New Product: Digital Bumper Stickers

No, this isn't like those digital picture frames that shows pictures from your digital camera, these are printed bumper stickers, although that would be cool...(hmmm another new product idea). Anyway, these slightly less electronic bumper stickers are printed digitally, kinda like the photo printers you can buy in any walmart or office depot. What's so cool about that? You can put anything you want on it whether it be pictures, words with drop shadows, gradients, embossed with sprinkles on top (OK we can't actually do the sprinkles...yet).

Here's the high-points of the bumper sticker specs (Taken from our website):

• Fade-Resistant
• Removable
• Digital Color Process
• Choose from Several Shapes

So if you're looking to really display a message for yourself, your group or political campaign, these digital bumper stickers are the best of the best.

Presenting: an introduction to social networking

Yesterday Melissa (Director of Ecommerce Sales & Marketing) and I (Jeremy - Ecommerce Copy & Social Networking Editor) were given a great opportunity to present to a group of business owners/leaders on social networking. Our presentation would precede a Keynote from a gentleman named Jack Kiefer (CEO BabyAge.com). We were proud to present on a topic that is so popular these days and for which I currently have a passion. As we prepared, it became apparent that a general overview of social networking would be very helpful with a focus on blogs that would finish things off. In addition to our presentation we put together a short video showing some of the impressive statistics related to this whole social revolution and a blog specifically for the event. The title of our presentation was:
Thriving in a Blog Eat Blog World (Everything you want to know about social networking and blogs, but were afraid to ask your kids)

Here's the video we showed...if you like it...digg it, favorite it, blog it and watch it again.

Special: 15% Off all Ink Labels & Tags

That label and tag combo looks great, doesn't it? The light pink stripes with black text and logo make such a simple yet elegant statement about the business. Imagine how your products would look if they had a professional looking label/tag adorning it. We know incentives help, so we're offering 15% off any ink label or tag until the 14th, that's wednesday, so act fast! Click here to start designing your own custom ink label or tag.

Shrink Sleeves: There's a reason they're everywhere

Ever walk through your grocery store and look at the packaging? What, you haven't, hmmm, I guess I'm just a nerd. Anyway, should you ever do this, you'll notice that there are hundreds if not thousands of products that use custom printed shrink sleeves. Everything from Beverage containers to odd shaped foods & products, shrink sleeves are taking all shapes, covering all things.

Why are shrink sleeves so popular? There are many containers/products that aren't uniform in their shape. There are beverage bottles that have multiple curves in them, so traditional labels would wrinkle and printing directly on the package is expensive. We've made sleeves that become the packaging itself, by shrinking around multiple items to form one larger package. Another reason they are so popular is that they can be used as a coverup. We've done shrink sleeves that were special editions and the sleeve was meant to cover up the normal packaging with a limited edition design.

Our newly re-designed CenturyLabel site has a fairly extensive section on shrink sleeve technology, applications, materials, and advantages. We've been printing on shrink material for a while now and have amassed quite a bit of experience in this complex technology. There are materials that shrink only in one direction or in multiple/all directions. The inks used and any coating or varnishes applied can make or break the success of a shrink sleeve product. Extensive testing by our staff has allowed us to stay on top of this ever evolving material.

If you want to learn more about shrink sleeve technology and how it can help your business, give us a call today (800.933.0643) and we would be happy to share our knowledge. If you want to just poke around and pick up some helpful hints here and there, check out our shrink sleeve articles section over at CenturyLabel.com.

CenturyLabel: New Design, New Focus, New Products

We are proud to announce the (re)launch of our new specialty website CenturyLabel.com. CenturyLabel.com replaces a website which previously displayed a number custom printed products and price markers. With the launch of the new CenturyLabel.com, we are showcasing our specialty products under a completely new design.

Prior to this site launch, CenturyLabel.com was completely redesigned. Aesthetically, the site was updated to feature new product images and a home page flash video. CenturyLabel was also enhanced with a user-friendly product organization and an article display offering helpful information pertaining to imprint processes, printing materials, and legal regulations for labeling and packaging.

