Vol 99 issue 09 2015

SEPTEMBER 2015 R50. inc vat THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE STATIONERY, HOME AND OFFICE PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION

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My Office Magazine is the official magazine of the Southern African Association for Stationery, Home and Office Products. It is read by over 25 000 buyers and sellers of stationery and office products each month.

PUBLISHER

Rob Mathews - [email protected] Gibson - [email protected]

EDITOR

Leigh Richter - [email protected]

SUB-EDITOR

Kathy Gibson - [email protected]

ASSOCIATE EDITOR AND MARKETING

Wendy Dancer - [email protected]

EXECUTIVE SALES MANAGER

Kim Kotze - [email protected]

NATIONAL OFFICE

Design and Layout: Vanessa BentleyNew Membership: Rachel SkinkReception: Ruth Montsho

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CONTRIBUTIONS

Letters and editorial contributions are welcomed and should be addressed to the editor at [email protected]. Publication cannot be guaranteed and is subject to space and the editors discretion.

THE LEGAL BIT

Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy the publisher and editor cannot accept responsibility for supplied material. The opinions of contributors are not necessarily those of shop-sa. Copyright is strictly reserved and no part of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher.

Contents Vol 99 | September 2015www.myofficemagazine.co.za | www.facebook.com/shopsa.zaNEWS34 | INDUSTRY NEWS Industry-related news and trade business announcements36 | ECO NEWSThe latest green news

SALES SAVVY14 | LABELS AND LABELLING MACHINES Spring cleaning? Get things organised with the help of labels and labelling machines20 | HOW TO SELL: OPTICAL MEDIA Improve your bottom line with optical media28 | JAN/SAN: LABEL REMOVAL Remove sticky labels simply and easily with these tips 30 | ARTS AND CRAFTS Have some fun with foil

RETAIL SAVVY32 | PAINTING 101 DIY paint pointers to spruce up your office this spring

BUSINESS SAVVY03 | WERE ONLY HUMAN Sometimes it pays to give people the benefit of the doubt, says Brian Holmes 04 |A MATTER OF TRUST Becoming a trusted advisor to your clients is key in a changing world, says Anton Herbst05 | MARKETING LESSONS FROM A CRETAN WEDDING Marketers can learn a lot from a simple Cretan wedding, says Aki Kalliatakis06 | LABOUR LAW: THE SENIOR EMPLOYEE AS SCAPEGOAT Scapegoating is not the quick fix people think it is, says Ivan Israelstam07 | CELEBRATING FRICTION People who disagree could be doing you a favour, says Gavin Moffat

SPECIAL FEATURES08 |MAC VERSUS PC Which is best for your business?10 | BACK-TO-SCHOOL BUILD-UP Those shopping for back-to-school goodies are more likely to visit physical stores26 | ABC Q2 RESULTS: PUTTING PRINT IN PERSPECTIVE A report back on the ABC breakfast 47 | THE REAL STUFF NOT MARKETING FLUFF This month we speak to Bill Bayley

IN EVERY ISSUE02 | EDITORS LETTER12 | DIARISE THIS35 | CRIME ALERT38 | WEB BUTTONS38 | PRODUCT SHOWCASE40 | BUYERS GUIDE48 | PUNCHLINE

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Leigh

A good spring clean

Spring has sprung, and this is traditionally the time when we get our homes and offices in order. But why is it that we associate the season with a time of organisation? Spring cleaning is the practice of thoroughly cleaning a house in the springtime, and it is prevalent in colder climates where the spring offers the first warm days of the year. During the 19th century in America, March was considered

the best time for dusting because it was warm enough to open windows and doors, and the high winds could carry the dirt out of the house.

A look into the origins of spring cleaning suggests it dates back to the Iranian Norouz (the Persian new year), which falls on the first day of spring. Iranians practice khooneh tekouni, which translates as shaking the house, just before the start of a new year. Everything in the house is thoroughly cleaned. A similar year-end tradition is found in Scotland, with New Years cleaning on Hogmanay (31 December). Another possibility of the origin of the tradition can be traced to the ancient Jewish practice of thoroughly cleansing the home in anticipation of the spring-time memorial feast of Passover.

However, it may just be as simple as the new growth of spring

after a cold and stark winter prompting people to get rid of clutter and clean up.

Either way, labels play a key role in helping you to organise both the home and the office. Our feature on page 14 looks at the different types of labels and labelling machines and which are best suited to your business.

If youre looking to spruce up the office, a fresh coat of paint might do the trick. Our furniture article on page 32 provides some useful DIY tips for painting like a pro.

Cleaning your data is also a good idea, and this might be the perfect time to complete the back-ups you havent done all year. Our feature on optical media on page 20 gives an overview of the different types of discs and which are best suited to storage.

And finally, why not begin the new season with some new crafting skills? Our article on foil art (page 30) will show you how to make your own foil pictures, as well as colour your own foil.

Until next month

V o l 9 9 - S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 5m y o f f i c e m a g a z i n e2

After graduating college in 1994 with distinctions I suspect were based more on my investigate journalism piece on my lecturers

than on my attendance record my father said to me: You cant sit around at home anymore. Youre either joining the army or going overseas.

I think he wanted me to learn something about life. Id already spent my matric year writing letters to some apprentice Nazi with a toothbrush moustache a Colonel in the paradoxically-labelled South African Defence Force, who I can safely assure you does not understand sarcasm to avoid the draft to 5 Infantry Battalion. Naturally, I opted for the latter.

I imagined the epic party that awaited me. I wasnt wrong but I didnt realise there would be more.

I caught a plane to Ben Gurion airport in Israel. The adventure began right away. My sleeping bag detached itself unnoticed from my backpack. A few moments later I turned to find a circle of armed people dressed in khaki, surrounding the suspicious package that may or may not have been an explosive device. I rapidly reached between protesting soldiers and retrieved my fallen dream sack.

I had been told not to worry about arranging employment from South Africa. I could do it when I arrived. I arrived mid-afternoon. I didnt realise downtown Tel Aviv was another 40-minute bus drive from Ben Gurion. It was getting late, and I had no idea where the kibbutz office was that would assign me.

With the narrowly-avoided Sleep Sack Massacre in my wake, I realised three guys had stopped to watch.

Hi, I said. Middag, they replied. And so began about a year of

misadventures and shenanigans that would involve five countries, a stolen car, 95% proof vodka, a tractor, scooter racing, a near arrest, a model shoot, a police raid and one young woman who made an indelible impression upon my world view.

Fortunately my new friends knew where the kibbutz office was. What we initially interpreted as a hatred of foreigners turned out to be the fairly run-of-the-mill, harassed state of mind of many Israelis all of whom seemed overworked and underpaid. They could be a nation of journalists. Instead, it appeared everyone carried an M16 assault rifle. We were rapidly posted to Kibbutz Shoval at the northern point of the Negev Desert.

We had a fantastic time. We were paid the square root of diddly, but vodka cost only R5 a bottle so we drank. A lot. We raised chickens, milked cows, stole oranges from neighbouring kibbutzim, nicked scooters from the kibbutz members and raced them around the dining hall in a vodka-fuelled mania. We made a raft of friends. We worked like slaves, sometimes from midnight to eight in the morning when chickens could withstand the desert heat. We accidentally bought a stolen car. We unwittingly slept in an air force bombing range. We grew beards and long hair. We pierced our ears.

Then we left. Englands greenery replaced the drab

desert brown. We ate burgers instead of falafel. We drank Belgian beer instead of the petrol they call vodka in Israel. Then French beer. Eventually we didnt even have enough money for French beer. We had to get jobs. The carefree and sheltered employment of the kibbutzim faded rapidly from our memories. A South African chef in a pub 10 miles from our digs took pity on me and put me to work washing dishes. I quickly calculated that walking to work and home again at 2am

would net me a six-pack in bus fare. The only problem was that nobody in England carried an M16 and there were no men with toothbrush moustaches. A forest, very dark at 2am, lay in my path.

One night, midway through the forest, I heard the unmistakable sound of approaching footsteps. I was suddenly aware of my vulnerability. Years of paranoia indoctrination in South Africa had peaked in conflict-engulfed Israel, and my imagination fuelled by good Belgian beer took flight. Being stabbed to death for the remnants of a six-pack seemed an unreasonably poor way to go. Fortunately, forests provide ample seclusion. I swerved behind a large oak.

