The Creative J vs. the Internet

It seems that as budgets are getting slashed, customers everywhere are searching for cheaper prices. The question I ask is, "Are people really searching for cheaper prices or for more bang for their buck?"

Value vs. Price

There is a huge difference between a cheap price and value. Do clients want a junkie stick pen that may clog and smear or may not even write at all? I believe that this is a resounding "No!" What is the value of a pen that will end up in the trash?

Often times, when a client works with a direct warehouse online, the supplier will not advise a client that the product they are looking at purchasing may not be the best choice for them.

We're Here For You

At The Creative J, we know that there are plenty of companies in our area that would kill to get some of our customers. We keep them because we are able to find the perfect product for each client based on their specific needs. Our goal is to make your job easier. We love building relationships and working to keep every customer as happy as possible.

It is not often that we sell something simple. Most clients do not ask for or want a one-color imprint on a pen or provide us with camera-ready art. Many times, clients do not allow for a lot of time between ordering and the event. As professionals, we work one-on-one with our clients and are able to manage these challenges. When you work with The Creative J, you are involved in a very personal process that helps ensure orders are completed correctly and efficiently.

Building Relationships

Ask yourself, would an internet company know, or even care, that you used them six months ago for a pen order and that they could save you a new screen charge?

At The Creative J, we offer more than 50 combined years of experience in this industry. We are never shy about calling a supplier and asking them for a favor. The reason we are all here is to keep you, the customer, happy. We know which suppliers to use and more importantly, which ones to avoid.

Satisfaction After The Sale

It is important to note that price is only part of a purchasing decision. Many other factors should be considered like knowledge of products, the industry, shipping and art.

It is imperative for our clients to know that should there be an issue with an order, we will move heaven and earth to see that our clients are completely satisfied with the product they thought they were getting.

The Creative J will be a far greater resource for you than any voice on the end of any telephone or at the receiving end of any email. No internet entity will give you better service or fight harder to keep your business than we will. If you choose to use an internet supplier, we will shake your hand, wish you the best of luck with your gamble and hope that when, not if, things go awry with that internet company, that you will remember that we will always take the time to give you a quote, make personal sales calls, and suggest two or three other ways to reach the same goal.

What Are Those Extra Charges?

On most orders of promotional products, you'll see some charges in addition to the item cost, which you may have not been expecting. Depending on the imprinting method, you may encounter screen charges, set up charges, die charges, plate charges, PMS match charges and running charges. Why these additional charges? Let me try to explain:

Set Up Charges:  Most suppliers charge this per location, per color, per size. This covers the cost for the supplier to set up their equipment, load the inks and plates or screens, and get the order ready to run. It may also include the cost of plates or screens. If a supplier doesn't charge these, it simply means they have rolled that cost into the price of the item.

Screen, Plate or Die Charges:  These are charges for the silkscreens, plates or dies used to create the imprinting material from the supplied artwork. These materials are then used on the printing equipment to transfer the imprint to the item. Some suppliers include these charges in the Set Up Charge. Since for each color there needs to be a separate screen, plate or die, you are charged per color for these.

PMS Match Charges:  Most suppliers will have a list of stock ink colors they keep on hand or have preloaded in their imprinting equipment. If you want your imprint color to match the PMS color of your logo as close as possible, then most suppliers will charge the PMS Match fee. This covers the extra cost of exact PMS inks, and also the labor to clean the printing equipment, load it with the specific color, and to clean it again to reload it with the stock color.

Running Charges: The majority of items are priced with a one color imprint included in the item price. If you decide to imprint in multiple colors, or in multiple locations, then running charges apply. These cover the cost to run the items through the printing equipment multiple times – once for each color and each location. Usually the only time you won't have running charges is if the item is being digital printed. When printed digitally, all colors are laid down on the item at one time.

Less Than Minimum Charge:  If you want to order below the minimum quantity listed for the item, most suppliers will allow you to order 1/2 of the listed minimum...for an additional charge. This charge covers the portion of the set up they have already included in the item price and have allowed for with the minimum quantity listed. 

Proof Charges:  To make sure your imprint is going be positioned correctly, sized right and all the elements are there, the suppliers send an email proof, usually showing the imprint positioned on the item. (There are some that just haven't been able to figure this part out, but we're working on them!) The proof charge covers their cost of the additional paperwork and delays in the production process to prepare the proof. Now, it is always your option to forgo the proofing process, but an option we strongly oppose. There are times there might not be time due to a tight deadline, but whenever possible, it's best to have a proof sent to make sure everything is right.

