Insanity In the Sign & Graphics Industry

Einstein's Definition
Albert Einstein once said "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results".  Think about this quote for a second and ask yourself, does this quote apply to the way you run your company?

Have you been doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results?  If so, then you might want to keep on reading. In a world where technology is becoming a key productivity tool to the success of any business, it simply comes down to, are you accepting and harnessing technology or rejecting it.  Are you willing to change or will you do the same thing over and over again?  There are two main reasons why I pose this question.  First, many shop owners today have trouble understanding how new technology, specifically software, can become a major benefit to their business, and second, owners have trouble measuring the profits they are losing by rejecting this technological change.  Have you ever rejected technology?

"If It Ain't Broke Then Don't Fix It!" Mentality
Are you expecting to increase profits by continuing the same business strategy year after year?  If so, how long do you think the method will work?

Many shop owners simply do not see the need to update or change their current method.  They believe that there is no need to invest in a new method when the old one still seems to work fine.  This is the common, "If it ain't broke then don't fix it!" mentality. Well, I hate to be the one to say it, but just because something isn't "broke" doesn't mean you can't make it work better.  When new technology such as software, could save you large amounts of time & money, how can you not accept it?  In an industry where there is an increasing level of competitiveness, shop owners must take advantage of every method available to help them cut costs.   Would a commercial printer looking to grow their business, limit their shop to just a one color press? Sure they can continue to operate with a one color press, but wouldn't a two or four color press help expand their business into other areas more effectively. In this example the current method works, but a technological change would help increase the company's ability to grow.  Exploring these other areas help companies to sustain and increase profits. Without accepting new technology, shop owners greatly limit their profit potential. By using the power of technology to make their business practices more efficient owners can continue to achieve their goals.

Are You Sacrificing?
A lot of shop owners that we talk with have a hard time visualizing the amount of money they are losing, or in actuality, the amount of money they are giving to their competition, due to inconsistencies in the work flow process. These shops feel they are doing well with the system they currently have in place and do not see the need to change to a new method. This lack of vision can cause owners to limit their future profits. On the opposite side, the owners that do see a need for change begin to focus more attention on how much money it will cost to make the switch rather than how much they are losing. These owners become unsure and wonder if the investment today will pay off tomorrow. To those owners, how much will it cost you not to switch? Do you even know? Is it one, three, possibly five jobs a day? Do the math. How much money/time is lost due to inefficiencies such as faulty estimates, under/over-priced jobs, or lost invoices. Ask yourself, how long can a company continue to compete if they are not being as efficient as their competition? If companies choose to stay with the same system they have been using for years and reject change are they, in essence, choosing to sacrifice future profits?

$100,000 a Year
One company in particular that we spoke with was losing 4 orders per week to their competition. Since only one person in the shop was able to estimate, it was taking days to get quotes to customers, therefore forcing their clients to seek, and eventually accept bids from competing companies. When this company finally analyzed their method and applied a dollar amount to the loss, they estimated they were losing around $100,000 in revenue a year. Amazing right? What would 4 orders a week cost you? Or if you could accept 4 more orders a week, what would you do with the extra profits? How does a company like this one miss out on a $100,000 opportunity? Simply put, insanity, the Einstein definition.

It's not Just Estimating
Companies are not just losing profits due to faulty estimates; they're also losing profits due to a lack of follow up, or customer management. When sending estimates out to potential clients, how often do companies remember to follow up with them? With the constant chaos that shop owners experience on a daily basis, this follow up process can become an aspect that is quickly forgotten, especially if the current estimating system doesn't include this integration. How much can a company increase their "win" rate for estimates by placing follow up calls to all customers with estimates outstanding? By using a powerful integrated estimating and business management software, like Cyrious, company's are able to create reminders that will tell employees who to call, when to call, and why, automatically. It keeps all customer, contact, and order information together in one place and increases the ability to save time and builds customer relationships essential to business growth and expansion.

Adapting to Change
By adapting to change, and accepting and harnessing technology, shop owners who use Cyrious Software have become more efficient and profitable.

Cyrious helps owners solve a variety of different frustrations. Whether you're an owner who is frustrated with estimating because it takes up too much time or one that is annoyed that orders keep getting lost and misplaced, Cyrious has a solution. Cyrious helps put an end to the lack of integration by providing the power of multiple software systems in one (estimating, accounting, job tracking, customer management, etc.). No company is happy about losing customers due to late quotes or losing money because parts are omitted from estimates and orders. When owners understand the amount of time and money a different method can save them, the switch to powerful software like Cyrious is simple. Is it time for you to explore different methods to increase sales & profits, and make your business more manageable?

For more information on using Cyrious software to increase sales, we recommend that you contact Cyrious Software at 800-552-1418 (U.S.) or 001-225-752-2867 for international callers, or by email at info@cyrious.com.

