Transfers Paper

Transfers Paper

As expected, paper mills are beginning their attempts to recoup some of their losses by announcing "across the board" price increases. After suffering huge losses in previous years due to a combination of a failing economy, declining demand and too much manufacturing capacity, combined with the discontinuance of the "black liquor" tax credit which took effect starting January 1, 2010, mills are at a point where profitability is imperative.

The good thing is that the magazine market does appear to be improving as publishers are starting to see an improvement in ad revenues. This, however, creates stronger demand for paper and helps to support the increase. Sometimes you just can't win.

Will these increases stick? Maybe.

I think that, because we are approaching "catalog season", the natural additional demands of "the season" will play a major role in supporting the increase for a short period of time. There are also some things that I believe will relieve some of the pressures on the natural demands created by "catalog season":

1) The rising interest, by both publishers and their readers, in understanding and taking advantage of "digital editions" as well as the newest wave of electronic devices designed specifically to cater to book and magazine publishers (iPad, Kindle, Nook, etc) and their readers. I have had a couple of different publishers tell me that they are up to 2-3% of subscribers who are choosing to have their subscriptions delivered to them via a "digital edition" in lieu of a printed copy. While this may seem like a relatively small number, its still 2-3% fewer printed copies. I believe this percentage will increase fairly quickly.

2) Magazine publishers are finally starting to take steps to reduce their production and distribution costs and are reducing the weights of the paper that they utilize as well as downgrading the grades. While this simply transfers demand from one paper to another, it is a great way to save money!

3) Publishers are producing magazines with fewer pages.

4) Publishers are reducing their trim sizes.

Do what you have to do to stay profitable and get through these difficult times. Remember, there are many, many ways that you can reduce your production and distribution costs. If you feel like you cannot reduce your paper weight or grade, look at how you acquire your paper. Get creative in the paper AND the print and distribution areas! There are some very unique, creative and effective alternatives available out there right now - you just have to know where to find them and how to negotiate them.

Terry L Choate, Jr. is a 23 year veteran of the print and distribution industry in which time he sold print and distribution services to trade and special interest magazine publisher exclusively. He now works as a consultant to trade and special interest magazine publishers assisting them in saving money on print and distribution costs. You can contact him at tchoatejr@gmail.com.

How do you use the paper transfer sheets to make your own T-shirts?

I bought something called "T-Shirt Transfers" to customize my own shirt because i got it at the store "Michael's Art and Crafts" Store and i just don't know how to use the paper to transfer the picture.

follow the directions on the back of the package. most of them require you to print on them from your computer and then iron them on. but that is just a general thing. if you have somehow lost the packaging i suspect you can get that info off the company website.