Millcraft Paper Company

QR Codes - the Latest Wedding "Must Have"

2012-02-12T10:33:00.004-05:00

An article in this Sunday's NY Times highlights what could become the latest trend for the ever growing wedding industry - QR CODES. For the couple to be, it affords all the benefits of technology and its perks for planning the big day - easily recording and organizing responses, automatically adding the big date to guests outlook calendar, keeping vendors instantly updated with the ever fluctuating rsvp list, and insuring out of town guests know exactly how to get to all the weekend's festivites with maps and driving directions. QR Codes provide every bridezilla the opportunity to dazzle friends with their tech savviness combined with modern designed aesthtic in a sleek, and customizable code.

As someone who admittedly is paper biased, I appreciate the idea of blending QR Code technology into the wedding mix. Most couples only think about the invitation itself, carefully selecting a true felt, deckle edge sheet and applying the finest of printing techniques - like engraving or letterpress - to announce the big day to all their friends and family, only to cheapen the experience by inserting a flimsy, unattractive, 3x5 piece of 20# copy paper with a map and driving directions printed on the back.

Apparently the folks at Crane & Co., the 211 year old paper maker who is synonomous with wedding invitations, is taking the trend seriously. They are offering QR Codes across all five types of printing processes for invitations this fall. Check out the complete NY Times article here. And for those of you interested seeing some of the types of Crane & Co. papers you can print your next invitation on, request a sample of your favorite sheet through our online sample studio.

Mohawk Promotion Features Peter Ross Photography

2012-01-17T12:35:00.005-05:00

Beautiful black and white photography. Stark white backgrounds. Subjects interacting in unexpected ways with a table that could probably tell its own stories. Luscious vellum paper for a warm feel that complements the sentiments surrounding each portrait’s opinion on five desirable dinner companions. All presented in a folio sized, folded format that begs to be opened.

That’s the new Fall 2011 Peter Ross Photography promotion: a twenty-page, tabloid-sized collection from his Table series. Designed by VSA Partners in New York and printed by The Fox Company in West Allis, WI, this surprisingly simple but gorgeous marketing piece is sure to generate some business.

Request your own copy of this gorgeous photo catalog from our sample studio.

Dispelling the Rumor Mill

2012-01-11T12:04:00.004-05:00

With 140 years in the business, French Paper thought it was time to clear up some of the presumptions about their small paper mill. Dispelling the Rumor Mill is the newest promotion designed to set the record straight about how, why and where French's paper are made.

Produced as a 5.5" square accordian fold brochure (and housed in French's 6" square envelope), all that's missing is the postage. Designed by CSA Design in Minneapolis, MN, printed on assorted Pop-Tone colors. Separate Fact from Rumor, and request your copy from our sample studio today.

QR Codes & Beer - What's Not to Love?

2012-01-05T09:17:00.005-05:00

A special thanks to @JasonPinto for his post in QReate & Track about how Samuel Adams used QR Codes to make coasters interactive:

Created by CustomerBarCoasters, the flip coaster creates a never ending loop and contains a QR Code that offers a discount to a set of glasses. The origami coaster captures attention and allows the coaster to have much more information, all in a creative package.

The Paperless Society (or not)

2012-01-04T13:48:00.003-05:00

We saw this over at Print Media Centr and found the results to be somewhat ironic. Does anyone else find it interesting that 63%of 18-29 yr. olds believe the U.S. will never be a paperless society?

According to the survey, conducted by Poll Position 56% of Americans said they don’t think the U.S. will ever be a paperless society, while 20% said yes, one day we’ll all go paperless. Twenty-four percent of Americans were undecided or had no opinion on the question.

Learn more about the poll here.

To Print or Not to Print?

2011-11-10T10:05:00.001-05:00

A few posts back we mentioned the PAPER because campaign our friends at Domtar launched. Well, they've got this great infographic that addresses the issue of to print or not to print.

We've all seen the environmnetal tags at the bottom of a sender's email urging the recipient to "consider the environment before printing." What does that even mean anyway? Well fret no more, Domtar breaks it down in this great infographic:

Learn more and get some good tips for lowering the environmental impact of print and digital at pixelandprintlogic.com

Starbucks Red Cups Come to Life with Augmented Reality

2011-11-09T16:28:00.004-05:00

Starbucks is launching its first major augmented reality app this holiday season that will let customers animate their coffee cups with their smartphones.

Starbucks Cup Magic launches for iPhone and Android devices in the U.S. next Tuesday. (In Canada, just the iPhone version will launch.) As demonstrated in the video above, the app works by pointing your phone’s camera at the company’s red holiday season coffee cups and 47 additional objects, such as bags of coffee, on display at Starbucks retail locations.

Doing so will produce animations involving five characters — an ice skater, a squirrel, a boy and a dog sledding and a fox — on your screen. You can also interact with the characters. For instance, if you tap the boy on the sled he does a somersault. Those who activate all five characters can qualify to win an as-yet-unnamed prize.

The app also includes traditional and social sharing capabilities. You can the send ecards as well as holiday offers from Starbucks, among other things.

Read more here.