Economic Outlook

U.S. Growth Slows Sharply As Consumers Spend Less

US economic growth slowed dramatically in the second quarter to 3 percent, the commerce department reported on Friday, as consumers cut back on spending to compensate for higher fuel prices.

The advance in the gross domestic product (GDP) was below the 3.8 percent increase expected by economists and was significantly down from a revised 4.5 percent growth rate in the first three months of the year.

The administration, counting on a rebounding economy to bolster President George W Bush's re-election prospects, insisted the second-quarter slowdown was only temporary and forecast that growth would rebound in the second half of the year.

If GDP growth for the first quarter, which was revised upward to 4.5 percent, was averaged with the second quarter figure, treasury secretary John Snow noted, the economy was growing at a solid 3.75 percent rate.

Private sector economists were troubled that the slowdown could develop into something worse, especially if job growth failed to rebound after a disappointing rise of just 112 000 payroll jobs in June.

The biggest drag came from consumer spending, which rose by just 1 percent in the second quarter, the slowest rate since the second quarter of 2001, when the economy was in recession.

Spending on big-ticket items such as cars was the weak spot, declining 2.5 percent. Analysts noted, however, that car sales had improved in July as dealers resumed offering incentives.

Economists said they still expected GDP growth to come in at 4 percent or better in the second half of the year, which would be strong enough to maintain the decline in unemployment.

Friday's GDP report was the latest indication that the economy, which had been racing ahead, had hit a soft patch in June.

Options for Retirement

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Humor Mill: Joke of the Month

- This Months Humor Mill entry comes to us come from Valerie Wessner, Cheryl DeMarkis, Jeff Hoffman @ Bartush Signs, Inc.

There were two potato chips on the top of the Empire State Building. One jumped off, the other didn't. Why not?

Answer: One was a "Wise" potato chip.

Think you have the next "Joke of the Month"?

If your joke is selected, you win $50 off your next purchase. All you have to do is click the link and e-mail us your name, e-mail address, and name of your business to enter. Submit your jokes here.

Health & Fitness

6 Easy Steps to Eliminate Stress

 

1. Take ten. Find quiet, comfortable place to sit. Take several slow, deep breaths to help clear your mind. Continue breathing and repeating the word "one" to yourself as you exhale. Practice this for five to ten minutes once or twice a day. You should find your stress levels dropping.

2. Tune it out. Known to ease anxiety and lower blood pressure and heart rate, music is an old but tried and true stress buster. While slow music or soothing instruments typically yields the best results, choose a style you enjoy. Make it something that grabs you and takes your focus off your worries.

3. Take a walk. Any exercise, even a leisurely 20-minute walk or bike ride, can reduce stress. While you are exercising, do not let yourself think of anything that upsets you and causes stress. Rather, focus on what you are doing; the health benefits you are achieving. If you are taking a walk, look around at the scenery, if on a treadmill or stationery bike, put on some headphones with your favorite music. Whatever you do for your mind, do not let it worry!

4. Write it out. Put the details of a stressful event down on paper. This may help unburden your mind as well as your body. Take 20 minutes a day, for three days and use that time to write about a stressful event in your life. Do not worry about spelling or style; just focus on getting it off your mind. When you are done with this, tear up your troubles and throw them out.

5. Try an over-the-counter remedy. Siberian ginseng is an herbal remedy available in health food stores and most pharmacies. It is great for bolstering the body against every day stress. Take 100mg in capsule form, three times a day for six months, followed by one dose a day for two months. Make sure the capsules standardize to 1-percentage eleutherosides to ensure you get enough of the active ingredient of the herb. Please note however, if you are one who is sensitive to drugs and herbs, forget this suggestion or check with your doctor first.

6. Customize your workspace. Studies have shown people in high-stress jobs often are not aware of their stress level. You could be one of them. One quick and easy way to ease workday tension is to make your desk or office feel more like home. Display snapshots of your last family vacation. Hang pictures or postcards of artwork or scenes you enjoy. Buy some fresh flowers and put them on your desk. These personal touches can help relax you even on your busiest day.

Serious Problems / Cyrious Solutions

Each month, we will raise one common problem in the sign and graphics industry, and demonstrate how Cyrious Software directly solves this problem:

Q: Do you know the demographics of your customer base?

A: Cyrious Software provides a marketing feature that allows you to pull out customer information and sort demographically. This will help you develop marketing campains and see where you business is coming from. It also can help you determine where to place ads, and determine the effectiveness of the ads. Without a system like Cyrious in place, this important information could be overlooked.

Quote Of The Month

"There are two kinds of people, those who do the work and those who take the credit. Try to be in the first group; there is less competition there."

Indira Gandhi