As your business faces unprecedented challenges during this time, Dscoop’s weekly webinars will offer you support, connection, advice, education and training. On March 19, Jay Mandarino led the webinar, Weathering the Storm: How to Help Your Business Survive These Challenging Times. More than 100 people attended and had the chance to ask questions and get candid answers.

Jay, president and CEO of CJ Graphics, Inc. and The CJ Group of Companies, has been in the print industry for 40+ years. He explained that he and his company have been through many ups and downs, including 9/11, the 2008 recession, the SARS outbreak, the Great Northeastern Blackout and more. Pulling from his experiences with these crisis, Jay shared the perspective, advice and actions he and his team have taken to survive and position themselves to be ready when times improved.

Some areas Jay covered include:

• Insurance: it’s a good idea to review your policy and make sure you have the right coverage
• Staffing: steps to take to minimize layoffs, including skeleton crews; asking for volunteers; working from home
• Growth: what segments have potential right now?
• Candid conversations to have with suppliers and leasers: how can you work together to minimize the financial impact of COVID-19?
• Payments: does your payment policy need an overhaul going forward?
• Strategic partnerships: consider connecting with other printers if you need help getting jobs out to your clients. (Check out the Collaborative Forums area of Dscoop.com.)
• Mergers & acquisitions: having been involved in 36 mergers & acquisitions in the print industry, Jay discussed why some fail and others succeed, and the importance of succession planning

For more information visit dscoop.com including the full video replay of this webinar recording.