Date: Sun, 6 Jul 1997 20:15:40 -0500 
Subject: Hotline Newsletter - July 1997
To: martin@printusa.com

Hotline Newsletter - July 1997

Well, I'm really late with this one. My last newsletter was in
February. I've been working on my just published book. This month
I'm going to take advantage of editorial license and be a little
commercial, plus include a few other things that might be of
interest. After all, every once and awhile I've got to do
something to put shoes on the baby and food on the table. Next
month I'll get back to normal (Me normal? That's a laugh). To
unsubscribe, simply send me an e-mail message at:
hotlinecy@aol.com and ask to be removed.
=====
Blueprints for Profits...
=====
     First of all, Libby and I have finally finished our first
full-length book - a 360+-page tome of potential profit centers.
What we have done is to go through the some 400 columns and
series that I have written over the past 20 years, update them,
and put them into book format. The first 25-copies are being
produced using one of the blueprints which shows you how you
can profitabally produce very short-run, quality books on the
lowest end of low end equipment. The production run is being
produced by one of our HotTalk subscribers who was one of a dozen
or so subscribers who responded to my invitation to bid on the
production of the book.
     Below is a description from my brochure and some comments
from reviewers and printers.
=====
     Blueprints for Profit is approximately 360 pages of profit
making projects and ideas to make your job as a small to medium
size shop owner more profitable.
     Cy Stapleton has been the owner of a highly profitable small
commercial print shop for over 35 years. He has written over 400
columns and multi-part articles covering how-to projects and
money-making ideas. Blueprints for Profit, Volume 1 contains a
number of the more popular ideas that have been expanded and
updated.
     These are not theoretical ideas that should work but rather
projects that Stapleton tried and proved in his shop. They are
things that any small to medium size printer should be able to
modify and use for his or her own shop.
     The name, Blueprints for Profit was chosen because each
chapter or section is actually a blueprint and tutorial of how to
do the individual project. In most cases, all you have to do is
follow the instructions. In several, such as the Split Fountain
Process, a process is discussed with some ideas as to how you
might use the process to zing your competition. Others carry you
from the inception of the idea to the banking of the profits.
All of these projects can be put into force with the equipment
normally found in a small shop or with a very minimal investment.
Where special forms or price sheets are discussed, those are
reproduced in the book.
     Among the many projects covered in Section 1 are: Publishing
Short-Run Books; Promotional Products - A Great Profit Center;
Printing Striking Multi-Color In One Pass On A Single Color
Press; How To Start A Special Interest Publication On A
Shoestring; Publishing Coloring Books; Business Cards On Demand;
Printing Removable Tattoos; Short-Run Buttons; Profits In
Programs; Marriage Mailings; etc.
     Section 2 contains Stapleton's outstanding series of
Customer Information Sheets, among which are: Our Company; What
Type of Printing Fits Your Needs; Customer Furnished Paper;
Policy On Dealing With Brokers & Ad Agencies; Your Letterhead,
Business Card & Envelope; etc.
     Section 3 is a detailed blueprint of Stapleton's outstanding
tracking system known as The Best Little Tracking System In
Texas. This was produced in 1988 as a booklet and several
thousand copies were sold at $29.95 each.
     Section 4 contains several glossaries, including Printing
Terms, Paper Terms, Significant Dates in Printing, a census of
Trade Associations and Trade Publications.
     Blueprints for Profit is $49(US) plus $5 shipping and
handling. You may fax your order to (409) 637-1480 or mail to:
The House of Gutenberg, Box 151107, Lufkin, Texas 75915-1107,
USA. MasterCard, Visa, Discover and AmEx are accepted.
International orders to be shipped by air, please add $12US.

Excerpts from some Reviews & Comments...

     The proof is in the pudding and Cy's been the master chef
of delicious profit-making side orders for years. Now he's
created a nine-course feast! K.J. Moran, President, Media Right
Communications.
     I have just finished reading Blueprints for the first but
not last time. Unlike some books described as being hard to put
down, this is a book that is hard to keep reading! You want to
run out and put into action each of the $$$ making ideas! Great
job! Frank Granger, Author and Printing Technology Instructor.
     Cy, as always, has chucked this book full of ideas, hints
and insights. You won't be able to read it without picking up
something. Tom Crouser, Principal, Crouser & Associates.
     In his timely new book, Cy provides us with a multitude of
new profit centres as well as proven concepts to introduce into
our businesses. His book is a must-read for anybody already
involved in or wanting to become involved in the printing and
publishing industry. Harry Brelsford, Founder - Quick Printers
Association Australia, Author of The Digital Quick Print Shop.
     Blueprints for Profit is more than a book - it is a most
practical printer's collection of profitable ideas. It's Cy
Stapleton at his best sharing his proven successful money-making
projects. Bud Hadfield, Founder Kwik Kopy Printing, CEO ICED.
     Cy Stapleton's Blueprints for Profit is exactly that -
every printer in the world can find profitable niches here - and
they are laid out ready for execution with procedures,
advertising and needed forms included. No one should be without
this book. Larry Nebel, Founder & Sysop of America Online's NAQP
Online Forum.
     In my four years of college, 20 years of teaching and 48
years in the printing industry I have never seen such insight
into the many topics covered. This book should be required
reading for those in printing management, journalism,
advertising, and purchasing. Harry Benson, CGCM, Printing
Instructor, Univ & Corp In-plant manager, Corporate purchasing
director, retired.
     Cy Stapleton has been the champion of the small printer's
cause for many years - primarily because he's been there as one
himself. His cause is just and his ideas are sound. This is a
real keeper which should be on every printer's desk - not his
bookshelf. Jim Weinstein, Director, Texas Graphic Arts
Educational Foundation.
     This is a must-read for any small printing shop interested
in finding new and unique profit centers. Bill Lewis, Publisher
of Quick Printing, Southern Graphics, Printing News East and
Printing News Midwest.
=====
Blueprints for Profit is available for $49 plus $5 shipping for
a total of $54 (International orders, including shipping by air -
$64US). MasterCard, Visa, Discover & AmEx accepted. You may fax
your order to (409) 637-1480, call (409) 637-7475, or mail to:
The House of Gutenberg, Box 151107, Lufkin, Texas 75915-1107.
=====
Hotline Database...
     We have introduced Version 4 of the Hotline database.
Version 4 was intended to be a Windows specific program, but we
figured out a way to merge two relational databases that had
different field names and different field lenghts, so we merged
the Hotline database and the Hotline Ad Specialty database. As
many subscribers are aware, I first introduced the Hotline
database in 1992. A couple of years later when it became obvious
that there were many subscribers and readers who were interested
in promotional products, I attempted to include those promotional
products manufacturers in the Hotline database. It didn't work
because there are things specific to the ad specialty or
promotional products industry that weren't necessary for those
services or products traditionally outsorced by printers. We
created a second database for ad specialties. This presented a
major problem to me. I had two databases to maintain. It almost
doubled my work. The new Version 4 has all of the data from the
Hotline database and Hotline Ad Specialty database combined into
a single database - over 12,000 vendors and over 55,000 products.
If you are a registered user of either of the Hotline databases
you can upgrade to Version 4 for $54 postpaid (be sure to include
your old serial number). The program is $190 postpaid.
=====
The Bill of No Rights...
     This is an interesting piece that was recently forwarded to
me. It's author is unknown.

