Printing press for sale, well used, no further use, suit collector with large garage

You can tell an end of an era is nigh. It appears the editors of The Guardian and The Times in a recent interview with MediaWeek admitted that the presses presently churning out mile after mile of the more readable and intelligent UK news may be their last. Their 20 year life expectancy which commenced in 2005 may be somewhat shortened... headed for that great printing press museum in the sky. The editor of the The Times was even game enough to to comment that “...trying to predict how long print will be around is difficult”. Online platforms here we come. But you can’t swat flies with an iPad.

So where does that leave printed annual reports I wonder?

Tony Heywood is a Fellow of the Design Institute of Australia, founder of Heywood Innovation in Sydney and London with affiliates in Melbourne, Gold Coast, Singapore and Mumbai.

So Paul, should they commission an online annual report this year?

So there’s still a lot of strife around in the financial markets. And probably for some time to come. I guess the US and China need to get their acts together before we’ll see some global relief starting to spread. Think yourself lucky you aren’t preparing an annual report for one of those Greek companies. Not much fun there. You’ll notice that many Greek company secretaries and Board members are wearing dark sunglasses these days to protect themselves from the hot Greek sun and to avoid becoming a target for low flying Molotovs.

Here in Australia we’re busy trying to cope with boomerang super taxes and monitoring the movements of our new ‘iron lady’ prime minister just in case she inflicts new banking legislation and reporting requirements on unsuspecting listed companies. Red hair is definitely a ‘must have’ this year for those with lofty political ambitions.

Anyway, let’s cut to the chase. Are you still backing away from doing the decent thing by your shareholders this year and committing to an online html ‘microsite’ annual report? Are you going to trot out the same old excuses:

“we’re only a small company”
“we don’t have many shareholders”
“we have an elderly shareholder base, many of whom don’t have internet connections”
“it’s too expensive”
“the money’s being spent on chocolate biscuits at the AGM”
“we don’t have time to produce one of those”
“our Board members don’t like them”
“we’ll think about one next year”
“we really like PDFs for their simplicity”
“earnings are down this year”
“Paul the octopus told us not to get one”

Anyone would think they’re expensive and will break the bank. Well perhaps they might if you commission those ‘other people’. If you’re a caring and understanding person committed to your shareholders and are responsible for producing your company’s annual report and are located in either Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, London, Singapore or Mumbai, we can take the load off your shoulders. Find out more by emailing me tony@heywood.com.au

What say you Paul?

Tony Heywood is a Fellow of the Design Institute of Australia, founder of Heywood Innovation in Sydney and London with affiliates in Melbourne, Gold Coast, Singapore and Mumbai.