Holiday Fun (A/K/A Vortex) Survey Results

Thanks for joining in the Holiday Survey fun! 

We had 62 responses and the lucky winners are listed below. Congratulations to our winners!

The results of the survey are as follows with the correct answer given.

Question 1:  What did Frosty the Snowman have for a nose?

We managed to fool quite a few of you, who were obviously thinking about the last snowman you created.  The correct answer:  A button.  Here's the video: Frosty the Snowman

Question #2: What is the Chinese New Year Zodiac Symbol?

Sorry, Tiger was last year and Dragon is next year. The correct answer:  Rabbit. 
For your information, people born in the Year of the Rabbit are articulate, talented, and ambitious. They are virtuous, reserved, and have excellent taste, which is why they use Young's Printing.
Here's are all of the zodiac animals for your files: Chinese Zodiacs

Question #3:  The Grinch is a cuddly as a ______________.
Porcupine?  Close.  But, the correct answer:  A cactus.  Here's the song if you don't believe us: The Grinch

Question #4:  What does Alvin want for Christmas in the Chipmunk Song?

We didn't fool many of you with this one.  The correct answer:  A hula hoop.  Again, here's that hot video: Chipmunk Song

Question #5:  Kawanzaa comes from a phrase that means:

Pretty lame, folks. Only 61.3% got this right.  The correct answer:  First-Fruits.  Want more info use this link: Kawanzaa

Question #6:  How many candles are on a Hanukkah menorah?

Well, we thought we'd nail more people on this one, but you outsmarted us.  The correct answer: 9 candles, eight of which represent the eight day holiday, and the one in the middle, the shamash ("helper" or "servant"), is for a candle used to light all other candles.

As a reminder, we chose respondents #20 and #11 for the semi-random reason that 2011 is almost up on us.  The caveat was that a valid response had at least four correct answers.  And here are the lucky GRAND PRIZE winners of one pound of top quality oolong tea from Taiwan . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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are:

#20 (actually #21 because #20 only got two right and was disqualified): Marlene Kurban, Vice President of Business Development at Advanced Behavioral Health; and


#11 Alan Hagyard, Executive Director of Libraries Online.  Mr. Hagyard, with the resources of Connecticut's libraries behind him, answered all of the questions correctly.

Thanks for participating and Have a Happy New Year!

Holiday Fun!

Stuck in the office this week?  Test your holiday trivia knowledge and win a prize!

Test your knowledge by answering a few holiday trivia questions. Our survey consists of just 6 trivia questions with 2 chances to win.  (You may need help on a few!)

Since the year 2011 is approaching, responders #20 and #11 to our survey will be the big, grand-prize winners.  The grand prize: a 1lb bag of high-quality Taiwan Oolong tea, direct from Flushing, Queens. (You need at least four correct answers to qualify.)

Results will be posted here on Thursday, December 30, 2010.  Good Luck!

Happy Holidays from Young's Printing

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

New Branding Look for the YMCA

New YMCA logo introduced July 12, 2010

After many years of service the black, red and white YMCA logo that was introduced back in 1967 is being phased out.  According to the YMCA of the USA, the new colorful logo is intended to reflect the vibrancy and diversity of the organization.  Lines are fonts are now curved and images silhouetted to demonstrate a more contemporary feel. 

The YMCA has been around since 1844, when it was established by a department store worker to provide a refuge for young men from the bleak streets of London.  There are now 2,687 YMCA locations across the United States.  Young's Printing is proud to count over a dozen of them among its clients and is excited to show off their new look!


Photo : Lance Shearer/Naples Daily News  http://ymca.net/news-releases/20100917-southwest-florida.html


News link to full story regarding YMCA Branding Strategy

December Printing Showcase

Today's blog features work produced in December for our clients at MiddleOak, Pratt & Whitney, and Dauntless Specialty Brokerage.

Christmas With Class!

We just finished printing and mailing MiddleOak's Holiday Cards for 2010.

This folded holiday card was printed on Kromekote Canvas12 pt. C1S stock.  This is a premium paper, chosen to have the feel of an actual present.

