DUXBURY -- September 25, 2001 -Print Tec Network president Bill Farquharson announced the launch and immediate availability of Print Tec University (PTU). PTU is a distance learning web site for sales and marketing executives, managers and staffs. Most PTU courses are an efficient 20-25 minutes in length and are self-paced slide presentations with audio description from the author, priced between $29 and $79 per course. A full course listing as well as additional information is available at www.printtec.com/ptu. Printers and printing sales and marketing people will find training and educational courses on a variety of subjects, such as: -- "How to Sell Digital Printing"; -- "Writing the Perfect Prospecting Letter"; -- "Overcoming Objections" and; -- "Getting Organized". In addition, PTU has courses aimed at the print shop owner such as: -- "Roadmap to Digital", -- "Basic Sales Management"; -- "The Basics of CTP"; -- "Variable Printing"; and -- "Marketing Your Digital Services". A User's Feedback... Ray Gendreau, Owner of Apex Press said, "We've Beta-tested the PTU program at Apex. For us the value of training comes down to three factors: quality of the message, the education received and the investment made (time and dollars). PTU offers us outstanding quality of message and value. And unlike VHS or Computer CD programs, the material won't become outdated which will allow us to easily retrain our personnel. It's professionally done. I've learned more in a 30 minute session than I have in most off-site all-day seminars." What is Distance Learning... Distance Learning is just that, learning via electronic means without having to physically travel. Historically inspired by Video Conferencing tools, Distance Learning is now becoming backboned by the Internet. The advantages are that students can access the courses 24/7, work at their own pace, and by eliminating travel, courses are very affordable (Between $29 and $79 per course at PTU). And for new employees, training can be immediate. "Distance Learning represents the future of training in all industries," noted Farquharson. "With budgets being scrutinized more than ever, printers and their staff need effective training and education options that don't include expensive and time-consuming travel. Print Tec Network is leading the way by offering top quality training in an economical and convenient format." Using PTU Courses... Customers can peruse the course catalog and read the course descriptions before making a selection. At that point, they input their credit card number and begin the course. Customers can navigate each course forward and backward, replaying the current slide or starting over entirely. It allows each person to learn at their own pace, maximizing effectiveness and value. No special software or plug-ins is required as long as Netscape or Explorer is used. PTU visitors can preview a special introductory course to test their connection speed and try a course before buying. PTU courses range in price from $29-$79. Why is Print Tec a Credible Educator... -- Print Tec Network's Bill Farquharson has trained thousands of printers and printing sales people throughout the US, Canada, and Australia through live seminars; -- Farquharson has also trained the sales people from Heidelberg USA, IBM, Xerox, Xerox Canada, Fuji Xerox as well as the VARs for Canon, Konica, Ricoh, Oce and others; -- The digital sales and marketing courses for Xerox and Indigo, now in international distribution, were written by Farquharson; -- Experience is the best teacher: Farquharson has sold printing himself for 11 years, giving him front-line experience and making him uniquely qualified; -- Heidelberg has agreed to bundle Print Tec University's digital black and white sales and marketing courses in with the purchase of all Digimaster 9110s. New Course Expected in the Near Future... Having an interactive site allows Print Tec to update current courses with fresh information as well as add new relative courses. Future expansion course plans include: -- "Women in Printing College", which will feature special topics relevant to women; -- "Bootcamp for Printing Sales People", which will provide sales reps with a solid foundation of selling tools. Two to four new courses will be added to the general site each month. The web site also includes a free rep-assessment test which allows print shop owners to gauge their sales person's strengths and weaknesses and recommends specific PTU courses. Looking to Help Out... With the recent tragedies in Manhattan and Washington DC, organizations across the world are seeking ways to assist the many victims. At Print Tec we would like to help too. Print Tec Network will donate a percentage of every PTU course taken over the next year to the "September 11" fund, benefiting victims' families. We would also like to extend our deepest sympathies and our prayers to everyone hurt by these acts. About Print Tec Network... Bill Farquharson founded Print Tec Network in 1993 and is regarded as the foremost source of digital print sales training and marketing information. Based in Duxbury, Massachusetts, Print Tec Network offers customized training solutions to commercial printers and quick printers throughout the United States, Canada and Australia.