These are the most common charges that may show up on your order, depending on the items, imprinting method, and colors. When you work with The Creative J, we will always send you a confirmation showing all your charges BEFORE we place the order. Once you approve the confirmation and charges, then your order is placed and the process should be clear and simple for you to follow.

Why are memory prices increasing?

Seems memory prices keep increasing lately. According to the AppleInsider, October 9 edition, the demand for flash memory has outstripped the supply due to the popularity of devices like the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Demand in the third quarter exceeded supply by 1.3 percent, and expected to grow to a 3.3 percent deficit during the upcoming holiday season.

Demand is expected to grow 81 percent in 2010 due to the growth of smartphone sales. It's expected for manufacturers to meet that demand in the first half of the year, but by the end of 2010, demand is expected to outstrip supply again.

We've noticed here the past year that memory prices change on a weekly basis with most of our suppliers. Now with this announcement, it's important to keep in mind that the quote you get on Wednesday will most likely change Friday afternoon.

The Creative J will always do our best to search out the best pricing for your flash memory needs. However, as memory becomes more and more in demand and supplies lessen, our options may not be as plentiful as earlier in the year.

My First Memorable Promo Product

A family from Florida moved into the vacant unit of our duplex. They were exotic to me because they came from a land filled with swamps and alligators. Their daughters wowed us with stories of their past life in Florida. I must have been 8 or 9.

Their dad had a job doing something nobody else's daddy did. He was working for a hamburger place that was going to be everywhere. It was 1968 or 1969 and we just didn't have a clue yet.

One special sunny day, Mr. T (I wish I could disclose his name) took us to a field at 49th and "L" Street. I was really tickled because the field was adjacent to a best friend's yard. Mr. T was showing my father, who was also in retail, where the construction was to begin on a restaurant he was involved with. I remember standing there, listening and wondering what the heck they were jabbering about. Then Mr. T reached into his pocket and pulled out a round wooden object. He asked me and my sister "Did you get around to it?" Of course, I didn't know how to answer him so I asked, "What do you mean?" He repeated himself, carefully hiding the object in his hand "Did you get around to it?" I was not able to answer him. He then took my hand and placed the wooden coin in it. On it were the words "A ROUND TUIT." On the flip side was a "coupon" stating that it was good for ONE FREE WHOPPER.

What in the world was a WHOPPER? A couple of months later, the first location opened at 90th & Center. My family made the "Grand Opening", armed with our ROUND TUITS. I feel lucky to have witnessed the birth of a fast food giant in Omaha... I hope you have guessed by now that it was BURGER KING!

Mr. T and his family later moved from our duplex into something palatial and then to places beyond and out of our lives.

A few weeks ago, on a sunny Saturday afternoon, I drove through the Burger King 49th and "L" and this memory came alive within me and it made me smile. What a clever use of a promo product. I don't recall anything else in the past 50 years that I've seen that has rivaled it.

Media, Music and Merchandise

Those people that know me, know that I am a music head. I love to listen to all sorts of music. I love to play music and weirdly enough, can tell you names of songs, lyrics and artists from the 60's-90's.

Over the weekend, I was listening to a radio show. The discussion was regarding artists that used the internet as their new distribution model to distribute their songs for free. The group Radiohead has used this model for it's online sales of “In Rainbows,” a 2007 record album. This distribution model challenges the music industry’s traditional distribution and sales model by allowing consumers to determine the price they are willing to pay for the album. Consumers simply download at the band’s album for their official site.

Hmmm... So, how much do you think the average consumer was willing to pay?
The grand total is $6.00. Not bad!
It turns out that the artist makes their money with out the record label.

Now, lets think of how we find our news. Is it from the Daily Show?
No longer do journalists "rip and read" the day's headlines off an apwire to broadcast it to us via the radio or TV. National readership of newspapers is on the decline. Both the Denver Post and the SunPost from Miami closed it's doors, and these are only two out of many. Consumers now demand short bits of information.

I hear so many people say that they don't have the time to read and those that do source out information. They find it via twitter or blog and not the non bias reporter.

Again, a change in the distribution model. Is it better? Are people willing to pay for news as they do for music entertainment?

And lastly, let's focus on merchandise.