The gift image and the red embossed ribbon on the card gives it a 3-dimensional look.  MiddleOak's logo is foil stamped and creatively incorporated to represent snowflake-like gift wrap.

Each card is individualized with the recipient's name imprinted in red on the gift tag.

Gorgeous!!!





Branding Extraordinaire

Pratt & Whitney uses their signature eagle logo decals as a branding element in trade shows and on aircraft and rocket engines.  These seven-color, free-form die-cut decals, that is printing in four different sizes, each with eagle feathers extending beyond the circular perimeter to give it a 3-dimensional look.  Young's Printing is proud to have developed this design together with Pratt & Whitney several years ago, and to have printed over a million decals for engine maker so far!

Multi-Channel Marketing That Works!

Dauntless Specialty Brokerage has been using innovative direct mail as a part of a multi-channel marketing strategy that really works.  We just completed a flight of direct mail campaign for Dauntless across several product categories in targeted states around the country.  The campaign begins with printed postcards, which include a free offer for a pocket calculator to increase response rates.  Respondents go directly to a webpage customized for this campaign and the product targeted to them.  Once registered on this page, respondent confirmations and notifications to our fulfillment center are handled through a marketing automation system.

The output of this process, of course, is a highly-qualified list of leads which can then be marketed by the brokerage's sales team, using marketing collateral, phone, and, of course, face-to-face contacts to close the deal.

So, Dauntless has been able to utilize quite a number of marketing channels, all highly integrated, and all driven by direct mail.  Further, the company uses only what works for them, not necessarily the latest & greatest marketing technologies.  For example, they found static web landing pages to
 work just as well as dynamic (P.U.R.L.) ones, at a fraction of the cost. 

Well done, Dauntless!!

Spotlight on Clients making an eco-conscious paper choice

Young's Printing salutes our clients who have made an environmentally conscious choice in paper.  Spotlighted in this blog are Liberty Bank, The Rockfall Foundation, and The Rye County Day School.

 

 Liberty Bank is the oldest mutual bank in the State of Connecticut and has 38 branches located throughout central, eastern, and shoreline Connecticut.

Liberty Bank's deposit and acknowledgment slips, as well as several forms are now printed on a Rolland Opaque50 paper that is 50% post-consumer recycled and 50% FSC certified fiber, meaning that it is sourced from well-managed forests.  Opaque50 is also process elemental chlorine free.  This paper is FSC certified t.

Liberty's previous paper choice did not contain any post-consumer recycled materials.  The brightness quality with their new paper choice has even improved despite the recycled content!

The Rockfall Foundation is one of Connecticut's oldest environmental organizations and supports environmental education, conservation and planning initiatives in Middlesex County. Their mission is to be a catalyst--bringing people together and supporting organizations to conserve and enhance the county's natural environment.

The Rockfall Foundation's generates its Chronicle newsletter, letterhead, envelopes, and invitations on Neenah PC100 natural paper.  This paper is a sustainable choice that is made from 100% post consumer fiber and is process chlorine free. This paper is FSC certified, 100% Green-e certified, Green Seal certified, and Carbon Neutral Plus.  

Rockfall's previous paper choice was a mix of virgin and recycled fiber, but their new paper choice has improved to 100% recycled materials and the quality of the paper's brightness and opacity remain high.

Rye Country Day School located in Rye, NY is a co-educational, college preparatory school dedicated to providing students from pre-Kindergarten through grade 12 with an excellent education using both traditional and innovative approaches. 

The Rye Country Day School has just recently begun printing it's capital campaign newsletter on Primavera Silk paper produced by New Leaf, that is made from 80% recycled content, three-quarters of which is post-consumer waste. The remaining 20% is FSC certified.  It is also elemental chlorine free. This paper like the other post consumer material papers listed in this blog has a high brightness quality of 93. 

We applaud these and all Young's Printing clients who have made the choice to switch to sustainable paper sources.  They have found that being environmentally friendly does not require sacrificing paper quality.