To my consternation a young girl emerged in a clearing right in front of me. It dawned on me that I could easily be mistaken for a 20 year-old, beer-sodden miscreant lurking behind an oak tree in a forest waiting for unsuspecting young women. I quickly stepped out from behind the tree and nonchalantly waved and mumbled hello. She didnt seem to care, and never responded. She simply kept walking. I was astonished. Gobsmacked, even.

I realised that there are places in the world where people dont fear attack. I have never slept as soundly as I did that day. Stress had been part of my life for so long that I hadnt even noticed it. In fact, I had no idea what it was. Many of us who work, especially in open-plan offices, live with stress 24/7. Many of us dont know what it is or that we can cause it ourselves. Ive since learned to try to take a moment before responding, particularly to negative situations in the course of my work, and think about the outcome Id like to achieve. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt. I dont always succeed. Im only human after all. And so are you. n

ACKNOWLEDGMENTBRIAN HOLMES

w w w . m y o f f i c e m a g a z i n e . c o . z a

b u s i n e s s s a v v y

Were only humanSometimes it pays to give people the benefit of the doubt


One of the major driving forces behind the rapid change we see in the world around us is the pace at which a specific technology matures.

New technologies are born and there is demand for these products reach a peak in a much shorter timeframe than we are used to.

Our time to respond to these market changes and to take advantage of these fleeting periods of high demand is being compressed. Products also become a low-profit commodity in a much shorter space of time.

We also see a lot of clutter in the market, where the same product is presented to the end-user in a dazzling array of options.

Some retailers in Europe now carry more than 70 different tablet offerings. The reason for the variety is to address the needs of all potential customers but, unless the user is highly knowledgeable, this variety tends to create confusion rather

than solving the problem. It is no wonder that people are turning

to their friends for advice on the correct solution: they trust their input.

The end-user is not only confronted with a vast array of products, but also with a host of ways to buy them. Online, in-store or at a kiosk are just some of the options available to consumers. Most of the new delivery platforms are an abstract experience because there is very limited human interaction. This is all fine if you know what you want or how to solve your problem.

What has emerged with the advent of mobile phones, data and the cloud is that there are also different models of ownership and payment. This makes the upfront cost of new products much lower, and has led to these technologies being adopted across a much wider spectrum of users. It also ushered in a host of new competitors, like the banks and the telecommunication companies, and we have not even touched on how the younger generations use, procure and consume technology.

Our industry was built on the fact that people buy from people, and that those people had the skills to sell the products.

All the factors above, however, point to a breakdown of this model. If multiple products solve the same problem and are available from multiple sources, the net result is usually a decline in profits. This means that a face-to-face, high-touch model becomes too expensive, where we only sell to procurement without a clear understanding of the need the users want to meet or the problem we are trying to solve.

Much has been said about becoming trusted advisors to our customers but unless we understand that the change impacts our customers as much as it does us, and they want to transform their business to grow and remain relevant as much as we do we will not achieve this status.

Procurement by its very nature seeks to standardise and optimise costs. The change requires customisation and trusted advice. Selling it to procurement just leads to frustration, and our value being reduced to the lowest price. n

V o l 9 9 - S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 5


ACKNOWLEDGMENTANTON HERBST

A matter of trustBecoming a trusted advisor to your clients is key in a changing world

m y o f f i c e m a g a z i n e4



Marketing lessons from a Cretan wedding

Most of you reading this column will agree that the celebration of two people in love who will (hopefully) live together

for the rest of their lives must be commemorated with a great wedding. Most of you will also agree that weddings are usually enormously expensive events.

Weddings are so emotionally charged; so full of hundreds of important details; so scary because of the massive commitments that need to be made; so full of expectations of the perfect day. Most people, but especially close families and friends of the happy couple, somehow dont seem to be able to think straight. The arrangements are carried out irrationally, emotionally and without logic and the expensive bills start piling up.

Needless to say, there is a whole industry of wedding planners, photographers, jewellers, musicians, florists, hairdressers, beauticians, bakers, venue managers and dressmakers that exist because of this magical event.

Lets focus on just one item that symbolises the importance and solemnity of the wedding the wedding dress. The average price of a wedding dress is probably in the tens of thousands of rand.

However, there are some brides who are quite happy to borrow a wedding dress from family or friends. Yet other brides are equally happy to rent a wedding dress from a store. A few really struggle to make ends meet and try to find the best possible value for their small budget. But these three groups are in the tiniest minority. There are also some brides who wont hesitate to spend hundreds of thousands on a tailor-made, truly spectacular dress.

Now, in just about all weddings this dress will be worn for somewhere between 10 and 12 hours, and then returned to the original owner, or more commonly packed away into a nice container stored in the back of a cupboard. What does one do with a used wedding dress?

And this is where my opinion gets a bit controversial. The question I like to ask is: Was this celebration any better because of the brides luxurious and lavish dress? Did the happy couple, their family and friends have a brilliant time because of the dress? Was the wedding one of the most memorable parties ever because of the dress? After being a guest at literally hundreds of weddings in my 58 years, I know that the answer is no, probably not.

(This is the point where my wife looks at me indignantly and says that I dont understand.)

The most memorable wedding I attended was in a Greek village on the island of Crete. It was held in summer, and the guests walked straight out from the church right into the village square, where everything was laid out. All the guests brought a tray of food, and furniture, cutlery and linen from their homes. Nothing matched.

The band comprised of two professionals and a whole bunch of people from the village who jammed along with them. The stunning flowers were picked from gardens and the field around the village. The local baker donated the three-tiered cake as his wedding present, the priest drank too much local wine, and everyone contributed their hearts and souls to the most awe-inspiring and delightful event. It was the finest wedding Ive ever been to.

On announcing their engagement to the parents, the loving bride asked her future mother-in-law what she had worn at her wedding. Proudly, the older lady took out

the packaged dress that had been sitting at the back of her cupboard for almost 30 years. The bride took one look at it and asked if she could also wear it on her special day. After many tears, the relationship was cemented forever.

What are the marketing lessons from this most memorable event?

For me, the traditional wedding chaos and expense I described is the worldview of old-style marketing, and I can tell you that I truly believe that the marketing world is changing. More and more customers resist paying much more for much less no matter how famous the brand is (although I dont predict the quick death of brand power with higher prices).

However, the shift to thrift is a movement that is gathering momentum. We hear more and more stories of customers that demand to know your costs and mark-ups, and whether they can avoid paying for what they dont want. In addition, they are ruthless about buying cheaper imported products from overseas and boasting about how much they saved. And if they have to pay more, they demand better experiences.

New marketing is about customers being more practical, demanding great value and experiences that dazzle them. In their book Blue Ocean Strategy, authors Kim and Mauborgne state that future businesses that succeed will offer both value innovation and low cost to customers.

Customers will also take more responsibility for working together like those wedding guests in Crete to ensure that they have a wonderful time, get closer together and exclude the businesses that dont offer good value.

Its a scary world but exciting nevertheless. n

ACKNOWLEDGMENTAKI KALLIATAKIS


V o l 9 9 - S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 5

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTDR IVAN ISRAELSTAM

The senior employee as scapegoat

We have been consulted in numerous disputes where a crisis has occurred at a workplace and the

boss found an innocent person to blame.

For example: Money has been stolen; Goods have disappeared; Fraud has been uncovered; Market share has been lost; Important clients have been offended; Lucrative contracts have been lost to

competitors; Property has been damaged; and Financial losses have been incurred.

When this happens, everyone in management runs for cover while pointing fingers at others. For instance, the sales director tells the big boss that sales have been lost due to the fault of the sales manager, or because the stores manager has not delivered goods fast enough. Or the production directors excuse is that the engineer has not maintained the machinery properly.

Often, the CEO or MD lands on the carpet in front of the board chairperson because the profits are down and they put the blame on one of the directors.

Sometimes the accusing finger is pointed in the right direction, but just as often the wrong head rolls because the culprits have conspired to scapegoat an easy target or someone outside the main clique.

Very frequently, by the time the scapegoat has been able to recover from the shock of the false allegations and has perhaps even been able to throw some doubt on the allegations against them, the damage has been done.

That is: The culprits have closed ranks and

testimony is hard to come by; Important documentary evidence has

been doctored or destroyed; The powers that be have decided that

the real culprit is not expendable; It has been agreed who will have to

be sacrificed; and Acrimony and backstabbing have

destroyed the working relationship and the scapegoat no longer wants to stay with the company or other organisation.