CenturyLabel.com has also been updated with a new focus intended to inform you about the broad spectrum of printing services offered by Century Marketing. Now devoted to specialty products, CenturyLabel showcases printing capabilities that have yet to be shown on any of the company’s previous websites.

In addition to acknowledging services offered, the new website showcases many products that are making their web debut on CenturyLabel.com. Among the new products displayed are eco-friendly hang tags and shrink sleeves, tamper evident shrink sleeves, and digital tags. The website has also been updated with our new styles of printed ribbon, including organza ribbon, sheer edge garbo ribbon, and metallic edge satin ribbon.

Newly Renovated...WeddingTray.com

Finding the perfect favor bags or custom label to go on your invitation can be a nerve-wracking, stressful activity. We have spent many hours renovating our wedding specific site to take the guesswork out of selecting many of the items you will need for your special day. We're offering everything from Custom Printed & Stock Ribbon to Wedding Tulle & Gift Wrap, so click here and see all we have to offer for your nuptial needs.

Yard Signs: Do They Work?

We found the perfect sign for our yard to support daddy
Originally uploaded by Arkansas ShutterBug

On my drive in to work today, I noticed some signs in the yards of the homes long my route. I started thinking about these signs...Do they work? How do they work? Why do they Work?

Now, I am by no means an expert in yard sign marketing, but I do have a few thoughts as we all enter in to the final stages of the presidential primaries and look towards the general election.

It occurred to me that the signs that get noticed (by me) do so because of some very simple things. Color, Contrast & Content. Let me explain

Color: The signs I notice usually tend draw from the same set of colors. Red, White & Blue are popular for obvious reasons. Fluorescent colors like hot pink & chartreuse may not be the prettiest but they sure stand out. Our eyes see certain colors better than others and some colors are just ingrained in our culture as being important. Effective use of color is a key noticeability factor when designing yard signs.

Contrast: The most obvious of factors, contrast is what makes the sign stand out against it's surroundings. Colors create some contrast, but other elements like the shape of the sign(usually rectangular) can create visual interest simply because it is normally viewed with grass, trees, bushes, or flowers in the background. The design on the sign itself should be such that grabs attention either because it is a familiar symbol/graphic or because it is bold and bright. Flags are a perfect example of this because we all know it and a sign that uses it brings up patriotic feelings in us.

Content: As I was driving to work, this element struck me as incredibly simple yet also elegant in its effectiveness. The simple use of letters, words, sentences grabs peoples attention purely because they don't naturally occur in their normal locations. Marketing folks will say that the message itself is important, which I agree with, but I was hit with the reality that I read the words on the signs because they were there to read. Otherwise I would just be staring at the car in front of me or the houses as I passed by them.

The Hard Sell: Click here to view our lineup of yard signs useful for political campaigns and other messages you need to tell others about.

Disclaimer: Obviously I am a bit biased in this because we sell these miniature yard based advertisements, but I still think the points are valid and worthy of further thought/discussion. Feel free to comment below or email directly to jdixon@cmcgp.com

Metamerism: Matching Colors

You know how sometimes dark blue can look like black in your closet and you only find out when you're halfway to work and notice that your socks don't match? It happens as a result of a property called Metamerism. Under different types of lighting (fluorescent) certain colors can appear to match while under a different light source (daylight) they can look very different.

That same thing can happen with a sticker. We at PrintMyThing deal with this so much that we have a light booth that allows us to look at our stickers under the three major kinds of light and make sure we match your chosen colors with them all. The 3 light sources are: fluorescent, incandescent and daylight.

We're Online: Live Support does add value

Live Support: Hello, how may I help you?

Customer: I'm having trouble deciding between the Foil & Ink labels. I like how the Foil Labels are so shiny and sophisticated looking, but the Ink labels give me the ability to use gradients and screens of colors.

Live Support: Yes, there are certainly benefits to each process, but I think we can narrow it down by going through some simple questions about your company, products and intended use.

Customer: Ok, well I run a retail store selling craft products. I'm looking for labels to go on a wide variety of my products like: Candle Jars, Paint, Art Supplies, etc.

