History

Printing Industry Credit Executives, Inc.
Twenty-five Years of Service

PICE is a nonprofit association of credit and collection specialists from more than 125 of North America's largest printing companies and related vendors.

The organization was founded in 1977 to provide a forum for the exchange of credit information on mutual customers. At that time, the only sources available for obtaining this type of information were from customers who provided hand-picked references or from credit agencies whose reports were often inaccurate or incomplete.

Recognizing the need for more reliable, up-to-date credit information, the founding members of PICE went to the greatest sources of such information: the printers themselves. The founders contacted other major printing companies to see if they were interested in establishing a communications network to share credit experiences with one another.

An organizational meeting was held. At a subsequent meeting in Chicago in 1977, 34 participating companies agreed to become charter members of PICE.

In addition to requesting and forwarding reports on common customers, the charter members agreed to meet twice annually. Held in the spring and fall, the PICE semiannual meetings remain a rich tradition established by the charter members.

For more than 25 years, PICE has not only endured the turbulent times associated with the credit industry, but has thrived and prospered. The association has enjoyed steady membership growth, and every year a record number of credit requests and reports are processed through the PICE headquarters.