Record Paper Pricing, Record Gas Pricing, Record Inflation, When Does it stop?

When does it Stop is the Million Dollar Question!  No one I have contact with has been 100% happy with the daily increased pricing we have all seen in the past months.  This goes for those of us in the paper industry and those in non-related industries.

One thing is sure, the future is UNCERTAIN.

Speaking with several mills, all of which seem to be running at 100% capacity.  This is likely driven by the huge bounce back in the economy, post-COVID pandemic.  Another factor is that the paper mill’s manufacturing capacity is nowhere near what it once was.  The result is remaining mill’s production schedules/capacities remain full.

Is this about to change?

Here are a few of my thoughts:

  1.  Rising interest rates, by the Feds, mean the cost of borrowing money for operational capital is on the rise.  This results in a higher payment each month on borrowed money, compared to 6 months ago.  Will this result in a “re-think” of companies’ paper strategies and a potential cancellation of open and future Purchase Orders, essentially limiting the amount of borrowed capital?
  2. Was there a Hoarding of Paper in the US?  I believe this is a driving factor in the Mills being at 100% capacity.  However, I know that some Converters have excess storage facilities to house large volumes of raw material, while others simply don’t have the space.  I can’t speak for other companies purchasing habits, but this is a possibility.  Second, I can speak to end users ordering much more volume than in previous years.  Their reasoning is the hedge against future price increases and prevents future supply outages.  This habit seems to be slowing, which could reduce demand for paper mills.
  3. Outside the paper industry, we are seeing headlines of economic slowings, such as the GDP, both manufacturing and technology companies announcing layoffs, and stock prices dropping.

If the Cost of Living is increased and wages and jobs are going to be flat or cut, consumer demand could see a rapid swing downward.   Household discretionary dollars are shrinking, which will result in lower retail, restaurant, and entertainment sales.  All of these would result in a lowering in paper demand.

What CERTAINIES do we have?  The near future will look and feel different from today!

Will we see pricing reductions on Commodities, driven by shrinking demand?  We all hope so!

Although pricing reductions sound like a great idea, I don’t feel we will ever get back to a pre-pandemic pricing level.

Would I love to see a 25% reduction?  Absolutely!

Brandon Kent

Vice President

Telemark Diversified Graphics

bkent@telemarkcorp.com

Advertising on Thermal Paper Receipts

What is advertising on thermal paper receipts?

 

Thermal paper advertising is a form of marketing that includes printing promotional messages on thermal paper receipts. This type of receipt is used for transactions in retail stores and restaurants, and the messaging printed on them can act as an additional way of marketing to customers. Thermal paper receipts have benefits when it comes to advertising, making them an ideal choice for companies looking to promote their brand.

Advertising on thermal paper receipts is a cost-effective way to reach customers. Receipts are used in almost every purchase, so many different people can see the message printed on them. Additionally, they offer large spaces for companies to print their messages. This means that companies can include detailed information about their product or services that would otherwise not be available due to space constraints. Thermal paper receipts also have a long shelf life, meaning customers can keep track of promotional offers without fear of them fading away quickly.

 

What content can you advertise on thermal receipt rolls?

 

Thermal paper rolls are an effective and cost-efficient way to advertise your products or services directly to customers. In addition, thermal receipt rolls offer benefits such as increased visibility, high customer engagement, and long shelf life.

Advertisers can use thermal paper receipts to promote special offers, discounts, new products or services, business events, loyalty programs, etc. Advertisers should consider including eye-catching visuals along with text for maximum impact to capture customers’ attention and make their messages stand out from the competition on a crowded receipt roll.

In addition to the benefits of advertising on thermal paper receipts, companies can also use thermal paper receipts for other purposes, such as providing detailed product information or tracking customer purchase habits. Thermal rolls also have a longer shelf life than regular paper receipts, so advertisers can ensure their messages remain visible for longer.

 

What are the benefits of advertising on thermal paper receipts?

 

Thermal paper is an affordable and effective way to reach potential customers. It is ideal for businesses looking to create an impression, as it can be printed with high-quality images, logos, and text. Thermal paper receipts offer a variety of benefits for advertisers, including: –

  1. Cost Efficiency: Thermal paper is very cost-efficient compared to other advertising media forms. Because no additional printing costs are necessary, retailers can save money by only having to buy the thermal paper itself.
  2. Durability: Unlike traditional paper that tends to tear or fade over time, the thermal paper has a longer lifespan than regular receipt paper or newspaper inserts. As a result, your advertisement will remain visible for much longer, increasing its chance of being seen.
  3. Versatility: Thermal paper receipts can be used in multiple ways to advertise a business. They can be printed with coupons, QR codes, and other forms of interactive content that can engage customers. Additionally, they are great for direct mail campaigns as they are lightweight and easily transportable.
  4. Immediacy: Thermal paper makes it easy for customers to see an advertisement immediately, without having to wait or search through the mail. This provides a unique opportunity for businesses wanting to spread awareness about their products quickly and efficiently.
  5. Environmentally friendly: Advertising on thermal paper receipts is also environmentally friendly. Thermal paper receipts are made of recyclable materials and don’t require additional resources. This makes them an ideal solution for companies looking to reduce their environmental footprint while still reaching their target audience.