Scapegoating can result not only in the unnecessary loss of key skills for the employer, but can also tarnish the reputation of the employer. From the employees point of view, their name will have been muddied and their career prospects may have been damaged. It then comes as no surprise that the employee refers the matter to the CCMA or bargaining council.

Clearly, labour law arbitrators take a dim view of scapegoating as this would make a dismissal substantively unfair. For example, in the case of NEHAWU obo September versus the National Department of Social Services (2004, 5 BALR) the scapegoat was a senior administrator. September was dismissed after his personal computer number was used to verify false social grant beneficiaries. Several other employees whose computer numbers had been similarly misused were also disciplined but received only final warnings. The administrator claimed that he had been scapegoated because the employer was under pressure to deal with the matter. That is, the employer was at fault for the fraud because its systems were not secure. In order to deflect blame, the applicant argued, the employer used him as a scapegoat.

The arbitrator found that: There was no proof that the

administrator had benefited from the fraud.

There were indeed serious defects in the system that could allow fraud to occur. For example, employees were permitted to swap computers.

The computer numbers of other employees had also been used to perpetrate fraud.

While the applicant had failed a polygraph test, his claim that he suffered from a mental disease that prevented him from responding to such tests was not challenged.

The applicant had been targeted because the amount of the fraud committed via his computer number was the highest. This was unfair because, due to his senior position, he had the authority to work with higher amounts.

The dismissal was unfair and the applicant was re-instated.

The cost of this matter to the employer must have been high.Not only did they have to bear legal costs, they also had to waste the valuable working time of the witnesses in the case.

This could have been avoided had the employer made proper use of the appropriate experts to investigate the matter and to help decide on suitable corrective measures. Scapegoating is not the quick fix that many think it is. nTo attend our 11 September seminar in Durban on Changes and Dangers in Labour Law 2015, please contact Ronni on [email protected] or 084 521 7492.




ACKNOWLEDGMENTGAVIN MOFFAT

@GAVINMOFFAT

Celebrating frictionPeople who disagree could be doing you a favour

Its a fallacy that we all have to agree. We dont. We should disagree and more often than we do at that. Who came up with this idea that we need to have consensus all the time? Its not as though a room full of people continually agreeing in a committee-style manner produce the best results.

In my experience the best end result comes from friction and disagreement. Or, to be more precise, the best outcome comes from the best input, which is generally given in an environment where disagreement is encouraged.

Speaking your mind is something that society appears to celebrate, unless what is being said is not in line with the masses. The rub is in the fact that most people who speak their mind are shouted down by the normers those that follow the normal, average path.

Could we call these dissenting voices outliers? We could, because they are generally the people who are prepared to say the things that are unpopular, or ask the questions that no one wants to answer. They provide the input that so

often grates. These outliers can often be annoying for just these reasons.

You probably have someone around you who is just like this. They question things even when everyone in the room is in agreement. They ask why when the answers are as obvious a slap in the face with a wet fish. They delay the end of the meeting by an extra 10 minutes because they need to be convinced that the course of action agreed upon is the right one.

Some of the outliers choose to be this way just to be different. Lets discard those individuals because they add very little real world value. Theyre just irritating and unproductive. Some of the questioners are outliers because they just dont get. Lets remove them from the pack too; their value is also minimal.

The ones that I am interested in are the ones who just dont think like the rest: the ones whose questions are insightful, a little intriguing and more than a little exasperating. Research has shown that disagreement, when handled appropriately, is in fact a catalyst for much improved end results. Thats the crux though. It has to be hitched to a process in ways that can efficiently utilise the energy and intelligence that comes with friction and disagreement.

Being able to disagree also has to be built-in or bolted onto a corporate culture. In this way it is an acceptable practice to disagree and find a better solution. The proviso is always that it is for the sake of a better outcome, not for the sake of disagreeing.

Organisations should be looking at the way in which they define peoples roles, and move toward an environment where workers have a greater interest in adding to the business. The companies need to ensure that organisational objectives and outcomes have been through a robust testing process and are well-defined and defensible.

Disagreement only comes from engagement, debate and questioning. Questioning comes from a different understanding and perspective. Innovation comes from having this different perspective. Hiring and training people to look at the business with different perspectives will pay off.

So celebrate friction. Its the way to growth and prosperity. Its not the most comfortable path, but it is one that has roots. n


V o l 9 9 - S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 5

I T f o c u s

PCs versus Macs: which is best for your business?

The Apple Mac versus Microsoft personal computer war has long raged on, with fans and detractors on both sides. Cut through the noise with a simple guide to which product will better fit into your life.

PriceOne of the most hotly contested differences between Macs and PCs is the price tag. Few Mac products sell for less than $1 000 (R14 000), while there are dozens of PC models that fall within that price range.

However, attempting to compare Macs directly with PCs is problematic. Generally, specifications do not match and Apple products use only highly-optimised components and software, meaning less choice but greater consistency. Buying

a cheaper PC may require a number of software purchases (such as antivirus) that increase the price point.

Ultimately, the relative value of a Mac or PC really depends on the consumers needs. There is little point buying an expensive Mac when all you need is word processing power.

SpecificationsThe technical specifications offered by Macs and PCs can be very similar or very different, depending on which brand and line youre comparing.

Although they both have similar internal parts (such as processors, RAM, hard drives and video cards), the speed and capacity of these components vary.

Macs generally outperform low-end PCs. Apple products boast more expensive components, hence the price tag.

When comparing Macs to high-end PCs, Macs are generally found wanting when it comes to RAM, hard disk space

and USB ports, but their processors are usually faster.

The kinds of connections and optical drives found on Macs and PCs also differ. Macs offer a standard selection of such features, including a SuperDrive (reads and writes CDs and DVDs), audio in and audio out, USB, FireWire (data transfer), Thunderbolt (video output), Ethernet and a magnetised power port.

PCs offer comparable features, plus a few more, like Blu-ray players, TV tuners, touchscreens and HDMI ports.

Battery lifeWhen it comes to portable computers, there is very little comparison between Apples laptop (Mac Air) and laptops that run Windows. The usage time on a Mac Air is around 12 hours, while standby time is a calendar month. This remarkable battery life comes in a small, lightweight device that weighs just 1,35kgs. Users would be hard-pressed to find anything that compares in



I T f o c u s

terms of battery life and product dimensions when it comes to Windows laptops. This is why Macs are the device of choice for businessmen who need to work for hours without connecting to the mains.

Mac offers such a good battery life due to the fact that components are made in-house for particular products, and software is highly optimised to use the least amount of battery life possible.

Closed versus open systemsApple runs on a closed system. All software is made in-house, and is optimised for the machine on which it runs. All applications go through strict quality controls before they are allowed on the Apple iStore. This creates a problem for Apple users, as there are often not as many programs that work on Apple Macs. This is most obvious in business computing, where applications were standardised for Windows years ago. However, although there is not much variety, closed systems offer greater stability and more optimisation.

Windows PCs work on an open system. Anyone can create hardware, software or applications for PCs running Windows. This means that while there is a wide variety and more customisation, there is less stability and more chance of viruses.

However, as the Digital Age advances, Mac has started to collaborate with Microsoft on programs such as Office Suite. Older, more traditional companies are still concerned with the lack of specialised business software, though.

Something that is still limited on Apples larger devices is gaming, although this is not true of their portable devices.

SecurityMany users will raise concerns surrounding protection from viruses and other intrusions. As the vast majority of the worlds computers run Microsoft Windows, most attacks focus on PCs. Malware like Trojans and botnets are targeted at PCs, but rarely harm Macs.

However, with the surge in popularity of Apple devices, cybercriminals are beginning to focus on the Mac as a target. But, because of Apples stringent controls regarding apps and software, there are still far fewer security breaches than found on Windows PCs.

Design and choiceOne of the biggest differentiators between Macs and PCs is the fact that Macs are designed to look good. Former Apple CEO Steve Jobs spent nearly 30 years

focused on the outward appearance of the companys products. This has contributed to Apples public image as a producer of high-end, aesthetically pleasing devices. Apple was the first to bring colour to computer cases, releasing a candy-coloured iMac in 1998. This was a turning point for the companys growth and popularity. Today, many Windows PC manufacturers are trying to create more design-oriented models, but so far none have managed to achieve the popularity of Apple products.