One Way to Manage Your To-Do List (or not)

2011-11-09T09:40:00.005-05:00

Last year one of our suppliers, Domtar, launched the PAPER because campaign. It's purpose is to highlight the key role paper plays in our lives and the reasons why it’s an environmentally sound choice. The site is chock full of great information, useful tools, and some really witty videos. Check out one of them, called "The To-Do List."

Neenah Relaunches Classic Flagship Brand

2011-10-03T13:07:00.006-04:00

Do you find selecting a paper for your projects overwhelming? Well the folks at Neenah Paper are proving that it doesn’t have to be. Neenah has updated and simplified the paper selection process by refreshing all four of its CLASSIC® Papers brands, including CLASSIC CREST®, CLASSIC® Linen, CLASSIC COLUMNS® and CLASSIC® Laid Papers.

Neenah’s extensive customer focused research identified the increasing project demands falling on designers, making efficiency a top priority when choosing paper for print projects. Hence the newly updated CLASSIC brands provide a simplified platform of premium papers that are complete, consistent and compatible. The revision focuses on these key components:

• Ten common colors are now offered across all six paper finishes common to the four CLASSIC brands. These additions allow each brand to work seamlessly together to deliver countless design alternatives and combinations.
• Digital printing papers expanded across all finishes in the 10 common colors. This makes the CLASSIC Digital Papers the most expansive offering in the marketplace.
• Common green certifications across all four brands – FSC® certified, Green-e certified and made Carbon Neutral Plus. Recycled papers are made with a minimum of 30 and 100 percent post-consumer fiber, and are Green Seal™ Certified.
• Heavier cover weights featured across all 10 common colors.
• Two NEW finishes – Eggshell and Stipple – added to the popular CLASSIC CREST® brand.

Using the 10 common colors, or the” Perfect 10,” Design Army, an created new paper swatchbooks for each of the four CLASSIC brands. “We designed the swatchbooks to present the brands as a family while preserving their unique individualism, as well as to bring them to life in a new and compelling way,” said Jake Lefebure, co-founder of Design Army. “When people get the new swatchbooks and Perfect 10 book in their hands, it’s going to be really hard for them to let them go.”

To help celebrate the CLASSIC revitalization, Neenah launched the CLASSIC® Papers Treasure Contest, offering designers and printers the chance to win a classic new car. The contest runs Oct. 3, 2011 – April 30, 2012. The “Perfect 10” winners will be selected from the entries, the Grand-Prize Winner can choose from a 2012 Ford Mustang, a 2012 Volkswagen Bug or $15,000 cash, and each of the remaining nine finalists will win $500.

Kemps adds, “We’re launching the contest in conjunction with the CLASSIC revision to build excitement while demonstrating the benefits of the paper brand’s evolution. Printers and designers will be thrilled with the new CLASSIC brands’ features and the contest provides the perfect incentive with a Ford Mustang or Volkswagen Bug, also classic and evolving brands, as the top prize.”

To learn more about how to enter Neenah's CLASSIC® Papers Treasure Contest, click here.

Neenah Revolutionizes the Swatch Cabinet

2011-09-23T07:30:00.001-04:00

As a former paper spec rep, I know how challenging it can be for designers to keep up to date on their swatch cabinet. You rely on your paper rep, and its not that we don't try to bring you the latest and greatest from the mills as soon as they are available - that's relatively easy. It gets a little tougher when a new swatch book is released, and maybe it's only available to the paper merchant in a limited quantity and immediately goes on back order with the mill - that's when trying to stay current becomes a job in itself. Well, all I can say is THANK YOU NEENAH!

Our friends at Neenah Paper are revolutionizing the world of paper specification with their new online tool: Cabinet. This app brings powerful paper tools right to your desktop, making paper and envelope specification more convenient and more creative. It’s not designed to replace your Neenah swatchbooks - or spec rep, it’s designed to help us work better.

Cabinet gives you intuitive ways to find papers beyond any website. You can compare, search, filter and even mark your favorites. And because Cabinet automatically updates itself over the Internet, you know you always have the right information, right at your fingertips - no more swatch books on backorder!

There are more features to this tool than I can possibly list here,(and all of them very cool), suffice it to say that if you know how to use a swatch book, you'll find Cabinet just as accessible and easy to use.

This isn't replacing your paper rep, we're still here to help you narrow your focus, mock up dummies, and get you real LIVE paper samples. Cabinet just helps us reach more of you, faster and with the most current info available - think of it as your virtual Millcraft/Neenah paper rep. Now the only question is, who's going to bring the donuts? If you'd like more info on Cabinet and how you can get it, click here.

Millcraft Paper Hosts "Creative Ties" Event

2011-09-15T10:00:00.000-04:00

On Thursday, September 29th, Millcraft Paper's Cincinnati division is hosting their 2011 Paper Showcase. This year we will be calling it “Creative Ties.” Nothing ties your creative project together better than printing on great paper.

Create your own tie from our paper stock or use one of our ties. Winner of the best tie gets a special prize!

To learn more about the event, visit our facebook page.

French Paper Celebrates 140 Years

2011-09-14T09:49:00.003-04:00

If you haven't heard, 2011 is French Paper's 140th Anniversary, and they're taking all year to celebrate. Based in Niles, Michigan, French has been a longstanding supplier to Millcraft, helping us support the graphic design community throughout the Midwest.