For the last 15 years, I have been the provider of solutions by finding unique brand building gifts and giveaways. My clients range from banks to public utility companies to veterinary supply companies. With the current economic times, people find themselves having many more responsibilities in the work environment but maintaining the same pay. Often times, a person takes on those responsibilities of a position that has been eliminated.

I am happy to say that the distribution model for promotional products has not changed. During the "dot com" boom, there were many online distributors, but as the "dot com" came to a bust, clients realized they missed the one-on-one attention of a sales consultant.

In this world of change and chaos, breath in and know that your consultant at The Creative J will be here. Just give us a ring.

Big Box Stores Getting Creative With Gift Cards

Gift Cards...

When I think about gift cards, I think that they are such an easy gift to give to those in which you have no idea what to give. I admit that I bought one this month for a friend's birthday.

Everyone buys them, right? It seems that the answer is a resounding "yes" as gift card sales exceed $25 billion dollars a year. A few big box stores are getting creative since most retailers are estimating that due to the current economy, sales from the previous year will be down 5-25%.

A recent Wall Street Journal article explains how Home Depot is engaging in Interactive Cards. "When a customer receives one of the company's interactive gift cards, he or she can go to a special website, enter the gift card amount and hold the gift card up to a webcam. The webcam will show the consumer's image and the image of a crate on the computer screen. When the customer shakes the gift card, products will appear in the on-screen crate within the card value range."

The article also discusses Best Buy's new "Pitch In" website may be a play to combine both the practical and innovative. "Inspired, in part, by social networking trends, customers can create a card online and friends and family can contribute any amount to the card - starting at $5 - to be used towards larger items on that customer's wish list. The card can be used at any U.S. Best Buy store or online."

I find both of these strategies interesting. Are they giving more to the consumer or are they asking them to do more?

For me, gift cards are an impulse buy. When it is difficult to know what the recipient would like or if they "Have Everything," a gift card is easy to grab in the check out line. At least this way, they will know that they are on my mind and I care.

So this holiday season, think about how you can be creative with your gift giving or if you don't want to think, The Creative J would love to do the thinking and shopping for you.

The Joy of Chocolate

This weekend we celebrated Connor's 9th birthday.

Do you remember being 9, when life was a simple joy?

For the birthday we made chocolate balls. They were a delicious blend of cream cheese and crushed Oreos, rolled into small 1" balls and then dipped in chocolate. Yes, they are as amazing as they sound.

While we were making the chocolate balls, I started thinking that as adults, why shouldn't we enjoy the same joy of chocolate?

The 2009 year is rounding out and it is more important than ever to let our clients know how much we appreciate them. So why not give them the gift of chocolate? Whether it be brownies, chocolate covered almonds, truffles, chocolate covered sunflower seeds or simply just a great big chocolate bar, everyone loves the gift of chocolate.

It doesn't matter what kind or name brand, everyone enjoys the smooth silky richness of chocolate melting in your mouth whether you're 9 or 99.

The Buy The Big O Show!

Last week was Omaha's annual "Buy The Big O Show!" Every fall, the with the help of a few corporate sponsors and the Omaha Chamber, businesses both large and small gather at the Qwest Convention Center to show off their services.

Being in the business of trade show giveaways, I love to see what businesses will give away to attract new clients. This year, the winner of the most unique giveaway was Creighton's Werner Institute. Their giveaway was a harmonica! I loved it. It was
fun and had a nice size branding area. The real kicker was that no one else was giving them away.

As for the businesses, it was pens, pens and more pens. But, as I always tell my clients, people love their pens. The AIM Institute gave away tech-like looking pen. Mutual of Omaha Bank and the UNO MBA progam gave away the trusted simple retractable pens.

My favorite pen was the Valley Boys pen. It was bright orange with black trim. It had a solid feeling plunger/retractor, which is exactly what you want from a roofing company.

Another favorite included the Inter Tech Auto Collision nail file, bright with a big and bold logo on something so practical. I also liked Children's Hospital's First Aid Kits. All of the above are excellent ways have branded merchandise become lifestyle giveaways.

Branding

Brand

This word bores me. Maybe because it's only one syllable. Maybe it's because I didn't want to think about it. As usual, an unanticipated string of events occurred that forced me to take a stand and make a declaration on this subject.

What is a brand? Her brand? My brand? I have decided that brand is an opinion that one forms when they first meet you as well as lingering impressions or afterthoughts. I believe that a brand should be perceived in a positive manner, it should be the essence of what you represent and the experience of you. There's a little of "you", or each of you in a team scenario, that is mixed in with it, something that is personal or unique.