Overall, the thermal paper offers many benefits for businesses looking to advertise their services or products in a cost-efficient yet effective way. It is highly durable and versatile, making it an ideal medium for any advertising campaign. Additionally, its immediacy ensures that customers can quickly and easily be exposed to the advertisement. All these benefits combine to make the thermal paper a great choice for businesses wanting to increase their customer base and brand awareness.

 

Conclusion

 

In conclusion, thermal paper receipt advertising is an effective and cost-efficient way to reach customers with promotional messages. It offers benefits such as large printable areas, long shelf life, low cost of entry, and being environmentally friendly. Companies looking to add another layer to their marketing strategy should consider advertising on thermal paper receipts. 

 

FAQs

 

Why is advertising on thermal paper receipts so efficient?

          Thermal paper receipts are an efficient and cost-effective way to advertise. Thermal paper is durable, resistant to sunlight, waterproof and does not require ink for printing. This makes it the ideal medium for advertising as it can last for a long time without fading or discoloration.

          Furthermore, thermal paper receipts are printed on demand when customers make their purchases and are often kept for a significant time. This allows businesses to advertise their products or services to customers, again and again, creating brand awareness in the process.

          Additionally, thermal paper receipts can be tailored to target specific audiences as well as customized with dynamic content that is relevant to customers.

           Receipt advertising on thermal paper also offers businesses the benefits of low printing costs and quick turnaround times.

 

What are thermal receipts?

Thermal paper, or thermochromic paper as it is sometimes called, is a specially designed paper that changes color when exposed to heat. It is used in many modern industries because of its ability to quickly print text and images without the need for ink or toner cartridges.

 

Why should you advertise on thermal paper receipts?

Advertisements on thermal paper receipts are highly effective because they get seen by a wide variety of people. Additionally, thermal paper receipts don’t fade over time as ink-based printers do. This means that the advertisement will remain visible long after the purchase.

 

How does thermal receipt paper work?

Thermal paper is a specially treated, heat-sensitive paper that darkens when exposed to heat. It works with thermal printers, which use heated pins or an internal heating element to create text and images on paper. Thermal receipt paper does not require any ink or ribbon for printing; instead, the heat applied by the printer changes the color of the dye embedded in the paper. This makes the thermal paper a cost-effective, reliable printing solution for businesses that need to print receipts, tickets, etc.

 

How do I know if my receipt is thermal?

Thermal paper is a special type of paper that can be easily identified by its glossy or almost wax-like appearance. However, you’ll also see a faint discoloration when you rub your finger over it. This is due to the heat-sensitive coating that turns black when exposed to the printing head in the thermal printer. To ensure your receipt is thermal paper, hold the receipt up to a bright light and look for a metallic discoloration. If you can see this, your receipt is made from thermal paper. You may also find that some receipts have a textured feel due to an added embossing effect in the printing process.

Thermal Paper Cost Continue to Rise

At 6pm EST on Wednesday, May 13, 2021 Domtar joined their competitive thermal paper suppliers with an announcement of 12%-15% increases. For comparison, other mills have already announced 10%-12% increases.

Along with the increases, we are being told that US Mill Capacity is at 100%. This is concerning because of the new Anti-Dumping Tariffs that are slated to take place. We have already seen 1 mill pull out of the US and leave a HUGE hole in the supply pipeline, and now there is speculation that another large supplier may opt to pull out of the US, due to imposed tariffs. If this happens, the already tight paper market will be pushed into allocations/limitations and will further disrupt supplies.

For more questions, contact Brandon Kent at 800-289-8353 x 240 or bkent@telemarkcorp.com

Parking Ticket Fines Based On Income Proposed In Boston

Boston City Councilor Julia Mejia said that low-income parking violators should have to pay less than everyone else.

Boston, MA – A Boston city councilor with a history of racking up parking tickets has proposed imposing parking fines based on violators’ incomes.
During a weekly meeting at City Hall on Wednesday, Boston City Councilor Julia Mejia said that paying fines associated with parking violations puts too large of a burden on low-income families.

“What happens when you’re struggling to juggle all your finances?” Mejia asked. “Then you realize that you are deciding whether or not you are going to pay a parking ticket or put food on the table.”
Mejia, who racked up $159 in her own parking fines before she came into office, said that she is not trying to eradicate fines for low-income parking offenders altogether.
“I don’t think people should just get away from paying their fee. I think we have to find ways to make it easier for people to pay that debt.”
Currently, Boston’s parking violators can expect to pay tickets ranging from $15 to $120, which can increase if they aren’t paid on time.
“I felt that pinch,” Mejia said of her own parking fines, which she paid off after she was elected, according to The Boston Globe.
She said that she believes establishing a sliding-fee scale based off of incomes verified by offenders’ taxes could work.
“When you have a $40 ticket, that could be food off the table for two or three days for a family,” she reiterated.

Based on reports from WBZ and The Boston Globe