Archive for October, 2007
Getting personal works
October 31st, 2007
We in the marketing industry have been getting all kinds of buzz about personalized marketing these days, and the big dogs are already in action. this article:
'Epsonality' Debuts
October 29, 2007 AdWeek Magazine
By Brian Morrissey
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NEW YORK Like most marketers, Epson is looking for new ways to reach its consumers. To that end, it is changing its approach to its holiday marketing to take an experiential tack over a hard-sales approach emphasizing price and product attributes.
The "Epsonality" campaign, launched this weekend and slated to run until January, is centered on Epsonality.com, a Web site that combines broadband video with a personality quiz to match users with the right Epson printer for their needs."We wanted a much more experiential way than our more traditional way of advertising printers based on feeds, speeds and specs," said Jeffrey Marks, director of marketing and communications at Epson.
The campaign is the first work for Epson from Sausalito, Calif., independent Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners, which in June won the Epson creative and media account. Omnicom Group's DDB in Venice, Calif., was the incumbent.
Spending on the campaign was not disclosed. Last year, Epson spent $35 million in domestic measured media, per TNS Media Intelligence.
Epson is running three TV spots showing a lab setting where a researcher tests subjects with Epson printer products. The spots direct viewers to "discover your Epsonality" online. The Web site features a welcome video of a couple on a couch discussing their "Epsonalities." The test uses video of a host asking roundabout questions that determine a user's printer needs. After the three-question quiz, the site recommends one of nine printers and includes a link to buy it from Epson.com or find a retailer.
"What we've done is found a unique, engaging and fun way to have customers determine what printer is right for them," Marks said.
The campaign is geared to early adopters in creative professions, who appreciate the reliability and power of Epson printers compared to its competitors, said John Sheehan, group business director at Butler, Shine. The goal is to make Epson the Apple of printers.
"People look at printers as boxes on their desk," he said. "We're trying to move it to accessories."
One influential voice of the target group not impressed is popular Web 2.0 blog Techcrunch editor Michael Arrington, who called it the "lamest Web site of the week" and urged Epson to "stop trying to be a conversational marketer and just get back to the basics."
With its shift in messaging, Espon is also changing its media mix, Marks said. In past years, it has focused on a drive-to-retail strategy, which has meant a heavy newspaper component. Instead, online has become the focus (accounting for 40 percent of the budget), complemented by cable TV, magazine and out-of-home buys. The company has dropped newspaper and radio, he said.
"The difference this time around is we're providing a useful and engaging tool to find out what is the best product for them," Marks said.
Letterpress parts
October 31st, 2007
We at letterpress parts.com can supply any part for your
Heidelberg cylinder S, SB, SBG, SBB, SBD and the dedicated
S die cut cylinder range.
Parts for Heidelberg 13 x 18, GT, GTS, GTP foiler and
10 x 15 platens are also supplied, most parts are in stock.
We also provide a repair and fitting service throughout the U.K.
and Europe.
If you have purchased a Heidelberg cylinder with the inking
still attached, and need it converting, we can supply and fit guard
kits with switching to Health and safety standards.
Please contact Alan Marchant
Tel: 0770 9990999
Die Cutting & Embossing: Don’t Forget the Die Costs
October 31st, 2007
Die Cutting is a process where paper product is cut into a special shape. Embossing is a process where cardstock is stamped to raise a portion of the surface. Both require a die, which is a custom created metal stamping or cutting tool. With a die, there is a cost, and the cost depends on the project.
Larger corporations will utilize this service to differentiate their packaging and/or marketing materials, and the die costs are minimal given the large amounts of printing being done. Small consumers tend not to use these services due to the cost of the die and the small amount of units being printed.
So, what is the best way for a small consumer to afford this process? The best suggestion would be to stick with service providers' templates. Choosing from templates assures the consumer that the provider already has a pre-made die. Needless to say, this removes the cost of the die. The only other option is to call around asking providers if they have a certain die in stock.
The Revolution
October 31st, 2007
A part of the revolution (and evolution). It feels a little like that. One little link in the long chain since the the art of writing was invented in Mesopotamia maybe five thousand years ago.
In an article that I read recently it says that the blog - the one you're reading now is just one example among many - is a part of the evolution since Gutenberg invented the printing process. So - you and I and everyone else are a stage of the evolution.
In this article there was also something really interesting about how this collective way of expressing oneself will affect our 'collective brain' and society.
Really fascinating and we - you and I and all other bloggers - are a part of the revolution. We are watching history being made.
Once upon a time, printed books were viewed as a threat against high culture. Today the internet might be perceived as more of a threat than an asset. Others don't 'believe' in the blog. But if the spies don't win, if the greedy money grabbers are allowed to win, then maybe five hundred years from now, we'll look back on the breakthrough for the internet as a new phase in cultural history and blogging as a part of journalism, as important as perspective in art, recorded music, literature in the form of printed books or printed newspapers.
