Letters, feedback, get it off your chest: 3 November 2010
Brett Turnley responds to criticism of The Bindery's plans to move to Sydney following Graphic Bookbinding's troubles, while another reader has some tips on how APIA could move forward and John Payne recalls some horrors he has seen in the workplace.
Re: Letters, feedback, get it off your chest: 27 October 2010
Dear Another Print Finisher,
It would have been preferable to address you by your real name, but apparently it was withheld at your request. Hardly “The Australian way …”
A few points for you to consider:
Since last week’s article about a potential expansion of The Bindery to Sydney, the response from Sydney printers has been overwhelming. We have received phone calls and emails offering assistance and support if we decide to expand into Sydney. We thank those who made contact and appreciate your offers of support.
Yes, we had a fire in March 2006 that destroyed several key items of equipment. We were assisted by competitors and clients as we recovered and will be eternally grateful to those who did assist. Offers to assist Graphic Bookbinding were made by The Bindery and those offers still stand. An event such as a fire or destruction of assets has an impact on your business that those who go through the event will only really understand. We sympathise with Emma and her team and reiterate our offer to support them in any way practical.
Yes, there are many issues in our industry. You note that “our great industry cannot get its act together and become a cohesive voice for the prosperity of print”. It’s very hard to work as a cohesive team if some of the members hide behind a veil of anonymity.
Brett Turnley
Chairman
Denward Court Pty Ltd, T/as The Bindery
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Re: Print leaders set to steer paper back into the every day
A couple of simple strategies could be to develop the following:
Uniform direct mail pieces (downloadable as print ready PDFs) for printers and others in the industry to send to their clients.
One could be a simple dl with a few short sharp facts that directs them to the website and the other could be a more detailed A4 flyer, once again that directs them to the website for additional information.
Additionally create some detailed articles and blogs that can be uploaded to the printer’s websites that are generic in nature but has all the facts and figures in it.
Another angle could be to develop a social media strategy through linked in and twitter that not only APIA can promote through these mediums but also individual printers. We could then develop a program, say two months at a time, so that participating businesses in the industry don’t have to think about what to Tweet or send in discussion groups in LinkedIn as it will already be mapped out for them, all they will have to do is send it out.
This could also come with a suggested timetable so this message really gets out in the general business community as well as our customers.
Let’s make this simple so we can adopt this strategy as an industry and really have a voice in the community about our industry.
Richard Holland
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Re: Sydney printer’s life ends in tragedy
Thanks for your newsletter. Regrettably, after 50 years in the printing industry which has introduced many guards etc on plant, humans still think they can beat the machine and will find ways to do things at high risk.
I have seen a man lose his arm from the shoulder down in the earliest web press and another strip the inside of his hand when he tried to wipe off a 'hickey' with a rag. A man fell from on high when the forks of the lift were not placed at the maximum width, so he toppled when he put a foot on one corner. A man was run over when a fork backed through a rubber door without giving warning. A man cooked when 'hot-melt' glue was first introduced and it sprayed his face when a blockage was relieved.
If I put it in a book it would make a volume.
Best wishes for the continuance of your service.
John Payne