Industry News
Stop by weekly to catch up on the latest news about products and people in the marking industry.
News for October 7, 2009
News from Texas Marking ProductsOn September 21, 2009, Dee and Jerry Jackson celebrated 36 years of marriage. They have worked together for 33 of those years. Says Jerry, "Thank God for having a wonderful marriage and partner... It is something to shout about." Congratulations, Dee and Jerry! |
Enhance Your Margins or Be Green
There is no end in sight for our two free bottles of ink with every Heavy Duty Dater. Why do we do this? First, re-inking is more ecologically friendly than replacing the pad. Depending on size, you can re-ink a pad three to five times with our re-inker and reduce waste (packaging, shipping, transaction time). Second, selling replacement pads, for some, is not considered profitable since it is hard to make money with a $5 transaction; and who knows if the pad has to be special-ordered? Including a bottle of free ink for your customer adds tremendous value. If your competitor is not doing it, you have an advantage.
Would you rather sell pads and simply enhance your margins? We included a bottle of black and one of red because black and red represent 95 percent of what is sold. If the stamp you sell is black, remove the bottle of red and sell it to another customer (a margin-enhancer, or, as we like to call it, pennies from heaven). You could also remove both bottles; every re-inker sold becomes sheer profit without hurting your replacement pad business.
For more information, contact Shiny at 866/856-3782; Web: www.shinyusa.com
Trodat Stamp for a Cause
Do you have a cause? Trodat has a stamp. Because of the high demand for the "Pink Ribbon Printy," Trodat is expanding its "ribbon stamp" line in the coming weeks to include new colors. This custom Printy 4913 (7/8-inch x 2 3/8-inch) will feature a printed ribbon right on the unit and will cost the same as the regular Printy product. There is no need to charge more for a good cause!
For more information, contact Chris Boyle at Trodat USA, 732/529-8525; E-mail: chris.boyle@trodat.net
Marketing Department Expands
United Marking Inc. recently expanded and increased the scope of its marketing department. The company has increased its publishing capabilities with new equipment and space dedicated solely to producing custom flyers and catalogs for customers. With added photographic and graphic design capabilities, United Marking has complete in-house expertise to produce varied print and digital marketing pieces.
United Marking can provide RSMs with customized product flyers sized to fit in a #10 envelope for inclusion in statements and invoices or for direct mail. These 4-color pieces are ideal to introduce a new product or to remind customers of niche products you sell. Currently, the company has these unique statement stuffers for its istamp®, umark™, eco-mark® and ClassiX® stamps as well as a variety of other products. Custom stuffers can be created on request.
In addition, United Marking can design and print postcards, folded 1- or 2-page flyers and custom catalogs for RSMs—all in 4-color.
For more information, contact United Marking Inc., 866/447-8267, 847/364-4435; E-mail: sales@unitedmarking.com; Web: www.unitedmarking.com
Lean Communication Boards
Brady Worldwide Inc. has introduced a new line of visual display boards that enhance lean communication and information sharing between manufacturing management, employees and departments. Available in a variety of sizes and styles, the company's visual display boards are an economical and professional-looking solution for lean manufacturing communication and visual factory management.
The visual display boards are available in blue or gray, and in two sizes—with four or six information panels. They can be mounted to a wall, ceiling or floor stand. Customers can outfit the boards with document pockets for displaying printouts or dry erase panels for handwritten information sharing. Brady also offers custom visual display boards with pre-printed signs, headings, logos and titles.
For more information, contact Brady Corp., Web: www.BradyID.com
Sublimatable Wallets
Johnson Plastics has added three new wallets to its growing line of sublimatable gift items, just in time for the holiday season. The checkbook-size black pebbled leatherette wallet features a 3-inch x 7.25-inch white sublimatable panel and a zippered coin purse, slots for credit cards, a checkbook holder and snap closures. Also featured is a black trifold wallet of smooth leatherette with a large pocket for bills and slots for credit cards, photo ID and a 4.625-inch x 3.375-inch white panel for sublimation. Also available is a fabric choice—a blue denim wallet with snap opening, separate zippered change pocket, full-size bill pocket, credit card slots, a photo ID holder and 2.875-ich x 4.625-inch white sublimatable panel.
All three wallets are in stock and ready to ship in time for holiday gift-giving.
For more information, contact Johnson Plastics, 9240 Grand Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN 55420-3604; 800/869-7800; Web: www.johnsonplastics.com
Complete Custom Graphics Department
Shiny's affiliation with MMC gives the company complete access to their custom graphics department. Millennium Marking Co. has doubled its printing capacity to meet the ever-growing demand from rubber stamp manufacturers for effective marketing tools including custom catalogs, mini ads, posters, displays and product sell sheets. The new Konica Minolta C6501 will help reduce turnaround time and get custom-designed pieces to customers in a timely fashion.
For more information, contact Shiny at 866/856-3782; Web: www.shinyusa.com
Quick Production, Quick Payout
If the allure of making pre-inked stamps in-house using flash technology has your attention, but the cost of the equipment holds you back, consider this entry-level flash machine. It can simply and easily flash stamps as large as 2 1/4 inches x 3 3/4 inches in less than a minute, and can also flash three endorsement/address stamps at one time. Flash has evolved to make hand stamps, daters, pocket stamps, self-inking stamps and pre-inked stamps all on one mini machine—the Flash Machine 251, with a footprint of 4 3/4 inches x 10 inches.