Not so long ago, you couldn't find out about current affairs and incidents that might have occurred, by opening your paper in the morning. People didn't know what a paper was. Nowadays you can get news in many different forms, but back then you had to be grateful if you could hear about something, orally, from someone who had been present and seen what was going on.
It's easy to forget that a blog isn't just a cool kind of homepage, where you can post photos of yourself or post quizzes with images.
Think about the crisis in Burma - the blog was one of the most important ways of communicating with the outside world. That might give you another view of blogging. The medium is certainly versatile and important.
Long live the blog!
Printing in Gutsy
October 31st, 2007
There is a kid in my programming class who has been having a nightmare getting Java installed on his computer at home. We're in our 9th week of school and he still cannot get Java to install. My professor and I both suggested he try Linux, as it's easier to do... almost everything. He didn't seem to take our advice as he's still having problems. Tomorrow I'm going to give him the Gutsy CD Jim gave me at Sunday night's Gutsy Release party, along with a printout of our wiki page of Ubuntu resources. I upgraded my two pcs to Gutsy recently. My laptop has been running gutsy since tribe 3, but my tower, which is the family computer, needs to be stable or else my mom has a fit (as well she should), so it just got the upgrade a few nights ago. After the upgrade (which went more or less smoothly, we lost internet about halfway through so I had some dpkg stuff to play with), my printers were still there, smashing! Everything worked. I decided to test gutsy's new printing dialog so i deleted my Canon MP160 printer (which was a bear to set up in feisty/edgy), and reinstall it. I just plugged it in and it worked!! The end!! Now my laptop did not have anything on it. Just as before, setting up the sharing had been a bit of a pain in the past, so, I set the printer to shared from my PC, enabled my laptop to look for shared printer, and voila! I had a canon mp160 I could print to!! Brilliant! Why again do we not have market share? Can windows do this? As far as I can recall, printers in windows are a PITA. Drivers to download, random manufacturer utilities, the list goes on and on. The scanner part of my printer even works! How great is that! My mom is very happy, as am I. Once again, Ubuntu wins, but the credit goes to the Gnome/Ubuntu team who got this new printing system hooked up, I can't wait to see what kinds of awesome things show up in Hardy.
Heidelberg 10×15 platen For sale
October 31st, 2007
Heidelberg 10 x 15 Rollerlock
complete with tools
and accessories.
Has only been used for printing (not die-cutting)
Tel: 0770 9990999
Contact Alan Marchant
Paradise Coast Media
October 31st, 2007
There is no better place to be in the than sunny south Florida. I call it
A melting pot of good honest companies that love to do business with one another. Various vertical markets that compete on a New York style level in paradise surrounding's. One reason people flourish to the palm ridden land of gorgeous woman and fast money is to feel that they are on vacation most of the week and I have to agree this is the way to live life when you have to work.
So what does this have to do with .... well im going to tell you. I traveled to Chicago this past summer and of course noticed all the printing and collateral material that covers the and particularly noticed the colors and feeling of the printing was more dark and subdue. derives within feeling of the creator, I am not saying that Chicago is made up of dark and subdue people however I will conclude that sunny south Florida home of will put a smile on your face with our bright colors and vacation like atmosphere!
Crosland Platen
October 31st, 2007
For Sale
Crosland TVF/03
Cutting size 1690 X 1230
Electric Cutting plate lifters fitted
Contact Alan Marchant Tel: 0770 9990999
Professional Duplicating in Media PA has been great for ByTheZip.com
October 30th, 2007
Professional Duplicating in Media, PA has been a fantastic resource for ByTheZip.com As many of you know, we market ByTheZip with stand up displays all over the Delaware Valley. When I approached Tom Gregory Jr. about helping us out with a 250,000 count order, he did not even flinch. This state of the art print shop in the heart of Media can handle any job, big or small. Specializing in digital printing, copying and duplication, Professsional Duplicating is a sure bet for quality for all of your business and personal printing needs. Check out their info and a great coupon at .
Cody Hudson - GoodShape Design
October 29th, 2007
by , 26 October 2007
Multimedia artist is the first to take part in the artist series run. The limited edition series consists of silk screened 18x24 prints made on heavy stock acid-free paper and t-shirts printed on the trusted American Apparel tee.
GoodShape founder and designer Wayne Pate isn't going for a high-level concept here, he's simply including artists that he finds inspiring personally. Rather than capitalize on current fads or who's popular at the moment, we appreciate how the collection is a more honest curation of timeless and fun design.
The next artist on deck is of . Wayne comments, "besides Tyler I have a few people in mind but I will keep that under my hat for now." We'll just have to keep checking back.
The prints go for $50 and are limited to an edition of 50 and the t-shirts cost $30. Pick up both at the .