copiers, support products and related services.

On August 3, 2005, based on Rose’s recommendation, the school district gave Ricoh the contract which exceeded $1 million.

Between June and September 2006, Rose solicited and received a bribe in the form of a $10,000 donation to his church from the owner of Tri-State Supply Company, a custodial supply company, in exchange for future business, which was later awarded.

When sentenced, Rose faces up to seven years in state prison."

Picture over on Print4Pay.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly - for just 73 copiers **UPDATED***

Copiers and Crime...This Stuff Can Not Be Made UP

Copier Crime - From the "Dirty D"

The Office of the Future -

...As seen from the year 1975 EXECUTIVE BRIEFING June 30, 1975, 6:43PM EST 

 "...Will the office change all that much? "

Listen to George E. Pake, who heads Xerox Corp.'s Palo Alto (Calif.) Research Center, a new think tank already having a significant impact on the copier giant's strategies for going after the office systems market: 

"There is absolutely no question that there will be a revolution in the office over the next 20 years. What we are doing will change the office like the jet plane revolutionized travel and the way that TV has altered family life." 

The Economic "Crisis" Hits Home - American Express

Oh, how the mighty have FALLEN.

Up until today, I had only "heard" of companies having challenges getting credit. 

For instance, I have seen reports of a company unable to secure a 20k lease for one copier; although they were very creditworthy. 

But today, I spoke with small businesses with a superior credit ratings, and long relationships with their banks and American Express. I mention AE because of their ad campaigns pitching directly at small businesses. 

The Gold, Platinum, Blue, and the newest, Plum. First. An owner of a small business has an 800+ FICO and enough cash in the bank to choke a horse was refused a mortgage on a $60,000.00 cabin in the woods. He could have purchased 5 cabins that day with cash. 

But like any savvy business person, he wanted to use the bank's money - denied. 

 Additionally, he uses American Express to purchase inventory. And with his inventory turns at 30 days, "floating" the cost on an AE card makes sense, and earns him points. His limit was reduced from $65,000 to $16,000.00 in a day; then reduces again to 10k.

OK, now this customer is not complaining - I will do that for him - and I am kinda torn. I actually DO understand American Express's position - credit EVERYWHERE is tightening up, so they need to as well. But - small businesses all over the country have been using AE exactly like this customer and American Express has been urging companies to utilize credit in this manner. Throw in the fact that they are reducing limits without prior notification and get an even bigger mess; a customer service mess. 

My Point - as agents of change, you need to help your clients more than ever before. Help them through difficult times. And it is not easy. Times are tough. This "recession" is not going to last forever and when the turnaround comes, we should all remember who was there with us.

Are Customers Smarter Now?

Everyone says, "...because of the internet, your clients are smarter now more than ever..."

I wonder. Really?

I my opinion, there was a time when the internet held all sorts of "information" - but today, there is so much, that it is all just "data". Perhaps a subtle difference, perhaps not.

Think about it in the world of copiers. Just because a prospect can search the 'net and retrieve hundreds of brochures, user reviews and even pricing does this make him/her smarter?

Informed, agreed.

Can access to all the facts in the known world make your prospect "smarter" than you? The down and dirty answer is "yes" if you are a copier person. (If you are reading this, you are in the 2%)

But if you client has access to all the data in the known world, SO DO YOU.

Just because I can search out and find information on how to build a Space Shuttle, does not mean I know how to fly it...and just because your prospect can find out exactly how xerography, or Edgeline or copier leases work sure as heck does not mean they now know how to navigate the sea of confusion.

They need someone to help, to advise, to partner with.

That someone could be you.

Not all that easy if you think about it, eh?

Lots of pressure, eh? Pressure? Yes.

If you go into a relationship knowing you can help and intending to help, you put it all on the line. So you better do your homework, and you better know more then your client.


Sales - who woulda thunk it could be this difficult.




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A Great Slide Show on The History of Xerox

The 70th anniversary of Chester Carlson's invention of Xeroxography is almost here. Carlson succeeded in creating the first Xerox copy on October 22nd, 1938.

Good show, here.

70 Years of Xerography -

Xerox Print Drivers Lauded by Industry for Freeing up IT Staff

Xerox and the "Universal Print Driver"

Industry Analysts praised the Xerox Global Print Driver and Mobile Express Driver print drivers for simplifying printing management for IT departments and making it easier for workers to print from multiple locations. The drivers' ability to support competitive printing devices, as well as nearly all Xerox printers and multifunction printers (MFPs) played a key role in the award selection.


"The beauty of technology is when it makes things simple," said Ted Needleman, senior technical director of Industry Analysts Technical Services Division. "The Xerox drivers work regardless of who made the printer plus you don't need to spend all kinds of time setting them up. Xerox has made the whole process seamless."


"This award underscores Xerox's dedication to delivering real-world solutions that help our customers simplify their processes, become more productive and improve their bottom line," said Rick Dastin, president, Xerox Office Group. "


Providing these free print drivers is just one way Xerox continues to stay ahead of the technology curve and anticipate the needs of our customers."


SOURCE: Xerox Corporation

Imitation is the greatest form of flattery...