corel 12 lmay.pdf
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Corel Magazine 12 MayTRANSCRIPT
Published for the Association of CorelDRAW® Professionals (ACDRP) / www.coreldrawhelp.com
the entrepreneurial magazine for CorelDRAW®
users worldwideCorelDRAW® HelpApril 2012
Cutting EdgeLooks withEmbroideryLaser
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Inside
By Mike Neer, Publisher
Trying Something New
Published by Association of CorelDRAW® Professionals
President: John H. McDanielVice President: Judith McDaniel
Executive Director: Michael R. Neer
ACDRP Corporate Office: Philomath, OR
OFFICES Membership & Publishing offices located at:
4549 N. Glenn, Suite 110,Fresno, CA 93704
800-276-8428, 559-276-8494 Fax 559-222-1390www.CorelDRAWHelp.com
Subscriptions: Free to qualified individuals and businesses. Send change of address to the above.
ACDRP Membership: Basic $90/yr.; Premium $240/yr.See the website for details.
Advertising: Request a Media Guide or download it from www.CorelDRAWHelp.com.
Writers: CorelDRAWHelp accepts articles from industry experts. Email publisher for details.
© Copyright 2012 by ACDRP. All Rights Reserved.
EDITOR / PUBLISHER – Michael R. [email protected]
GRAPHICS – John MiseADVERTISING – John McDaniel II [email protected]
602-295-8193
APRIL 2012
HelpCorelDRAW®
What does it take to try something new in our lives or in our businesses? That’s the question that’s playing in my mind this month. Corel just launched CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6, possibly one of the most creative launches in years, and I wondering how many people are ready to upgrade now!
Think about it. We all are faced with something new every day -- something new to eat in a restaurant, new habits for exercise, new decorations at home, something new to learn, new people to meet, new marketing strategies to adopt, new products to carry, or now new tools to design graphics with. What is it that finally pushes out of our comfort zone and into trying something new?
The marketing gurus say it has to do with benefits – the What’s In It For Me? mantra. And they say that boils down to something for the head – wealth; something for the heart – love; and something for the body – health. So for upgrading to new software that could mean – it makes me more money; or it makes my customers love me more; or it lets me do my work so much more efficiently that I have less stress. I think all of those work – and especially with Corel’s new upgrade.
But there is still something that, at a certain moment, gets us to take action (like trying a food, a new exercise, or placing an order). It may be that so many benefits (momentum) add up that we just HAVE TO do it, and we act! But timing is everything, so I still wonder what moves us to get over the hump and get out of our comfort zone, and do it?
Is it just money and time? Is it just when we have enough money left at the end of the month that
we feel “okay” to try something new? Or is it when all the “busy-ness” of work and life settle down a bit so we can finally make the time
to do “the new”? Yes, these are big factors. Maybe it’s just when the moon is in a certain sign that we feel “ready” to act! Ha!
I would like to suggest that it comes down to how we relate to ideas, people, and things. Each of us
seems to have a tendency to work with one of these three facets of life more than the others. These are the subtle motivators.
• If IDEAS are our strong suit, then we could be motivated by creativity, by new ways to do things, by new formatting or organizing of something new. On the other hand, if it takes too long to learn it, we might put it off.
• If PEOPLE are our strength, then we might be motivated by being first, an early adopter or leader. Perhaps we set it up so we can teach the “new thing” to others! Or we might not act until our peer group gets more involved in this new thing. (That’s why marketers use testimonials!)
• If we are a “THINGS” person, then we could be moved by efficiency and ease of the new thing, or by how it appeals to our senses – the beauty of it.
So bottom line: trying something new gets us ahead in life and makes us feel good about ourselves most of the time. If we know what motivates us, then we just might try more new things -- sooner, rather than later.
What is something New you will try tomorrow?
April 2012 4Click ads to go directly to advertiser’s web site.HelpCorelDRAW®
Systems starting at $7,995
[email protected] • 888-437-4564
MADEiNUSATo request a brochure, DVD, and laser engraved and cut samples visit epiloglaser.com/coreldrawhelp.htm today.
Versatile Laser Cutters Highest-Quality Engraving
The proof is in the results.
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April 2012
Magazine Sponsors Logo-LinksOnline Expo Sponsors Logo-Links
Epilog Laser Corp. Web AdJohn E. Lepper Inc. Web AdJohnson Plastics Web AdLaserSketch Web AdUniversal Laser Systems Web Ad
SPONSOR INDEX
DEPARTMENTS
Click “Web” to go to sponsor’s website. Click “Ad” to go to the ad in this issue. Clicking the ad itself will go to website.
LEARN! APPLY! GROW!
3 Inside: Trying Something New6 Graphics News Wire Product News Headlines
32 Product Focus: Laser Wood
29 Logo-Links33 GNN Network
33 Marketplace34 Contributing Writers
CONTENTSCorelDRAW® Help
7 Special Report: CorelDRAW’s New Version: X6 - Part 2 by John McDaniel
10 Corel Website CreatorCreating a Website—Part 6by Judy & John McDaniel
14 CorelDRAW Tips: Text Wrapping (X4)by John W. Mise
15 CorelDRAW Tips: Embedding Objects into Text (X4)by John W. Mise
23 Getting Ahead: Create Cutting Edge Looks With Embroidery Lasers by Henry Bernstein
31 Marketing Secrets: Building Strong Relationshipsby Donna Gray
35 Traveling Tidbits: Frances Nguyen, Donna Gray, MaryAnne Bobrow, & Mother’s Day by Otis Veteto
19 Making Money with CDR: Sandblasting – The Productsby John McDaniel
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not
an act, but a habit.Aristotle
16 Inside Color:Joto introduces EcoPrint 24™ Print-and-Cut System by Bill Leek
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GRAPHICS NEWS WIREApril 2012
Product News Headlines:
Calendar (Web Link)Check out the upcoming training
classes and trade shows of interest to CorelDRAW users.
CorelDRAW® Help
• Conde announces partnership with Ryonet
• Imprintables Warehouse presents new VersaWorks Video
• Conde adds new rubber SubliCover cases for iPhone 4
• Stahls ID Direct launches Distressed Flock
• Imprintables Warehouse offers Sticky Flock
• Hirsch offers AutoHoop for Tajima machines
• Independent Trading offers junior pullover hoodie
• Roland announces new VersaArt 4-color Printer
• Wilcom announces free service pack for EmbroideryStudio & DecoStudio
• TriMountain introduces new Lily shirt for Lilac Bloom line
• Transfer Express add stock rhinestone transfers
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Dateline – Tuesday, March 20, 2012 the latest version of CorelDRAW’s Graphics Suite is released. The new version (16) is dubbed X6.
In Part 1, we outlined what’s included in CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6 and what the minimum computer system requirements are for the new release. We also discussed the differences between 32bit and 64bit computer systems; multi-threaded processors; and the difference in performance that can be realized when the software takes full advantage of these hardware features.
In Part 2, we will look at some of the new and enhanced features in CorelDRAW X6.
Some of the New and Improved features of CorelDRAW X6…One of the improvements that occurred to both CorelDRAW and PHOTO-PAINT in version X3 was the option to Highlight What’s New. This is not a new feature of X6, but it’s one that will help us identify new and improved features in the program. See picture 1.
Notice that we’ve turned on Highlight What’s New since version X5. (Click-on—Help/Highlight What’s New/Since Version X5)
As a result, the menu item Hints has been highlighted and several of the visible command icons have also been highlighted. Some items that are highlighted are brand new features in X6. Others, like Hints, have been improved.
The reasons to use this feature in addition to the “What’s New” tab in the Welcome
SPECIAL REPORTBy Judy and John McDaniel
CorelDRAW’s New Version – X6Part 2
►
Picture 1: Highlight
What’s New will help you see the new features in
the program.