For more information, contact MMC, 800/453-5362; Web: www.millmarking.com
Cost-Saving Solutions
uTypia can provide cost-saving solutions to your customers now and build relationships that last. In view of the current global economic problems, companies are looking for innovative methods to cut costs, and they expect their vendors to help find solutions. What better time to approach some of your larger customers with new means and technology to streamline some of their internal processes for custom product orders. uTypia brings individual user design to the table with a myriad of other benefits that can affect their internal order processing and provide cost savings.
uTypia has turnkey Web solutions to fit different customers and their budgets from online product customization to uTypia Page, a professionally designed Web layout that allows a company's name to be found. Check out the monthly fees during the buy-one-year, get-the-second-year free promotion offered through November 2009.
For more information, contact Jennifer Niziolek at uTypia, 732/529-8522; Web: www.uTypia.com
New Size Perfect for Notaries
The S-846 debuts on October 1, 2009. The die plate size is slightly more than 1 inch x 2.5 inches, perfect for many applications and ideal for notaries. For a free sample and introductory pricing, contact Shiny USA.
For more information, contact Shiny at 866/856-3782; Web: www.shinyusa.com
Pre-mounted and Standalone CO2 Laser Engraver Optics
Laser Research Optics offers a full line of replacement CO2 laser optics, supplied stand-alone or pre-mounted into OEM compatible aluminum mounts, for plaque and trophy engravers.
The company's CO2 engraving lenses and mirrors feature 12.7mm and 25.4mm O.D. sizes with focal lengths from 25.4mm to 254mm. Lenses and mirrors are in stock for many laser manufacturers including Universal, Epilog, Laser Pro and Trotec.
For more information, contact Laser Research Optics, A Division of Meller Optics Inc., 120 Corliss St., Providence, RI 02904; Fax: 401/331-4004; E-mail: steve@laserresearch.net; Web: www.laserresearch.net
Self-Inking Options for Larger Stamps
For years, customers needing a larger impression had limited options: hand stamps or pre-inked stamps. Hand stamps can be messy, and the prices on larger pre-inked stamps are sometimes prohibitive.
Now there is a new choice: Trodat is introducing new sizes to the Professional Line of stamps. The 5211 Professional Text Stamp and the 54110 Professional Dater will feature a generous impression area of 2 5/32 inches x 3 5/16 inches, the high quality Trodat Pro.line series, and a lifetime guarantee. The dater version will have 12 year bands. Trodat will begin taking pre-orders for both stamps shortly.
For more information, see the Trodat price list or contact Trodat at 800/TRODAT-1
ChromaLuxe Action Easels
Johnson Plastics announces that it has added Unisub's ChromaLuxe Action Easels to its growing line of sublimatable products for photographers. This unique product combines a poised action photo with the appropriate sport ball and a powerful motion effect to make every player look like a powerhouse athlete.
The easels easily bring sports shots to life at affordable cost. They will be a hit with sublimators and photographers who rarely offer "action shots" because of the difficulty and high labor costs in making them. Athletes of all ages can see themselves portrayed as stars in these photo panels.
Action Easels are available for basketball, baseball, golf, soccer, softball and tennis. The 8-inch x 10-inch easels come 12 to a case. Free sport ball and "swoosh" set-up designs can be downloaded at www.unisub.com.
For more information, contact Johnson Plastics, 9240 Grand Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN 55420-3604; 800/869-7800; Web: www.johnsonplastics.com
All New Eminent Line
The Shiny Eminent line is ready for shipment. Each unit includes a full index. The larger models use a traditional-style handle for ease in making a perfect impression. All Eminent sizes are sold in kits with dry "Z" style cartridges (add the ink when the stamp is partially assembled). The stamps feature great print quality, ease of assembly and low pricing. For "finished" Eminent pre-inked stamps as well as finished Shiny seals, contact Indiana Stamp Co. or Roanoke Stamp and Seal.
For more information, contact Shiny at 866/856-3782; Web: www.shinyusa.com
2x Stamp Pads
Why a double pad? We think you need a reason to raise the retail price and increase the profit for every pad you sell. We think your customer is willing to pay 50 percent more for a pad that lasts twice as long. Offer your customers something they cannot buy at the superstore.
For more information, contact MMC, 800/453-5362; Web: www.millmarking.com
CO2 Optics Cleaning Kit
Laser Research Optics introduces an optics cleaning kit created especially for CO2 optics to extend the working life of lenses and improve laser performance and efficiency. The LRO advanced cleaning kit includes all the items required to properly clean CO2 laser lenses and prevent damage to their coatings. Included in the cleaning kit are 24 surgical-grade cotton balls, 24 cotton swabs, 24 surgical-grade finger cots, 24 lens mats, distilled water, polishing compound reagent grade isopropyl alcohol, reagent grade acetone and an air bulb for dust removal.
For more information, contact Laser Research Optics, A Division of Meller Optics Inc., 120 Corliss St., Providence, RI 02904; Fax: 401/331-4004; E-mail: steve@laserresearch.net; Web: www.laserresearch.net
Another Extra Profit
Shiny offers stock dry pads in several configurations, enabling you to make one side of a stamp a different color than the other side. Some let you make the top portion a different color than the bottom. Many Shiny plastic daters also have this option so that the date and the text below the date can be a different color than the text area above the date. These are not ordinary two-color pads.
For more information, contact Shiny at 866/856-3782; Web: www.shinyusa.com