What's Vector Art And Why Do You Need It?

You've done it.  You've decided to create a marketing campaign using promotional products.  You've done all your research, and know that promo products are a great way to reach your target audience and to make them aware of your business and the services you provide.  There's excitement in the air and you can't wait to get started.  And then...someone asks you for your logo in vector format.  What?  What or who is vector?  What does vector have to do with you?  Why, after so much time and effort did you not know that vector was going to come along and stop you in your tracks?

Don't panic.  It sounds more complicated than it is, and it's not the end of your marketing plans. Vector is your friend and just wants your campaign to look its best. Providing your supplier with vector art will make sure that your promo items look crisp and clear, rather than a jumbled mess.  Basically,  a vector file allows your image to be scaled or modified without changing the original image.  Vector is really in your best interest, trust us.

If you're not sure if your file is vector art or not, look at the file type.  Vector art files usually end in .eps. .ai, .cd or .fh.   If your artwork file ends like this,  you're in good shape.  There's no reason to lose all hope if your file is a jpg or a .gif since you can get them converted.  No, typing .eps at the end of your file won't convert them to vector magically, but it can be done.

Not ready for the marketing campaign just yet?  You should still make sure that you have access to your logo and design work in vector format.  It will make things easier for you and all parties involved in the long run.

What is DTG?

DTG is Direct to Garment printing, meaning a design is applied directly to the garment with a digital printer.  Think of it as a color printer for your clothing.  DTG is relatively new in the grand scheme of customized apparel, but is making advancements all the time.  At one time DTG was best suited for light colored items, but now modifications have been made to allow printing on all colors, dark or light. 

Another advantage is that DTG can be used on basically anything.  Shirts, jackets, pants, or bags to name a few.  DTG will even print on the zipper of a sweatshirt, creating an unbroken design.  

There are benefits to DTG over Screen printing to be considered, cost being an important one.  With Screen printing,  a design must be broken down into individual colors and  each color applied with a different screen.  With DTG the entire design is printed at once, therefore there are no screen charges.   This can be a major cost savings when a design has many colors. 

Another advantage to DTG printing is that if you need one shirt you can have one shirt. Because the printing is done digitally, you can have one item made or 100.  The cost of setting up a screen for each color in the design is no longer a cost issue. 

DTG also makes it easier to modify a design.   If you want to change something about your image, you can.  A new screen doesn’t have to be made at greater cost, everything is accomplished digitally.

While there are still reasons to consider Screen Printing rather that Direct to Garment printing,  knowing that there are options available is always a good thing!

What is Corporate Apparel, and Who Needs It Anyway?

Corporate apparel.  It sounds intimidating, producing visions of high powered executives in large offices at the top of tall buildings. In reality, corporate apparel is simply about creating a positive impression at every level of business. Don't think it's important?  Lets imagine a typical day without corporate apparel...

A quick stop for coffee on the way to work brings mass confusion while you try and figure out where to place your order.  It's safe to assume that the people behind the counter are there to serve, but they look just like the people in front of the counter.  Not only that,  they don't seem very happy.  (It seems that uniforms really do provide a sense of unity and pride for employees.)

Driving to work isn't any easier than getting coffee when passing through a construction site.  Is the man on the corner directing traffic authorized to do so?  Does he even know what he's doing?  A police officer without a uniform doesn't really provide the same level of confidence, now does he.  

A stop at the bank at lunch elicits some unease.  Though the woman behind the counter looks nice enough, how can you be sure that handing over your deposit to her is the right thing to do?    'The same goes for taking your car in for service. It's a little unnerving handing over the keys to the car when you aren't even sure who the mechanic is.

Stopping for groceries on the way home is another matter. There's no clear way to check pricing on produce because you can't tell who works at the store.  Rather than ask the wrong person (again) about the price of apples, it might be easier to just go home and try again tomorrow.

As you can see, corporate apparel plays a huge role in day to day life.  Do your part to end the confusion and make sure your employees present a unified and professional front.   Safeguard is here to help!

Marketing Your Business

When it comes to marketing a business, many people can become overwhelmed and with good reason. There are so many options available for such an array of costs,  even someone experienced in growing a business can wind up throwing their hands in the air and giving up. At Safeguard, we work to make sure your business image is exactly what you want. It's our priority to help you find exactly what you need for a great public impression. 

When deciding how you want to promote your business, consider the following points.

• Have a uniform appearance. Do your checks, business cards and business stationery give your customer an idea of what products or services you might provide? Are your forms professional, expressing the tone you want your business to convey?

