Play Nice in the Sandbox – Capitalize on Market Opportunities

In the fast-paced world of the printing industry, the relationship between sales and production is crucial to a company’s overall success. Despite having different goals and day-to-day operations, these two departments must work together to deliver quality products efficiently and on time. When sales and production are misaligned or in conflict, it can lead to…

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Culture vs. Strategy?

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast” is an often-used phrase to describe an essential element of organizational success. Here’s my take: You need both. Without a comprehensive, well thought out strategy, businesses tend to operate in a state of constant randomness. And while short term success may be found in reacting to opportunities and circumstances as…

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Ask the Accountant: What Is Equity, And How Is It Different from Assets?

Ask the Accountant… Question: What is equity in my business and how is that different from assets? Answer: In accounting, equity is assets minus liabilities. Equity is the portion of your business that is yours after debts or liabilities are considered. As an example, if you purchased a house for $300,000 and took a mortgage…

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A New Look at ‘Customer Focus’

It’s not uncommon for business leaders to stress the importance of “customer focus” through all areas of their enterprise. On the surface, not a bad idea. However, upon closer look, this approach may be keeping your business from realizing its full potential. Here’s why. We’ve all heard of the Pareto Principle, sometimes referred to as…

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Make Good Decisions with Good Data

When comparing “same-store sales” and “new customers,” you’re essentially looking at two different metrics used to assess the performance and growth of a business. Most Graphic Communication companies are not looking at their business in this manner. I think they should begin breaking out these numbers and let me go into detail as to why…

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Ask the Accountant: Navigating the ‘Chart of Accounts’

Ask the Accountant… Question: Can I use the QuickBooks Online Plus Chart of Accounts that is included in the program? Answer: Yes, but it is a poor format for our industry. QuickBooks is a wonderful product and is the No. 1 accounting software for a small-to-medium-sized businesses. It is used by a wide range of…

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