Conversely, because PCs dont originate from a single manufacturer, myriad different designs and combinations of components exist. Because there is no single vision guiding aesthetic choices when it comes to the design of the PC, if you dont like one design youre sure to like another. If you prefer to own a Mac, there is little choice in terms of design.

PCs wins hands-down in terms of choice in the number of configurations available for each brand. Currently, Apple offers just five computer lines: the MacBook Air, the MacBook Pro, the Mac mini, the iMac and the Mac Pro.

Apple prides itself on its less-is-more approach to computers. This suits some people, but not others. PCs come in such a wide variety of shapes and sizes. This large selection could be viewed as a benefit for users, who are more likely to find a computer that meets their exact needs.

UsersIf image is of concern to you, then it is important to note that Apple products are often seen as trendy and prestigious, while PCs are considered to be the domain of geeks and gamers.

Apple Macs are most often used by those who work in media and design, such as: Graphic designers and photo editors; Fashion designers; Sound editors and record producers;

and Video editors, animators and movie

makers.They are also popular with the younger

generation and are favourites of the new wave of entrepreneurs and start-ups due to the status factor.

Windows PCs are most often used by: Traditional large corporates such as

banks; Smaller businesses where costs are

of a concern; Gamers; Software developers; and The older generation of

businesspeople.

Customer service and satisfactionBecause Apple Macs are only made by one company, with a centralised identity, customer satisfaction is high. Apple scores with customers in reliability, service experience and word of mouth advertising. Mac users can get face-to-face assistance from technicians at iStores.

Because PCs are made and sold by many people, customer service varies wildly. It is down to the individual reseller to provide good service, rather than Microsoft itself.

ConclusionThe days of only being able to use Windows PCs or Apple Macs for one function or another is drawing to a close. Users can now boot into Windows on Apple machines, and there is a far greater variety of programs (both personal and business-related) for Apple users than ever before. As the world turns towards smartphones and other mobile devices, the choice is solely up to you and what you think will be a best fit for your business. n

Did you know?In April 2011, the Internet was abuzz with the results of a survey conducted by Hunch a Web site that makes recommendations based on user preferences. It asked users to identify themselves as a Mac or PC person, and then questioned them about a number of self-identifying factors. The results were comically stereotypical. Among the findings were that Mac users were more likely to be liberal, eat hummus and read The New York Times. PC users, on the other hand, were more conservative, had a better grasp on mathematical concepts, and, unlike their Mac counterparts, would rather ride a Harley than a Vespa.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTLEIGH RICHTER


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B T S b u i l d - u p

Bricks and mortar for BTS shoppers

Those shopping for back-to-school goodies are more likely to visit physical stores

A new spending survey by the International Council of Shopping Centres (ICSC) has revealed that back-to-school (BTS) shoppers still prefer

to shop in physical, bricks-and-mortar stores.

This trend is driven by the desire to physically examine products before purchasing, and the convenience of one-stop shopping.

According to the survey, while 83% of purchases involve physical stores, 7% of purchases will be click-and-collect.

Seventy-nine percent of those who click and collect are likely to buy more items once in the store.

In 2014, the ICSC-Goldman Sachs consumer tracking survey found that roughly 90% of households indicated a selection of brick-and-mortar retail as a shopping venue for the BTS season.

Online versus physical storesIn 2014, many retailers in regional malls and open-air centres saw increased activity during the BTS

season. The biggest mover was the apparel specialty store sector, which moved from an 8,4% share in 2013 to a 10% share in 2014.

Online stores as a BTS shopping venue declined from 8,6% in 2013 to 8,1% in 2014, while catalogues comprised a 3% share.

Omni-channel is keyThe survey revealed the importance of the ability for retailers to provide an omnichannel shopping experience 79% of respondents said they plan to use a mobile device while browsing in-store for BTS products, and 44% of those will use it to compare prices. Furthermore, 28% will use digital coupons, 26% will check reviews and 24% will check inventory.

Approximately 73% of consumers indicated that they will do research online, and then purchase in a physical store.

Spending trendsThe number of those surveyed who plan to spend more in the current BTS season than the last one rose from 50% (2014) to 67% (2015). Approximately 12% cited keeping up with the trends as the reason for this, while the majority cited a need to replace school clothing and supplies.

Marketing is a strong driver to start

BTS: 74% of consumers state that they start their BTS shopping when the major retailers begin their BTS campaigns.

ICSC found that discount stores still top the shopping destination list (77%), while 40% plan to shop at office supply stores. While discounters are still expected to be the overall winners, the number of households selecting this shopping venue dropped from 90% in 2013 to 80% in 2014.

When choosing a retailer, price (76%), convenience (48%) and quality (41%) are the main consideration factors.

Average yearly BTS spendAccording to the ICSC-Goldman Sachs consumer tracking survey, conducted by Opinion Research Corporation between 10 and 13 July 2014, total BTS expenditures per American household was set at $672 for the year.

The survey determined that BTS expenditure, excluding electronics, was around $325 a sharp increase from the 2013 figure of $285.

Fifty percent of consumers were forecast to spend more in 2014 than in 2013, and similar trends for 2015 have been identified. n

ACKNOWLEDGMENTOPI; SBOMAG.COM


This two-day event will showcase the entire digital print process, featuring sheet-fed A3 machines, grand-format digital equipment, commercial litho and digital printers, finishing equipment, software, media and consumables in the printing and publishing, paper, and paper products industries.

Diarise thisA list of industry-specific events and exhibitions to mark on your calendar

02 03 SeptCOMMERCIAL AND DIGITAL PRINT EXHIBITIONCAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE

The Smart Procurement World South Africa conference is the ultimate procurement and inbound supply chain conference in South Africa. This is an exhibition for sourcing, procurement, purchasing and buying.

08 10 Sept SMART PROCUREMENT WORLD SOUTH AFRICAGALLAGHER CONVENTION CENTRE, MIDRANDSign Africa Regional Expo is a two-

day event showcasing products like plastic, graphics, crafting, screen, and digital supply-based products and services associated with this field.

02 03 Sept SIGN AFRICA REGIONAL EXPOCAPE TOWN CONVENTION CENTRE

Africa Print Regional Expo is a two-day event showcasing products like the digital print process, and will feature sheet-fed A3 machines, grand format digital equipment, commercial and digital printers, finishing equipment, software, media and consumables.

02 03 SeptAFRICA PRINT REGIONAL EXPOCAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE

This conference will cover retail outlook, multi-channel retail strategies, consumer trends, brand building, retail marketing, supply chain management, in-store activities, African markets, m-commerce, mobile apps, the rise of online shopping, payment solutions, in-store promotions, product design and packaging.

02 03 Sept RETAIL INDABACAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE

Do you have an upcoming event? Send the details to

[email protected] for possible inclusion on our events page.

Purchase bandanas from Pick n Pay, Round Table, selected Makro stores and the online shop Zando. R25 will make a difference and offer hope to patients diagnosed with life-threatening blood disorders like leukaemia. Visit www.sunflowerfund.org.za or call 0800 12 10 82 (toll free) for more info.

12 October THE SUNFLOWER FUND NATIONAL BANDANA DAY

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i n d u s t r y e v e n t s


THE EASIER, THE BETTERc DGet labelled as smart and effi ient with YMO

Nylon-coated tape is engineered to be printedeasily, then removed and ironed onto your kids'jeans, towels, sweaters, gloves or jackets

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BACK TO SCHOOL

Label it!

Spring has sprung, and its time to get a bit of cleaning done. Get things organised with the help of labels and labelling machines

Types of labelling machines

Each type of labelling machine is designed to fit into your life in different ways.

Personal label printersOtherwise known as label makers, these are small handheld devices intended for use in the home, small office and small business setting. These machines do not have a high price point, and so are popular with those who dont want to print a high volume of labels.

However, these machines print on special, often thermal, tapes which are expensive.

In the past, mechanical labelling systems worked by embossing pieces of coloured plastic embossing tape. A hammer in the shape of the letter caused an extrusion on the opposite side of the tape, and the raised plastic would discolour to white to provide visual contrast.

These types of machines have been largely displaced by electronic thermal transfer devices.

Such machines contain a built-in keyboard and display, and an integrated cartridge containing the label material (and print ribbon, if used).

Desktop label printers Desktop printers are compact, relatively simple to operate, reliable and cost effective. These types of label printers are ideal for a wide variety of mid-volume industrial, commercial and healthcare applications. They are usually designed for light- to medium-duty use, and are quiet and affordable. They are available in direct thermal and thermal transfer printer models, and are customisable.

