Open Forum

  • 1.  Blue Books and Budgeted Hourly Rates

    Posted 02-02-2017 10:27 AM
    Good Morning,

    Many of you might remember the NAPL Blue Books that were very popular for so many years.  Here at the association, we still have members and non-members who will contact us asking if we still have the Blue Books and how can they get them!  The answer is, as of today we no longer update the Blue Books and have not updated them since 2009.

    For many years the Blue Books were the key ingredient in calculating a company's Budgeted Hourly Rates.  We published four volumes which were updated every two years and new members received a complete set when they joined and active members received the updates as part of their membership.  We also developed the CS-Interact version, which were distributed via CD-Rom.

    What we would like to know is this.
    • Do you feel the Blue Books and the information they contained are still valuable today?  
    • Would you find it valuable if you had this information today?
    • Would it be valuable if the association provided an on-line tool that enabled you to do budgeted hourly rates using the Blue Book information?
    • Are you currently calculating your Budgeted Hourly rates and if so how?
    We are also providing a webinar on February 23, 2017 entitled Budgeted Hourly Rates 101 - Do You Really Know Your Costs? Presented by Steve Anzalone.  If you are interested in learning more, click the link above to register.

    Thank you for your feedback!

    ------------------------------
    Dean D'Ambrosi
    Senior Vice President, Sales
    Idealliance
    Alexandria VA
    703-837-1064
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Blue Books and Budgeted Hourly Rates

    Posted 02-03-2017 08:19 AM
    My company has been a member of MASA/MFSA/Epicomm/Idealliance for 35+  years.

    We hae NEVER received a copy of this publication.

    Would like to receive one even if it is outdated. 

    OK to email it if possible.
    andrea@...

    Then I can answer your question.

    Thank you!

    ------------------------------
    Andrea Schwartz
    President
    ADS Creative & Mailing Services Ltd
    227 E 57 St #3D
    New York NY 10022
    212-486-7382

    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Blue Books and Budgeted Hourly Rates

    Posted 02-03-2017 09:14 AM

    Andrea,

     

    Absolutely.  Let me see if I can find an old version of a Blue Book electronically and I will send it to you directly.  Per my post can you answer any of the other questions I posed?

     

    idealliance_logo_web

                           

    Dean D'Ambrosi, Sr. Vice President, Sales
    1800 Diagonal Road, Suite 320

    Alexandria, VA 22314-2862

    Direct: 703.837.1064

    Mobile:732.616.0270

    Email:ddambrosi@...

    www.idealliance.org

                   

    Become a Certified MailPro in 2017!

     

     






  • 4.  RE: Blue Books and Budgeted Hourly Rates

    Posted 02-08-2017 11:10 AM
    If you do find an old one, then I would like a copy as well.

    ------------------------------
    Douglas Bacon
    President
    TGI Direct
    Flint MI
    800-337-2237
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: Blue Books and Budgeted Hourly Rates

    Posted 02-03-2017 09:14 AM

    Andrea,

    The Blue Books were never part of the product offering of MASA/MFSA/Epicomm. They were offered by NAPL and would not have been available until after the merger between AMSP and NAPL. Unfortunately, NAPL discontinued the production of the Blue Books some time ago.

    We (Idealliance) are exploring the possibility of bringing the Blue Books back (in electronic versions) and are looking for members to let us know how much interest and demand there may be.

     

    Hope this helps clarify any confusions.

     

    Ken

     






  • 6.  RE: Blue Books and Budgeted Hourly Rates

    Posted 02-03-2017 03:29 PM
    Thanks Ken!

    ------------------------------
    Andrea Schwartz
    President
    ADS Creative & Mailing Services Ltd
    New York NY
    212-486-7382
    ADS Creative & MailingADS Creative & MailingADS Creative & Mailing
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: Blue Books and Budgeted Hourly Rates

    Posted 02-06-2017 09:57 AM
      |   view attached
    Good day all.

    not only do i remember them but still have one.  I have created an excel sheet many years ago that we still use today with all the formulas so that when the cells are populated with the correct numbers your hourly rates appear at the bottom.  I believe it is the best tool for knowing your real rate (including all overhead)  At least with that info you can decide what you really want to charge and make an educated decision. I think if most people knew their cost they would try and stay away from market/ competitor pricing.  I am attaching the sheet.  Please not all the actual numbers are wrong and must be replaced.  The working formulas are all included.  If any questions please let me know.