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SPECIAL REPORT
booklet are that (1) “What’s New” in welcome refers to major enhancements from the previous version. This is helpful; however, we’ve found that some of the more subtle enhancements can have a substantial impact on our workflow. So we feel we need to explore an upgrade more thoroughly, Highlight What’s New helps us do that.
(2) In addition, “What’s New” in the welcome booklet only refers to what’s new since the last version. So for X6, the booklet refers to what’s new since X5. If you are upgrading from an older version, Highlight What’s New will be helpful.
In X6 we have the ability to Highlight What’s New since version X3. So if you are upgrading from an earlier version, you can use this feature to identify what’s new.
What’s improved in Hints—the Hints docker was introduced in version X3. Essentially it’s context-sensitive help. When you select an object or tool, the hints docker will display instructions as to how you can manipulate the object or use the tool.
What’s new in X6 is that the Hints docker now has a video tab. The videos demonstrate some of the features and tools of the program. See picture 2.
Improved Object Property Bar—the property bar, in its default location, is the third toolbar down from the top. Like the Hints Docker, it is also context sensitive in that it presents command icons which are appropriate for the tool or object(s) selected.
In all previous versions of CorelDRAW, when an object is selected in the layout, the two left-most positions on the Property Bar, are:—the object’s center position and its
size. By typing values into the position and size boxes, you can move and/or resize the object.
In X6, an additional icon has been added to the far left. The new icon has 9 small boxes in it arranged in a 3 x 3 array. Each of the small boxes corresponds to one of the following locations on the object…top—left, center, right… ►
Picture 2: The Hints Docker now has videos!
Picture 3: Improved Property Bar with 9-point positioning array.
Picture 4: New Freehand Pick Tool allows you to draw a freehand marquee around the objects you wish to select.
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SPECIAL REPORT
center—left, center, right…bottom—left, center, right. This 9-point array can be used for positioning or sizing the object.
For positioning, click on one of the small boxes in the array; click on the one you want to use as a reference point. You can then type into the location-coordinate boxes the position you want the object’s reference point to occupy.
For example, in picture 3, we’ve created a layout with a page size the size of our laser engraving table—24” wide by 12” high. In the layout we’ve drawn a 6-inch square box. Then, we selected the box and the upper left corner in the 9-point array on the Property Bar. Next we typed the coordinate point (1.0”,-1.0”) into the position boxes. That relocated the upper left corner of the object to 1” in on the X axis, and 1” down on the Y axis. (Note: for this example we relocated the 0,0 reference point to the upper left corner of our document.)
If we wanted to change the size of the object, we could also use the 9-point array to lock the corresponding position of the object in the layout. In the above example, if we wanted to change the size of the square, we could keep the upper-left corner locked down to the (1.0”,-1.0”) coordinates and type a new size into the object’s size boxes. The object would then grow or shrink from the upper left corner.
In all previous versions of CorelDRAW, the object’s location-coordinate boxes always refers to the center position of the object. Likewise if you changed the size of the object using the size boxes, the object’s size would change from the center in or out. In X6 you have the option of positioning or sizing using the extents of the object.
New—Freehand Pick tool—the Pick tool has received its very first update. In X6, the update is the addition of a Freehand option. The new option allows you to draw a
freehand marquee around the objects you wish to select. See picture 4. All objects contained within the marquee are selected. Normally any objects that are only partially enclosed are not selected.
A variation occurs by holding the ALT key down during selection. With either the traditional rectangular marquee, or the new freehand marquee selection method, holding the ALT key down selects all objects that come in contact with the marquee.
New—Alignment Guides—a new feature in X6 is Alignment Guides. These are temporary guidelines that appear when creating or moving objects in a layout. By default, these guidelines are not turned on. To turn them on—click on View/Alignment Guides—see picture 5. You
can control their appearance and also turn them on and off in the Options dialog screen—click on Tools/Options/Workspace/Alignment Guides—see picture 6. We’ve set the color to red so it’s more visible on our screen.
Once you’ve turned them on, you can use them to align objects to one another, or text to objects, etc., etc.—see pictures 7 and 8.
ConclusionWe’ll continue our in-depth exploration of “What’s New” in X6 next time.
John and Judy McDaniel a re owners of CorelDRAW® Help, Inc. and MomentsRemembered.com. They started in the personalization business in 1989 with CorelDRAW version 1.0. They have written hundreds of articles and tips; lectured across the country; and have been teaching CorelDRAW since 1991. (For information on training services and video lessons available visit www.CorelDRAWhelp.com) You may contact them via email at [email protected]
Picture 5: To turn on the new
Alignment Guides—click on View/
Alignment Guides.
Picture 6: Alignment Guides can also be turned on and off
from the Options dialog screen.
Picture 7: The Alignment Guides will let you align objects
to one another.
Picture 8: The Alignment Guides will let you align text to objects.
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Creating a Website—Part 6COREL WEBSITE CREATORBy Judy and John McDaniel Learn
In this series, we have been focused on promoting your business via the Internet; and how the tools in CorelDRAW help in doing that.
So far in this series we have discussed…1. Why you want a website.2. How the Internet works.3. What is a domain name?4. A little history of the Internet.5. How you obtain a domain name.6. What do all those extensions
mean—.com, .net, .org, .info, .co, .ca,…etc.
7. How to find an available domain name.
8. Choosing a domain name.9. The basic elements of a website.10. How to select a host for your website.11. Premium Suite X5 Elements that were NOT contained in Graphics Suite X5.12. The usefulness of these additional elements for website creation.
13. Which elements are essential for building websites.14. Which elements are not essential.
This time we will start building our website with Corel Website Creator X6, the version that’s included in the new release of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6.
Installing the Program…Corel Website Creator X6 is included in Graphics Suite X6. However, it’s necessary to download it separately. Even if you purchase and receive the boxed version of the Graphics Suite, it’s still necessary to download and install Website Creator X6 from the web. In order to do that, you need to sign up for an account on Corel.com, if you don’t already have one.
After downloading and installing the program, you have the option to download and install some additional Templates, Site-Styles, and Stock Photos. We downloaded and installed everything, but it’s only necessary to download and install the program since it already comes with some templates and site-styles.
►
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COREL WEBSITE CREATOR
Getting Started…Once you have installed the program, and open it, you are given 3 choices…
1. You can start a new blank site—this option creates a home page, and then assumes that all the page creation and graphics for the site will be handled by the designer. See picture A.
2. You can start a new site using the Wizard—this option is a simple 3-step process. First you select a template, see p ic ture B-01. Then a basic layout, including some stock pages, see picture B-02. And finally, enter some basic profi le information, see picture B-03. The Wizard uses your choices to create a website, using place-holder graphics and text, that you can then customize.
3. You can start a new site from a template—this option assumes you have a template in mind for your new site. It then creates all the pages the template calls for and populates them with place-holder graphics and text. This method is similar to using the wizard. The main difference is that the wizard gives you some additional options.
4. There is a 4th, more advanced method, which is to create a new site, using an existing one
as a template. This option assumes that you have an existing website, and that you would like to use that site as a template for a new one. To access this option click on File/New Site/From Existing Website—see picture D. The only caveat in using this method is that, if the website you want to use as a template, was not originally created in Website Creator, then using it as a template may not copy
everything from the original site.
For first-time users, or if you are starting out with a simple informational site, the wizard may be the best choice. It will create a basic core that you can easily customize, publish, and then work with as time permits. It’s what we chose for our first demo project.
Previewing Your Site…From time-to-time as you are working on your site, you may want to see what the site will look like to visitors. You can easily do that by clicking on the preview icon on the toolbar.
If you have more than one browser installed on your computer, you will be given the option to select the browser you
want to use. By having several browsers installed, you can see how visitors with different browsers will see your site.
Publishing Your Site…When you’re satisfied with the look, content, and performance of your site, it’s time to publish it, i.e. go live on the net. Website Creator
It’s time to start advertising with CorelDRAWHelp.
