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December 10, 2023
My Next Bold Move in the Game of Life
For the past 20 years, I have helped hundreds of business leaders manage the myriad details involved in managing, growing, and selling businesses involved in labels, packaging, and specialty graphics. As CEO of the LaManna Consulting Group, I advised business owners on how to prepare their businesses for sale and meet well-qualified potential buyers. And […]
October 6, 2023
Artificial Intelligence in Mergers and Acquisitions
Artificial intelligence is already improving the efficiency of many of the data evaluation tasks of dealmaking. But will AI totally transform the M&A process? Probably not in the immediate future – especially in the realm of small to mid-sized privately held businesses. Selling a privately held business requires trust, transparency, and integrity. The process stirs […]
September 12, 2023
Does a Management Buyout (MBO) Make Sense When I Sell My Label Business?
Selling a label business to managers can be part of a well-conceived exit plan if all conditions are optimal and the management team is ready to lead. Find out what Rock LaManna says in this timely Ask Rock Q&A. […]
August 8, 2023
Should I sell my label converting business so I can spend time with my teens?
A reader wonders if she should sell her label converting business to free up time to spend with her teenagers. In this edition of Ask Rock, expert advisor Rock LaManna offers a list of ways she can keep her business and get the family time she craves. […]
August 1, 2023
An M&A Glossary for Ready-to-Sell Business Owners
To help business owners prepare for the process of selling their business, the LaManna Consulting Group compiled a white paper: “Demystifying M&A Jargon.” This post features definitions from our most recent update to the glossary. […]
July 25, 2023
Will embarrassing personal information get in the way of selling my business?
A reader wants to know if embarrassing personal information will come out when he sells his business. Expert Rock LaManna explains why it’s crucial to deal with the skeletons in your closet before you put your business on the market. […]
July 18, 2023
Build A New Identity Before Finalizing the Sale of Your Business
The time to craft a new personal identity for yourself is before the sale of your business is finalized. When you relinquish your CEO title and no longer need to work for money, it’s important to have plans in place for the next chapter of your life. […]
July 11, 2023
How to Choose the Right Method of Valuation When Selling Your Main Street Printing Business
There are two types of valuation methods for Main Street printing companies, and they can affect how you set and defend your asking price and what you ultimately get in the deal. […]
June 20, 2023
Closing a Business Sale: Prepare to Act Quickly
The hardest part of selling a business is closing a deal – negotiating the slew of details that determine how much and when you will get paid. It’s important to know what to expect so you can close the deal quickly. Here are a few tips.
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May 16, 2023
What Business Sellers Should Know About Earnouts
If a potential buyer of your business insists that an earnout payment be part of the sales agreement, how would you respond? Here are a few points business sellers should know about the rationale behind earnouts and some potential pitfalls. […]
May 2, 2023
Why Reverse Due Diligence Matters When Selling a Business
When a potential buyer for your business sends a letter of intent indicating their plans to make an offer, it’s easy to imagine that the deal is already done, But If you don’t fully understand who the potential buyer is and what they want to do with your business, you may be setting yourself and your employees up for a post-sale disaster. […]
November 8, 2022
Business Growth Strategies: Updating Your Website
Your company’s website still makes a powerful impression of your brand when potential customers begin researching vendors who can supply certain products or services. If it’s been awhile since you updated it, here are some ideas to consider. […]
October 25, 2022
Selling Your Business: Are You Emotionally Ready?
The biggest mistake to avoid when selling your business has little to do with the business itself. It has to do with you. If you’re not emotionally prepared to sell your business, it’s going to be a rough ride to the finish line and in the years that follow. These tips can help you prepare emotionally. […]
October 18, 2022
Everything Ends — Including Your Role in Your Business
It’s never too early to start preparing for the end of your role in your business because you never know when that end will be. Successful business sellers know that preparing their business to be attractive to buyers can take years. […]
October 4, 2022
5 Things Print Business Owners Should Know about Business Valuations
A free valuation derived from filling out an online questionnaire isn’t the same as custom valuation performed by experienced industry advisors who know how your business stacks up against similar companies that might be for sale. […]
September 13, 2022
Surviving a Post-Merger Integration: What Employees Should Know
Business owners and their families aren’t the only ones affected by the sale of a business. The transfer of ownership affects employees too. Consider these tips in helping employees make smart career decisions after the business sale is announced. […]
August 30, 2022
What Print Business Owners Should Know About Private Equity Groups
The influence of private-equity groups in all segments of the economy is growing. Yet misperceptions exist about the private equity groups that buy mid-sized companies in the label, printing, and specialty graphics markets. Here’s a quick overview of the changing role of private equity. […]
August 23, 2022
Managing Addiction in the Workplace
Don’t be naive and assume that substance abuse isn’t happening in your workplace. Statistics show that 70% of illicit drug users are in the workforce. Your best bet is to be aware and get ahead of any problem before catastrophe can occur. […]
August 9, 2022
M&A Due Diligence: 20 Areas to Assess
While a letter of intent (LOI) from a buyer is not a legally binding offer, it does indicate how much a buyer might be willing to pay for your company … after they thoroughly examine your business. Reviewing (and fixing) these 20 key areas can ensure a good deal for both of you. […]
July 12, 2022
Discovering Your Purpose and Role After You Sell Your Business
Many owners go through the grieving process of leaving their core mission behind as they begin to reinvent themselves. As you contemplate the sale of your business, what does the post-arena picture look like? […]
May 17, 2022
Three Growth-Related Questions a Print Business Valuation Answers
Getting a business valuation before you begin to look for potential buyers for your print company can help you identify specific ways to grow your business before you sell it. Here are three growth-related questions that can guide your growth plans.