    Let's not forget the upcoming webinar on costing, we all need a refresher course every now and again.


     

    New Webinar!

    Budgeting Hourly Rates 101 – Do You Really Know Your Costs?

    February 23, 2017 @ 11:00 am EST

    Presented by Steve Anzalone, Partner, Ideadvisors Business Advisory Group

    Free to Members / $49 for Non-members

    Register

    Many printing company owners and managers know they should update their cost rates each year, but most have trouble getting it done. Additionally, calculation of budgeted hourly rates (BHRs) is often viewed as a stand alone process, but it's just one step in a critically important system of forecasting, budgeting and planning. In this seminar you will learn the key steps in managing this process and practical methods for effectively making sure you know your true costs.

    Who should attend?
    Printing company owners, accounting and plant managers, production managers or supervisors, or anyone wanting a better understanding of costing and budgeted hourly rates.

    What will you learn?

    FORECASTING

    • Understanding the importance of revenue forecasting and how it fits into the planning and budgeted hourly rate calculation process
    • Sources of sales forecasting data
    • Simple methods for compiling forecast data

    BUDGETING & PLANNING

    • Overview of how to take the sales forecast to a summary financial budget
    • Sources of budgeting data
    • Sample budget summaries
    • Accounting for new hires and capital expenditures in your plan

    CALCULATION OF BUDGETED HOURLY RATES

    • Overview and BHR theory
    • Tools for rate calculation — beyond the spreadsheet…
    • Discussion of depreciation and equipment replacement costs
    • Step by step guide to assigning costs, calculating utilization, and compiling BHR data
    • Analysis of results and fine tuning of rates
    • Implementation and practical use of properly calculated rates

    About Steve Anzalone

    Steve Anzalone brings over 33 years of experience in graphic arts business and operations management, team building, process improvement, and compliance in support of Fortune 500 customers. He most recently served as the President & Chief Operating Office of HardingPoorman Group in Indianapolis.

    Full Bio
    Phone: (703) 837-1073
    Email

    1800 Diagonal Rd, Ste. 320
    Alexandria, VA 22314
    Phone: 703.836.9200
    Fax: 703.548.8204
    www.idealliance.org

    Connect with Us

     

    Copyright © 2017. All rights reserved.

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    ------------------------------
    Warren Werbitt
    President/CEO
    Pazazz
    Montreal QC
    (514) 856-3330 x225
    ------------------------------

    Attachment(s)

    xls
    Hourly costing sheet.xls   66 KB 1 version


  • 8.  RE: Blue Books and Budgeted Hourly Rates

    Posted 02-06-2017 09:57 AM
    I think the books / cd were amazing but I don't think it has to go that in depth of every piece of equipment made.  If could provide a hourly cost sheet as in my previous email that just has to be populated with the correct if that should work.  Perhaps a small booklet with a couple examples of different models in each section would be perfect.

    ------------------------------
    Warren Werbitt
    President/CEO
    Pazazz
    Montreal QC
    (514) 856-3330 x225
    ------------------------------



  • 9.  RE: Blue Books and Budgeted Hourly Rates

    Posted 02-07-2017 09:38 AM

    All feedback is helpful in this area!

     

    Doug Bacon | President
    5365 Hill 23 Drive | Flint, MI 48507
    C: 810.241.4728 | F: 810.239.4321
    TF: 800.337.2237 | 
    www.tgidirect.com

    TGI_email_logo

     






  • 10.  RE: Blue Books and Budgeted Hourly Rates

    Posted 02-25-2017 02:53 PM
      |   view attached
    Hi,

    Attached to this email is a PDF of the blue book for sheet fed presses.  I may have the others as well. 

    Cheers 

    ------------------------------
    Warren Werbitt
    President/CEO
    Pazazz
    Montreal QC
    (514) 856-3330 x225
    ------------------------------

    Attachment(s)

    pdf
    sheetfed Full_Book_SF07.pdf   12.55 MB 1 version