Save money and extend your marketing reach!
CorelDRAWHelp magazine is an all-digital publication that is delivered monthly in PDF format for easy reading. And because CorelDRAWHelp magazine is an all-digital publication, readers can link directly from your ad to your website from within our digital publications.
HelpCorelDRAW®
CorelDRAWHelp offers more for your dollar than comparable services in print publications. For more information on how to get started, contact John McDaniel II at [email protected] or 602-295-8193.►
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COREL WEBSITE CREATOR
can then upload your site to your web host.
To do that for the first time you need to tell the program the name of the host computer, and provide your log-on information—see picture P. (You will also need to be connected to the internet.)
Once you have provided the host computer information to the program, it will remember the settings for future uploads. Then, over time, as you add to or change elements of your site, you can easily upload the changes.
Working with Multiple Sites…You can use Website Creator X6 to handle as many sites as you have the time and inclination to design and maintain; and the disk space to store. Notice in picture M there is a list of websites we’ve created in the short time we have been using the program. The one that’s loaded is identified as current. ►
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COREL WEBSITE CREATOR
Each site can be accessed and worked with off-line, since the program stores the entire site on your computer’s hard-drive. You choose the site you want to work with by clicking on the site’s name in the list.
To change from one site to another, you simply click on the name of the new site you want to work on. That action automatically closes the current site and opens the one you’ve clicked on, making it the current site.
ConclusionCreating the basic structure of the website was really quick and easy with the help of Corel Website Creator. It took less than 10 minutes to create the basic structure using the Wizard. It actually took more time to upload it to the web. But that’s because we didn’t take time to customize the site.
If you would like to view the results visit… http://www.coreldrawhelp.com/wcx6-01/. As you can see this is just an initial form. We would not normally publish this until we have filled in the blanks and customized it for our use. We wanted to show the results of the first steps, directly out of the program, without modification.
Next time we’ll begin modifying what we have, and upload it again. Then, in future articles we’ll explore…
1. Website enhancements.2. Promoting your website.3. The rise of search-engines and their potential for advertising your website.
John and Judy McDaniel are owners of CorelDRAW® Help, Inc. and MomentsRemembered.com. They started in the personalization business in 1989 with CorelDRAW version 1.0. They have written hundreds of articles and tips; lectured across the country; and have been teaching CorelDRAW since 1991. (For information on training services and video lessons available visit www.CorelDRAWhelp.com) You may contact them via email at [email protected]
Use Your ACDRPAssociation Services!
Calendar
Find providers of more than 40 graphics services -- from ADA Signage to Transfers. Check out this link:www.graphicservicesguide.com
Find providers of equipment, tools, materials, software, and blank products for applying graphics. Check out this link:www.graphicproductsguide.com
Find trade shows and educational programs that can help you expand your business and skills. A complete industry calendar is available at:www.coreldrawpro.com/calendar.htm
ClassifiedsFind useful products/equipment/displays, etc. for sale, or list your own. Check out the current items for sale at:www.coreldrawpro.com/classifieds
ACDRP Membership Has Its Privileges!Members have access to even more services, such as: QuickLearn searchable database of 400+ articles; Quick TNT searchable database of CorelDRAW tips and templates; and discounts on GSG, Classifieds, and the Bookstore. To find out about membership, visit: www.coreldrawpro.com/join.htm
Corel TipsReverse Order - You can quickly change the order of objects by using the Re-verse Order command. However, grouped objects are considered a single object and therefore will not change. To change the order of a grouped object, you will need to Ungroup (CTRL + U) them before using the Reverse Order command.
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Using CorelDRAW®Training
Text Wrapping (X4)
►
When using paragraph text in CorelDRAW, you can apply text wrapping to shapes so the text flows around the shape.
There are several types of wrapping that you can use in CorelDRAW:
Contour Wrapping - This style is for wrapping text around the outline of a shape.
Square Wrapping - This style is where the text is wrapped around an invisible rectangle box that surrounds the shape (the bounding box).
Using either one of the wrapping methods will allow you to flow text on either the left or right side of a shape or both sides (straddle) of a shape. Square Wrapping will allow you to flow text above or below a shape with no text flowing down either side of a shape.
Contour Flow Left Contour Flow Right Contour Straddle
Square Flow Left Square Flow Right Square Straddle
Above/Below
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Using CorelDRAW®
You can wrap paragraph text around a selected shape by using the Wrap Paragraph Text button or you can use the General tab in the Object Properties docker. With either one, you will have several options to wrap text around a shape. You can also set the margin distance from the shape by using the Text wrap offset. This is the distance or gap between the outline or bounding box of the shape and the paragraph text.
Wrapping only affects the text, not the shape of an object. Using paragraph text wrapping can be very useful and creative but be sure to check your work to make sure that the wrapped text doesn’t create something that is hard to read.
Text wrap offset
Embedding Objects into Text (X4)Graphic objects and bitmaps can be embedded in Artistic Text and Paragraph Text. An embedded object is called an inline graphic. Embedded graphics are especially helpful when you want to add special symbols to your text. This would include things like bullet points, logotypes or horizontal separators. In instruction manuals and books, embedding certain graphics such as buttons can be extremely helpful.
There are two ways to embed objects into your text:With the Clipboard: Cut or copy your object to the clipboard (CTRL + X or CTRL + C). Paste (CTRL + V) your object within your text by clicking the Text Tool where you want to place it within your text.
Drag-and-Drop: Select your object with the mouse. Using the Right mouse button, drag your object to your text and position it where you want to place it. A vertical bar will appear indicating where the object will be placed between char-acters within your text. Release your mouse button. A pop-up menu will appear. Select Copy Into Text or Move Into Text.
In CorelDRAW, embed-ded objects are treated as Special Characters. Once embedded, you must use the Text Tool or the Shape Tool to select them. You can re-size an embedded object by selecting it and then use the point size option in the Property Bar to set the new size, just like you would any typographic character.
To delete an embedded object, select it by using the Text Tool and then select DELETE.
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The EcoPrint 24 package by Joto of Blaine, WA, provides a perfect solution for garment decoration and durable decal, banner, and sign creation. In fact, with Sepiax inks you can print on any flexible coated or uncoated substrate without
pre-coats or any special preparation. These resin inks adhere to virtually everything!
The system consists of:• An Epson based 24-inch wide format printer specially modified to utilize the
SEPIAX inks.• A full CMYK set of the Sepiax inks.• A GCC PUMA 24-inch contour cutter, with custom stand.• The industry standard WASATCH SoftRip with Cutter add-on.• Joto MultiPrint durable transfer media.
SEPIAX Water-Based Resin InksSepiax ink is formulated to work with printers that use Epson piezo print heads. The clog-free formula insures reliable operation without clogging. Print head life is above average. Fabric washability and outdoor print longevity without lamination or a clear coat is up to 3 years. The inks are both bright and dense with a well-balanced color gamut.
The surface temperature of the media must be maintained between 45o and 55oC during actual printing. This is accomplished in the EcoPrint 24 by replacing the
INSIDE COLORBy Bill Leek, Contributing writer
standard print platen with a heated platen accurately controlled to maintain the ink curing temperature. At the proper temperature, the ink dries and bonds almost immediately. The resulting printed surface is very, very durable. Sepiax combines the adhesion qualities of UV curable inks and the abrasion/scratch resistant qualities of eco-solvent inks without any of their environmental issues.
Sepiax is a “GREEN” ink. I t is Eco-Friendly, Odorless, Nontoxic and Nonflammable. It meets strict government standards and maintains a safe environment for you and your staff.
SEPIAX can print on any substrates including, but not limited to, solvent media, films, banners, various types of fabrics such as polyester, cotton, nylon and silks. Application possibilities include creation of outdoor or indoor graphic signs, banners, flags, POP and POS displays, photographs, art reproduction, trade show graphics, sportswear, apparel, fashion textiles, shop awnings, stickers and many other products.
