Letters, feedback, get it off your chest: 3 February 2009

30 January 2009

Another strong round of letters this week, on everything from the hotly contested PSO debate and the closure of MacMillan Print through to some praise for Richard Rasmussen.

Re: More consolidation: McMillan Print and Blue Star Print NSW brought together

As a former employee of McMillans, I was one of the redundancies last week.

We were informed at the beginning of the week and from Wednesday to Friday
each employee was taken into a meeting room and informed of their status. We finished up on the day we were told. It looked to be at least 75 per cent of the staff that was made redundant.
 
It was also good to be told how bright Bluestar’s future was going to be, as they were handing us our notices.
 
Ex Employee (Name withheld)

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Re: Industry splits on PSO certification for digital presses

PSO for digital print engines, what a load of crap.

All digital prints from the moment you hit the print button are exactly the same as long as your printer has been properly calibrated.

There is no art or finesse in digital printing, any bozo can get great results from a digital printer, even an Indigo. Look at the great results you get from a Konica or Xerox 25-a-minute office copier.

If it is that easy to achieve PSO accreditation all copier vendors will now go for it.

What a w@#k.
Tony Bertolotti
Manager
University of Melbourne
Digital Print Centre

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Having just got back from an overseas holiday and learnt of the second demise of Stateweb it comes as little surprise.

As a former employee representing Stateweb from outside of South Australia (who to this day has yet to even be contacted from anyone at the company that it closed, and was advised via the administrator) l can confidently say the concept and company was sound but the real problem was senior management or lack there of.

The original sales forecasts were never going to happen and indeed physically could not be achieved due to the limited production facilities. This was made very clear to senior management but totally ignored as projected sales were the key focus of the 'business strategy' created to secure investment.
 
The lesson for senior managers is simple: it is always more cost-effective to retain customers you already have than to source new ones. So service and service more what clients you have; your sales team are the 'scouts' of the market ensure they are part of the forecasting and budgeting process
stay clear of gut feel and report only on realistic objectives.

Where are all the real managers these days?

From a former employee who lost plenty from Stateweb and yet
to this day have yet to even recent a call from them. (Name withheld).

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Re: Business values fall, clients lists rise: Richard Rasmussen

The article on business values was very pertinent and well written by an old colleague. Interesting reading.

Bill Wall
Sales manager, consumables
Heidelberg


Richard's article is very interesting and spot on to what I think when selling a business.

I have been in business for many years and have looked at buying a new business but the asking price is always prohibitive with the formula of two to three times net profit and old plant which needs changing.

I know Richard and he is a straight shooter, he knows the industry well.

Thanks for the article.

Michael Hall