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May 3, 2022
What Strategic Buyers at Trade Shows Tell Me About Dealmaking
Trade shows are great places to connect with buyers on the prowl for new businesses to acquire. Experienced dealmakers I meet at trade shows have pretty specific advice about what buyers today are looking for from sellers. Here’s the inside scoop. […]
April 26, 2022
Career Stage 2: What I Learned as CEO of a Family Business
In part 2 of this multi-part series, Rock looks back at what he learned about growing a family business, being appointed President and CEO of Vomela Specialty Company instead of one of his 10 siblings, and key leadership lessons learned.
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April 12, 2022
Should I Sell My Business to My Kids?
Very rarely is it a slam dunk that the kids are perfectly ready and interested in buying. Families that get the best results usually work with a family business program or a consultant who specializes in the graphic arts industry. […]
March 29, 2022
Career Stage 1: What I Learned Working in the Family Business
In chapter 1 of this multi-part series, Rock looks back at what he learned during the first stage of his career when he worked as an employee in his father’s business and shares practical advice for owners and family businesses and their children.
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March 22, 2022
Growing a Print Business: Selling Through Brokers and Distributors
Who doesn’t want to increase sales? Consider offering wholesale prices to well-connected, independent print experts. These value-added resellers can bring a steady stream of new orders through your web-to-print portals.
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March 1, 2022
Using Video Sales Messages to Grow Your Print Business
Is your print sales team using video messaging yet? If not, you should consider it. If you have difficulty connecting with clients and prospects in person, providing personalized video messages through emails, texts, and social media posts can be the next best thing.
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February 22, 2022
An Expert’s View of the Buy-Sell Arena in the Graphic Arts Industry
I’ve watched hockey, played hockey, and coached hockey. I’ve thought a lot about how it affects the way I work and compete. Success comes from passing and moving and keeping your eye on the target.
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January 18, 2022
Six Ways to Improve Employee Engagement
Research shows that companies with low levels of employee engagement have higher levels of absenteeism, turnover, safety issues, and quality defects. Improve employee engagement and improve your company’s resiliency, productivity, and profitability. We’ve got six ways to get started.
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January 11, 2022
Why Updated Leadership Training Is a Must
Business leaders must adjust to the realities of the post-pandemic workforce. Updated leadership training is required to achieve the high levels of employee engagement that can help your shop reduce turnover, retain key employees, and improve productivity.
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January 4, 2022
Successfully Managing Remote and External Workers
If your company is under-staffed, now is a good time to re-evaluate the types of jobs that must be performed by full-time employees and what types of work could be handled either temporarily or full-time by independent contractors. […]
December 7, 2021
Lessons Learned from 2021 M&A Activity: Commercial and Wide Format Printing
A look back at the mergers and acquisitions that closed in the commercial-printing and wide-format graphics segments in 2021 shows how print-business owners use acquisitions to expand services or grow their customer bases. […]
November 30, 2021
2021 M&A Activity in Labels and Packaging: Lessons Learned
To get a big-picture view of 2021 M&A activity in labels and packaging, we have summarized a collection of press releases that acquiring companies issued in 2021. The summaries provide insights into what private-equity investors and owners of labels and packaging companies hope to accomplish through different types and sizes of mergers and acquisitions. Use these insights to start preparing your business for sale in 2022 or beyond. […]
November 16, 2021
Print Technologies to Watch: Nanography
If you are considering getting into the packaging business, pay attention to what’s happening with nanographic printing. This breakthrough technology from Landa Digital Printing provides users with some key advantages. Print business journalist Eileen Fritsch explains why. […]
October 26, 2021
Year-End Financial Management Checklist for Business Owners
In the quest to develop business plans for the next year, it’s easy to overlook the steps you should take now to put your personal finances in order as well. This list of questions can help you get started. […]
October 12, 2021
Why Band Aid Solutions Can’t Fix Job Burnout
Research shows that job burnout rates are higher now than before the start of the pandemic. If you don’t take employee burnout seriously,you risk losing some of your most talented employees. Here what business owners need to know about burnout and how to prevent it. […]
September 28, 2021
Workforce Development: Reskilling Employees for New Career Paths
When developing growth strategies for your business, take time to evaluate what skills your employees already have and what skills your company will need to move forward. Before assuming that you must hire new people, consider these strategies for offering more fulfilling opportunities for your current employees. […]
August 24, 2021
The Whirlwind: The No. 1 Obstacle to Strategic Plan Execution
Guest blogger Doug Wick, executive coach at Positioning Systems, cautions against getting sucked into the whirlwind of urgent daily priorities that rob you of the focus required to move your team forward and offers four tips to get that focus back. […]
July 27, 2021
Print Business Automation: From Website to Shipping Dock
As marketing grows more automated and customized, manufacturing processes must be simplified and streamlined. In this interview, George Compiani of Significans Automation explains why the only way to ensure profits is through automation. […]
July 6, 2021
Why a $100 Million Big Fish Would Want a $1 Million Small Fry
Dreams of selling your printing business to a bigger company and walking away with a mountain of cash do come true. But not with an email blast and mass-marketing promotion. As this case study illustrates, careful and discreet research through a well-established network of investors is what gets the best results. […]
June 8, 2021
Why Do I Need to Read my Income Statement?
