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Annual Report 1998 |
NAGASA Leadership -- Navigating Your Association to a Better Dealer Channel
They say leadership starts at the top and they're right. The NAGASA executive committee follows this example with experience, diversity and industry expertise. What follows should serve as their introduction and an outline of their goals and objectives. Join them in making 1998 a premier year for NAGASA.
Dear Member,
In October of 1992, two long running industry streams -- GASA and NGADA -- were successfully redirected to form the fledgling NAGASA association. Made up of a 244 founding member source, the merge would soon become the world's largest trade association representing the distribution channel in the graphic arts, printing, and imaging industry. Now proudly entering its sixth year of existence, NAGASA has grown into a network of dealers, resellers, and VARs that sells more than $4.5 billion of traditional to digital equipment and supplies within the total $6 billion industry channel.
What began as an organization devoted to strengthening the ties between manufacturers and dealers has widened and deepened into a distribution channel
flowing in a more challenging direction -- getting equipment and supplies to printers more efficiently. In today's highly sophisticated and diverse graphics marketplace, printers demand that their suppliers know more about their individual needs. Whether your company delivers traditional materials and supplies, cutting edge digital technology and software, or both, it's all about delivering more service and value. Over the past year NAGASA has done more to point our members in this direction than ever before. NAGASA provides its members up-to-date information, including statistics, resources, programs, and contacts necessary for a fuller market understanding and increased sales opportunities. What do our benchmark studies and standards, forums and conferences, resources and partnerships, member savings programs and industry coverage represent? Simply, the service and value that NAGASA proudly offers to each of our current 400 members.
Sincerely,
David J. Steinhardt
President and CEO
From the Board Chair
“We have developed the first training institute on sales with the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation.”
Brian Kroot, Board Chair
President, Northeastern Graphic Supply, Inc.
Portland, Maine
As I look forward to my one-year term as Board Chair of NAGASA, I plan to focus our membership, elected leadership, and headquarters staff on the needs of the independent dealer and the small manufacturer. 43 percent of the members have sales less than $5 million and 51 percent have less than $10 million. To meet this goal we have already increased representation of independent dealers on the 1998 board of directors and organized a special industry group, the Owner Managed Dealer Network. In addition, we have developed the first training institute on sales with the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation. NAGASA is on the move to provide programs and services that enhance the bottom line for all of its members and provide a united voice for the entire channel.
From the Dealer & Reseller Vice President
“NAGASA is able to provide the single location dealer with many invaluable resources.”
Kyle Walker, Dealer Vice President & Chair-Elect
Vice President & Sales Manager, Walker Supply Company
Rockville, Maryland
As I know from my experience as vice president of sales for the Walker Supply Company, NAGASA is able to provide the single-location dealer with many invaluable resources. I am honored to begin serving an organization that has provided my own company with so much support, and as NAGASA's newly elected Dealer and Reseller Vice President, I am looking forward to serving as an advocate for the smaller dealers who still make up such a large portion of the graphic arts channel.
From the Manufacturer Vice President
“The forces of change keep bearing down... consolidation is making many industries today resemble the scene on the Titanic.”
Mark Kannenberg, Manufacturer Vice President
President, RBP Chemical Corporation
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The forces of change keep bearing down...consolidation is making many industries today resemble the scene on the Titanic -- chaos all around, scrambling for the lifeboats, and not enough to go around. Fortunately ours isn't the first industry to go through this, and there are successful models out there to learn from.As your manufacturer vice president I strongly encourage you to work within NAGASA and use this organization to transform the Channel. You may have to let go of any desires to return to the good old days, but you must. You are the leaders of companies that comprise the Channel, and you will make the difference. But only if you get involved!
From the Secretary/Treasurer
“The organizations financial strength and member services continue to grow.”
Paul Doucette, Secretary/Treasurer
CEO & President, Doucette Corporation
Los Angeles, California
As I have continued the honor and privilege to serve as NAGASA'S Secretary/Treasurer for the second year, I am very pleased to report that our organization's financial strength and member services continue to improve. The past year we established new guidelines for growth in NAGASA'S equity that include an inflation factor. Our budgeting process includes this new factor, which will insure the organization has a real growth in equity. Also, we have invested a portion of the equity in a safe, yet higher returning fund, that to date is generating over twice the return of our previous investment. At the same time, we continue to listen to the needs of our members, to insure the services that we provide are economically justifiable. The bottom line is that we are here to serve the membership by providing sound business judgment, continuously improved services and strong financial controls.
North American Graphic Arts Suppliers Association
NAGASA: 1604 New Hampshire Avenue NW - Washington, DC 20009
Voice 202-328-8441 - Fax 202-328-8513 - Email nagasa@smart.net
NAGASA © 1998