Commercial label printers Commercial label printers are used

in medium-volume label printing applications, in business environments such as printers or graphic design houses.

Industrial label printers These types of label prints are designed for heavy-duty, continuous use in places such as warehouses, distribution centres and factories. They are used to print vast quantities of labels, sometimes for oddly shaped components (such as the safety stickers on a childs car seat).

Industrial portable label printers are used on location in rugged environments, such as construction sites and production floors.

How to choose a labelling deviceChoosing a labelling device for your environment will depend largely on what you want to use it for. Perhaps youd like to print out address labels, or improve your filing and workflow. Machines with advanced capabilities, such as barcoding, networking and custom printing, are more expensive than simple, handheld devices, so it is important to choose the right one for your application.

FeaturesBasic label makers have limited features in terms of label type, size or font. The more advanced the labelling machine is, the more customisation it will offer. If you plan to print different types and sizes of labels using various fonts and graphics, or if you

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want bespoke designs, then you will need a machine with advanced capabilities.

Other features to look out for include a print history that will store recent or frequently-used designs, as well as how many pages are printed per minute. Some label makers can print barcodes, shipping tracking and laminated labels.

PortabilityLabel makers can be handheld or large, static machines. In warehouse settings, portable models are useful for workers on the move. In an office environment, a labelling machine that sits on a desk will be ideal.

Labelling machines without a display screen or keyboard are not portable, and will therefore need to be plugged into a computer to work.

Display screen and keyboardSome label makers come with a display screen and keyboard, while others need to plug directly into a computer to take data directly from the machine. If you are considering a model with a screen or keyboard, make sure to look at the overall size. The keyboard must be easy to use, and if you want to see the entire label before you print it you will need a screen that does not have a limited character display.

Power sourceLabel makers run on either disposable batteries, rechargeable lithium-ion battery packs or on a power cord. If your usage is relatively low, disposable batteries are ideal. However, if you use your labelling machine frequently or want to run batch prints, then

a rechargeable battery pack is more suitable. Machines may connect to a computer via USB cable, allowing it to charge.

ConnectivityLabelling machines can be attached to a computer or network, either on a wired or wireless basis. If you are using desktop software to design custom labels, then a machine that plugs into your computer will be ideal. It also removes any limitations on fonts, symbols and designs. If there is only one labelling machine in an office with multiple users, then you will need a networking feature to improve workflow and prevent bottlenecks

Print typeLabel makers commonly use thermal printing, either by direct or thermal transfer. Some devices can switch between these methods.

Thermal transfer works best if you want to print in colour or if you want labels that wont fade over time. Thermal transfer printers require the use of a carbon ribbon. This is transferred onto the substrate via heat. Ribbons can be different colours, and the printing is very crisp and durable. Thermal transfer printers can print on paper, film and even foil substrates.

Direct thermal printers require the use of heat-activated thermal papers and films, rather than a transfer ribbon. The print colour is limited to black, unless you buy treated labels that contain chromatic inks, and the printing is not as crisp or durable. Labels tend to darken with age and exposure to light. Direct thermal

printing is popular in the food industry, where items are stored for short periods of time out of direct sunlight. This type of printer is ideal for labels with a limited life-span, where quality is not paramount.

CostThe more features your labelling machine has, the more it will cost.

When buying a machine, consider not only your business current needs, but its future needs too. It may be more cost effective to buy an advanced machine from the outset than to purchase a basic one now and an advanced one later.

The type of printing the machine does will also affect overall cost. Direct thermal printers are low-cost to operate because ribbon is not required. n

When buying a labelling machine, you will need to ask yourself the following questions: What applications will the machine

be needed for? Will you use blank or pre-printed

labels? Will you need customisation

features? How long will the label need to

last? What type of surface will the labels

be put onto? What is your budget? Does the brand youve chosen have

a good reputation for quality? What do you expect in terms of

customer service and technical support?


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Labels help all of us keep track of things, whether in the office environment or at home.

Different types of labels are created for specific purposes, and labels also differ in terms of materials, lifespan and adherence.

You should choose labels that are best suited to your needs while keeping cost in mind.

Different types of labelsPressure-sensitive labels these labels are applied by pressing down firmly on them so they stick to the surface. They typically have a release liner that protects the adhesive until it is pulled off. The release liner makes handling the label before application easier. There are three different types of adhesive labels.

Permanent adhesive labels once fixed to a surface, such as a box or disc, the label cannot be removed without ripping. The glue on some permanent labels take a while to set, allowing for the label to be adjusted if necessary. This type of label is ideal for mailing.

Peelable adhesive labels these are removable labels which can be transferred from one surface to another. They usually leave a sticky residue

behind. Ultra-peelable labels these labels

can be removed without any sticky residue remaining. However, once removed it is hard to get these types of labels to stick to another surface.

Depending on which labels get used the most, it is a good idea to have a variety of extras on hand.

Address/shipping labels these typically come as blank labels in the form of sheets, for uses such as mailing, and rolls for thermal labels.

Return address labels these can be bought pre-printed, as the return

address is typically the office address being shipped from. Extras can always be printed onto blank label sheets.

Inkjet labels these types of labels are used in inkjet printers. They are typically blank labels on a label sheet and are often used for mailing labels or name tags. They generally print in black.

Laser labels these labels are used in a laser printer. They are superior to inkjet-printed labels due to the fact that it wont run or smudge, and it can be printed in colour.

CD/DVD labels these labels are made to be put onto a CD or DVD. They are designed to fit around the central hole in the disc.

Label materialsOffice labels are made of many different types of materials. These include paper, plastic and thermal transfer, and the right type of label needs to be selected for the job at hand.

Litho labels this is one of the most common types of labelling material. It will stick to almost any surface, and can be removed from hard surfaces using water.

Latex labels these are generally more flexible than litho labels and can fit around curves easily. They are permanent labels, and are waterproof and smudge resistant.

Plastic labels these labels are made

Types of labels

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Outwit the routineImagine how much more you could accomplish with a little extra help and a little more time, every single day. DYMO products can give you both.

Whether you work in an office, at home or in an industrial workplace, DYMO has what you need to get organised and complete everyday tasks in less time, and with less effort, than they take now. How clever is that?

At home: spend more time enjoying lifeOrganise your attic, cellar and everything in between. Everyone in your family will find things more easily and misplace them less often. This means youll spend less time looking for your bits and pieces, which leaves you more time to do what youd rather be doing.

At work: save time, save money and every so often, save the day

DYMO office products make it easy to do more with less and to work minor miracles that can make a big difference to your business.

Print any label you need in seconds, without the hassle of sheet labels.

Accomplish more with advanced labelling at your computer or on the go.

Build a database of business contacts without typing a word.

DYMO is how labelling gets done.

of vinyl, acetate and other kinds of plastics. They offer good strength and flexibility. However, they require special printing equipment as conventional ink does not adhere well to them.

Foil labels these are made of aluminium foil. They come in bright or matte finishes.

Thermal labels - lettering is applied to a thermal label through the use of heat. These labels are sensitive to light and temperature fluctuations, and fade or darken over time.

Thermal transfer labels these labels are similar to thermal labels, but they can be used in proximity to heat sources. They are also more durable and do not fade over time.

How labels are packagedOffice labels come in a variety of different counts, including individual labels, rolls and sheets. When purchasing labels, make sure to get those that fit the printing device or the labelling machine you have. If youre unsure, check your user manual.

Individual labels come in packages to be used as needed for small jobs that do not require a high number of labels at a time.

Label rolls are fed into a machine that prints them out as needed. This is the most common type of thermal label available.

A label sheet can be ordered pre-printed or printed as needed. They are most commonly used for mailing and return labels. They resemble stickers when peeled off the sheet.

Storing office labelsYour office label stock should be stored in a cool, dry place. If labels are exposed to direct sunlight or excessive heat or damp, they may curl at the edges, stick together in the printer or discolour. The colour on printed labels may fade or darken to the point that it becomes illegible.

Designate a suitable storage spot in a storage closet or room of some sort. n

LTO storageDigital tape storage is a viable and cost-effective alternative to hard drives for the long-term storage of digital content where hundreds of terabytes are concerned. The technology is stable, long-standing and doesnt require any significant learning curve to understand or use.