• Outfit your employees so that you are comfortable with how they are representing your business. Whether your company apparel consists of a simple polo shirt with your logo or an entire uniform, it is important to remember that your employees are making an impression. Make sure they stand out in a positive way.

• Choose a promotional item to keep you in your customer’s thoughts. Research shows that almost 72 percent of people who receive promotional items remember the companies for more than 12 months.

• When choosing a promotional item, be sure to consider the usability, reliability and visibility of the product. To be most effective, the product should be something your customer will use often, so that others will see it as well as your company information. If the product is not reliable, your business will not get the maximum benefit.

Contact us at Safeguard today so that we can help you meet and exceed your business goals in 2012.

Keep Your Resolutions

Resolutions.  Everyone makes them, but they're not always the easiest thing to keep.  Some resolutions are unrealistic, such as a massive weight loss in a short time.  Some are unattainable, such as becoming president of the United States. (Especially if it’s not an election year) One thing we can all do, in our business as well as our personal lives, is break things down into manageable tasks.  

Below are a few tips that will help make the resolutions you make more attainable. Following these simple steps in your personal and business life will give you the chance to keep your resolutions this year.

Focus:  It’s important to focus on why you want to accomplish something as much as what you want to accomplish.  If you set an unrealistic goal for yourself and don’t even know why, it’s going to be impossible to complete.  How can you motivate yourself when you don’t even know why you are doing something?  Break your goals down into smaller steps, making them easier to concentrate on.  This will also provide you with a sense of accomplishment, which will in turn motivate you to move forward with your resolutions.

Clean up:  It’s easy to forget what you’re trying to accomplish when your work is buried under piles of tasks.  Though they are all important, clear your desk of everything but what you need to complete the job at hand.

Manage Time:  Voice mail is a wonderful thing.  Though we all instinctively jump for a ringing phone, there are times when it’s best to let calls go to voice mail.  Allowing yourself time to complete a task without interruption will give you the satisfaction of doing it well.

Have a List:   Writing things down will give you something concrete to work from.  Seeing something rather than trying to remember it is always easier, and allows you to prioritize accordingly.

Delegate:   Though it’s easy to try and control every aspect of a task, delegating parts of a job will make it easier to complete in the end.  In addition, allowing others within your organization to help out will make them feel like part of a team.

Have a Beginning and an End:  Start each day by spending a little time planning what needs to be done and how.  At the end of each day spend a little time clearing your desk and putting the finishing touches on what has been completed.  Starting the day with a clean desk is much easier than trying to dig through clutter to see where you left off the day before.

Who Should Consider Promotional Products?

Whether you’re the marketing manager of a large company or the director of a small charity, advertising and promotions are an important part of your business.  Promotional products are a cost effective way to get the best results for your dollar.  Here are a few key points to consider.

• People love presents.  If you choose a product that appeals to the people you are marketing to, you will already have their attention.  If you choose a quality product that will last and is useful, you’ll have their attention for a longer period of time. 
• Make sure it lasts.  Whether a promotional item, such as a pen or a quality piece of apparel, if it’s made well, it will be used and worn.  A pen that runs out of ink in a month will be in the garbage, and a shirt that is thin or tears easily will be headed there as well. 
• Whatever you choose, it doesn’t have to be expensive in order to serve your needs.  There are so many options available when it comes to promotional items, it’s fairly easy to find something to fit your budget.  If you’re not sure of the best way to go, contact someone who knows the industry and let them help you. Despite the ease of shopping on-line, it is often better to let someone who is in the business guide you.  You’ll get more value for your dollar and you’ll find an item that suits your needs.  Over 17 billion dollars (yes, that’s a ‘B’) will be spent on promotional items and apparel this year.  Don’t let your items get lost in the shuffle. 

Remember, three out of four people have some type of promotional item in their work space. (Look around, we bet you have some too!)   People will keep useful things, and use them again and again.  Every time a product you’ve supplied is used, it’s seen, a visual and useful reminder of you and your business.

Cool Stuff

From one of our favorite vendors, take a look at the WineTaster's Journal from Journalbooks.  This classy little number give you everything you need to track your wine experiences with 100 sheets of their special wine tasting filler, where you can document which wines you've tried and rate them.   The journal also features an 8 page section of wine facts.

Put your company logo on the cover of this stylish and beautifully designed journal and make sure your clients have exactly what they need for your next event.   You can be sure they'll keep coming back for more! 

You can see more of the exciting products that Journal Books has to offer at their website, www.journalbooks.com