     We, the sensible of the United States, in an attempt to help
everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid any
more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior and
secure the blessings of debt-free liberty to ourselves and our
great-great-great grandchildren, hereby try one more time to
ordain and establish some common sense guidelines for the
terminally whiny, guilt-ridden delusional, and other blame-happy
bedwetters.
     We hold these truths to be self-evident, that a whole lot of
people were confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim that
they require a Bill of No Rights.
     You do not have the right to a new car, big-screen color TV
or any other form of wealth.
     More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no
one is guaranteeing anything.
     You do not have the right to never be offended. This country
is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone -- not
just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a
different opinion, etc., but the world is full of idiots, and
probably always will be.
     You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick
a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful, do not
expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all of your
relatives independently wealthy.
     You do not have the right to free food and housing.
Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will
gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of
subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch
potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another
generation of professional couch potatoes.
     You do not have the right to free health care. That would be
nice, but from the looks of public housing, we're just not
interested in public health care.
     You do not have the right to physically harm other people.
If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim or kill someone, don't be
surprised if the rest of us get together and kill you.
     You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If
you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other
citizens, don't be surprised if the rest of us get together and
lock you away in a place where you still won't have the right to
a big-screen color TV or a life of leisure.
     You do not have the right to demand that our children risk
their lives in foreign wars to soothe your aching conscience. We
hate oppressive governments and won't lift a finger to stop you
from going to fight if you'd like. However, we do not enjoy
parenting the entire world and do not want to spend so much of
our time battling each and every little tyrant with a military
uniform and a funny hat.
     You do not have the right to a job. All of us sure want you
to have one, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we
expect you to take advantage of the opportunities in education
and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful.
     You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American
means that you have the right to PURSUE happiness -- which, by
the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an
overabundance of idiotic laws created by those around you who
were confused by the Bill of Rights .
=====

Happy Hunter Award...
     I recently introduced the Happy Hunter Award and have
already named the first two winners. What I am trying to do is to
get testimonials from users of the Hotline database or the
Helene's Hotline columns. Testimonials sell and I'm buying
testimonials. All kidding aside, I don't want you to embellish
but I am going to award some reader each month with a beautiful
custom designed stained glass reproduction of a 15th century
print shop - the Happy Hunter Award. To be considered, all you
have to do is to fax me at (409) 637-1480 a testimonial of how
either the Helene's Hotline column or the Helene's Hotline
database has helped you make extra bucks. The only requirements
are that you include the amount of dollar profit you made on the
job, a description of the job, and the vendor you outsourced the
job to. If you don't want your name or location in print, let me
know.
=====
Health insurance...
     There are major changes happening in the area of health
insurance. You may want to check with your carrier to see if the
following scenerio may be raising its ugly head in your area.
Important note - at this point in time the problem is for the
very small printer - less than 5 employees. But beware.
     I've been carrying my health insurance with my association -
Printing Industries Association of Texas. I've had that insurance
with them for almost two decades. When I initially took out the
insurance I was healthy, but as age took its toll, I now am a
diabetic and have had a heart attack. Premiums for myself and my
family are almost $900 per month. Because of the government's
tweaking of insurance laws, they gave a major loophole to
insurance companies. This loophole has resulted in our
association having to go to a different type of program and the
very small shops are being cancelled. Our association director is
struggling to find a solution for these many small shop members,
but nothing has happened as of this date. As of January 1, 1998,
we are going to have to go onto the open market to try and find
health insurance. I do not know whether or not this situation may
be a problem in other states, but the time to find out is now and
you should write to both your state and federal legislators. If
you are a very small shop owner and have a major medical problem,
it is entirely possible that you could lose everything you have
worked almost a lifetime to achieve.

Til next month, God bless you and yours...

Cy