QR and Bar Code Scaning Growing Significantly

"The potential of personalized mobile barcode scanning is virtually endless for consumers, marketers, retailers, and mobile operators. The physical world becomes completely interactive and trackable in one click - whether it is from a magazine ad or a bottle of soda. That ease of navigation, along with the explosive growth of SmartPhones is currently driving exponential adoption." (ScanLife, Sept 2010)

According to ScanLife's September, 2010 Mobile Barcode Trend Report bar code scanning growth in up over 700%.  The United States comes in as the top country using personal barcode scanning and California is the leading State in the nation.

The products being scanned are:

• Health and Beauty
• Grocery
• Books
• Kitchen
• DVD
• Electronics
• Toys
• Music
• Home Improvements
• Video Games
• Office Products
• Sports
• Other

Of these categories the top three which have resulted in the most scans and purchases are Health & Beauty, Books, and Electronics.

To view ScanLife's full report, which includes trends and demographic information, click on the following link:
ScanLife Mobile-Barcode-Trend-Report Sept 2010

Oops! Printing of new $100 Bill turns costly

Not all printing jobs go well.  Here is one for the "Wall of Shame." 

In April of 2010 the U. S. Treasury was excited to announce the redesign of the $100 bill that would incorporate sophisticated high-tech security features.  Today more than 1 billion of these new bills have been quarantined due to printing problems.  The problem occurred when paper folded over during the production process causing a blank spot on the face of the bill.  Oops!

Follow link for video coverage and full story:  $100 Bill's New Facelift goes awry - CNBC

Eco-Paper 101: Making the Right Choice

In today's printing world there are numerous choices when it comes to selecting paper and the environment.  As a consumer, your choice should be an informed one!

When selecting a paper for your project, some important factors to consider are:

• Price
• Whiteness
• Brightness
• Opacity
• The Environment

This post looks at some of the main environmental considerations.

How does paper rank in regard to the environment?

There are many factors to consider when determining what is the most environmentally friendly choice, such as:  What source was the paper made from (virgin wood, recycled, or alternative non-tree sources), what chemicals were involved in its processing, and how far does it need to travel.
Although virgin papers may not be as environmentally friendly as recycled alternatives, if your choice is to use virgin paper, consider using one that comes from a managed forest and has been certified by an organization such as the Forest Stewardship Council.

To help you understand the environmental impact of different types of paper, we have included the following paper steps rating chart created by WhatsInYourPaper.com:

Want To See The Numbers?

In this chart, the Environmental Defense Fund compares the major environmental inputs and outputs from producing different types of paper:  1 ton of virgin paper, 1 ton of 50% recycled paper, and one ton of 100% recycled paper.  Clearly, the recycled option is the least harmful.

Chemical Processing:

There are several bleaching processes that are involved in producing paper.  The least environmentally friendly are ones that involve chlorine because they produce dioxins and other chemical pollutants in the process.  Just as there are eco-friendly alternatives to obtain pulp, there is also an eco-hierarchy in chemical processing as illustrated below:

The Transportation factor:

Buying local is environmentally the best choice because transportation consumes energy and produces greenhouse gases, particularly because paper is so heavy.  Moreover, it is important to consider the supply chain.  For example, a mill may be local but its source pulp comes from across the globe.

In Conclusion:

When it comes to choosing the environmentally-friendly paper, look for a high percentage of post-consumer recycled materials.  If there is no good recycled option, the next best choice is paper sourced from responsibly managed forests.  Look for chlorine-free certifications, and of course, buy local!

Young's Printing is proud to offer an extremely broad selection of papers.  As you can see, the environmental considerations alone can be daunting, and we may have barely skimmed the surface in this post.  We are happy to consult with you to make sure you make the right paper choice for your next printing project.

Have a different point of view?  Did we miss some critical elements in the eco-equation?  Please respond to this blog and let us--and the rest of the blogosphere know!

Eco-Friendly Printing

QR Codes: What Are They and How Can They Work for You?