Should we sterilize a brand to make it safe for everyone? No. Should you be afraid to be you for fear that someone else doesn't like your brand? No. Brands are like canned corn, most people love it but there is occasion that it is intolerable to another. That's ok, you can't please or accomodate everyone.

I recently got to work with a new client. She had a desire for apparel that would build awareness of her yet-to-be-opened business. She had a deeply personal passion for a color but others didn't share her vision. I got to sit at her dining room table, and watch her children, on summer vacation, playing with visiting cousins. I saw her garage filled to the brim with items for her new establishment, all snatched up at yard sales and flea markets. I witnessed her dedicated assistant sweating in the hot summer sun stripping, sanding and painting items for their new space...and she wasn't complaining!

From her kitchen table, her calmness in the midst of mayhem, from the cheeriness of her spirit and the colors seen throughout her home. I knew why she wanted to incorporate this color into her brand. I knew she gained comfort and happiness from it and it represented her joy in creativity, like the warm rays of the sun rising each day. She didn't tell me this, she exuded it.

Pursuant to this meeting the client told me what her vision was for her "dream shirts". Another marketing company advised that they didn't agree with the concept stating they felt were too bold. The client didn't change her design because she was not afraid to show her strong and exuberant brand. As I attended her grand opening last week I was delighted to see how awesome those shirts looked on her entire staff and how perfectly they fit into the concept of their business.

I am a brand. I have my thoughts about what others perceive and I'm sure that doesn't agree with actual perceptions all the time. What I do know is that I am my brand, I am not playing make believe. Like canned corn, you either like me or you don't and that's okay.

Five Years and Counting

If you know me, you know I'm not a person that really pays much attention to "important" dates. I don't get all excited over birthdays and holidays, milestones, or count downs. My life is pretty much lived on a day-to-day basis. Which is probably mostly due to the fact that with all the information my brain has to hold – work, home, kids, husband, school, activities, etc. – it just can't handle trying to track future happenings.

Even so, I did just realize (really, just now), that The Creative J has reached its 5th year of business this week. In October 2004, Jen and I officially opened our doors and started a new phase in our lives, chosing The Creative J as our name to reflect our own names. There's been a few bumps over the years, but for the majority of the time, it's been pretty smooth sailing – which is really awesome considering a lot of new businesses fail within the first few years. I'm proud to say that The Creative J is going strong and getting better each year. We started out just the two of us in Jen's basement, and now we've got 2 sales reps, a marketing & sales assistant and a real office to hold us all.

From the beginning, we've always made our focus our customers, and I think that has shown in everything we do. It's always been our mission to make sure our customers are kept updated and in the loop on every order. We do our best to help make the process as smooth as possible. There are times it might get a little thorny, but sometimes those pesky details just make it have to be that way. For most orders though, it's a pretty simple process which ensures you end up receiving exactly what you were hoping to get.

The Creative J has worked so well because all of us who work here recognize in each other our strengths and our weaknesses, and we try to run the business based on those traits. Jen is an incredible sales rep who can come up with the perfect creative brand-building items a business needs to promote themselves. Ask her to give you a detailed breakdown of every line item of an order and how your artwork will need to be formated, she'll turn the task over to me to make sure no detail is missed. That's where I excel - making sure everything is accounted for and all the details are studied. Ask me to go out and make sales calls, and you might as well ask me to fly to the moon – it just ain't goin' to happen! I love helping our customers and enjoy talking to you all on the phone, but you're not going to find me seeking out new people to meet. I'm just more comfortable here in the office, making the business hum.

And through the past year as we've added new people – Jeff & Val in sales, Angela in marketing and assisting me – we've been able to capitalize on their strengths, which has made The Creative J stronger. They all have unique abilities they add to our business to make it a place we all enjoy working. We hope that enjoyment shows through to all of you. We're really glad to have such great people working for us. It's hard to imagine now how we did it without them.

And that's what The Creative J is – it's no longer just Jen and Jill – it's a unique bundle of personalities and abilities that all work together to make each customer feel they are getting the best possible experience when making their promotional buying decisions. And we hope that along the way, during that experience, we're injecting a little fun, a little lightheartedness, to make your day just a little better. If we've done that, then we've done our job.

Thanks to all of you who have made The Creative J what it is today. You are the reason we have been able to thrive. And we thank you for it!

REPRESENT

REPRESENT

Such an interesting word. Just 9 letters but says so much about who you are, the message you give to others, what you believe in.

