A belated happy new year to all our readers!
It’s the start of a new era. The Bush administration is gone and the old order is gone. With a new president in the White House, Obama brings new hope for the world, similar to that of John F. Kennedy in the 1960s. And here in Canada, the government is proposing a $64-billion stimulus package for the country which we hope will keep presses running.
We have been through recessions in the past, but this one feels different – it’s worldwide. The one thing that we all have to do is avoid panic. Set a conservative plan and work your plan until the economy changes again.
The sky is not falling. There is restructuring and shifts occurring – but change is not always bad. Every company I’ve owned has expanded during recessions. It requires staying positive, working harder and not getting caught up in the idle chatter of how bad things are. Working smarter and efficiently is the quickest way out of this recession. There will be great days ahead again. The world has always worked in cycles and this is no different. There isn’t any less money in the world – it’s just temporarily out of circulation.
It all comes down to a decision that you must make that you’re going to survive. Make intelligent choices on sales and marketing and go to work for your customers. For starters, John Zarwan has a great article on page 17 titled “10 tips for surviving a recession in the printing industry.”
In the midst of all the doom and gloom, HP announced that worldwide page count went up 30% in 2008. That’s the news I like to hear. Way to go HP!
I am happy to announce the appointment of Tony Curcio as Editor of Graphic Arts Magazine. Tony is a graduate of Ryerson’s School of Journalism and brings many new ideas and insights.
As always, for 2009, remember to stay positive and focused. This recession will pass and you’ll be stronger and wiser for having survived it.
Joe Mulcahy