Send in your guess to the following link to enter our contest:  Contest Entry

QR Code

What is this funny little square box?

It's called a QR code, short for a "Quick Response" link that is used with a camera equipped mobile phone.  Your camera phone using this QR code connects you directly with a website, text, or contact information.  All you have to do is take a picture of it, your phone scans it, and then connects you instantly.

QR Codes are an exciting way to reach your customers.  They are another innovative way the world has become interconnected.  Join the excitement and incorporate QR Codes into your business offerings today.  The possibilities are endless!

 

Here are some ways Young's Printing can help you take advantage of QR codes in your business:

• Business Cards/Collateral - Include QR codes on your business cards or collateral so that your customers can easily access your business information, map your location, and store your business information on their phone or computer.

•  Sales flyers -Use QR codes on sales flyers to lead consumers to special coupons.

•  Posters - A QR code on a poster can lead consumers to a video preview, photo slide show, audio and/or text.

•   Real Estate Signs -A QR Code on a Real Estate sign in front of a house can lead your potential customer to a site providing additional property information on that house and put them in direct contact with the Agent.

• Magazine ads - Design a magazine ad that contains a QR Code for your catalog items.  Your customer can scan the QR code from the magazine advertisement with their smart phone and be instantly connected to your on-line site to purchase that particular item.

• Signs - Whether it is in a building on a street or trail, signs with QR codes can provide your customers with location information, or perhaps enable them to a self-guided tour.

• Promotional Items - QR codes have been used on t-shirts and other products to advertise an event.  Scan the link and you will be directed to a url that provides you with information on that upcoming event.

What's the benefit of using QR Codes in your business? 

• Market - They have the potential to reach a much broader market resulting in a cost savings to you.
• Future - QR Codes are a way of the future, keep your business fresh and exciting by incorporating QR codes into your business and business collateral.
• On demand - consumers can take immediate action to your business offerings.  
• Tracking - provides you with an additional way to track and analyze your customers and your business offerings.

How do you scan the QR codes?
 Watch these brief videos for a demonstration on how to scan a QR Code.







Let Young's Printing super-charge your business by using QR Codes on all of your business collateral.

Visit our website Young's Printing, send us an e-mail or come by and see us in person on Court Street in Middletown.


(Your camera equipped mobile phone may need a reader application to scan QR codes. QR readers applications are available at the following site for free. QR Code Readers )

Direct Mailing – Delivering your Message and Bring your Customers to your Door

Seven Steps to Direct Mailing:

Step 1:  What's your Offer?

• What are you offering and why do your customers need it?
• What do your customers need to do when they read your direct mail piece to get your offer?
• Does your offer create excitement, appeal to your customers, and make it easy for them to take action?

•  Mail a post card that announces a special sale
• Send a coupon calendar
• Mail a brochure that previews future in-store events
• Team up with neighboring businesses for a block party.
• Mail a special occasion or holiday self-mailer.

Step 2:  Determine how your customers will respond to your offer?

• Do they come to your store, respond to a website, an e-mail, a personal url, use a coupon, send in a prepaid post card?

Step 3:   How will you know if your offer was successful?

• Gather and measure your data
• Track your inquiries and the number of coupons redeemed

 Step 4:  Plan your budget:

• Determine how much you can spend on this campaign.
• Include design, printing, and postal costs.
• Decide if you need to rent a mailing list to reach customers

 Step 5:  Determine your customers and target that audience

• Build your customer data list by using a guest book
• Create a frequent buyer program
• Hold drawings for prizes and gather customer info
• Rent a mailing list from a mail list broker

 Step 6:  Create your Direct Mail Piece

• Decide on its size and format
• Tell your story/message (text)
• Design it:  Make it appealing with graphics and include your logos
• Print - high quality pieces
• Young's Printing can help you with your design and printing needs.  Young's Printing

 Step 7:  Mail It

• United States Postal Service (USPS) can send your direct mail piece by First Class Mail or Standard Mail.  Visit your local Post Office today for details or view their Guide to Mailing Requirements at USPS A Customers Guide to Mailing