Do you have a good idea?

I'm spending the first hour of my day on monday doing something that I should be doing regularly but haven't done for well. . . .months.  I look like I'm being unproductive; looking through books on my desk, reading other people's blogs, reading the stack of industry magazines that have been accumulating unread in a large stack in the back of my file drawer.  I'm looking for inspiration.  For new ideas.  For something to tear me out of the daily cycle of thinking of marketing ideas for other people and work on my own.


Sure, I can whip out my marketing plan in a few hours of work.  I can send a newsletter out both electronically and in print.  I can send postcards, promotional items, scratch and sniff marketing pieces.  I'm a marketing company after all.  Now and again, I end up stuck.  My ideas dry up.  I sleep all night instead of waking up with middle of the night inspiration that must be written on the notepad next to my bed.  And, here's the thing. . .I don't believe in marketing for the sake of marketing.  Marketing has a purpose.  A message.  Should lead to an action.


Although I've purposely stopped writing in complete sentences, I made that choice.  Marketing is the same thing.  You don't always have to follow the rules.  You are going to break the rules for one reason. . .to have an impact.


So, two cups of coffee have made my hands shake while I type.  I am now going to work on caffeinating my marketing plan.  I'm going to tweak it to incorporate some off the wall thinking.  What a great way to start the week.  Here's hoping that you find inspiration this week!!

Why are some inks raised and some inks flat

Have you ever received a business card with raised lettering?  This is called thermography.  Thermography is created by adding a powder over the ink and then a heat level determine's if the outcome is uniformly glossy or has an orange-peel effect. 

This is great for a variety of applications.  Use thermography carefully when considering envelopes or letterhead.  The hot fuser of those machines can melt areas and damage the printer or copier as well.

If you are using thermography, talk to us about bleeds on the front end.  Cutting thermography can require a die cut. 

Thermography is an interesting alternative to embossing or foil stamping and can add a lot of showiness to a design piece.