After 140 years, French still believes that uncoated papers are the best, most environmentally friendly way for designers and clients to reach their audiences. Like Millcraft, French has been a champion of sustainability long before it became a "corporate initiative," running on their own hydroelectric power since 1922. So we were thrilled to learn French featured Millcraft's video from our "Do You Know The Facts?" campaign, in their recent newsletter.

We're excited to help the gang at French celebrate 140 years, so we're giving away 5 of their commemorative posters to our facebook fans. If you know who was president the year French Paper was founded, post the answer on our facbook page, and we'll announce the winners later this week.

New Mohawk Promotion Offers Similarities Between Golf and Print

2011-09-13T11:10:00.005-04:00

Have you ever thought of golf as being a lot like printing? Well the folks at Mohawk think there's a lot of similarities and just released a new print promotion entitled "A Simple Game - a Visual Guide to Running on Inxwell" to illustrate it.

Printed by UniqueActive Graphics, this clear, concise tool was designed by VSA Partners, Chicago, to introduce the benefits of Inxwell to a new generation of designers and printers while showcasing how beautifully Mohawk Navajo and Mohawk Options print.

Throughout the piece you'll see how the patented Inxwell technology allows the sheet to hold more ink on its surface, giving you sharper and brighter results. The process touts its advantages for printers as well, noting the sheet allows for getting up to color faster- wasting less time and paper in make-ready.

Featuring fun little quips from the game like a tip from Ben Hogan, to real world tips for great press performance - like how produce clean and sharp print results by tweaking ink densities and opening up curves. Request your copy of A Simple Game -a Visual Guide to Running on Inxwell, by visiting Millcraft's online sample studio.

Featured on two of Mohawk's flagship grades: Navajo and Options, Inxwell combines "incredible ink fidelity with the lush tactile feel of premium uncoated paper." The best part, Millcraft stocks both of these grades. With Options available in digital sizes for smaller runs and Navajo on our floor in folio sizes - we give you plenty of Inxwell choices. To place an order or view our availability, open an account at mymillcraft.

The Next Chapter for NewPage

2011-09-08T11:10:00.003-04:00

On September 7, 2011, NewPage and some of its subsidiaries began voluntary proceedings under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. Canadian subsidiary NewPage Port Hawkesbury Corp. has brought proceedings before the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act of Canada. So what does this really mean?

By voluntarily filing for Chapter 11, New Page is able to restructure its debt while continuing to operate business as usual, honoring their employee and customer obligations. NewPage has secured up to $600 million in debt financing commitments to ensure no disruptions throughout the process.

The restructuring was necessary due to the large debt the company incurred with the purchase of the North American division of Stora Enso in December 2007. Like many American companies, NewPage has not been immune to the effects of the Great Recession. Amid lower demand for coated paper and rising raw-materials costs, including increased prices for fuel and chemicals, NewPage was saddled with interest payments of $1MM per day. Due to this cash flow restraint, NewPage determined restructuring became the most effective means of strengthening its business.

Currently, NewPage is the largest coated paper manufacturer in North America, producing over 4 million tons of capacity annually. With $3.6 billion in net sales, it is currently one of the better performing mills in terms of EBITDA in the U.S. NewPage expects to complete its restructuring and emerge as a financially stronger company, better positioned for long-term success.

The company fully intends to make and deliver its products as usual at all of its U.S. locations. Couriers and third-party logistics partners were brought into the discussion prior to their filing Chapter 11. NewPage took steps to improve operations prior to filing, including the decision to exit the newsprint business and therefore put Port Hawkesbury up for sale.

NewPage, headquartered in Miamisburg, Ohio, traces its roots to two paper mills established in 1888 by William Luke along the Potomac River in Maryland, and will continue to be a long term key supplier on the future.

For more information on the restructuring plan for NewPage, visit www.newpagerestructuring.com

Neenah Promotion From the Heart of the Southwest

2011-08-18T10:34:00.000-04:00

For all those fans of print and beautiful text and cover papers, this one's for you. Neenah Paper has a brand new print promotion titled "SUNDANCE Papers, From the Heart of the American Southwest." This beautiful promotion offers a look at the unique region that is the inspiration behind SUNDANCE Papers.

Neenah utilized Farmhouse Design studio in Atlanta to create the piece. According to Neenah's blog, Farmhouse's strategy was "to play up the brand’s Southwestern ties through its name, while promoting four cornerstones of the Sundance value statement. In this promotion, designer Ellie McKenzie and writer Robin Salter take us to the Four Corners Monument in the heart of the American Southwest. The precise geological point where New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado intersect. Here, they unfold the Sundance story: performance, color, texture and versatility."

Like the American Southwest, SUNDANCE Papers are characteristically unique. Hard working, versatile, and beautiful, it's easy to see the similarity to such a diverse region.

"We wanted to tell the story of American Southwest through a mix of printing, foil stamping and embossing, photography and illustration. Farmhouse Design Studio really explored aspects of SUNDANCE Papers that are shared with this unique region," explains Kristin Carpenter, design manager at Neenah Paper.

Check out Millcraft's list of stocked text and cover papers, including Sundance here.

Want to get your very own copy of this promotion? Post a pic of your work featuring one of Neenah's papers on our facebook page along with a brief description - and we'll send you a copy while supplies last.