THE EcoPrint 24 PRINTERThe EcoPrint 24 is an Epson Stylus Pro 7700 printer modified to utilize the Sepiax inks. The 7700 is the fastest of the Epson 7xxx series of 24-inch wide ►
Affordable configuration features environmentally safe SEPIAX™ water-based resin inks.
Joto introduces EcoPrint 24™ Print-and-Cut System
SEPIAX environment friendly, water based resin inks.
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INSIDE COLOR
►
EcoPrint 24 printer with GCC Puma III contour cutter.
MultiPrint Maxim transfer media.
professional series models. The 7700 incorporates Epson’s latest achievements in high-performance ink jet printing. Combining the precision of Epson’s MicroPiezo TFP™ print head with the exceptional performance of the Sepiax inks, the EcoPrint 24 sets a new price/performance standard for both garment decoration and the digital graphics industry.
The advanced Epson MicroPiezo TFP print head is capable of producing extremely precise text and line-art, along with brilliant photographic quality prints, at speeds almost twice as fast as previous models. The printer produces variable-sized droplets as small as 3.5 picoliters to greatly decrease print times while maintaining optimum photographic quality. Maximum resolution is 2880 dpi. With the latest ink-repelling coating and auto nozzle verification technologies, clogged print heads are virtually eliminated.
Both roll and sheet loading, tracking and feeding is exceptional. Media up to 1.5 mm can be accommodated. Overall printer operation is simple and straight forward.
THE WASATCH SOFTRIPThe Wasatch SoftRip is a full- featured RIP package that is easy to use. With its simple setup, intuitive workflow, and powerful print controls, SoftRIP makes it easy to print and cut signs, transfers, films, banners, backlit panels, vehicle graphics, exhibition displays, and much more.
The Contour Cutting Option provides an efficient workflow for contour cutting. With powerful tools and fewer steps needed to prepare cut jobs, it provides a great solution for a wide range of print-and-cut needs.
THE GCC PUMA III 24 INCH CONTOUR CUTTERThe PUMA III is an accurate and affordable cutter powered by a digitally-controlled servo system. It is a good match for the Eco24 printer. The Puma III produces eye-catching graphics with up to 23.62 ips (600mm/sec) cutting speed, 400g of cutting force and three meters (9.84 feet) of tracking ability. Maximum media cutting thickness is 0.8mm. GCC provides garment decorators and sign makers with optimum speed, superior quality, solid reliability and unmatched value.
JOTO MULTIPRINT™ TRANSFER MEDIAJoto’s MultiPrint is a complete line of Print-n-Cut heat transfer media designed to produce full-color high quality graphics that can be easily applied to virtually any fabric, including performance apparel. These innovative materials provide you with the ability to produce professional personalized garments quickly and cost effectively. MultiPrint media products are fully compatible with Sepiax inks and the Eco 24 printer and Puma contour cutter. In addition, they are designed to be used with other Solvent and Eco-Solvent and inks.
There are several MultiPrint products in the line:
APEX is a very durable media. Apex is suitable for full-color graphics, names and numbers for sportswear, uniforms, and promotional work wear. This product produces garment transfers that can be washed in high temperature water, dry cleaned, and ironed.
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INSIDE COLOR
MultiPrint Metallic media.
MultiPrint Super Stretch dark gloss media.
AXIOM i s a hea t sealable, printable t ransfer f i lm used for high resolution transfers onto light and dark fabrics. The material is on an easy-t o - w e e d - a n d - p e e l PET carrier. Using MultiGlaze finishing rolls, there are two f in ishes avai lable: matte or gloss.
MAXIM i s a hea t sealable, pr intable Polyurethane film used to transfer images to light and dark fabrics. A tack Medium is recommended for use with this material for small lettering and non-continuous cut designs.
S U P E R S T R E T C H LIGHT has amazing stretch and rebound qualities. It is designed for light-colored fabrics. Washability is excellent and hand is very soft. It is extremely easy to cut and demonstrates good opacity.
SUPERSTRETCH DARK is suitable for both dark and light fabrics. Works especially well with Spandex and Lycra. It shares all other positive characteristics of the Light version.
METALLIC is a thermal transfer film with a silver metallic upper surface suitable for light and dark textiles. After heat transfer, images demonstrate a brilliant glossy finish with a metallic effect.
SUBLIBLOCK is a sublimation dye-resistant, printable polyurethane film with a
blockout interlayer. Sublimation resistance is achieved using chemical compounds and not through an additional stiff intermediate film layer. This results in a thinner sublimation dye-resistant film with excellent hand. This material is suitable for light and dark textiles.
Please check with Joto for availability of these and other products in 20-inch rolls.
CONCLUSION: A very affordable, high performance print-and-cut system with unique capabilities.
The component parts of the Joto EcoPrint 24 System complement each other perfectly:
The high performance of the “green”Sepiax inks that match and exceed the capabilities of solvent and eco-solvent inks without environmental issues. With proper instant heat curing, the inks will bond to virtually any media.
The Joto EcoPrint 24 printer is designed specifically for the Sepiax inks. This printer offers high performance, excellent graphics capability, productivity and reliability. Expect consistent ink usage per sq ft to be below average.
The cost-effective GCC Puma III Contour Cutter that offers both excellent performance and cutting accuracy.
The easy-to-use, industry-acclaimed Wasatch SoftRip with cutter option.
High quality transfer media from Joto.
Joto’s long history of excellent customer support.
Definitely a winning combination! CONTACT JOTO at www.jotopaper.com
Bill Leek of Houston, TX has over 30 years experience in computer engineering and graphics design. He has developed several lines of color imprintable products, and does testing on a variety of products for different manufacturers. He can be reached at [email protected] or 281-257-0695.
April 2012 19Click ads to go directly to advertiser’s web site.HelpCorelDRAW®
Sandblasting – The Products
In the general population, sandblasting is often thought of as bead-blasting, i.e. parts cleaning, primarily automotive; or paint removal on structures, buildings, bridges, etc.
In the world of “Graphic Products” (in other words, products produced using some form of graphics as a starting point), sandblasting generally refers to decorating an item using sandblasting as the application process. Therefore, we suggest a less confusing, more appropriate term, is “Decorative Sandblasting”.
In addition, sometimes decorative sandblasting is referred to as sand carving. Although this avoids the confusion with parts cleaning and paint removal, sand carving is a more advanced sandblasting process that is different than simple surface decoration.
►
MAKING MONEY WITH CDRBy Judy and John McDaniel Learn
Anniversary Gift
Brick for fundraising
Coach’s Award
Wedding Silver Cake Server
Sand Carving is a more advanced process. It uses the same equipment and abrasive air stream. However the artwork and technique are different; therefore, it’s a different process.
April 2012 20Click ads to go directly to advertiser’s web site.HelpCorelDRAW®
MAKING MONEY WITH CDR
►
Ceramic Cup for promotional products
Crystal Award
Stainless Steel Flask
Souvenir Shot Glasses
Wedding Flutes
Glass Awards
Wedding Gift
April 2012 21Click ads to go directly to advertiser’s web site.HelpCorelDRAW®
MAKING MONEY WITH CDR
So…What is Decorative Sandblasting?Decorative Sandblasting can be defined as the controlled disruption of a material’s surface which results in a visible pattern.
Control is accomplished through artistic techniques using a stream of pressurized abrasive media along with resist materials in the form of masks or stencils.In this series, sandblasting refers to decoration where the image is formed by the presence and absence of disruption / frost / etch (terms used interchangeably). In essence, images that are formed by silhouette artwork, i.e. black and white artwork.