Your income statement is part of a set of reports that tell you the cost of doing business. Using these financial tools now can help you get the clear picture of your financial situation before you decide to sell your business. […]
June 1, 2021
Should Proposed Tax Changes Affect The Timeline to Sell Your Business?
Some of the changes the Biden Administration have proposed to capital gains taxes and estate taxes could have a major impact on how much money an owner would receive from the sale of his business. Should those changes affect your decision to sell your business? Mike Antogiovanni, a CPA with M&A experience, shares his thoughts. […]
May 11, 2021
How Long Should We Wait for My Dad to Retire from Our Family Label Business?
After waiting years to take control of the family business, my brother has decided to retire before my Dad. This means my brothers and I can’t implement the big plans we have for the business. My father started the company 50 years ago and is not even close to being retired. What should we do? […]
May 4, 2021
Print Business Growth: Should I Focus on the Top Line or Bottom Line?
According to Mark Coudray, a certified Master Profit First Professional, companies seeking to grow their print businesses before selling should focus less on top-line growth and more on bottom line results. He explains why in this interview. […]
April 6, 2021
Ten Hot Markets for Print in 2021-22
According to Vincent Mallardi’s 2021-2022 “Hot Markets for Print” report, the printing industry is expected to reach $221.2 billion in sales this year. This is a 2% increase from 2020. Learn which categories offer the most attractive growth opportunities. […]
March 2, 2021
The Pat Crann Story: A Case Study on Selling a Print Business
Learn how the LaManna Consulting Group helped print business owner Pat Crann prepare his company for sale and find a buyer-entrepreneur who would continue to grow the business. It’s hard not to smile when you see the video about what Pat’s life is like after the sale. […]
February 9, 2021
Can a Flexo Packaging Company Benefit from a Professional Business Coach?
Bringing in a professional business coach from outside your firm can help you develop realistic goals and timelines and keep everyone moving in the same direction. Working with an industry-specific consultant instead of a generalist offers a few extra advantages. […]
February 2, 2021
What You Should Know Before Selling Your Screen Printing Business
Here’s a quick summary of key points Rock LaManna covered in his Screen Printing magazine article about preparing your screen printing business for sale, along with a few extra pointers thrown in. […]
January 19, 2021
Talent Acquisition Tips from a Print Industry Executive Recruiter
Professional recruiter Michael Brenk explains why so many good sales and business development managers for specialty graphics firms are seeking new opportunities and how to attract revenue producers who can help grow your company. […]
January 12, 2021
2021 Megatrends that Will Affect Print Providers and Their Customers
Businesses of all types and sizes must adjust to major changes in the post-COVID economy. Print businesses that take heed of these 2021 trends will be positioned to create new solutions for customers. […]
December 8, 2020
Accelerating Business Growth in Uncertain Times
If sales at your print business have dropped more than 15% in 2020, you may need to pivot in order to grow your business. According to Kelly Lawrence of Lawrence Innovation, you can reduce fear of the unknown by addressing four root causes of business failure. […]
November 3, 2020
Inertia is Not an Option
If you want to grow and sell your printing business, you must plan for changes — even when business is booming. While 2020 demonstrated that developing a 5-year strategic plan can be a waste of time, other types of plans can help create a guiding vision that will make your business more attractive to buyers when you are ready to sell. […]
September 22, 2020
10 Actions You Can Take to Avoid Past-Due Accounts
As business returns to normal, now is a good time for your print shop to take steps to reduce your percentage of past-due accounts each month. To increase your odds of getting paid more promptly, here are some actions that can help make your billing process part of the overall customer experience. […]
August 18, 2020
What My Father Taught Me About Successfully Selling a Business
When I started working for my father in 1975, I knew nothing about business. But through the years, he not only taught me about the challenges of growing a company, but also about having a vision for successfully selling it.
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