What Makes Printers Laugh Maniacally?
Got that Peter Lorre feeling?
I don’t know about everyone in the graphic arts industry, but I think the nightly national news is the funniest show on television. They call in their economic “experts” who solemnly tell us that the recession is over while the anchor sits and nods wisely in agreement. I can’t help but wonder what they do “off camera.” Do they high five each other and joke about how they are pulling the wool over our eyes? Maybe they think we can’t see the truth, but we can, all we have to do is look at our bank statements. The truth is there in the bottom line. The truth shows up in 1% or less passbook interest and 25% credit card interest. Wouldn’t printers love to have those margins?
I know of no printer who believes that the recession is over. Oh sure, we have moments when the market seems to be coming alive and we experience busy times here and there, but overall–overall there is trouble. Printers who haven’t gone out of business are largely hanging on by the skin of their teeth.
So if the recession is really over and the printers aren’t feeling it, maybe every other business is benefiting. Right? Wrong, everywhere I go I hear the same story of cutbacks, slow sales, and low expectations of recovery. Oh sure, the hope is there. We are, after all, Americans and Americans never say die, but aren’t you tired of the beatings we are taking? You go to work day-after-day hoping that the newscaster was right and things are going to pick up and they don’t–what do you do?
I read the other day that four mutual fund managers each got billion dollar bonuses. The recession is over for them, that’s for sure. AARP magazine said that Corporate Executives are funding their bonuses by reducing health care and other benefits on the rank and file, so I guess the recession isn’t affecting them either. The insurance companies got congress to pass a health care law forcing everyone to buy private insurance. Happy days are here for them too.
So if you get blue and can’t pull yourself out of the fogs of gloom, just shout with all the enthusiasm you can muster, “The recession is over!” If that doesn’t make you laugh, nothing will.
Note: The latest blog entry in Chicken Scratchings is “To e-Book, or Not to e-Book, That is the Question.” Just click on the underlined to take you there.
Tags: AARP Magazine, Americans, Anchor, Bank Statements, Benefits, Billion Dollar Bonuses, Bonuses, bottom line, Corporate Executives, Credit Card interest, Economic Experts, Graphic Arts Industry, Health Care, High Five, Laugh, Mutual Fund Managers, National News, Newscaster, Off Camera, Out of Business, Passbook Interest, Peter Lorrie, Printers, Private Insurance, Rand & File, Recession, Television
Indicators show that the economy has turned the corner toward recovery. Stats and various economic indicators do bear that out. But, while effects of economic turn down happen quickly, benefits of recovery do not. It takes time to filter down to day-to-day business and I think even longer to translate to an increase that print providers can see on their bottom line. Measureable improvement is coming though and print providers need to be sure they are ready. As an industry we still provide vehicles to disceminate information. Don’t just wait for it to happen, though. Keep your ear to the ground with your clients and when it becomes apparent that their business is poised for improvement, be sure to be there offering the business communications resources to accompany their business development iniatives.
Please correct the spelling of my name
Please accept my sincere apologies for the misspelling of your name. As you can see on the post I have made the correction. I am very curious about something. Since you passed away in 1964 how is it that you found my blog? Do they have Internet service in the hereafter?