What materials can be used in the Decorative Sandblasting process?Although, most often, glass and crystal are thought of first as materials appropriate for sandblasting, in reality almost any hard material is suitable. Materials that can be sandblasted include brick, crystal, ceramic, glass, marble, metals, rock, stone, and wood.
What products can you produce with sandblasting?The products you can produce with sandblasting are as varied as the materials you can use. Over the years some of the sandblasted products we produced were used for…
1. Special Occasion Gifts – this category has probably been the most active for us. To name just a few: we’ve produced gifts in glass and crystal including wedding and anniversary flutes, wine bottles, oil lamps, and glass picture frames for all occasions. Others include: glass clock holders for anniversaries; gifts in rock and stone from small to large, including a small boulder as a wedding gift with the couple’s name sandblasted into it for placement by the front door of their new home. We’ve sandblasted stainless steel flasks for groomsmen gifts, Christmas gifts, and other special occasions. We’ve also sandblasted ceramic mugs as birthday gifts for teachers—given by the school district they worked for.
2. Thank-you Gifts—including specially decorated wine bottles, for a construction project that the owners thought was especially well done.
3. Awards – this category is also very popular. Here we’ve used crystal and marble items for high end awards; glass picture frames and beverage mugs for coaches’ gifts; and glass construction blocks as awards for the building industry.
4. Advertising Specialties – in this category we’ve sandblasted crystal Movado clocks; glass and ceramic coffee mugs; beer mugs for micro-breweries; wine glasses and bottles for wineries and golf courses; and for many years we produced beer mugs and wine glasses for a local chamber of commerce to give away at their annual Christmas party.
5. Architectural Elements—in this category, we’ve sandblasted a number of rocks and boulders that were Wine Bottles
Marble Award
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April 2012 22Click ads to go directly to advertiser’s web site.HelpCorelDRAW®
MAKING MONEY WITH CDR
used in various building projects.
6. Fund Raisers – we’ve produced bricks the city sold to raise funds for street lighting; various souvenir items for another chamber to use for fund raising; and crystal Christmas ornaments that were sold to raise funds for families of children affl icted with cancer.
7. Signs – we’ve produced edge-lit signs in glass; signs in wood and composition materials; cornerstones for buildings; and a granite wall commemorating graduating honor students for a local high school.
8. Souvenirs – Sisters, Oregon, is a resort community. When we had our store there, we produced glass and ceramic souvenir products that were popular with visitors.
Decorative Sandblasting is a creative tool that we used which allowed us to produce a wide variety of products to meet our customers’ needs.
ConclusionSandblasted products have a high-perceived value. In fact, it’s been our experience that the perceived value of a sandblasted item is higher than the same or similar item produced using other decoration methods.
Next time we’ll discuss the equipment, investment, and training required to produce decorative-sandblasted products.
Wood
Stone Wall
The Assoc ia t ion o f Core lDRAW® Professionals (ACDRP) announces a Special Limited-Time Sale of 50% off on association membership -- and the addition of a new Video Training membership level.
Effective June 15, Basic Membership which is normally $90/year will be $45/year. Basic ACDRP Membership offers online access to more than 500 articles, tips, and templates for improving graphics and business skills.
Premium membership which adds On-Line Video training and 2 free email consultations per year to the basic level is normally $240/year; but now for a limited time, Premium membership will be available for $120/year. Premium membership was added in 2009 with a complete on-line Video Training Library. More than 75 videos are currently posted and more are added each month. In fact, a new series on CorelDRAW Tips, with special focus on Version X5, will be posted this summer.
ACDRP has also announced a new intermediate level of membership; VT (Video Training) membership. VT membership includes Basic and On-Line Video Training; it does not include free email consultation. The regular price for VT membership is $180/yr. During this sale VT membership will be available for $90/yr. “Now is the time,” says Executive Director Mike Neer, “for CorelDRAW users to really boost their skills, so they can grow their business as the economy recovers. The new Video Training program has won rave reviews from members, and this special makes it available to more people.”
Members, who have joined or renewed in the last 90 days, can also call to take advantage of this Special. For more information, visit www.coreldrawpro.com/join.htm.
Click this link to see a sample of the Video Training for the technique of ‘Feathering the Edge.’
Membership On Sale Now!
April 2012 23Click ads to go directly to advertiser’s web site.HelpCorelDRAW®
GETTING AHEADBy Henry Bernstein, Contributing writer Grow
►
Create Cutting Edge Looks With Embroidery Lasers
April 2012 24Click ads to go directly to advertiser’s web site.HelpCorelDRAW®
GETTING AHEAD
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If you’ve been selling the same old thing to your customers for years, you may find an embroidery laser is the perfect tool to inspire new creativity and increase your bottom line.
Here’s just a few of the cool, cutting-edge looks you can create with an embroidery laser.
This design was created using 3D foam alone as the appliqué material. A running stitch is used to sewn down the design and then the laser cuts it out. The laser condenses the edges of the foam making it appear darker, which by happy accident creates a rich, sophisticated effect. Photo courtesy of Henry Bernstein, Hirsch International, Hauppauge, NY
Three-Dimensional The two aspects I like to play with t h e m o s t w h e n experimenting with the embroidery laser has been dimension and texture. Initially, I had an idea to add dimension to an appliqué design using 3D foam. My thought was to stitch down some foam and then lay a fabric over top of it.
So I proceeded to do just that. I chose a tan color 3D foam that I sewed down onto a dark brown velour full-zip jacket. Although originally intended to be just an underlay, when I saw the results of using just 3D foam, I really loved the look.
When a laser cuts, it usually condenses the edges making them slightly darker than the rest of the fabric. The darkened edges in this case really gave the appliqué a rich, sophisticated look. I washed it three times to see if it would hold up and it did.
With today’s laser-cutting capabilities, embroiderers are now able to put themselves in a different class than their competitors. While some creativity, planning, and time needs to be invested in
developing new looks, the payoffs can be huge.
I’ve been in this industry for 30 plus years and until now, I’ve never seen anyone make a living entirely from one singlehead embroidery machine. A singlehead laser changes that. You can honestly buy a singlehead laser and generate enough money out of that machine to create a very nice income with normal working hours.
When you’re trying to make money with an embroidery machine, the ultimate goal is to create a product with the highest perceived value in the shortest production cycle. An embroidery laser allows you to do that.
Appliqué automatically raises the perceived value of a garment, and with an embroidery laser you can move beyond traditional appliqué and create a wide range of new looks. Consumers understand that when a garment is decorated with two or more materials, it requires more handiwork that is tedious and expensive. What the public doesn’t have to know is how fast and easy it is to create sophisticated appliqué with the use of a laser.
One of the biggest advantages of laser appliqué is the ability to use a wider range of fabrics. The most popular fabric for traditional appliqué has always been polyester twill. Why? Because it’s rigid and that stiffness is what makes it manageable to cut and position on the garment. Soft or sheer fabrics are so difficult to use, no one can make money with them.
The embroidery laser has changed all that. A laser can cut anything from lace to leather with the same amount of ease. Fabrics such as jersey knits, felt, faux suede, lamé, and fleece are now routinely being used for appliqués to create dimension and texture.
It’s possible to make appliqué look even more expensive with a variety of materials. On top of that, you can do segment cutting and fine lined details which could never been done before.
I contend that laser technology is so new, we have only begun to scratch the surface of possibilities. But for those of you unfamiliar with laser capabilities, here’s a few examples of the type of looks you can achieve.
