Good news initiative

’s editors and asking us to put a more positive spin on the news. At NPE I heard the same thing from machine manufacturers, along the lines of, “Please stop reporting how poor sales are.” Certainly I can understand their motive: We are living a wide-ranging crisis of confidence and until consumers have reason to be confident that, for instance, their jobs are safe, there is little reason for them to increase their spending. While I would counter that we, like other responsible news outfits, only report the news, not create it, there is some truth to the fact that no newspaper ever wrote about the plane that landed safely. At the same time, we all know the headline, “Plane lands safely at local airport; no incidents to report” would draw fewer readers’ eyeballs than the daily horoscope.

Our focus here at IMM and MPW is in fact on sharing insight into new technology and material developments, insight we spread to help our readers get a leg up on the competition. We cover "typical" news, too, to keep readers up-to-date on market conditions and their competitors. Some of that coverage naturally involves reporting on layoffs or closures. Countering the deluge of "recession gets deeper" reports are those eager to share good news. Typically, if we are aware of such news, we’re glad to share it. For instance, injection molder Anchor Plastics out of Golden Valley, MN sent the following this week with the subject header on the e-mail, “Anchor Plastics Sees Bright Future”:

"With the economy under stress, it is more important than ever for companies to be proactive in managing their portfolio of suppliers. Anchor Plastics would be a great addition to any such portfolio, especially given its financial discipline. Automation and low overhead allow Anchor to pass on savings to its customers. By conserving cash and avoiding debt, Anchor’s management has ensured the company’s long-term viability as an excellent, service-based supplier. 

“Out of the first half of the year, we have only experienced two down months,” notes Steve Rogers, president of Anchor Plastics Inc. “June was a positive month and we are forecasting an increase in sales of 10% starting in August.” Rogers’ plan for the future is clear. “I’m only 35 years old, so you can count on me doing this for another 30 years.”

The note continued with a brief description of the company and the markets it serves. Blatant self-promotion? You bet. But if you don’t do it yourself, you may wait a while for someone else to rise to the occasion. I especially like the line about being around for the next 30 years; couldn’t have said it better myself.