MONDAY, August 31, 2009 • $2.00
Estimating Advances:
You Can Quote Me on That
By Liz Fedorowicz
Every printing job starts with a price quote. So ideally a printer wants the
best estimating solution for the specific needs of his/her firm in order to win
new business or satisfy return customers. A look at some of the new products
hitting the market this year helps owners and managers find the right esti-
mating solution for their type of business.
AACRO Computer Systems
The company’s Print Shop Manager product was designed from the ground
up with speed and ease of use in mind. “Our last update was a major step
towards implementing digital printer pricing into the estimating process.
Our estimating system uses specialized templates to accommodate the vari-
ous types of jobs that a printer sees from day to day,” said Rich Giles, presi-
dent of AACRO.
“For example, there is a template specifically for envelopes, another for car-
bonless forms, one specifically for printing pads and one for all general work
like brochures or newsletters. These templates allow the selection of any
print device that has been defined as available whether it is offset or digital
or a combination. This gives users increased flexibility. For example, in the
booklets template, a cover can be designated to be printed on a digital device
while the pages are printed offset.
“And it’s all defined under one job number. It has made life much easier for
the person defining and estimating the jobs,” he added.
For more information, call (770) 592-2028 or visit www.printshopmanager.com.
Estimator Corp.
Print Can Help Boost the Economy “Using Estimator in the everyday working environment allowed us to
develop and apply scores of specialized features unique to this program,”
By William Gindlesperger ernment’s on-going unwritten policy of said Estimator President Mark Myers.
No business sector is more representative manufacturing print in-house rather than
of small business than printers. There are reliance on the private sector. As in most available programs, the quote starts with the selection of the
approximately 36,000 commercial print- customer from an existing list, or by adding the new customer informa-
ers (not including neighborhood print Not too long ago, 51 percent of every- tion. From that point Estimator becomes noticeably different. A single
shops) in the United States. However, thing printed ended up going through screen in front of you at all times becomes your working platform. All
this number is falling dramatically as the mail. When the bulk mail rate went required information is easily accessed from this single location. Changes
more and more printers fail due to the up, direct mail volumes went down in are viewed instantaneously and the thousands of interactive formulas
recession, an increase in bulk mail rates favor of online advertising and other less automatically create all required downstream changes, without your hav-
by the U.S. Postal Service, and the gov- continued on page 6 ing to think about them.
continued on page 8
Inside: ■ The Business of Books ■ The GPO Responds ■ Expanding Your Business
PERIODICALS POSTAGE
For All Your Paper and Envelope Needs
1-800-772-2001
www.papermartinc.com
For All Your Commercial Printing Paper Needs
8
Estimating Advances “A new help system makes learning tion capacity is so that we can make
continued from page 1 the system easier. A new price analysis commitments that we know we can
report assists managers in evaluat- keep,” said Printer’s Plan user