Live Support: It sounds like you need a durable, versatile label that can be used in many different ways...I would suggest going with an Ink Label

Customer: Thanks, that does make sense.

Sounds helpful huh? We think so, that's why we have two people that spend most of their day chatting with people just like you, answering questions, providing advice, generally just helping out. The best part of our Live Chat is that they are in the same office with the Graphic Artists, Sales People, and best of all...the Production facility is about 100 steps down a hallway. Any questions you have can be answered, even if the Live Chat person has to go out and talk to one of our experienced printers or have a chat with a graphic artist. If the Live Support button (Seen Above) is green, that means we are online, if it's red, go ahead and leave a message and we'll be sure to get back as soon as possible.

Get friendly with the environment!

We want to see eco-friendly products in your store on your products and in your customer's hands. This Tuesday is EarthDay, so all week long we are offering Free Shipping to make it easy for you to get friendly with the environment. (Click here to view our eco-friendly lineup)

Stress tested at 200mph - a bumper sticker success story

Ever wonder if your bumper stickers will hold up at say 200mph? Well we now know that ours definitely will. During last saturday's Subway Fresh Fit 500 NASCAR race, Michael Waltrip sported a bumper sticker to support a man named George Martin who is walking his way across the United States. Why is Martin making the cross-continental journey you ask, well he is raising money to support the surviving rescue workers from the horrific 9/11 attacks. A great story and a wonderful way to bring more attention and support to those who sacrificed on that fateful day. The name of this effort is "A Journey for 9/11 - Supporting the Heroes of Ground Zero" (website here)
We are proud to have played even a small part in helping this fundraising effort gain recognition and wish all the best to Mr. Martin as he continues and finishes this epic journey. If you are interested in purchasing the same bumper sticker Waltrip proudly displayed on his car, click here and you'll not only follow in the footsteps of a great NASCAR driver but also support a cause we all can get behind.

UPDATED 4/15/08
Article published on Michael Waltrip's website discussing the George Martin's journey and the bumper sticker that showed his support. (Click Here to go to the article on michaelwaltrip.com)

Do you have a story regarding a Printmything, Printmyribbon or PhotoTrimmings Product? If so, we'd love to hear about it. email to info@printmything.com

Vibrant Full Color Digital Labels

Do you love bright colors? How about clear crisp images, logos and product information? Not enough for you, how about lamination for your labels so they'll stand up to the weather? We've just made some additions to our digital product line that goes a long way in extending the potential uses of these products. Already have a perfect layout or photo you want to use, send it to us and we'll start printing. Alternatively, we can have our fantastic group of designers and prepress artists put together a label design that you're sure to love.

New sizes, materials and lamination available today, Click here to start creating your very own vibrant product labels and start selling more today!

Product Feature: Gift Card Holders

Almost everything we talk about is custom this, custom that, put my logo here, type some text there...but I figure it's time to talk about another side of our product lineup, our stock products. Today, we'll talk about the Gift Card Holders. I wish I had known about these when I got married, they're just so cool looking, the way they unfold from the center like some sort of stationary origami. There are endless possibilities for what you can do with these card holders as long as they fit into the 6"x6" folded size. There are 12 colors/styles to choose from so click here and check them out!

Modern Marvels: Corn

What does Modern Marvels have to do with stickers you ask?

I was sitting at home yesterday watching the History Channel, and they were talking about corn and corn related products. Specifically they were talking about the renewable nature of this most important crop. Normally I would just gloss over and go about other business while watching this show, but something caught my attention. They started talking about a plastics company that uses corn for all their products. This company "NatureWorks" makes plastics that another company "EarthFirst" makes a printable plastic label material, and I said to myself...WAIT, We have that stuff! And then I thought...that's pretty cool, I think I'l blog about this...and so I find myself writing this post.

So it's true, we do offer this corn based material for use in our labels/sticker....The best part is you can even put their logos on your stickers to show that your sticker is made from a renewable resource.

I was pretty excited about this, so I thought I would share...Click here to see our lineup of NatureWorks/EarthFirst materials and design your very own today!

