SUMMER RUSH - YEAR 2

Every year about this time, we come to the sudden realization that the back-to-school rush is upon us. If you haven't prepared well in advance for this phenomenon, it's too late to get organized by the time you hit July.

Many schools work on a July 1 fiscal year, so the budgets don't open until then. Unfortunately that means that every school in the country (and many outside the U.S. as well) are trying to get their goods as soon as possible after that date. I suspect that we, at Graphic Chemical & Ink, are much like our fellow suppliers. We have geared up our production beginning back in April. Our purchases to our vendors have been on the increase since late May, and our staff has been reminded that there are no vacations between July 15 and November 1.

With the wide variety of products that we carry, there is a guessing game that goes on every year - what is going to be the "hot" product line this year? When we guess right (more often than not), you're products are on the shelf and ready for immediate delivery. When we're wrong....well, we just try not to be wrong.

What can you do either as a teacher of printmaking or as an individual artist? First let us know when you place an order if there is a specific time that you really must have the materials by. If we know that, we'll move heaven and earth to insure that you get your materials when you need them. Second, if you're teaching a class and know that you will be needing a specific product for your class - let us know well before you send your purchase order, and we'll make sure that product is in stock when you order.