Domtar Promotion - Lynx on Tap

2011-08-04T10:20:00.003-04:00

Domtar served up a new print promotion for Lynx Opaque Ultra titled Lynx On Tap. This beer-themed brochure is filled to the brim with mouth-watering imagery, fun brew graphics and custom detailing that will have you asking for another round. Chock-full of rich imagery and custom illustration, Lynx On Tap shows the full range of color and ink hold-out that you’ve come to expect from Lynx Opaque Ultra.

Belly up to the bar, and order to copy of the promotion from Millcraft's online sample studio.

Designer Quick Poll - FSC Logo

2011-07-28T13:11:00.001-04:00

Print Design Garners 93% of All Media Created

2011-07-19T10:21:00.005-04:00

According to a recent survey conducted by Graphic Design USA, print and collateral continue to anchor the business of graphic design. Nine of ten GDUSA readers work in Print as part of their mix, and print projects represent the majority of work for most designers. Online Design came in second, with 71% followed by Package (58%), POP/Signage (48%), and Motion (24%).

Here's a look at the most popular types of print projects that designers who participated in the survey worked on this past year:

1. BROCHURES/COLLATERAL
2. DIRECT MAIL/DIRECT RESPONSE
3. SALES PROMOTION
4. IDENTITY/LETTERHEAD
5. PRINT ADVERTISING
6. CARDS/INVITES/ANNOUNCEMENTS
7. POSTERS
8. PACKAGING/POP
9. PUBLICATIONS/PERIODICALS
10. ANNUAL & CORPORATE REPORTS

Want to learn more about design trends? Sign up to receive our newsletter, Full Circle.

Buying Decisions Prevents 4.7MM in Greenhouse Gas Emissions

2011-07-14T06:00:00.000-04:00

We have great customers. Collectively they made the decision to purchase over 32 Million lbs. of PCW recycled paper - a 15% increase over their 2009 PCW purchases. That's a lot of trees they saved - 46,290 to be exact. But it doesn't stop there, check out the infographic detailing Millcraft Customer's Environmental Savings:

Want to see what your eco-savings are? Check out Millcraft's eco-calculator

Crazy for Letterpress? There's an App for that

2011-07-13T09:35:00.009-04:00

LetterMpress™ is a new iPad application that gives users the virtual experience of working with the vintage letterpress wood type, art cuts, and printing press techniques. For those who love paper, printing and ink, this new app is a must download.

We first learned of this great little tool on the Neenah Paper blog, Users will enjoy an experience that includes selecting and placing the wood type and carved block imagery on the press bed, mixing your colors and the delight of “hand-cranking” the vintage Vandercook letterpress to print upon the printed page.Check out this short video showing hand-typesetting, printing press action, color inks, paper color choices, sharing via email and facebook.

And if you are looking for the perfect paper to print your next letterpress job on, select one from Millcraft's assortment of beautiful, toothy, text and cover papers. You can request sample sheets from our online sample studio.

Forest Ethics Grades Fortune 500 Paper Use - Credit Card, Insurance, & Telecom

2011-07-07T15:01:00.007-04:00

Today ForestEthics released its 2011 Green Grades Report Card, ranking a dozen U.S. Fortune 500 companies that impact forests through heavy paper use. Now in its 5th year, Green Grades has established itself as a key information source for consumers and companies seeking to match environmental values with paper purchasing and business decisions.

This year Green Grades focuses on companies in the credit card, insurance and telecom sectors – a group characterized by heavy paper consumption, including direct mail marketing. The following companies are graded: American Express, AT&T, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Discover, GEICO, Sprint, State Farm, Travelers, USAA, and Verizon.

As usual, ForestEthics has some harsh words for the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) calling the groups efforts "the most common form of greenwash," chastising their logo as misleading, and calling out Fortune 500's utilizing SFI certified paper as part of their environmental strategy as faulty. To view the entire report, click here.

Are you a printer struggling with decision to become FSC/SFI certified or rethinking your efforts to maintain this certification? Click here - we'll be publishing the findings in an upcoming post.

Printer Relevancy Determined by Innovation, Pricing, and Production

2011-06-22T09:51:00.003-04:00

So it's no secret that print demand is changing - to stay relevant printers need to adapt to these changes. Preferably this happens sooner rather than later if a printer has any hopes to maintain or grow its market share. Infotrends came out with new findings from a study “Production Print Services in North America: An Evolution in Progress.” The study shows how evolving behavior by customers and pricing demands are determining the future for print service providers.

By now, printers know they need to be cost effective in order to win/retain business, but it doesn't stop there. The best price is not everything. The industry has gotten really good at teaching customers how to treat it, price alone is not good enough - not if you want to be around for the long haul. PSPs also need to continue the push to showcase innovative solutions all while maintaining productivity for their own well being. The study shows that In-Plants really need to heed this insight as they were the hardest hit during the economic downturn but the least likely to adapt new capabilities and offerings.

Demand for value add services (like CRM, web hosting, e-comm.) will grow 18% by 2013 according to the survey. Pay per Print establishments are more likely to reinvest in their businesses, focusing on segments like marketing professionals in addition to traditional print buyers. Digital will continue to cannibalize offset as demand increases for shorter run, full color production. The kicker is that both offset and digital are not seeing revenue growth which may result in further market consolidation. To read the entire article and its findings, click here.

