[Cohoes, NY] – Since the publishing of the first corporate annual report in 1823 by the Gas Light Company of Baltimore, we have seen many evolutions of this required medium. Content has fluctuated from meeting minimal financial requirements to volumes of glossy pages to humble corporate messages via the chairman's letter, to somewhere in between. Design continually evolves flowing with the ebb and tide of a company's, and the world's, financial state. The most recent evolution of the annual is the uncertainty of the printed piece as the SEC moves to give companies the ability to digitize the annual report. Although many companies are now posting their 10-K's and/or complete annual online, most continue to publish a hard copy for one reason — it is often a company's single most important piece of printed communication. The annual report is a high-profile tool that serves to meet a company's objectives to inform shareholders, attract investors and obtain customers. “For marketing-focused companies the annual is the most credible, practical and visual way to articulate its values, mission and strength,” says Mohawk's Senior Vice President Communications, Laura Shore. “A printed annual may be a tangible indicator of a company's commitment to quality.” This year's Mohawk Corporate Communications Kit features samples of annual reports that range from the substantial and colorful annuals of well-known consumer brands like The Stanley Works, and Ocean Spray to the cleverly designed newspaper-like NPR (National Public Radio) annual. All of the annual reports included in the kit are produced on products from Mohawk Fine Papers. “The Corporate Communications Kit is a great way to share great design, great printing and great ideas. It's a valuable reference to different approaches. For instance, The Stanley Works approach is characteristically functional with eye-catching financial highlights on the inside front cover, where Diamond of California portrays its personality with campy retro-style photos,” says Shore. For a copy of Mohawk's Corporate Communications Kit or for more information contact your local paper merchant, call 1-800 the mill, or visit www.mohawkpaper.com .