With hard drives becoming more expensive to purchase due to having to buy more and more of them, not to mention protecting them from hazards, the choice of going with digital tape, or LTO (linear tape open), is now surfacing as a means for archiving data.

Tape as storageLTO was developed as a non-proprietary open standard in the late 1990s as an alternative to those proprietary formats prevailing at the time. Magnetic tape has been used for storage/backup for more than 50 years, with various companies introducing their own proprietary products and maintaining a tight grip on the market over the years. LTO broke that open and was embraced by small and medium businesses, as well as others who were looking for storage means. The standard form-factor is a magnetic cartridge, which can hold 2,5Tb of data. The 15- to 30-year lifecycle of the LTO cartridge ensures safe storage that exceeds a hard drives useful lifecycle.

How LTO worksThe LTO data cartridge, called Ultrium, consists of a 2,5cm magnetic tape spooled around a single reel. The design was fabricated for ease of use by those robotic tape library vendors looking to convert the widely used DLT-formatted cartridges (developed by IBM and DEC in the mid 80s). The durability of the tape is such that its expected to be able to handle around 5 000 cartridge load/unloads, with about 260 full file passes (that is, filling the entire tape with data).

Each cartridge comes equipped with a memory chip, whose memory

is used to identify tapes. This enables understanding of different tape generations, as well as storage of tape-use information.

The LTO drive reads data from the cartridge in its own generation and at least the two prior ones, and writes data to its own generation and to a cartridge from the immediate prior generation in the prior generation format.

The average rewind time for a typical drive is about 80 seconds, with about 50 seconds for the drive to access data from the beginning of the tape. To help keep the cartridges contents clean, an internal tape head cleaning brush is activated whenever a cartridge is inserted.

Advantages Good error detection and

correction data written to tape is verified by reading it back using the read heads, enabling the drive to write a second copy of any data that fails to verify on its own.

Data recovery this is possible due to the strong error correction algorithm.

LTO cartridges have no moving parts and so are more durable than a hard drive, with a superior storage life.

LTO is low cost when compared to other storage options.

LTO uses no electricity.

Disadvantages Sensitivity to magnetic fields LTO

technology is sensitive to magnets, and an eraser will render the cartridge unusable.

Temperature sensitivity the tape also needs to be kept within a normal temperature range (that which is comfortable to a human).

Tapes are linear this means that it must run from beginning to end, and specific areas are hard to access quickly.

Source: www.videomaker.com


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Selling optical mediaO

ptical media are types of storage media that hold content in digital form, and that are written and read by a laser.

There are many different types of optical discs, from CDs to DVDs, and each has a unique set of pros and cons.

When recommending optical media to your customers, you need to take into account the writable standard they support, the dyes and other materials they use, their compatibility with different models of writers and players, their archival stability and their overall quality.

The original compact disc (CD) specification still stands today. Optical media discs are 120mm in diameter, have a 60mm radius and are 1,2mm thick. They have a standardised central hole which accommodates the rotating central spindle of the optical drive.

Discs differ in terms of the quality of the materials used to make them, and it is worth informing your customers that buying cheaper discs may lead to issues with the archival stability and the quality of the reflective layer. Cheap discs may stop working sooner, and customers data will be lost.

Despite their similarity in appearance, there are many different types of discs.

CDsCD writers themselves may no longer

exist, but CDs are still a good buy for your customers. Even premium brands are affordable, and can be found in large quantities. Speak to your customers and ask what they plan to do with their optical discs. CDs are great for duplicating audio CDs and making quick backups of data.

There are two types of writable CDs:

CD-R discsCD-R (CD-Recordable) discs can usually only be written to once. This means that any data recorded on the CD cannot be overwritten or deleted.

Most CDs currently sold are rated for 48X to 52X writes, and so can be used in nearly any optical writer. CD-R discs can be written by all CD writers and by nearly all DVD writers. CD-R discs can be read by any modern optical drive or player.

In general, CD-R discs differ in capacity and quality. Standard CD-R discs store 74 minutes of audio (650Mb of data), but there are also 700Mb (80 minutes of audio) discs available.

CD-RW discsCD-RW (CD-Rewritable) discs can be written to repeatedly. Data is deleted or overwritten to make room for new data. CD-RW discs can be rewritten up to 1 000 times.

Rated disc speed is more important for CD-RW than for CD-R discs. Writers often refuse to burn CD-RW discs at anything faster than the speed indicated on the front of the disc.

Although most recent optical drives and players can read CD-RW discs, there were many early compatibility problems, and so this is an underutilised type of media.

There are significant quality variations between brands of CD-RW discs.

DVDsUnlike writable CDs, for which only the CD-R and CD-RW standards exist, there are numerous standards for writable DVDs. And unlike CDs, rewritable standards for DVDs preceded write-once

Did you know?CDs and DVDs are produced using a physical stamping process, and are called pressed discs or stamped discs. Commercial discs may be one-sided or two-sided, with data sides being a reflective silver colour. Writable discs are produced by a high-powered laser on a layer of dye that can be altered by light. These are always one-sided, with the data side being silver, gold or dark blue.

Did you know?A writable DVD said to have a capacity of 4,7Gb actually stores 4 700 000 000 bytes. Contrary to popular belief, the units of measurement of data storage are not in round thousands, but are actually in units of 1 024. For example, one megabyte contains 1 024 kilobytes, not 1 000 kilobytes. Thus a DVD of 4,7Gb actually only has 4,4Gb of capacity.



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standards. DVDs are ideal for customers who want to store large amounts of data, such as music, photographs or videos.

DVD-RWEarly DVD-RW had 1X drives, and discs were soon followed by 2X and then 4X models. Current DVD-RW discs are certified for 4X or (rarely) 6X writes. They can be rewritten up to 1 000 times and can store about 4,7Gb worth of information.

Because DVD-RW has relatively poor error detection and correction, these discs are poorly suited for recording data. However, DVD-RW discs are less expensive than comparable DVD+RW discs, and so are a reasonable choice for recording television programs, movies and other noncritical types of data.

DVD-RW discs can be read by any DVD writer other than some elderly DVD+R/RW-only models, and by nearly all recent DVD-ROM drives. Estimates vary, but approximately 65% to 70% of all installed DVD players play DVD-RW discs correctly.

DVD+RWThe greatest advantage of DVD+RW discs is that they have much better performance and reliability.

DVD+RW discs store about 4,7Gb and are rated for 1 000 rewrites. They are not only faster than DVD-RW, but have superior error detection and correction.

DVD+RW discs can be read by any DVD writer other than some elderly DVD-R/RW-only models, and by nearly all recent DVD-ROM drives. Approximately 70% to 80% of all installed DVD players play DVD+RW discs correctly.

Advise your customers to use DVD+RW discs when backing up important data.

DVD-RDVD-R was the first write-once DVD format introduced. These discs store about 4,7Gb, and are available at up to 16X write speeds. However, error detection and correction is poor, and so it is best to advise your customers not to use these types of discs for storing important data.

DVD-R discs can be read by any DVD writer other than some elderly DVD+R/RW-only models, and by nearly all recent DVD-ROM drives. More than 90% of all installed DVD players play DVD-R discs correctly.


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Label side

Cover layer:0.1 mm

NA: 0.85

Laser wavelength:405mm

Track pitch0.32 m

Capacity: 25GB

Label side

Cover layer:0.6 mm

NA: 0.85


Track pitch0.74 m

Capacity: 4.7GB

Label side

Cover layer:1.2 mm

NA: 0.85


Track pitch1.60 m

Capacity: 700MB

0.6 mm

1.1 mm

Blu-ray Disc DVD CD

DVD+RDVD+R is a superior alternative to DVD-R. These discs store about 4,7Gb of data and can write up to 16X. Error detection and correction on these discs is much higher, and they are therefore a good choice for storing data.

DVD+R discs can be read by any DVD writer other than some elderly DVD-R/RW-only models, and by nearly all recent DVD-ROM drives. A somewhat lower percentage of DVD players are compatible with DVD+R than DVD-R (perhaps 85%).

DVD+R DLThe most recent enhancement to the DVD+R standard is DVD+R DL. The DL stands for dual-layer, and at 8.5Gb these discs have a storage capacity almost double that of DVD+R discs.

These discs are more costly than their single-layer counterparts. Even so, they are ideal for customers that wish to back up larger amounts of data. They are also useful for backing up original DVD movies. The higher capacity of DVD+R DL allows video to be duplicated without the compression required to fit on a single-layer discs.