Paper Choice and QR Codes - A Great Combination

2011-06-17T11:08:00.004-04:00

This is such a great example of how to use QR Codes and Paper to get your message noticed - in this case an interview with a highly coveted employer - by the way, he got the internship at said agency.

QR CODE - Content-rich Resume from Victor petit on Vimeo.

Paper Truths

2011-06-08T12:25:00.007-04:00

Think you're pretty savvy when it comes to environmentally friendly paper options? Checkout Domtar's paper advocacy campaign, PaperBecause. I'm in the industry and like to think I'm pretty well versed when it comes to sustainability and paper, but I have to say I learned some things about the paper manufacturing process and sustainability that I didn't know before visiting this site. For example, which is better for the environment using paper with virgin fiber or recycled content? The answer isn't quite the no-brainer it seems.

According to PaperBecause.com "Virgin fiber harvested using recognized third-party certified sustainable forestry practices is as environmentally sound as the use of recycled fiber. While recycled paper does reduce waste paper going to landfill, paper’s full life cycle must be considered – not just the fiber source. Domtar favors the use of Life Cycle Management concepts to determine where and when it is appropriate to use recycled fiber in the papermaking process.

Recent peer-reviewed Life Cycle Management studies have demonstrated that the environmental benefits of recycled fiber in the production of business papers can vary greatly depending on the source of the paper being recycled, its prior destination (landfill or another use), and the facility where it is being recycled into new paper (trucking distances and the facilities’ impact on climate change).

There are intrinsic limitations to the use of recycled fiber that make the need for virgin fiber inevitable. These include the loss of yield and strength during the repulping and deinking processes, as well as increased yield loss as the fiber is recycled again and again. Generally, fiber can be recycled no more than five to seven times.

Domtar supports the collection and use of recycled fiber, especially in the case of certain ideally-suited paper applications, such as single use products (e.g. tissue), short-lived products (e.g. newsprint) or products that do not require high optical surface quality (e.g. containerboard, wallboard, etc.). Not all categories of paper can be recycled for use in printing and writing grades.

Both recycled and virgin fiber have their purpose and justification. The paper industry can use all of the recycled fiber available. But the recycled paper industry depends on virgin fiber. We’re all part of the same cycle."

That last sentence is the one to remember the next time your specifying paper - to see what's available in Life Cycle Managed papers by Domtar check out our eco-friendly paper guide.

Attention Non-Profits: Want to Increase Online Donations? Use Direct Mail

2011-05-20T09:32:00.007-04:00

It's no secret the economic downturn has been especially hard on non-profits - budgets have been slashed and many long standing donors are unable to contribute at the levels they once had. That's why it's so important for charitable groups to get the most bang for their buck when it comes to marketing - once again direct mail is a proven means for delivering results.

According to a national Dunham+Company study recently conducted by research firm Campbell Rinker, more than twice as many online donors say they were prompted to give an online gift in response to a direct mail appeal compared to when they received an e-appeal, . In a surprising finding, 14 percent said that a direct mail letter prompted them to give online versus only 6 percent who said an email prompted their online gift.

Further underlining the importance of direct mail to motivate online giving, 1 in 3 donors (37 percent) who give online say that when they receive a direct mail appeal from a charity they use the charity's website to give their donation.

In addition, the study found that the higher the household income, the more likely the direct mail recipient was to donate online. Nearly half (46 percent) of households making $75k+ said they would donate online compared to 37 percent of households making $25k-$74k and about one-third (32 percent) of households which make less than $25k.

"The purpose of this study was to try and understand what is driving online giving and how important offline communication is the source of increasing income to charity. What we found was quite surprising," said Rick Dunham, president and CEO of Dunham+Company. "Not only is offline communication important to driving online giving, it is actually much more important a catalyst to generating online gifts than we had anticipated."

Read more about the study and its findings at the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Starbucks Launches SRCH - QR Code Scavenger Hunt

2011-05-19T08:31:00.009-04:00

Starbucks and Lady Gaga starts a two-week scavenger hunt using QR codes on in-store banners, magnetic chalkboards and posters. Customers scan the code and they’ll see a series of clues in the coffee retailer’s seven-round scavenger hunt. “SRCH by Starbucks featuring Lady Gaga,” as the initiative is called, will start with the in-store QR code scan and take customers through a series of cerebral and digital clues.

Players will be tasked to visit certain blogs and Starbucks digital properties, decode cryptic messages and put their math, logic, reading and pop culture thinking caps on.

The clues, arranged into rounds, have been calibrated to encourage group play. Round one starts Thursday — the first players to solve all the clues will be rewarded with Starbucks- and Lady Gaga-related prizes.

Matthew Guiste, director of global social media for Starbucks, anticipates that it will take players from one to several hours to complete each round. “We hope to encourage group play and sharing,” he says. “We wanted to make it so that there’s things to talk about and share.”

The game, says Guiste, was inspired by three things: Alternate reality games such as I Love Bees, digital scavenger hunts in the vein of Jay-Z’s Decoded book release game and puzzle play.