On October 14th, a multitude of Omaha businesses will be coming together in one building, to showcase what their business offers. At this gathering new friendships will be started, potential customers will be found and support for our community will be displayed. The spaces these businesses will occupy were procured with a common purpose: to be seen, to be heard, to raise awareness, to grow.

Will your booth attendants and promotional marketing items be able to REPRESENT you? Will you see welcoming smiles or boredom? Will your table reps be handing out "freebies" or "promo items"? (I hope you said "promo items"). Will your promotional materials attract people to your booth out of curiosity? Will materials be used as an ice-breaker to get a conversation started?Perhaps they will be used as a "thank you" for listening to your message.

People love gifts, whether in the form of an inexpensive useful item or something extravagant. However, don't forget that these "freebies" have a purpose and that you are using them to "bait your lure". Hopefully, you will have selected the perfect bait for this occasion!

What is vector art and why is it the best format?

Vector art. Constantly we're asking you, our customers, for vector art. And more likely than not, it's confusing to a lot of you.

I'll try my best to explain why vector art is preferred by almost all of our suppliers.

First some definitions:

Vector - created in programs like Illustrator, Freehand, Corel Draw. Made up of points, lines and shapes (vectors). Can be scaled up or down without losing quality. Does not have resolution. Files can be .ai, .eps, .pdf, .cdr, .fh.

Raster - created in programs like Photoshop or digital cameras & scanners. Made up of pixels. Enlarging will create jagged edges and a loss of quality. Files can be .eps, .jpg, .png, .gif, .pdf, .ps.

Resolution - the measurement of quality in an image, based on the pixels or dots per inch. High resolution images are usually around 300dpi, while low resolution images are usually below 200dpi.

As you see from my definitions above, and the file types, there are some that can be either raster or vector. It all comes down to how files were created, not so much how they were saved.

If you send us a pdf file, sometimes it's vector, sometimes it's raster -- it all depends on where it started. PDF files created from Illustrator are vector, but if they were created in Photoshop, or maybe from a computer that can save a printout as a pdf, it's actually the same as a jpeg file.

Now, why do suppliers almost always want vector artwork? Because it's the best file format in which to reproduce your artwork. It can be resized, colors separated and elements manipulated fairly easily. Of course, there are exceptions, such as 4C process, but in most cases, a completely vector file is the best way to get your artwork reproduced clearly.

If the only artwork you have is a Photoshop file, an image such as a jpeg, or art you've downloaded off a website (normally 72dpi), more than likely, it's raster artwork. Placing this artwork inside an Illustrator file will not work. In most cases, it will have to be recreated in a vector format. (Which we can usually get done for $25 or less).

The problem with raster artwork that's not being used as a 4C process imprint, is that it can't be enlarged without degrading the quality of the image. If the image starts off being 72dpi, there's even less chance of it being usable, unless it's going to be reduced to at least a quarter of it's original size.

Vector artwork is also much easier to manipulate. Elements can be removed or added with relative ease. The colors can be changed on each element without much problem. With raster artwork, you can't easily select individual elements and change them.

There will be times that artwork needs to be supplied as raster, especially in cases where the imprint includes photos. In these cases, suppliers normally will need raster artwork that is at the size of the imprint area or larger, and 300dpi resolution.

Whatever it takes, we will always do our best to get your artwork to the supplier in the best format possible so that your imprint looks the best it can. With my 20+ years experience in graphics, I can help you supply us with the best artwork possible, and guide you to what will work well for your project.

Don't be cynical about biodegradability....

We all need to be "green" yet we voice skepticism on what we don't understand.  

Unfortunately, the nature of a human being is to question or to doubt. That is a good thing, to be cautious, to be curious or to require an explanation.   A product is labeled degradeable/biodegradeable, because it is.  They achieve this by putting TDPA additives into the plastic (Totally Degradable Plastic Additives).  

Let me give a very basic explanation of degradeability and biodegradability. These are two separate processes that occur while turning a TDPA treated plastic into a bio-mass. After a plastic is discarded, TDPA's are activated by oxygen and UV rays to break down into smaller molecules that can be wettable.  This degradation process will begin in 1.5 to 2 years after a plastic is discarded.  When the molecules are small enough biodegradation begins and tiny micro-organisms consume the smaller plastic fragments until the process is complete, leaving a harmless goo.  Even buried in a landfill the TDPA plastic gets the combination of heat, moisture or oxygen necessary to complete biodegradation.

