Pittsburgh, PA, January 10, 2007 -- At the most basic arithmetic level of any business, there are only three ways to improve profitability. Since profits are the difference between total revenue and total cost, the three basic paths to improved financial performance include pursuing pricing power, pursuing cost control, and pursuing sales growth. These options provide printers three distinct strategic paths to improved financial performance. But the key questions are: · Which of these strategies work best in the printing industry? · Which one should senior management pursue? PIA/GATF’s Vice President and Chief Economist, Dr. Ron Davis, performed statistical simulations with the PIA/GATF Ratios database on revenue, cost, and profits of all printers and industry profit leaders to examine these questions and estimate the impact on profitability from each of these three distinct strategic approaches. Although there are some overlapping tactics, for the most part, these different strategies cannot be pursued jointly although certainly a firm may try some of each. They are generally mutually exclusive, and each requires a large degree of executive leadership from senior management. In choosing which strategy to pursue as number one, a printer must select a strategic intent or overriding strategic priority. In an exclusive session at the upcoming PIA/GATF Presidents Conference, March 4–8 at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort in Chandler, Arizona, Dr. Davis will further reveal the results of his research, which are sure to surprise many printers. He will also review the specific tactics that are appropriate for each approach. For more information or to register for the 2007 Presidents Conference visit www.presidentsconference.com or contact Diane Koch at (800) 910-4283, ext. 803 or [email protected].