For Starbucks, the scavenger hunt is meant to help the company build deeper relationships with its most engaged customers. It also sees the initiative as a way to connect the store — what Starbucks refers to as the “third place” — to Starbucks Digital Network, its content network and “fourth place.” Ok, so now I get why they rebranded earlier this year and dropped the name from their logo.

To play along, sign up here.

Fall 2011 Color Trends - Déjà Vu?

2011-05-16T11:15:00.012-04:00

After posting the previous blog entry to our LinkedIn Group, a question was raised regarding the colors in the logo designs trends post - specifically if they follow trends in fashion? (see Logo Trends 2011) I thought I'd go to the resource for all things color - Pantone, and see what they have to say.

It looks like everything old is new again. "From the sepia tones of old Hollywood, Chinese opera, cityscapes and countryside, designers are paying close attention to color for fall 2011 – pairing menswear with feminine twists, warm prints with cool metals, incorporating both old and new influences, and creating an inetresting balance between colors."

Pantone 2011 Fall Color Palettes:

So how does this compare with the color trends found in the 2011 Logos Trend Report? according to Logo Lounge, for the 2011 report, "color is still prevalent, but tinted down. Where black has been used as the strong neutral, now brown or gray is in place. Blues and greens are softer, and pinks are starting to appear."

For what its worth, based on the palettes for Fall - the logos are right in line with the Fall Fashion Colors, starting with the trend towards pinks, and the emergence of brown and gray neutrals (instead of black) as an anchor - "It’s as if the volume knob had been pegged on black for maximum contrast for the last two decades, and we suddenly discovered it could be turned down and consumers could still hear us. This movement is about subtleties and is indicative of a new generation. Tone ranges from sepias, to chocolates, and even warmer."

Do these trends echo for you and your clients? We'd love to hear your thoughts - post a comment below and let us know what you're seeing.

2011 Logo Trends

2011-05-02T10:56:00.004-04:00

LogoLounge released its 2011 Logo Trends Report. Criticized last year for favoring favoring brightly hued logos, this year's report notes "color is still prevalent, but tinted down. Where black has been used as the strong neutral, now brown or gray is in place. Blues and greens are softer, and pinks are starting to appear."

The site notes a trend toward the logo becoming more transcendent, no longer one dimensional and flat, but rather "a set of marks that work together to support the team. Its boundaries have become less strict as well. There was a time when most logos could be enclosed in a simple hand-drawn square, circle or similar geometric shape, but now many logos drag outside those outlines."

A look at what they noted in the report:

•Items related to wine—bottles, corks, glasses, corkscrews.

•Sticking with the light theme, lots of sunrises—or are they sunsets?
•For some curious reason, mortar and pestles, owls, and zebras (not in the same designs).

•Single-, double- or triple-line ribbons—almost like Chartpak tape of the 1970s—that run through letters and designs.

•Trees and a hyper-resurgence of leaves, but leaves being used in really creative way: floating on water to represent stepping stones, celtic knots built out of leaves, a sculling team rowing a leaf-boat, the veins of which represent oars. Trees and leaves are not just used to represent sustainability/nature anymore, but the designs in which they are used do get the added perk of being basking in a pleasing ecological light.

Overall trends noted were gradients, juvenile, misregistration, the letter o, earthy, monoline, series, the color brown, distressed, concentric, looping, banding, the comma, triangle clustering, fruit. Check out the full report on LogoLounge.

Get Your Work Out of the Gutter

2011-03-30T10:57:00.011-04:00

We’ve all lost something in that “Bermuda triangle of the bind.” The Gutter. It’s never pretty, but now it's a thing of the past. A new paper made by the folks at Mohawk enables printing so flat that any image would be proud to sprawl across it.

Mohawk Panoramic Papers yield page spreads which lay perfectly flat - no gap, no gutter, no staples. This allows you to design and print across page spreads like never before. Cross over color management is no longer an issue and designers can use the entire page for maximum graphic impact. Now, beautifully printed images can flow seamlessly across the fold, giving digital printers and designers the ability to produce high-value, high-impact books and bound products. Don't take our word for it, see for yourself:

IN THE GUTTER ON MOHAWK PANORAMIC (& OUT OF THE GUTTER)

Oh, and did we mention Millcraft is stocking these papers in the grades you know and love: Mohawk Loop, Mohawk Options, Mohawk 50/10, as well as the new Mohawk Endleaf in a vellum finish. Want to learn more? Request more info here.

Remembering Elizabeth Taylor In Print

2011-03-24T09:37:00.017-04:00

When I heard the news of legendary screeen actress and activist, Elizabeth Taylor's death, the first image that came to mind was her in the White Diamonds ad campaign (the second was her as Helena Cassadine on General Hospital in the 80's). Today's AdAge has a nice retrospective of the print ads she was featured in and the brands she lent her persona to over the years.

What Your Business Card Says About You

2011-03-15T08:11:00.005-04:00

For those of us that already know the paper your business card is on makes a difference, you'll love this clip from CBS Sunday Morning. And if you think specifying your paper doesn't matter - all the more reason you need to watch this. The clip features print designer (and my LinkedIn connection) Clifton Alexander of Kansas City's Reactor.

