EDITOR'S notebook

Being that I lack the necessary willpower to improve my lifestyle, maybe I'll have better luck in making some resolutions for the graphic arts industry as a whole. Here it goes and, remember, I'm counting on all of you to help turn my wish list into reality.

Printers will differentiate themselves not just based on price. Intense pricing pressure is today's most vexing problem. Buyers play printers against each other to beat down prices, and our industry is quick to comply. Commercial printers that prosper in the new year will find profits by offering additional services that complement ink on paper. They may have to sharpen their pencils on the printing, but will make their margins through value-added offerings such as creative services, database management, mailing and fulfillment. And they won't be afraid to explore wide-format output, packaging and digital printing.