How To: Chrysanthemum Bow

I promise after this how-to you'll be able to make the perfect Chrysanthemum Bow...what I can't say is that you'll be able to spell it. Based on the ever popular flower, this ribbon bow will stand out in a pile of gifts. We used a Double Faced Satin ribbon for its silky/shiny nature, but don't be afraid to use any of our other types like Grosgrain or Twill. Click here for How-To

(image of chrysanthemum via wikipedia.com)

What's new with Ribbon

There's always something new with ribbon around our offices. We've just completed a bunch of updates, additions and changes to our PrintMyRibbon website, so it's time to show off a bit. The best way to see some of the newest, hottest stuff is to check out our "What's New" Page. We've put together a customer spotlight showcasing some of the more well-known people that have bought our ribbon. Also, there are some fun new ribbon types we're proud of, so check it out here.

I already know of some more new ribbon types coming, so check back soon for more new things.

New: Metallic Edge Satin Ribbon

Every cloud has a silver lining, but our Metallic Edge Satin Ribbon has a silver lining on white but a gold lining on the rest of the ribbon colors. This smooth and silky feeling ribbon combines with it the structure and visual power of a shiny metallic border. Just think, your gifts can have an extra little sparkle to separate yours from the others on the gift table. Perfect for Weddings, Birthdays and any other holidays where you want to up the fancy factor.

New: Woven Edge Organza Ribbon

You may have heard of Organza bags (we sell them too), seen them filled with smooth dark chocolates or other sugary treats...Our Organza Ribbon is made from the same stuff. Mostly sheer with a hint of color, this ribbon doesn't scream at you, it whispers sweet nothings to all who cast their gaze upon it. (OK, that may have been a bit over-dramatic) This ribbon is suited for wedding showers, baby showers, and any other special time that may require a softer approach to gift giving. Don't worry about this ribbon though, the woven edge can stand up to a lot of pulling and tugging. So go ahead and use this ribbon to make any type of bow you desire whether it be a Loopy Bow, a Dior Bow, or even a Pom Pom Bow.

New: Picot Edge Satin Ribbon

This style of ribbon is reminiscent of an earlier time, when style was very important. Our new Picot Edge Satin Ribbon has tiny little loops along its edge that add a certain elegance to the overall look. Use this ribbon to make a Floppy Bow or even a Pom Pom Bow and your sure to impress. We're currently offering 10 colors and the Picot Edge comes in a width of 3/8" by 50 yds long. Click here to get your very own custom printed Picot Edge Satin Ribbon.

Special: St. Patty's 24% Off Sale

Talk about Lucky...It's Gigantic, it's Enormous...dare I say it's Gi-normous. Introducing our first ever, St. Patty's day 24% Off for 24 Hours. Everything on the Printmything.com website is on sale! Custom labels, tags & bags...stock boxes, gift wrap & ribbon...it's all 24% Off.

Offer begins and ends Monday, March 17, 2008

Click Here.

Going Green: Famous Irish Holiday or Environmental Mantra

St. Patrick's Day is certainly a crowd pleaser as far as holidays go. What other days can you add green food coloring to anything, wear green, meet at your favorite Irish Pub at 5am, and pretend to be Irish (I'm 1/64th Irish myself). Going green every March 17th is a celebration, but going green the rest of the year is far more rewarding (Cool transition, eh).

A basic tenet of the environmental revolution comes from the old 3Rs of recycling (reduce, re-use, recycle). Re-Use is a simple way to help out because it is so easy...how you ask?...well you can get re-sealable bags to store food in, re-usable coffee mugs for your morning cup, and best of all....Re-Usable Non-Woven Totes for your groceries or any other shopping need. Guess what, we happen to sell them, both Custom (your design on it) and Stock (plain or decorative), and we even have them in green, so you can help the environment and celebrate St. Patricks day!


Some of our Non-Woven Bag Colors (click here for more)

Special: 10% Off All Custom Ribbon

Although many of those on the west coast don’t experience seasons, in this case they benefit from the fact that the rest of us in the nation do. After a long winter, the change of seasons from winter to spring is cause for celebration. Though not officially until March 20, spring is definitely on its way, so to commemorate the earth rocking back toward the sun (creating more daylight for all of us northern-hemisphere folks), we are offering 10% off all of our Custom Printed Ribbon!