The Power of Paper - Stand Out in a Vanilla Market

2011-02-25T12:54:00.011-05:00

The real power of paper lies in its ability to give clients more – more color, more texture, more performance, more results. Neenah Paper proves just how impactful paper can be with its newest promotion - The Power of Paper: Stand Out in a Vanilla Market - highlighting ways CLASSIC® Papers from Neenah can add punch to your piece.

Featuring CLASSIC CREST®, CLASSIC® Linen, CLASSIC COLUMNS®, and CLASSIC® Laid Papers, the brochure is a testament to how an adventurous paper choice can make even the most common collateral get noticed.

“The brochure demonstrates how incorporating color and texture through your paper selection gives an added dimension to any campaign - aiding in everything from response rates, to delivering your message and enhancing your brand,” says Greg Maze, senior brand manager for Neenah Paper. “Not only do the pages bring this to life through a mixture of colors, paper weights, treatments and printing processes, but we provide statistics and results that leave no question in your mind about the benefits of using premium paper.”

To highlight the effectiveness of breaking away from a “ho-hum” paper choice, The Power of Paper illustrates vibrant selections and makes the case for print:

• Color & Texture – Studies show that print pieces that make bold use of color get 33% more responses and 48% more people respond to high-quality paper versus low-quality paper. With the CLASSIC® Brands, a project can go from “same old, same old” to daring and dynamic.

• Inbox & Intrigue – Many marketing messages get lost in the clutter of an online inbox. There’s something to be said for a trip to the mailbox and the impact a printed piece tucked among the bills can make. The color, texture and tactile quality of a printed piece delivers in more ways than one.

• Print & Online – No man is an island and print is no exception to that old adage. The most effective campaigns convey the message across mediums. Neenah shows how paper can be the first point of contact to connect and gets your message through every time.

If the pages of the brochure aren’t enough to convince skeptical readers, Neenah offers them a chance to try it for themselves with the Neenah Personal ProofSM, an online service that allows users to create high quality, custom-printed samples using their own artwork. Designers can order up to three free printed samples of a single design on close to 400 different Neenah paper stocks and their Personal Proof samples will be custom printed and sent to them in three to five business days. “The Neenah Personal Proof will let them see just how much using the colors and textures of CLASSIC® Papers can help produce richer results,” says Maze. “You don’t need big budgets to create projects with impact. A bold paper choice can make all the difference.”

We're giving away this awesome piece to three our facebook fans, show your love for paper by liking Millcraft and you could be one of three lucky winners to receive The Power of Print.

What Will They Think of Next?

2011-02-23T09:55:00.009-05:00

We've all heard the stats on the ROI of Direct Mail, at a 13:1 return, direct mail still offers great bang for the buck. Bravo Digital Substrates is taking it one step further with a new line of embedded digital products called Pop-Out Postcards.

Imagine a postcard with a magnet already embedded into the carrier stock - Bravo's calling it the "Pop-Out Magnet Postcard." The 4-up format makes for cost effective printing with the ability to print on both sides, cut, trim and mail all within a few hours - no glue necessary (talk about workflow efficiencies). Seeing is beliveing, check out the print sample below:

The best part, this is in stock and readily available at Millcraft. Check out more Bravo Digital Substrates stocked at Millcraft.

The Evolving Role of Direct Mail

2011-02-11T09:12:00.004-05:00

In a recent survey conducted by Pitney Bowes, mailed communications continue to play an essential role in B2B marketing. Amidst email, sms, web, and more, mail has evolved to become the preferred method of communicating with highly valued prospects. Personalized mail is regarded by businesses as a tool with which to make the client feel valued and special.

Some key findings of the survey:

• Direct mail is still the most effective way to reach senior contacts in B2B prospect organisations according to 53% of US companies.
• Personalized mail is used by 67% of US B2B firms specifically to ‘make customers and prospects feel more special and valued.’
• 39% of US B2B businesses plan to scan
and digitize all incoming messages in the next five years.

According to survey, in the B2B arena direct mail commands some 16% of total marketing budgets, the largest single slice of the marketing pie. Check out the entire findings here.

The Many Uses for QR Codes

2011-01-28T11:59:00.005-05:00

In one of the Linkedin Groups I'm a member of, Print Production Professionals, there's been a lively discussion on the many uses for QR Codes. While we've used them and have had great success with them, I am suprised by how many people in the industry are still unaware of them or how to use them. So I thought I'd post some of the creative ways they're being used (my favorite is the last one).

Integrated into in-store exhibits to drive user to mobile site

Target mobile users to download apps

To drive customer to youtube site

In catalogs to link to product video or product spec page

On t-shirts to drive traffic to website for a contest

On business cards and event badges to download contact info.

For non-profits to drive membership, buy tickets to an event

Higher education recruitment events - drive potential students to site for a contest

On business cards as self-promo to clients to promote pURL direct mail campaigns

For coupons

Out of home

On real-estate signs to drive prospect to realtors MLS listing

Trade shows

In supermarkets to drive customer to cooking videos

Starbucks Logo Redesign: A Preview

2011-01-10T10:55:00.006-05:00

Last year it was The Gap, this year it looks like Starbucks will be the next major brand to redesign its logo. According to the video featuring Starbucks CEO, Howard Schultz, Starbucks logo redesign puts the company one step closer towards positioning itself to further evolve its business into more than just coffee. I'm not sure what that means, but am curious to see where they move to from coffee (they already corner the market in caffeinated gift cards and seasonal cd's).