I personally have attended more than one product presentation where the rep touted the "green" aspect of their product but didn't "believe" it.  How did I know this?  Because they said so or made a suggestive facial gesture (hard to catch those facial gestures for posterity on an audio recording!)

After I left the meeting I was confused and curious.  Why did I just leave this education feeling like somebody is not telling the truth?  Why would the company put that "green" statement on their product if it wasn't?  Where did that person's negativity come from?

Well, I let these thoughts float in and out of my mind for the past couple of years now.  Every now and then I'd see a commercial, run across another advertisement or product that caused my doubts and curiosity to resurface.  Then I got a phone call and the conversation centered around concerns, doubts and skepticism about a particular product and this very subject.  I did not have the answers so I decided to get some.

I called suppliers and spoke to their internal representatives about their "green" statements and I was both enlightened and reassured.  There were studies done and reports written on results by qualified individuals (like engineers and scientists).  I figured this was the case and it was good to hear that it was.

Where has the skepticism come from?  From people not believing a TDPA plastic will complete the process in a landfill. However, it will and it does because it still has the ingredients it needs to get the job done.  Lastly, lets make a comparison: traditional plastic item in landfill takes 250-300 years.  A TDPA plastic item in a landfill takes maybe 5 years? Hmmmmmmm....a TPDA plastic disappears harmlessly over 50 times faster than a traditional plastic.  I bet anyone that understands this will find lots of inspiration to be a "green" advocate.

Word to all the product salespeople out there...understand what you are representing, then shout its praises.  We all know it costs a couple of cents more but don't let your customer focus on just the price, our world needs your help to get this "green" thing going!

Colors Got You Confused? You're Not the Only One!

More and more in our business, customers are requesting multi-color imprints on their items, including 4 color process. Coming from the printing industry, 4C process is old hat to me, but after a few conversations this past week, I realized that the term, 4 Color Process, is pretty foreign to a lot of people. So here's a real down and dirty explanation:

Spot Color: The printer uses pre-mixed inks which already match your specific PMS color (Pantone Matching System).

4C Process: The printer uses a combination of cyan, magenta, yellow and black inks (CMYK), at varying shades and combinations to create the colors. This type of printing is mainly used to reproduce color photos, but can be used to reproduce any multi-color imprint.

So, why use one over the other? The simple answer is, "It depends."

Spot color is best to guarantee the closest match to your desired color. However, if you've got color photos, graphics with certain graduations, color mixes, multiple colors, or elements that touch, spot color either might not work at all, or be very expensive to use. With spot color imprints, you'll usually pay a set up charge and run charge for every extra color used. That can really add up if you've got an 8 color logo!

4 Color Process is best when you have elements that touch or overlap, complicated or intricate graphics, multiple colors, or need to keep your price more manageable – USUALLY! It all depends on the supplier for the item. Some suppliers have the capability to use digital imprinting. This usually removes additional set up charges and run charges. However, if the supplier uses more traditional printing methods, using plates for every color, 4 color printing can be much more expensive.

So what is the difference between digital printing and traditional printing? Think of digital printing similar to your inkjet printer (though much higher quality). Items printed with this method have the color inks sprayed onto the item, guided by a computer file.

Traditional printing methods require the image to be burned onto printing plates, then those plates mounted to a press which has the inks loaded in fountains. Then the printing is done one pass at a time for each of the 4 process colors. As the inks build up on the item one at a time, the color builds until it's in it's final format. As you can imagine, this process takes more time and man hours to produce, plus the materials are costly.

Digital 4C process imprinting is becoming increasingly popular in our industry, but it's still not widely available. Currently, there only a handful of suppliers that offer it, though more and more are seeing the value in adding it. If you've got a multi-color imprint that will need 4C process imprinting, we'll do our best to find a supplier that can do it, at a reasonable price, and hopefully, on the item you want.

Next time, I'll try to make sense out of some other printing and color-related issues you might face when imprinting!

Why I Am "The Works J"

Because I do it all -- except sales that is! You'll probably never see me in person, but I'm constantly working behind the scenes, making sure everything is running smoothly. Which is exactly where I like to be – the total opposite of Jen!

I process and followup on all orders, take care of all the accounting, and manage the day to day activities of running an office. I also have extensive graphic arts experience, so I can get your artwork set up, or advise you on what needs to be done. Any details that need tended to, I'm there to get it done.

That's me, The Works J!