Your BottomLine Text Version
SeaComm Business Newsletter
1st Edition 2020
Business Spotlight: Commercial Press Inc
With a robust history in the North Country, Commercial Press has been a long-standing business in the area. It was established in 1873 as The Commercial Advertiser, a newspaper company that was located in Potsdam Junction, now known as Norwood.
John Finnegan ran The Commercial Advertiser until his death in 1958. Upon his passing, Denzil Bowman and Warren Baker continued the business until 1987 where it was sold to a Canadian printing firm, Henderson & Blanchard, Ltd. of Brockville, On, where it became Commercial Press.
After working part-time at Commercial Press, David and Tracy Charleson bought the company in February 1990 and have recently celebrated their 30th year in business. When David and Tracy started, Commercial Printing was located on Main Street in Canton. However, due to the influx of business, they outgrew the space and have since moved to their current location on Route 11, which offers more exposure and more space for equipment.
What started as “solely printing on paper,” states David “has expanded from client’s requests.” As Tracy explains, several clients would bring their promotional product requests to them where they were able to find solutions that aligned with the companies brand and style. Throughout the year’s Commercial Press has added the capability to print large advertisements (including banners and posters), vehicle wraps, and acquired a screen printing press.
Excellent reviews and repeat clients have led to a vertical market for Dave and Tracy. In addition to printing and promotional products, they have recently started offering a new apparel product line that promote local regions. This line of regional tee shirts and various products will soon be offered in an online shop. According to Dave; “It will be easier for those from the area, living out of town, who would like something from home.”
When asked about how Commercial Press started a relationship with SeaComm, Dave reflects back on his friendship with Jerry as his first point of contact within SeaComm. As members, Dave and Tracy both express how much they love working with SeaComm, especially the Canton branch. “The girls at the Canton Branch are awesome,” adds Dave. “You have wonderful people on your staff. Barb [the Canton Branch Manager] is very accommodating.”
To place an order or to learn more about Commercial Press please call (315) 274-0028 or visit them online at www.commercialpressink.com.
Be sure to follow them on Facebook @commercialpressink
Manager's Notebook
Take care on social media
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg once said: Nothing influences people more than a recommendation from a trusted friend.
That's helpful for dispensing good advice on dog health. But quite the opposite on employment matters.
Suppose a social media post hints of proprietary company information or even criticizes the company.
If even some people trust that post, that's bad public relations for the company and it is bad for the person who posted it.
Not only can an employer find those comments, future employers can, too. Badmouthing an employer on social media is a black mark on a resume that will likely stick.
Even if you use separate accounts for business and private purposes, you never know who may be watching your social media accounts. Social networks are a sort of public space -- your billboard to the world -- and there are always people who can discover and share something inappropriate that you posted. That includes your remarks about your company, its plans, clients, bosses, and your fellow employees.
According to Fundera.com, always think before you post, and don't post any sensitive comments that you haven't proofread carefully. Also, keep business and personal social media posts separate.
Never post party photos showing you inebriated or attending an event when you're supposed to be sick at home, among others.
Never connect your personal sites to professional business sites like LinkedIn.
Discover what SeaComm can do for your business!
Jerry Manor
Business Development Manager
Direct Line: (315) 764-0566 ext. 546
jmanor@seacomm.org
Jonathon Manor
Business Development Representative
Direct Line: (315) 764-0566 ext. 814
jomanor@seacomm.org
Quick Tip:
Prioritize your goals and assign deadlines for completing each action item.
Check out more business tips at www.seacommblog.com
Roy Castro's Rules and Secrets to Success
From a life as a 13-year-old living on the streets to a young life in prison to the CEO of a $10 million company. Roy Castro started at the bottom and these are his rules for getting ahead:
- Tame your ego. Be prepared to admit when you are wrong. Be humble.
- Say Yes when others say No. When you hear others refusing a task, take the task.
- Ask for the crumbs. A small opportunity is a chance to create big opportunities.
- Make the sacrifice. Work as hard as you can even at simple tasks. Save money. Show up on time.
- Separate from the pack. Don't be one of grumblers.
- Speak your truth. Admit what you don't know. Ask for help.
"You don't need to go back in time to be awesome; you just have to start right now. Regretting that you didn't start earlier is a great distraction from moving on your dream today, and the reality is that today is earlier than tomorrow."
-Jon Acuff, Author and Social Media Expert
Leaders: Formed by the crucible
The late scholar Warren Bennis, who pioneered leadership studies, believed that leaders were formed through transformative experiences -- crucibles -- during which an individual comes to a new identity, of sorts.
In his many books on leadership, Bennis describes people who are faced with circumstances in which, to overcome, they had to adapt and engage others. Some transformative experiences are tragic, some joyous, Bennis and co-author Robert Thomas write in their 2002 book Geeks and Geezers.
The lessons are, perhaps, instructive today, nearly 20 years later, in an era where people tend to seek out their tribes and stay put. But, Bennis writes, it is the moment when you don't have your tribe that leadership is forged.
Jack Kahl, the late founder of Manco, maker of Duck brand duct tape, was 7-years-old when his father died, leaving his mother and six children. His mother made the family into a team, with Jack getting a newspaper route and the other children getting jobs, too. Each put their earnings in a savings account and each was responsible for putting their earnings toward a single goal. It was the model on which Kahl built his business.
In 2002, Bennis and Thomas wrote in the Harvard Business Review about Sidney Harman, CEO of an audio components company, who had an epiphany one day courtesy of a laborer. Laborers in a particularly exhausting department had started a rebellion in the plant because of an arbitrary management decision that delayed their break time. The buzzer that was supposed to signal their 10 p.m. break was on the fritz. Management decided they should work until the buzzer was fixed. One employee refused saying he did not work for the buzzer, the buzzer worked for him. That one experience led Harman to completely revamp the company.
Locations
Main Office
30 Stearns Street
Massena, NY 13662
Malone Branch
3349 Route 11
Malone, NY 12953
Potsdam Branch
6 Sisson Street
Potsdam, NY 13676
Canton Branch
101 East Main Street
Canton, NY 13617
Ogdensburg Branch
3001 Ford Street Extension
Ogdensburg, NY 13669
Plattsburgh Branch
139 Smithfield Blvd
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
So. Burlington Branch
1680 Shelburne Rd
So. Burlington, VT 05401
Branch Managers
Joanne Langdon
30 Stearns St. Branch Manager
Terry Torrey
Interim Potsdam Branch Manager
Christine Marshall
Malone Branch Manager
Barb Bessette
Canton Branch Manager
Danielle Uppstrom
Ogdensburg Branch Manager
Yvonne Alterie
Plattsburgh Branch Manager
Matthew Sjoblom
South Burlington Manager
Business Development
Jerry Manor
Business Development Manager
Jonathan Manor
Business Development Representative
Emily Bristol
Member Business Loan Officer
315-764-0566 / 800-764-0566
www.seacomm.org
Let us Spotlight your business!
We are proud of our business members and want to share your story! Contact Jerry Manor for more information. Call (315) 764-0566 or toll-free (800) 764-0566 or email jmanor@seacomm.org
SeaComm
30 Stearns St
Massena, NY 13662
*This publication does not constitute legal, accounting or other profesional advice. Although it is intended to be accurate, neither the publisher nor any other party assumes liability for loss or damage due to reliance on this material.