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Timing Is Critical: Includes Commentary of DM Products/Oliver Tripp Deal

A carefully crafted press release concerning the untimely passing of yet another independent graphic arts dealership did not conceal the harsher reality.

Tuesday, June 15, 2004

A carefully crafted press release concerning the untimely passing of yet another independent graphic arts dealership did not conceal the harsher reality. It was read by others in the dealer community as an ominous reminder that the bell may yet toll for them.

Under the headline, "NAPL Negotiates Sale of DM Products Assets to W. Oliver Tripp Co" a May 20 press release announced that NAPL had "structured a strategic transaction in which the intangible assets of Rockland, Mass.-based graphic arts supplier DM Products Company, Inc., were acquired by W. Oliver Tripp Company of Braintree, Mass."

The full text of the release stressed the constructive and professional role of NAPL's consulting service and the fact the owner of DM, Robert Davidson, would be working with the company that made the acquisition. Yet other dealers keyed in on the naked realities exposed in the words "intangible" and "liquidation."


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WhatTheyThink is the global printing industry's go-to information source with both print and digital offerings, including WhatTheyThink.com, WhatTheyThink Email Newsletters, and the WhatTheyThink magazine. Our mission is to inform, educate, and inspire the industry. We provide cogent news and analysis about trends, technologies, operations, and events in all the markets that comprise today's printing and sign industries including commercial, in-plant, mailing, finishing, sign, display, textile, industrial, finishing, labels, packaging, marketing technology, software and workflow.

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