Pump up the pulp, pump up your profits

Office World News, Sep/Oct 2003 by Carter, Margaret

NICHE MARKET

Sometime ago in the 1990s, which now sounds so ancient and retrospect, a quirky little phrase spread throughout the business world-a phrase that brought with it a bit of apprehension for paper distributors, mills, manufacturers, and resellers. The concept of the "paperless olfice" has proven to be just that-a concept. And, despite changes in the use and types of paper products, the market for paper can be a viable option for dealers looking for new ways to increase business and profits.

Current paper industry projections have remained stable if not enthusiastic, but lean toward the positive. According to paper industry analysts and chief economists, the paper industry's weak 2003 start can be attributed to world issues including the war with Iraq, the recent recession and its resulting apprehension, the competitive imports' strong dollar, and changing technological habits. For resellers who want to compete and profit within this massive industry, there's better news on the horizon, be it for olHce product dealers, stationery merchants, or quick printers.

For the reseller who wants to move paper products, a bounty of products and opportunities await the dealer who wants to specialise in one type of paper product, or all paper products. From shelved copy paper and stationery to business forms, folders, labels, envelopes, specialty papers, office product dealers, stationery stores, and quick printers dealer oriented companies are seeking your business and offer costs that can bring you consistent profits with little work needed on your end of the commitment.

This article will survey many of the types of paper products dealers can offer their customers, and will give a few ideas on who's buying and who's selling with specific businesses you can contact for dealer information. For vital statistics and information about the paper industry as a whole, you can visit www.paperloop.com. Another Internet information provider, www.printusa.com can help dealers connect with trade printers who belong to the association, where a free Printing Quote Resource is available.

Labels

Potential customers for label products are everywhere. Small and large businesses, corporations, factories, and institutions all use labels for mailings and/or production products. The customer base is vast. In the commercial products world, there is a label on most every product!

Office products dealers and printers can farm out label orders to many efficient.specialty label- printing companies. Dealers can stock smaller quantities of computer compatible labels or sell small to larger quantities of blank labels or custom printed labels by contacting companies such as GF Forms & Labels at 800-635-9799, www.gflabels.com, a company with all standard dies available, and offering new, fluorescent colors. Continental Data Label, located at www.datalabel.com is a great source for sheet-fed labels and, of course, there's Avery, a company whose brand name is as stuck to labels as scotch is to tape.

Presentation Folders and Tags

Your prospects for presentation folders include all types of establishments-corporations, schools, hospitals, and businesses. A few sales calls, offering your price and dependability, can start to bring in the profits! Specialty companies offering fair dealer pricing await your order, and the turn- around time is fast! The profits are yours for a little piece of your time! You can start with a dealer kit from Folder Express by calling 800-322- 1064. Getting started can be as easy as displaying your dealer folder.

Yes, there is a lucrative market for tags! Freight companies, dry cleaners, hotels, airlines, and appliance stores are examples of prospects using printed tags on a daily basis. There are companies that can provide you with artwork and design for your customers' finished products. Universal Tag in Massachusetts can fulfill your inquiries and tag orders with a call to 800-332-8247.

Tickets

Every town and city, any given month or season, has something going on requiring raffle tickets for sports teams, churches, and benefits of all sorts, or tickets for special, local occasions and events. Get the word out that you sell raffle tickets, roll tickets, parking lot tickets, seating and lunch tickets, coat and hat-check tickets, or Chinese drawing tickets, and customers will follow the word. You can easily become a ticket dealer. Two respected companies offering fair dealer costs and fast turn-around are Blanks USA at 800-328-7311 and Fax-A-Ticket/Quick Ticket at 800-521-1142, a dependable dealer source offering 50 free marketing cover sheets with your first order.

Business Forms

Invoices, purchase orders, estimate forms, contracts, applications, reports, etc., by single sheet, by sets of two to five part sheets, or continuous forms are used by virtually every business and every type of establishment existing. What a market! Pre-printed forms are prepared that just need your customer's name and contact information dropped in, or forms can be customized. The price is right for you and for your customers, and you can establish dealership with companies such as the DFS Group, 800-225-9528, and Ennis Business Forms at 800-972-1069.