DVD+R DL compatibility with drives and players other than DVD+R DL writers is problematic.

If your customer wants to use DVD+R DL discs, recommend that they first verify compatibility with their current DVD drives and players.

DVD-R DLDVD-R DL (also called DVD-R9 or dual-layer DVD-R) has a number of drawbacks. It has the same compatibility issues as DVD+R DL, in addition to error detection and correction thats inferior to the plus-format version.

DVD-R DL is acceptable for recording video, but the superior reliability and features of DVD+R DL make the plus versions a better choice for your customers.

Blu-ray discsBlu-ray discs are a next-generation optical disc format that offers more than five times the storage capacity of traditional DVDs. Up to 25Gb of data can be stored on a single-layer disc, and 50Gb on a dual-layer disc. Blu-ray discs are exactly the same physical size as CDs and DVDs.

Blu-ray discs are made by using a blue

laser with a shorter wavelength of 405nm. DVDs use a 650nm wavelength red laser, while CDs use a 780nm red laser.

The shorter wavelength of the Blu-ray system allows the laser to focus on smaller spots. This means the pits and spiral grooves in the discs can be made even smaller and tighter.

Blu-ray discs are ideal for the recording, rewriting and playback of high-definition (HD) video, as well as for storing large amounts of data. n


Untitled-1 1 8/31/2015 2:37:36 PM

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The resurrection of optical media

My Office speaks to Manny Cross, GM of Emerging Markets Southern Region at Verbatim, about the future of optical media

Many have predicted the demise of optical media as other types of storage, such as flash and cloud,

become more popular. And, while there may be a decline in optical media in terms of pure sales volumes, its a little more complicated than that, says Manny Cross, GM of Emerging Markets Southern Region at Verbatim.

Traditionally, optical media was used for transferring data from one PC to another as it had greater capacity and read/write speeds than the floppy disk, he says. That was until people discovered it had multimedia properties and then the market exploded.

Consumers first used CDs, and later

DVDs, to store data or make copies of music albums or movies. Demand peaked and then, as technology changed, the focus moved to USBs, external hard drives and even the cloud.

But something interesting is happening in the space. While consumer sales have fallen, professional adoption is on the rise.

Its almost as if the market is returning to a pure state one before the general consumer adoption of optical media occurred, says Cross.

The biggest advantage of optical media is its longevity, which makes it ideal for backups and archiving. The medical profession is just one example of an industry that can benefit from this.

One of the most advanced forms of optical media, the M-disc (Millennial disc) is a write-once technology available in DVD and Blu-ray forms.

This type of disc does not store data on the dye layer, as is usual with optical media. Instead, the M-disc engraves

information on a type of synthetic stone. This prevents corruption and oxidisation.

The M-disc is shock-proof, water-proof, reliable, durable and not affected by magnetic fields. It has archival life of up to 1 000 years.

Another advantage of using optical media to store data is that it has no obvious value to potential criminals. Unlike hard drives or USBs, which can be sold for money if stolen, CDs or DVDs that have already been written to have no resale value.

So, no, the medium is not dead. In fact, its a safer form of storage than electronic media like USBs, which can be corrupt or break if dropped, Cross says.

Interestingly, CDs are best sellers at Verbatim. Buyers have gone from DVD back to CDs because they are more affordable.

When asked whether electronic media is still a competitive market, Cross says yes.

The flash market has its place, although that type of media has its own


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Did you know?Optical disc trivia1. The diameter of the optical disc is

120mm. It is the diagonal width of a standard compact cassette from end to end.

2. The thickness of an optical disc is 1,1mm, +/- 0,2mm. This includes the stacking ring which is moulded into every disc. The stacking ring allows for the separation of one disc from another.

3. A CD usually weighs around 15g.4. Compact disc technology is an

evolution of laser disc technology, with a focused laser beam to read and write the high-density information needed for audio signals.

5. Sony and Philips originally developed the technology independently of each other. They eventually collaborated on a standard known as the Red Book.

6. A CD is a single layer disc of polycarbonate on one side, a thin layer of aluminium, and a thin layer of lacquer beneath. It is through this

lacquer that the laser beam reads the pits and translate it into data.

7. Although DVDs come in several different formats, they are all created the same way. They consist of two layers of polycarbonate glued together. There is a lacquer finish on the bottom. Two lasers read the double-layered disc.

8. Laser discs were originally made from acrylic. However, this material is very hydroscopic (absorbs water easily) and the plating oxidises over time. Anyone who owns laser discs will need to keep them in a dry, desiccant environment to prevent oxidation or delamination. The use of polycarbonate for current optical discs prevents oxidation.

9. CD playing time was extended to 74 minutes to accommodate Wilhelm Furtwanglers recording of Ludwig van Beethovens Symphony #9 from the 1951 Bayreuth Festival.

Source: www.shop.ace-cases.com

challenges regarding data recovery and longevity. However, it is well-priced, and demand is strong.

As society becomes more and more data-hungry, recording videos and taking photos on all manner of mobile devices, the need for larger and larger storage capacities grows.

The amount of data we generate is beyond our understanding, he says.

But how will this impact on the future of optical media?

We will definitely see brands exiting the market. There will be a degree of repositioning, with a handful of manufacturers remaining to create products for what will ultimately be a niche market.

An impediment to consumer re-adoption of optical media is the lack of optical drives in modern computing technology, such as notebooks and tablets.

In order for optical media to keep growing, optical writers will need to be simple and convenient to use, which they currently are not. However, PC manufacturers would need to get on board with this vision. n

Now that you have your LTO tapes, you need labels, and you dont have the time or the materials to print them yourself. Dont sweat it its one of the many services we offer to make your life easier.

Just send us the pre x or suf x sequence and LTO tape generation and we will print your labels professionally using high-quality polyester labels that are weatherproof and tear resistant. The labels are presented in multiples of 32 per page. They peel and stick onto your data tapes with ease.

So, who ever thinks about LTO tape labels?TechExpress does ...

Tel: 011 467 0227E-mail: [email protected]: www.techexpress.co.za

T E 0 0 0 1 L6

If you have LTO tape label or asset tagging requirements, give us a call or e-mail us to receive quality service.

Tech Express half page.indd 1 2015-08-26 11:50:28 AM

V o l 9 9 - S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 5

A B C Q 2 r e s u l t s

Putting print in perspective

The Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) held its bi-annual results breakfast in Johannesburg on 13 August, where it released the circulation figures for the second quarter of 2015.

Before the results were presented, guest speaker Jennie Beck, global director at Kantar Media/TNS, spoke about the importance of re-evaluating the role of print in the modern world.

We have to think of it in a new way in order to continue, she says.

The rise of technology has had a significant impact on the ability for newspapers and magazines to make money.

In general, the print industry got speed, reach and branding right, but failed in terms of relevance, depth of stories and

revenue generation. The Daily Mail is an example of a

newspaper that got it right, she says. The paper completely revamped its image for the online portal, resulting in the print and digital versions of the paper being completely different. The Mail Online Web site receives 180-million unique visitors a month and, while print newspaper circulation is down 6%, advertising revenue is up 2% and Web site traffic has increased by 26%.

The South African story is somewhat different.

According to Gordon Patterson, chairman of the ABC board, the economy remains distressed. Lack of disposable income, in conjunction with the decline of print as a favoured medium of consumption, has seen some alarming trends in South Africas print circulation numbers.

Although the newspaper category has

less churn than the magazine category, the magazine results reflect more sporadic areas of growth. Weekend newspapers saw declines in both single-copy sales and subscriptions, but free newspapers reflected an increase in bulk distribution.

In the magazine sector, the custom category is now under pressure, experiencing sharp declines in free distribution. However, business titles are showing growth in single-copy sales. The consumer section saw several titles producing solid growth, while others saw decline.

Publishing is a business and there can be little doubt that titles have done everything they can to improve their circulation. Perhaps its time to refocus on income generation to grow circulation, says Patterson.