April 2012 25Click ads to go directly to advertiser’s web site.HelpCorelDRAW®
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GETTING AHEAD
In terms of profitability, etching may well be the best laser technique to use. It’s fast and uses no consumables. The only disadvantage is it cannot be done on a singlehead laser, because it is not powerful enough. You must use a laser bridge or standalone laser. Photo courtesy of Henry Bernstein, Hirsch International, Hauppauge, NY
Etching is an easy way to add another medium to a garment. For example, create an appliqué and then etch it. You can get greater detail than with embroidery, and it’s much faster to produce. Photo courtesy of Henry Bernstein, Hirsch International, Hauppauge, NY
One of the best fabrics to etch on is polyester fleece. It creates a gorgeous tone-on-tone effect. Photo courtesy of Henry Bernstein, Hirsch International, Hauppauge, NY
EtchingEtching is another great example of a technique that is extremely fast yet has a higher perceived value. When the laser etches a fabric, it is condensing the top layer of the fibers so that they appear darker than the rest of the garment. This creates a nice tone-on-tone effect that is very sophisticated.
It’s production friendly because you don’t need any consumables. No thread, adhesive spray, fabric, stabilizer, nothing. And it’s so fast. It’s possible to etch a full-front design on a garment in about 15 seconds. It’s not only ideal for etching corporate logos and type, but you also can do halftone images like photographs.
Some fabrics etch better than others. The proven fabrics—the ones that really shine with this process—are polyester performancewear and fleece. In general, synthetics do better than natural fibers. Faux suede is another one of my favorites. Just about the only cotton fabric that etches well is denim. With denim, the etching effectively knocks out the indigo dyes leaving a lighter area.
Most colors etch well except for the two extremes: white and black. Etching on these two colors provides a ghost of an image but is not as visible as other colors.
For performancewear, which is touted for its ability to wick moisture away from the body, etching is the perfect solution. Screen printing blocks the ability of the fabric to wick moisture and so does embroidery. If you are embroidering, you have to use stabilizer, which adds to the weight and bulk of the embroidery, which I feel is at cross purposes with what is meant to be a light, breathable, stretchy garment.
The one thing to note with etching, however, is it cannot be done on a singlehead laser. A singlehead is not powerful enough. Etching can be done only on a laser bridge or a standalone laser machine.
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GETTING AHEAD
Distressed appliqué
has become extremely
popular thanks to retail-driven
suppliers such as
Abercrombie and Fitch and Hollister. It’s
fast and easy to do with an embroidery
laser and very profitable.
Photo courtesy of Henry
Bernstein, Hirsch
International, Hauppauge,
NY
DistressedWhen embroidery lasers first came about, the first use was to create traditional appliqué, which means the laser would cut out the shape and the embroidery machine would sew a border around the edges.
It didn’t take long, however, for laser pioneers to find that not sewing a border around the edge, leaving it raw, resulted in a very nice vintage or distressed look. With retro/distressed images exploding in popularity in screen printing, it was a natural segue for the same look to evolve on the embroidery side.
Distressed appliqué is a perfect example of how to achieve a higher perceived value while lessening production time. In most cases distressed lettering is what I call the 10-minute design. The longer a garment runs on the machine, the more money you lose. You can easily spend 10 minutes putting a distressed appliqué on a $2 T-shirt and get $25 for it.
Of course, you can do distressed appliqué without a laser, but it will take at least twice as long, which makes it much less profitable.
MultimediaMany decorators shy away from multimedia citing that they can’t make enough money to account for the increased production time. An embroidery laser speeds up production to the degree that it can be profitable. Just about any screen printed or digitally printed design can be enhanced with laser appliqué, and it can significantly increase the perceived value of the shirt.
While you want to avoid creating designs where printing and appliqué need to be lined up or in registration to one another, it’s easy to add elements like scrolls, hearts, flowers, stars, and similar elements to a background design. You can use such a wide range of fabrics that it makes it easy to add texture and dimension to an otherwise flat design.
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This design incorporates three media. The wings
were printed on a direct-to-
garment printer. Then the heart
and curlicue scrolls were
creating using a combination
of laser-cut appliqué and embroidery.
Photo courtesy of Henry
Bernstein, Hirsch
International, Hauppauge, NY
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GETTING AHEAD
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Multilayers not only add texture and dimension, but also more color. While
multilayers can be tedious to do manually, with an embroidery laser, it’s much
faster and easier and you have a wider
range of fabrics to choose from. Photo courtesy
of Henry Bernstein,
Hirsch International,
Hauppauge, NY
MultiLayersAnother great laser technique to add dimension and texture is to do multilayer appliqués. Again, this technique is really only production friendly and profitable if you can do it with a laser. First off, because you can use a wider range of fabrics so that even with three layers, the design does not have to get overly bulky if you choose lightweight fabrics.
Secondly, you can do each layer without having to stop and reposition the appliqué inside the hoop. With a laser, you start with the largest bottom layer first. After that’s cut, you place a square of fabric over the bottom, the laser cuts it, you weed it in seconds, and place a third layer of fabric over the first two.
Using any other method, this would be time consuming and tedious but with a laser, it’s very efficient. You can mix and match materials as well, which also allows for limitless possibilities and combinations.
I recommend playing with a variety of materials to determine what looks best. Invest in a case of T-shirts and experiment with them every chance you get. I often will go to my local fabric store and just see what’s on sale or on clearance and buy anything that looks interesting to have on hand for when I have the time to play.
About The Cover:
On this month’s cover is a dark brown velour full zip jacket with a logo on the left chest. This logo was created by Henry Bernstein, director, Hirsch Solutions Studio, to show some of the cool special-effect looks that can be done with an embroidery laser.
The actual production of the garment was done by Scott Panich, Embroidery Application Specialist at the Solutions Studio. Panich does the digitizing, embroidering, and the laser cutting.
Bernstein had decided to experiment with 3D foam to add dimension to an embroidered appliqué design. Originally, he thought he’d cover the foam with fabric. He ran his first test sewing down a piece of tan foam with a running stitch and then had the laser cut it out.
Depending on the material, cutting with a laser sometimes will cause the area to darken as it condenses. In this case, the laser turned the tan foam edges an attractive dark brown, which created a nice effect. Bernstein liked it so much, he decided not to put fabric over it.
He also, in effect, invented a new look with an embroidery laser. For Bernstein, who has been working with embroidery lasers going on five years now, the ability to come up with never-before-seen looks is one of its greatest strengths.
The foam also gives the logo a three-dimensional look, which replicates high density screen printing, but without the hassle or the production time and costs associated with it. There are countless new looks waiting to be discovered. All you need is an embroidery laser, an embroidery machine, imagination, and time.
Henry Bernstein is the director of the Hirsch Solutions Studios in Solon, Ohio. He specializes in embroidery lasers and multimedia graphics combining embroidery, laser cutting, direct-to-garment printing, and screen printing. You may contact him at 631-701-2154; e-mail: [email protected] or visit the Web site at www.hic.us.
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SPONSORS: ONLINE EXPOClick these Logo-Links to go directly to sponsor websites
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Find providers of more than 40 graphics services -- from ADA Signage to Transfers. Check out this link:www.graphicservicesguide.com
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Find trade shows and educational programs that can help you expand your business and skills. A complete industry calendar is available at:www.coreldrawpro.com/calendar.htm
To create reverse appliqué, the fabric is
put inside the garment, and the laser cuts
the garment. It’s not a production-friendly
process without a laser, which gives
lasers owners an edge over competition. Photo courtesy of Henry Bernstein,
Hirsch International, Hauppauge, NY
GETTING AHEAD
Reverse AppliquéA reverse appliqué is where instead of putting the appliqué fabric on top of the garment, it’s placed underneath. The design shape is sewn and then the laser cuts the garment, which when weeded away reveals the appliqué fabric underneath.
This is another example of a laser’s advantage. Because you can use almost any type of fabric, it opens the doors to a whole world of new looks. By choosing a patterned fabric, you can match school mascots and colors. If you want to go for a more feminine look, you can use lace or sheer materials. The possibilities are endless. Again, dropping by your local fabric store may actually inspire new ideas.
Everyone is always looking for something new. There’s no better way to capture customers’ dollars than being able to offer it. With an embroidery laser, you can change up traditional designs and looks by simply using different fabrics and combinations, all of which are production friendly to do.
