Talking Shop
By Chris McLoone, Tom Polischuk
About Chris
Chris is managing editor for packagePRINTING magazine, and is always on the lookout for package printer success stories and packaging design innovations.
Building Brands for Packaging
There’s Always Room for Great Design
Feb 4, 2011At a time when there’s so much to read, listen to, click through and watch, we need to try to...
Sustainable Recovery
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Today's sessions began with a changing of the guard or passing of the gavel. Departing PPC Chairman swore in the association's new Chairman, Steven Levkoff, of The Standard Group.
Before officially vacating his position, J. Anthony Petrelli, of CardPak recounted some of the Council's successes during his two-year tenure, including record attendance at its Outlook and Strategies conferences, and increased participation among all members. "There is no power of association if there is no power of participation," he said--words that transcend all industries and associations. He called upon all present to continue to participate at the level they are today.
Incoming Chair Levkoff pledged to continue to preach the Council's "renewable, recyclable, and sustainable" message.
Sustainable Recovery
Good news, package printers--times are getting better. So says Alan Beaulieu, from the Institute of Trend Research (ITR). According to Beaulieu, there's no need to worry about the sugar high of the recovery wearing off. He advised everyone today to relax and enjoy the ride for the next two to three years. He predicts that the recovery will level off in 2013, but that we'll have a mild recession in 2014. However, the three years following 2014 will be a time of recovery and good times.
What he does caution about, because really, it's hard to talk about the economy these days without eventually discussing caution, is inflation. It's on the way. He contends that we should go back to the 1970s and learn from what happened during that decade.
But, until inflation starts, and it will, now is the time to spend money. He left attendees with the following actions to take:
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Prepare for inflation.
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See a tax advisor
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Make key capital purchases and/or acquisitions now.
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Increase your marketing and advertising efforts to improve your competitive advantage
Beaulieu also spoke at the 2009 Outlook and Strategies Conference, and he reiterated what he said to attendees last year: buy real estate. If we haven't yet, we should, and before the end of the year. Because now is the time to make something that will perform for the next 20 years. It may take 10 years for us to see a return on our investments, but at that point, we'll look like geniuses.
It sure made me feel better. I'm not sure I'll go running out to buy a new house any time soon. I'll have to check with the boss on that one--that would be my wife. Turns out I've got the same setup as Dick DePaul, last evening's Volunteer Leader of Excellence Award winner. He said his wife is the CEO of their marriage. I've sure got that in common with him.
Next on the agenda is tonight's award dinner that will include the 67th Annual National Paperboard Packaging Competition Awards. PPC boasts 110 entries for this year's competition--up from 87 entries in 2009.
I'll let you know who came out on top after tonight's awards dinner.
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