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Exclusive Member Newsletter
July 1, 2015


In this week's Hotline we recognize two PIA MidAmerica members who received "Bennys" in this year's Premier Print Awards Competition.  Marge Dana shares ideas on how to make sure your website is not selling against you.  Joe Polanco opines on sales tax nexus and the importance of keeping up with the changing landscape of sales tax laws.

Premier Print Award Winners

The Premier Print Awards Competition is one of the industry's largest print competitions in the world.  Companies from all over the U.S., Canada, South America, and the Far East enter thousands of pieces in the annual competition showcasing print's relevancy.
 

Two PIA MidAmerica companies were recognized with a "Benny" award signifying that their entry was the top piece in its category.  Hill Print Solutions, Dallas TX won in the category of Stationery Packages (1, 2, or 3 colors) and QuadWilliamson, Dallas TX for a piece entered in Business and Annual Reports (4 or more colors).  Congratulations!
 

Companies winning Award of Recognition or Certificates of Merit included: 360 Press Solutions, Cedar Park TX; Allen Press, Lawrence KS; MEDiAHEAD, Kansas City MO; TRABON, Kansas City MO; Henry Wurst, N. Kansas City MO; Mercury Press, Oklahoma City OK; Regency Labels, Oklahoma City OK; Brodnax Printing, Dallas TX; NOSCO, Carrollton TX; and Aus-Tex Printing & Mailing, Austin TX.


How's Your Housekeeping?

When inviting a client to a plant tour, it's a given that the shop will be as clean and orderly as possible.  You don't want a client to walk in and see aisle ways which are non-existent; press sideframes coated with ink and offset powder; and oil coated floors. Have you paid that kind of attention to your website?

 

It's highly un-likely that a potential customer will show up for a tour of the plant un-announced, but they'll visit your website un-invited. Today's buyer will look at your company through your website prior to ever making contact, or returning a call, to a sales rep. Is your website ready for a visit? 

 

Marge Dana recently wrote an article for Printing Impressions where she provides a few tips worth considering.  It is a quick read and worthwhile viewing.

 
Benchmarking Data

Have you recently read an article or had a discussion with a business associate regarding company policies and benefits?  As you ponder the need to modify or add a policy, you may think, "What is everyone else doing?"  It's not easy data to gather, but PIA MidAmerica can provide a solution.  It's our annual Wage & Benefit Survey.
 

The survey furnishes key information about wages, policies, and benefits specifically about our industry.  Based on thousands of data points from hundreds of companies across the United States, the information is presented by regions of the country, as well as size of company.
 

Based on the 2014 PIA Wage & Benefit Survey, here are some interesting factoids from the survey of nearly 600 companies across the U.S.

  • 87% of the firms surveyed in 2014 had written policy manuals. 
  • 72% of surveyed firms have a "drug free" policy, but only 58% conduct drug testing in any form.  32% of firms with less than 25 employees test for drugs, while 84% of firms with more than 150 employees test.
  • In 2014, 7% of the surveyed firms did not provide paid health insurance to their employees compared to less than 3% in 2012.
  • In 2014 approximately 1/3 of the companies in the survey did not provide a wage adjustment.  The average wage increase was 2.9% for firms providing increases. In 2012, nearly 60% of the firms surveyed did not offer a wage increase.
  • Although the average monthly premium for an employee remained fairly constant from 2012 to 2014 ($430), the firms offering plans with $1,000 deductibles dropped from 33% to 25%.

This is just a small sample of the broad range of policies and benefit practices covered in the survey.  The survey also provides in-depth wage/salary information on over 120 job positions - from executives to delivery personnel.  For more information about this significant source of information contact us at (800) 788-2040 or email at info@piamidam.org.


 

What's a Nexus?

CUP A JOE

During my career with PIA I have seen businesses destroyed (or nearly so) because of the firm's lack of understanding about tax laws. It could have been untimely deposits of payroll taxes; not classifying themselves properly regarding franchise tax laws (Texas); or mis-applying sales tax.


Why this comes to mind is that I recently attended a sales tax seminar regarding nexus which featured Chanel Davis, who is an expert in this unique part of sales tax regulations. The seminar was attended by CPAs, and I found it interesting that for several of these professionals the nuances of nexus were either a.) mis-understood or b.) they had no knowledge of the topic. If you are a print provider in the 21st century -- you NEED to know about nexus. More importantly if you rely on a CPA for tax information -- make sure they understand sales tax laws that apply to our industry. 

For example, if you are a Texas, Kansas, or Missouri printing company doing business in Oklahoma and use your delivery vehicle to deliver product to Oklahoma, you have nexus in that state. That will require your firm to collect sales tax on items being delivered to Oklahoma and submit taxes to the Oklahoma Tax Commission. Oh, by the way. If you have sales reps calling into Oklahoma --- you have nexus.

What's really getting interesting is "click-thru" nexus. Some states (Kansas, Missouri) are beginning to take the position that a remote seller has nexus in regards to online sales. For example, you have a web portal with a print broker in New York. New Yorkers order from the site. You fulfill the print orders and the broker gets a commission. Because you used a third-party in New York, nexus has been created and now your company is required to collect New York sales tax. There are about 24 states who are adopting similar rules, although there are a lot of legal challenges being discussed and no clear answers. To quote Elmer Fudd -- "Be afwaid. Be vewwy afwaid."

 

For additional information about any topics covered in "Hotline," contact the PIA MidAmerica offices by email at info@piamidam.org or by calling (800) 788-2040.
 
In This Issue
Benny Winners
Uninvited Visitors
Benefits & Policies
Cup-of-Joe



July 9 

Sales Webinar

 

July 10

Lean Roundtable

Kansas City

 

July 23

Overview of Proposed O.T. Regs

Webinar

 

August 19

Legislative Update

Kansas City

 

August 27

Coatings, Inks, Substrates

Webinar

 

September 10

Lean Focus Group

DFW

 

September 22

Kansas City Golf Tournament

Paradise Point

 

October 21

DFW Golf Tournament

Texas Star

 

 

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