| 2020 Vision, a decade of development |
Sixteen years in and another ten to go to fulfil our members aspirations. CSMA Copy Shop members Assoc. has developed through open communications in our monthly trade magazine CSN. Should we change our name, offer more services or even charge for membership? It’s all up for discussion.
Firstly we have always believed in our highly esteemed industry suppliers sponsoring our membership and thus contributing to a healthy customer base for themselves. They deserve to pay and will continue to sponsor the hard copy and live site of Copy Shop News.
Unlike some publications that have gone completely virtual, CSN and our sister publication DPS News will always produce real printed magazines. Not only is tactile print more mobile and accessible it is better read and referred to than on screen only titles. You need hard copy to drive web publications and anyway we must all lead by example to keep our presses active.
Our number one remit has always been to share best practice in print. This is made possible by our members contributions and requests. For example we are testing two new colour printers, as a direct enquiry from CSN readers. Case studies are a great way to share road tests on new equipment with our beta test centre often making suggestions pre-launch that have resulted in modifications before general release. CSN enjoys reaching the parts other publications cannot reach as we are indeed a print for pay printer reporting to our professional colleagues, yes it really does take one to know one.
We have declined opportunities of becoming a full on buyers group as this would result in losing our independent, no hidden agenda, opinion. We may make recommendations and even help start group purchasing schemes, after all we all benefit from being one of a united group of 6600 print shops. Imagine using this economy of scale when negotiating a group paper deal for our house white 80 gsm and say 110 colour print stock? Work in progress this one. Spicers will open a stationery account for any printers wanting to offer more stationery lines to end users. For many readers, offering more services will attract new customers and protect existing ones. We are aware of the SOHO, Small Office Home Office, 8 million customer base showing a preference for a one stop shop opportunity, contact stationery@copyshopnews.co.uk we have plans to sell more allied services and different print formats and processes. Posting your customers print is a must for the future with mail sorting and processing under review. Members and suppliers with expertise in post are requested to contact features@copyshopnews.co.uk
The Bank of Scotland merchant services group scheme has been well received with our special rates and hopefully as our membership increases we can exert pressure for younger print shops to be enrolled who historically may not have qualified as a single application.
All group services are dealt with directly between each member and the supplier, but at a preferential group rate. We have no intent to be involved in the invoicing cycle as borne out in our UK print portal directory www.interprinter.co.uk Similar to Interflora but for print we can send print around the UK with the most carbon reduced delivery system, as the print is produced as near to the point of need as possible. Money can change hands with the files, or invoice your new trusted network of printers, just please keep us out of the loop, as trying to make our bit is not in our remit and would only slow down the transaction. Make sure your free directory listing is kept up to date by requesting your own directory login and password.
Leasing is a real issue with our postbag and phone calls received on the increase on this subject. Tell us about it, supplier’s sales aid and MPR, minimum period rental contracts. CSMA has and will continue to offer arbitration services. When one isolate member is being out numbered or worse we will endeavour to negotiate a way forward and as licensed credit brokers can intervene with questions of title to equipment etc. Most suppliers have now agreed that a less restrictive finance option will allow new suppliers to offer trade in values to reduce the cost of the new contract.
Best practice is to be proactive with this and request a comparative independent finance quote to compare with your supplier recommended finance plan. finance@csmaservices.co.uk
During the last few months we have met with insurance underwriters to develop an instant print industry insurance scheme. A major company will be partnering our broker to offer bespoke policies with print industry related cover. We don’t want to pay for say shop window glass cover if we do not have business frontage, yet we may need public liability for our staff on other people’s premises. There is not a one size fits all solution which is why we have chosen people that understand print and will offer a measurement of requirements. You may not fall neatly into a shop, office or factory policy so doesn’t pay for cover you don’t need while being exposed to liabilities not specified. More on this soon insurance@csmaservices.co.uk we are very interested in your input for this service and will report back before making any decisions. We would like to hear of your expiences with business insurance, the good bad and indifferent please, again insurance@csmaservices.co.uk
Your help is also requested in some longer termed plans as all the above is either up and running or in the immediate pipe line. We need to pool some expertise and direction in setting some industry print standards. The gap between those that can invest in the latest ISO of BS something is widening with every tender, 2012 opportunity, local gov. or just big corporate quote process.
Together we can sign up to a nationally recognised trade body charter. We can share processes in quality management, environmental issues, health and safety, disaster recovery procedures and more, you tell us what you have been asked for that has taken you out the frame?
Whether membership should be policed or given away with a logo for your letterhead is down to our own drive for quality. This will only be as good as we all make it so please be involved at this steering committee stage. Opinions and best practice please to printstandards@csmaservices.co.uk
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