Hurry, this offer ends March 14.

Featured: Wire-Edge Ribbon

Looking for that extra something, regular old ribbon just not working? Well, you're in luck, introducing Wire-Edge Ribbon. Bending to any shape, this ribbon will be the perfect compliment to any gift box or wedding favor. The small wires are not so thick as to drastically change the thickness of the ribbon, but will still hold their shape .

Want ideas...check out our ribbon how-to articles for step by step instructions for a variety of ribbon bows.

Product Update: All Ink Labels

New Colors! We have new colors!

In our efforts to continue improving our site and the products we offer, we often come across new colors that we would like to share with you all. These new colors are being added to all of our Ink Labels. These would include the General Purpose Labels (GPL), Industrial Labels (IDL), and many more.

The new colors are:

Featured: CopyRight Labels

Photographers this is for you! In our continual search to provide the best product offering possible, we have assembled the most popular/useful copyright labels you'll ever need. They are all setup to work with our Label Dispensers. These labels are perfect making sure your work stays yours. All labels are available as either fully custom designed or pre-designed templates.

We also offer labels that work with numbering markers, so you can always keep track of the year/serial# of your images.

Click here to design your own today!

Product Feature: Calendar Magnets

The fridgerator is every family's very own bulletin board. We all stick stuff on it, photos, grade-cards, lovely fingerpaints. It's the perfect place to put something that will get looked at multiple times everyday.

Now you too, can take advantage of this phenomenon by designing your very own Custom Calendar Magnet. Give these to everybody you see and rest assured that when they need to call a Learning Center, they're going to think LEAP FROG Learning Center because of the magnet on their fridge.

Start designing right now (Click Here)

How-Tos, Product Ideas and More!

Have you ever wondered how to make a perfect bow on your Christmas presents? Maybe you'd like to make a personalized present for your closest friends. We have just added a whole section to our PrintMyRibbon site that has articles, how-tos and product ideas for a variety of uses. We're looking to provide everything from Hot Cocoa Recipes including packaging ideas to Everyday craft items and scrapbooking projects and more! We are constantly on the lookout for new recipes or ideas, so check back often and there's sure to be something new there.

Click Here to go directly to our PrintMyRibbon Ideas Section.

Featured: Campaign Stickers

Here we are again, time to flex your voting muscle, let your voice be heard. Presidential, congressional, state and local politicians need your support. Why stickers you ask? Well, because they stick on stuff, duh. Your sweater, car, or that random pole along the street are all places you find these miniature billboards. Don't let your candidate miss out on this great medium for promotion.

But what about the issues that mean the most to me? Campaign stickers aren't just for promoting people for office, they can also tell people what you think about any issue on the ballot. Whether you want people to "Vote yes on Issue 24" or "Vote no to fuzzy bunnies" these stickers can do that for you.

So act now, design your very own political campaign sticker today with our label design tool!

Featured: Awareness Ribbons

Hey, where'd you get that yellow "Support our Troops" Ribbon?

Why PrintMyRibbon of course...you can customize the ribbon to say whatever you want. Not only that, but you can buy it on rolls of 100 yds so all your friends can get one too.

If they come on rolls, how do you make each one?

Instead of leaving you with 100 yards of ribbon printed with your special message, we at PrintMyRibbon, have decided to assemble a great How-To to take you step by step through the process of making your very own lapel ribbons.(Click Here for How-To)

How'd you know what color to get?

Great Question, checkout this page from Wikipedia, they already know everything, and ribbon colors and their meanings certainly fall under "everything".

Ok, last question, where do I start?

Click Here

Featured: Eco Friendly Labels

Corn is hot! Everything is being made from corn these days, and for good reason, it's renewable. Most film label materials are made from an oil based product like poly-pro, or petroleum...until now! We are proud to announce that we have created a whole line of eco-friendly products. Labels are the beginning, but we also have bags recycled either from papers or plastic materials.

Let's get together and make a difference, today.

Click here for the environmentally friendly label product line.