If you’re looking for a way to expand into new markets and increase your sales, an embroidery laser may be just the piece of equipment you need to achieve these goals.
Reverse appliqué opens the doors to endless creative possibilities. Just roaming around your local fabric store might inspire you with ideas. Photo courtesy of Henry Bernstein, Hirsch International, Hauppauge, NY
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SPONSORS: MAGAZINEClick these Logo-Links to go directly to sponsor websites
These are the proud sponsors of CorelDRAWHelp magazine. Be sure to thank these companies for bringing you this magazine free of charge.
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The Association of CorelDRAW® Professionals is The Education & Business Resource for CorelDRAW Users Worldwide. Its goals: 1) IMPROVE your CorelDRAW skills, and 2) MAKE MONEY with those skills! All CorelDRAW users are invited to join!
THE WORLD’S ONLY ASSOCIATION FOR CORELDRAW® USERSINVITES YOU TO LEARN! APPLY! GROW! WITH CORELDRAW!
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All users of CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite are qualified to subscribe FREE to CorelDRAWHelp magazine (PDF format) and CorelDRAWHelp E-News.To subscribe, simply visit CorelDRAWHelp.com and sign up!
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GSG Basic Listing. You can list your services in the Graphic Services Guide in one category as part of membership (a $25 value).
Access to QuickLearn. A keyword searchable database of 100s of articles on CorelDRAW, graphics production, and business.
Access to QuickTnT. A growing data-base of CorelDRAW tips, and templates that can be downloaded to speed up your production.
Access to Archives. Past issues of CorelDRAWPro are available to members with live links.
Bookstore Discounts. Members re-ceive a 10% discount on all products in the CorelDRAWPro Bookstore.
Classified Ads. Members can place one classified ad a year at no charge with photo, and run it till the item is sold! (a $35 value).
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Email Consultations. Two free email consultations per year for any CorelDRAW issues not covered on the videos.
ACDRP, 4549 N. Glenn Ave., Ste. 110, Fresno, CA 93704, 800-276-8428, Fax 559-222-1390, www.coreldrawhelp.com
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April 2012 31Click ads to go directly to advertiser’s web site.HelpCorelDRAW®
MARKETING SECRETSBy Donna M. Gray, CRM
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Building Strong RelationshipsSpring came early to the Midwest this year. We’ve had above average temperatures since early March. I’ve been hearing from industry friends that our busy season may have started early! Like us, their businesses are getting a flurry of orders. What a great problem to have!
While my husband, Dave, and I were at a recent trade show, another industry friend asked, “How can we create better relationships with customers?” So, this past week, (while I was at home taking a sick day, whining and complaining about the lady who sneezed at me on the plane trip home), I spent some time thinking about ways to create stronger customer relationships, and find ways to ensure customer loyalty towards our businesses. Here are 12 ideas that I thought might make a difference in our customer happiness and retention:
• Talk to our customers. Dave has always preached that the KIT (Keep In Touch) method works better than anything else in building powerful relationships. Nowadays, with all the competition from outside our usual trade area, the best investment a company can make is keeping in touch.
• Put together a regular cycle of contact so that we’ll know if an issue arises, and so we’ll have the opportunity to strengthen our business/client relationship. Even when it’s not time for the customer to buy, stay in touch so that your company will remain “top of mind” when they are ready. Make every customer interaction count. Use the telephone, email, social media like Facebook or LinkedIn…whatever works. Spend time, in person, visiting their place of business. Invite them to your business for coffee, take them out. Entertain them at home. Regular face-to-face contact is critical. Spend time in a non-sales environment, in
a non-sales capacity. When I was growing up (in a family-owned business environment), my dad and mom frequently entertained their best customers at dinner at our home.
• Ask for feedback before, during, and after the selling process. Hopefully our customers will be completely honest about their perceptions of our selling process, and of our work. Ask them if there’s anything that your company should consider changing to satisfy their needs. This will let them know that your company really cares about them.
• Keep promises. Be reliable. If you say an order will be ready on Monday, no matter what, make sure that order is ready on Monday. Deliver what you
promise. I’ve said this many times…if something goes wrong…let the customer know and then do the best thing to make it good. This makes for credibility and gives the customer a good experience, even though the product may not be exactly what was planned on.
• Make sure our customers are convinced that what they get from us, and our products and services, are better than they can get any place else, and offer the value they have come to expect.
• Make it convenient. Many of our customers shop with us either early in the morning, during their lunch hour, or after work. We open at 8:30 AM, however, if one of us is at the store earlier, we answer phones and invite customers to come right in if they need us then. I, personally, do not like going to a store that is set to open at a certain time, and waiting out in the cold while the managers and clerks wait out the time until the clock says time to open. I wonder why they think their standing and chatting together is more important than my business??? So I say, make it convenient…open when you get to work…give the customer the benefit of the day and it will come back to your company in good things.
• Make sure our customers know how important their business is to us, and that they are appreciated.
• Follow up. The absolutely best way to build strong customer relationships is to follow up and stay in contact. When a customer walks out the door, we should be making our follow-up plans. We need to make sure they got what was expected from the products and/or services we provided. Calling or emailing to them assures them that we care and that we value the relationship. An “after connection” also gives you the chance to get future sales, sooner rather than later.
We have to spend the time to build,
cultivate and nurture our own
powerful business/client relationships.
We have to treat customers with the
highest respect.
April 2012 32Click ads to go directly to advertiser’s web site.HelpCorelDRAW®
MARKETING SECRETS
• Celebrate with them. Keep track of and acknowledge each client’s anniversary date with your company. Send them an anniversary card that lets them know how important their relationship is to your business.
• Use the personal touch. People buy from people. Stephen Capper, of A-1 Awards in Indianapolis, IN, has taught and written about this for years. People buy from those they trust. If we’re supportive and helpful with anyone coming into our store, calling us on the phone, sending us an email, or visiting our web sites, people will remember the experience they had with the business. It’s all about how we make them feel…smiling as we greet them, saying welcome to our store, going the extra mile to get and give them information. It all counts towards the trust issue.
• Host regular seminars, breakfasts and lunches. We recently hosted a local chamber for a one hour “Trade Show 101” breakfast seminar. We, just like the other times we’ve done this, brought in a good friend and business coach to share tips for trade show success. Not only was this event very well attended, we, again, ended up making some good sales to new customers. Another good feature of this kind of event is that several of the attendees had some good networking opportunities that they thanked us for.
• Take good clients to appropriate networking events. I belong to a women’s group that is referred to as the power women of Wisconsin…and it is. I frequently take a good customer to a program that is appealing to him or her. This often ends in the customer making new business connections. They usually end up sharing great referrals with me, and allowing me to use them as the catalyst in a new connection for our business. It’s always a win, win, win, when you give, give, give.
While I already knew this to be true, I read recently in an ezine article, that “The lifeblood of any business is customer retention/customer loyalty. Every customer
relationship begins with a human connection. It’s an attitude, not a department.” We have to cultivate and nurture our relationships with existing customers to keep them coming back for more. We can’t underestimate their value…and their reach in bringing new customers to us.
Money can’t buy customer relationships. Powerful relationships don’t just happen from meetings and networking events. We have to spend the time to build, cultivate and nurture our own powerful business/client relationships. We have to treat customers with the highest respect. We, and all those who work with us, have to be committed to sharing their knowledge, and giving the very best service…even more than expected.
Dave tells the old joke that someone asked me what time it was and I built them a watch…well…did I answer my industry friend’s question...”How can we create better relationships with our customers?” I hope so, and in writing this, I also remembered lots of things I’m going to do!
