Joe Metzger

IF YOU were writing a historical novel based on the real-life saga of a graphic arts business that had to reinvent itself—again and again—over the course of several decades, Metzgers Printing + Mailing would serve as the perfect case history. Founded as a typesetter in 1976, the Toledo, OH-based company rode the desktop publishing (DTP) wave in the mid-’80s to become a DTP service bureau, before transitioning itself into a color copy center and then a color separations business.

ROCHESTER, NY—August 19, 2008—PODi, the Digital Printing Initiative, announced today that a stellar group of industry leaders has been confirmed to chair track sessions at its seventh annual AppForum, January 19 - 21, 2009 in Las Vegas at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. • Laurie Beasley, President of the DMA of Northern California, will chair the new Direct Marketing Track. Laurie runs Beasley Direct Marketing and has managed hundreds of successful direct mail and online campaigns. She’s been honored with Echo, Summit, Marcom, Pyramid and Caples awards. • Joe Metzger, President of Metzgers Printing + Mailing will be leading the Web-to-Print Track.

By Erik Cagle President Kennedy put it best when he said: "Ask not what mailing services can do for you, ask what mailing services can do for your customers." OK, so there's a little liberty taking with the paraphrasing. But there is considerable value in putting another tool in the commercial printer's sales kit. Obviously, JFK never lived to see the marriage of printing and mailing under one roof. In his day, a dedicated mailing house handled direct mail. Commercial printers were still a generation away from uttering "one-stop shopping." They would soon realize the value of selling more to current customers, and

WASHINGTON, DC—The 14th annual VUE/Point Conference, held here recently, posted almost a 10 percent year-to-year attendance increase. The event organizers also noted that there was a big jump in the percentage of first-time attendees drawn from printing firms. Though historically known for concentrating on prepress and digital technology, this year's conference marks a continuation of the effort to make it a broader graphic communications event. Apart from technical sessions on screening, proofing and CTP technology, much of the 2003 conference focused on management topics such as how printers should be differentiating themselves and avoiding the hazard of selling solely based on price. The title given the

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