Without returns, its impossible to grow. n



A B C Q 2 r e s u l t s

Some of the key points of interest from the presentation include: ABC members went from 875

(31 December 2014) to 858 (30 June 2015)

Newspapers Newspapers saw the addition of 10

titles from Q1 to Q2 Newspapers lost eight titles from Q1

to Q2 Total press circulation of newspapers

declined 1,7% Q2 on Q1 Free newspapers, representing 63%

of total circulations, was the only sector to do well

Subscriptions stand at 7,12% while single-copy sales stand at 28,77%

The Herald was the only daily newspaper to show growth (1%)

The Sowetan and Business Day recorded a 5% decline in single-copy sales

Magazines Magazines saw the addition of 11

titles from Q1 to Q2 Magazines lost 30 titles from Q1

to Q2, with the consumer section losing 10 titles alone

Total circulation of magazines declined 8,3% Q2 on Q1

Consumer magazine circulation declined by 5%, business-to-business by 6,7% and custom by 11%

Free magazines accounted for 60,39% of total circulations

Subscriptions accounted for 14,70% of total circulations, while single-copy sales stand at 22,72%

Single-copy sales and subscriptions of consumer magazines declined, while PDF replicas increased

Custom magazines saw a decline as a result of a reduction in free copy distribution

Business-to-business magazines saw growth in single-copy sales and subscriptions, although the sector relies heavily on free distribution

To download the presentation, visit www.abc.org.za/Notices.aspx/Details/43

MEMBERSHIP STATISTICS28

13

28

53

4

220

Newspapers31 Dec 14

Daily

Weekly

Weekend

Local

Hybrid

Free

219

185

96

22 Magazines31 Dec 14

Consumer

B2B

Custom

Free

28 12

28

53

4

223

Newspapers30 Jun 15

Daily

Weekly

Weekend

Local

Hybrid

Free

209

180

94

20 Magazines30 Jun 15

Consumer

B2B

Custom

Free

ABC Members: 31 Dec 14: 875 30 Jun 15: 858

+10 Titles

-8 Titles

346 348

+11 Titles

-30 Titles

522 503


V o l 9 9 - S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 5

j a n / s a n

Label removal

Anyone who has ever re-used a container will know what a pain it can be to remove the original label. After frequent washing, the paper part of the label

comes off, but the adhesive remains behind, becoming sticky and dirty.

Here are our top tips for removing stubborn labels:

AlcoholChoose a suitable alcohol, such as rubbing alcohol or a strong drinking alcohol (like plain vodka), and spray or dab a little on to a paper towel or soft cleaning rag. Leave the moistened rag over the sticky area for a few minutes. The residue should then lift off easily. Use a scraper if necessary.

Bicarbonate of sodaMake a paste of equal parts bicarbonate of soda and a cooking oil, such as vegetable oil. Soak glass jars in a sink of hot, soapy water to remove the paper part of the labels. Rub the paste all over the jars and allow to stand. Use a clean cloth and wipe the paste away. The oil softens the glue while the baking soda acts as an abrasive. For really stubborn labels, use the rough side of a dish scourer.

CitrusA citrus-based cleaner contains

limonene, which cuts through stickiness. Alternatively, rub the surface with bruised orange or lemon peel. Leave this on for a short time before wiping off.

Cooking oil or spray Choose an oil, such as olive or canola, and pour it onto paper towel or a cleaning rag. Let the oil-soaked rag cover the sticky label for a few minutes. Lift the rag off, and scrape off the residue with your fingers or a plastic scraper, such as a disposable knife. Repeat if needed. Clean the container with soapy water when done.

ErasersUse a regular eraser to gather sticky adhesive residue. The eraser dust will cling onto the remnants of glue and fall off to reveal a spotless surface.

Essential oils Essential oils will lift sticker residue off a number of materials, such as glass, tiles or ceramics. First check to see whether the oil will stain the surface by testing it on an inconspicuous area.

Place a few drops of eucalyptus or tea tree oil on a cleaning cloth. Rub the oily part of the cloth back and forth over the residue. Repeat until the surface is no longer sticky, then rinse in soapy water.

Fast food hand wipesHand wipes obtained from fast food restaurants often remove sticker residue with ease. Rub the surface continuously with the wipe until all the residue is removed.

Masking tapeWrap a piece of masking tape around your index and middle finger, with the sticky side facing out. Press against the adhesive and pull away. Repeat until youve lifted off as much as possible.

Nail polish removerAcetone or nail polish remover can also remove adhesive residue. Pour a little nail polish remover onto a paper towel, and lightly rub the affected area. It will easily remove any excess adhesive.

ParaffinApply a little household paraffin (kerosene) to a cloth. Rub over the sticky residue until it lifts.

Scrapers Save old credit cards and disposable plastic knives, and use them to scrape off sticky residue on bottles and other containers.

SteamBoil a kettle and carefully hold the item in front of the steam for up to a minute. This heats up and loosens the sticky residue left by stickers. Scrape it off with a scraper. This method works best on hard plastic, metal and glass.

VinegarPaint over the sticky area with regular white vinegar, or soak a small item in vinegar. Allow it to stand for a while and then wash off, or scrape off with a scraper. n

28 m y o f f i c e m a g a z i n e

Making art out of tinfoil may sound odd, but it can be a fun project for adults and children alike. Foil art can be two dimensional

or 3D, and comes in plain silver or very colourful varieties.

Pretend pewterFor tinfoil art that resembles pewter, you will need the following: Cardboard Pencil Thick, tacky craft glue Glue stick Aluminium foil Ball of cotton wool Cotton bud Black shoe polish Old rag or paper towels

Choose a piece of smooth cardboard to use as a base. Avoid using corrugated cardboard unless you feel it will add to the texture of your design.

Using a pencil, draw a simple design on the cardboard. Animals, faces, words and abstract designs all work well. Remember that the details will be added later.

Using the tacky glue, trace the pencil lines. The purpose of this is to create raised sections which will show through the foil when you add it on top. Keep any details to a minimum or it will be difficult to work the foil around them. Allow the glue to dry completely before

you continue. If you dont have a tacky glue that will

dry in a raised fashion, glue pieces of string or yarn to the pencil drawing.

Once the glue has dried, cut a piece of foil that is larger than the size of the cardboard, so that you have enough to fold towards the back.

Apply the glue stick to the side of the tinfoil you will be sticking to the cardboard, or to the cardboard itself. Press the foil on top and fold all four sides to the back. Gently press the foil down with your finger so that it adheres to the cardboard. Be gentle to avoid breaking through the foil. Use a cotton ball and a cotton bud to press the foil gently around the glue lines so the shapes become more visible and stand in relief.

Once this process is finished, use a dull pencil to add any extra details by pressing gently onto the cardboard.

Add a variety of shapes, such as lines, swirls and circles, to give texture to the piece.

Finally, cover the entire surface with black shoe polish using a soft rag. Wipe off any excess using an old rag or paper towels.

The shoe polish will settle in the grooves and highlight any details you have added. It will also darken the colour of the foil. Using a shoe polish with a sponge applicator improves accuracy and minimises mess.

The end result is reminiscent of the Victorian era tin ceiling tiles, popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

V o l 9 9 - S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 5

a r t s a n d c r a f t s

Fun with foil



Did you know?Using different coloured shoe polish has different effects. A brown shoe polish will look like bronze, while a mixture of red and brown shoe polish will create a copper tone.

Colour your own tinfoilIf you want to be really creative, you can colour your own tin foil by following these easy steps. You will need: Aluminium foil; White glue or clear liquid glue; Dishwashing liquid; Food colouring; and Paint brushes.

Cut your aluminium foil into manageable sections, such as squares or rectangles.

Pour your glue into a cup or container. For every 15ml (one tablespoon) of glue, add two drops of food colouring of your choice and one drop of dishwashing liquid. Mix well.

Ensure that the aluminium foil is facing shiny side up. Paint the glue mixture on.

Colour as many aluminium foil sections as you like. Set aside to dry.

Once dry, the coloured foil is ready to make into collages, mosaics and other craft projects.

a r t s a n d c r a f t s

Creating in colourTo create colourful tinfoil art, you will need: Cardboard Glue gun or tacky craft glue Aluminium foil Glue stick Colourful permanent markers Scissors

Cut a piece of cardboard to a suitable size for the piece you have in mind. Draw a simple design on the cardboard, and then trace it with the glue gun or tacky craft glue. Allow this to dry properly. Cover the cardboard with the tin foil and gently rub to expose the textured outlines of the drawing. Colour in different areas of the tin foil using an array of permanent markers. n

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V o l 9 9 - S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 5

f u r n i t u r e

Painting 101

Spring is the perfect time to revive your mood with a new colour or even just a fresh coat of paint particularly in an office environment where you spend so many hours of your day. If you are not

sure about how to go about such a job, c

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