Donna Gray is the president of Total Awards, Promotions, & Gift (aka AwardsMall.com) in Madison, Wis. She and her husband Dave have run their full service awards and personalization business since1977. She has presented seminars nationwide, won awards as Business Woman of the Year, Retail Marketer of the Year, and Sam Walton Business Leadership Award. She is also the author of two books on family business, It’s All Relative! Surviving & Thriving in A Family Business (2007), and Never Quit: The Ups & Downs of Running a Family Business (2004). She has earned professional credentials as a Certified Recognition Master. She can be reached by email at [email protected].
Donna Gray’s 2nd book, It’s All Relative! Surviving &
Thriving in a Family Business, was published in September 2007.
It describes her quest to identify the keys to success for small business, and family businesses in par-ticular. She interviewed top businesses nationwide and discovered five common qualities implemented by successful business owners. Check it out at the CorelDRAWPro Bookstore, www.coreldrawpro.com/AllBookstore.htm
PRODUCT FOCUS: LASER WOOD
Laser Wood Sheets and Frames Count on Johnson Plastics, with headquarters in Minneapolis, MN, and multiple warehouses nationwide, for laser-friendly Alder wood sheets and photo frames for unique signage and personalized framing applications. Made of real wood, the Alder sheets are available in two sizes: 4” x 24” x 1/8” and 4” x 12” x 3/32” and come 20 sheets per package. Great for gifts and special occasions, the Alder wood photo frames are a wonderful way to add a personalized touch to photos. They come in two sizes: 7” x 9” and 11” x 13” and can be uniquely decorated using JP’s colored laser foils. For more information, call Johnson Plastics at 1-800-869-7800 or go to www.johnsonplastics.com.INSTANT INFO
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Donna Gray is the president of Total Awards, Promotions, & Gift (aka AwardsMall.com) in Madison, Wis. She and her husband Dave have run their full service awards and personalization business since 1977. She has presented seminars on a variety of topics nationwide, and has won many marketing awards. She is the author of two books on family business, and can be reached at [email protected].
Bill Leek of Houston, TX has over 30 years experience in computer engineering and graphics design. He has developed several lines of color imprintable products, and does testing on a variety of products for different manufacturers. He can be reached at [email protected] or 281-257-0695.
Jeff McDaniel is the owner of Creative Graphic in Philomath, Oregon. He worked as a journeyman machinist before getting into the graphic products business. Creative Graphic offers laser engraving, rotary engraving, sandblasting, sublimation, image transfers, vinyl signs, banners, screen printing, and promotional products. Jeff routinely applies graphics to a wide variety of materials. Contact him at [email protected].
John McDaniel is the co-owner of JHM Marketing in Albany, OR, which provides consulting and training services for the industry. He worked for many years with computers in electronic data processing and pioneered the use of CorelDraw for engraving applications. He owned a retail personalized gift shop for over ten years, and writes about hardware design, software, laser engraving, sublimation, and more. He is a Corel Training Partner, and co-founder of the Association of CorelDRAW Professionals. For information on training and more, call 541-967-4271, or write to [email protected].
Judy McDaniel is the co-owner of JHM Marketing in Albany, OR, which provides consulting and training services for the industry. Her background includes many forms of art and retail sales, as well as the operation of a retail personalized gift shop for over ten years. She is a regular columnist on sandblasting, sublimation, and diversifying business, as well as a Corel Training Partner, and co-founder of the Association of CorelDRAW Professionals. She can be reached at 541-967-4271, fax 541-967-4272, or via email at [email protected].
Mike Neer is the editor of CorelDRAWHelp magazine and Executive Director of ACDRP. He has more than 25 years experience in writing and publishing in the personalized products industries. He is the author of the CD, Creative Showroom Display, and the booklet, The Professional Edge. He can be reached at the ACDRP office in Fresno, Calif., at 800-276-8428 or [email protected].
Deborah Sexton, former editor of Impressions Magazine, has been in the apparel graphics industry since 1981. She currently does marketing and public relations for apparel graphics companies, and is a columnist for several industry publications.. She can be reached at [email protected].
Otis Veteto is a sales consultant with more than 30 years experience in the awards and promotional products industry. He offers the “PROspective” of a veteran sales rep in reporting on ideas, people and places that he visits. Otis also presents sales and motivation seminars for industry organizations. He can be reached in Sacramento, CA – when not on the road – at 916-396-3009. Or email [email protected].
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by Otis Veteto
Traveling Tidbits
Otis Veteto has more than 30 years experience in the industry and is currently
a consultant. He offers the “PROspective” of a veteran
sales rep in reporting on ideas, people and places that he
visits. Otis also presents sales and motivation seminars for industry organizations. He
can be reached in Sacramento, CA – when not on the road
– at 916-396-3009. Or email [email protected]
Frances Nguyen, Donna Gray, MaryAnne Bobrow, & Mother’s Day
Golden Awards in Westminster, CA I was in Southern California recently, and made a cold call on Golden Awards in Westminster, CA. I had the pleasure of speaking with Frances The-Thuy Nguyen, who, along with her husband, Tony Hoai, owns Golden Awards. Frances is a good example of the type of person who makes my job such a pleasure. Even though she did not know I was coming, or did not even know me, she graciously spent some time, going over the lines and products I represent. Frances is the first Vietnamese-American President of the Westminster Chamber of Commerce. She has served the community as president since 2008. Even though it is sometimes difficult being a business owner and Chamber President, Frances believes being part of the mainstream Westminster community is very important for Vietnamese-American businesses to flourish. Tony started Golden Awards in 1983 and Frances joined him in 1990. They started out as a small trophy shop, and have expanded into a full-service trophy and awards store. Thank you Frances, for taking some of your valuable time for this humble “road warrior”.
Donna Gray (Madison, WI) wins award A Traveling Tidbits congratulations to Donna Gray, President of Total Awards & Promotions/Awards Mall in Madison, Wisconsin. Donna was presented the 2012 Governor’s Trailblazer Award for Women in Business, at an awards ceremony at the Wisconsin State Capitol. The award was presented by Governor Scott Walker, and Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch and the Wisconsin Women’s Council. The Governor’s Trailblazer Awards recognize the rich legacy and deep roots of women’s business ownership in Wisconsin. Besides being President of Total Awards & Promotions, Donna is very, very involved with the Recognition Roundtable, Awards and Recognition Association, and her community. She also writes a columns for two industry magazines, Recognition Review and CorelDRAWHelp. She is the author of 2 books, and is currently working on her 3rd. Donna was presented the prestigious Founders Award by
the Awards and Recognition Association, and was named the 2009 Speaker of the Year for the A.R.A. I consider Donna a valued associate, and am proud to call her my friend.
MaryAnne Bobrow from Citrus Hts., CA Another Traveling Tidbits congratulation goes out to MaryAnne Bobrow, President of Bobrow and Associates in Citrus Heights, California. MaryAnne was presented the very prestigious MPI RISE AWARD for 2011 Meeting Professional International Member of the Year. The award was given out at the MPI annual meeting in Orlando, Florida. “The award is given to an exceptional MPI member who through their volunteer efforts has made outstanding grassroots contributions and demonstrated unparalleled commitment to the advancement of a chapter club, community or region”….Whew! I know MaryAnne through the Promotional Marketing Association of Northern California, where she is the Executive Director. Mother’s Day Next month (May), contains one of my favorite recognition days…..Mother’s Day, thanks to a West Virginia woman, Anna Jarvis. Anna campaigned vigorously for a national day to focus on the importance of the mother in the family. In 1914, because of Anna’s strong commitment and campaigning, President Woodrow Wilson signed into law the creation of a National Mother’s Day. Interestingly, the holiday became a very commercialized (like all holidays) event, and Anna was actually arrested once for protesting the commercialization of the very holiday she helped create. Of course, Mother’s Day has developed into one of the most loved of all holidays.
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO ALL YOU WONDERFUL MOMS EVERYWHERE!
That’s all for now. Remember to save some time for yourself, and your family. And when you travel, please travel safe.