Schultz states the new evolution of the logo embraces and respects the company's heritage while evolving the Starbucks brand for future growth. At it's core its the essence of the Starbucks experience - the coffee, its partners, and the connection with its customers.

A look back at the Starbucks logo - which one is your favorite?

12 Days of Christmas Facebook Promotion

2010-12-08T10:54:00.004-05:00

The countdown has begun. Millcraft is giving away a special gift every day to five of our facebook fans. Check our page daily through December 23rd to see how to win.

Getting Personal with Ed

2010-11-30T13:06:00.003-05:00

Marketing has become a conversation, and print is still vital to reaching key audiences to have that conversation, according to the latest issue of Ed by NewPage.

With the advancement of printing technology, and explosion of social media, marketers are discovering that they can have a conversation with their customers. These conversations provide deeper and better information about buyers. Increasingly sophisticated data mining technologies are enabling unprecedented levels of customer insights, segmenting and targeting. And guess what? Printed communication is as important as ever.

Want to learn more? Request your copy of Ed #14: Getting Personal.

Got Digital? Millcraft Does

2010-11-17T09:00:00.003-05:00

Digital print quality is closely connected to paper quality. With Millcraft's lineup of Digital Papers, you can choose from more of your favorite papers that perform as well for digital as they do for offset. They're cut to fit, color looks great on them, they run great and deliver superior quality. From gloss coated to silk, from premium text and cover finishes like linen, pearlescent,and felt - we've got it covered.

Check out Millcraft's Digital Papers Stocking Guide to see how you can deliver increased ROI by testing various finishes. Specify Millcraft's papers for both new digital applications as well as your offset needs. We give you the best of both worlds.

Can An Annual Report Change The World?

2010-11-12T08:46:00.007-05:00

That's the question Neenah Paper posed in the AR/QA piece included in their 2010 Annual Report Kit. The piece showcases select Neenah Paper grades - from Eames Painting in Brushwork Beige to Esse Pearlized Juniper to Classic Crest Canyon Brown.

Can an annual report change the economy in some way?

Neenah believes so, and we agree - but it's up to us to convince companies to produce them.

What to know how? Leave us a comment telling us how you think an Annual Report can change the world and you'll be entered to win the whole Neenah Annual Report Kit - and kaboodle.

New Promotion - Mohawk Via: Printing and Paper

2010-11-08T16:39:00.003-05:00

In an increasingly digital world, touch is a very important part of the communication experience. We may spend time online, but we treasure that special book or poster. What something feels like is as important as the content. Mohawk Via's seven finishes provide the ability to control this experience. This variety provides the tools to match the right finish and shade to the right image. Mohawk Via works as an everyday paper, engineered to enhance the best of photography and fine art.

Using paper with a more tactile finish will upgrade the perceived value of your piece. Using the right finish for your images enhances the reproduction. For instance, flesh tones reproduce more naturally on a smooth or lightly textured sheet like vellum whereas intricate images and large type can be beautiful on a linen finish. Don't take our word for it - see for yourself with the promotion from Mohawk: Mohawk Via Printing and Paper.

Throughout the piece you'll see first hand the flexibility Mohawk Via affords, with multiple shades and finishes all in one brand. No need to mix and match brands to achieve that desired affect, Mohawk Via maintains the design integrity and delivers a cohesive experience. In addition the piece offers great tips such as process suggestions, tips on varnish and coatings, touchplates, screen techniques, and curves to achieve the desired affect. Click here to request your copy of Mohawk Via Printing and Paper.

Want Your Own Personal Proof?

2010-10-25T08:41:00.002-04:00

Neenah Paper recently revamped their website, and it's chock full of great tools for designers, production managers, and printers. One of the coolest features is the Personal Proof.

The Personal Proof allows you to upload your artwork and have it printed on one of 396 sheets from Neenah. This tool lets you experience different sheets with your idea and artwork, not just a blank swatchbook. The Personal Proof gives you the flexibility to explore multiple directions and try new paper textures, finishes and weights that you may not have worked with before. Every proof is produced on a state-of-the-art HP Indigo on the exact same Neenah Paper that your job will be printed on - making it easier for clients to understand the concept.

According to Neenah's site,everything about the Personal Proof is personal. You can place your art exactly where you want it, resize it and change the orientation to vertical or horizontal. But hurry, it's free for a limited time. To check out the personal proof go to www.neenahpaper.com

Tips for Combating the Pitfalls of Reflex Blue Ink

2010-10-21T08:40:00.003-04:00

Ask any printer and they'll tell you Reflex Blue is one of the most challenging ink colors to work with. It lends itself to poor drying, excessive marking, and low scuff resistance. The irony is it is used in so many corporate logos. Domtar recently put out some great tips for Fighting the Reflex Blues:

Use a spot or flood varnish to seal the ink and eliminate scuffing, fingerprinting, and bronzing in largerink areas.
Use "Imitation Reflex Blue: ink
Allow ample drying time on all projects using Reflex Blue
Paper can be an issue too, minimal markings occur with an uncoated sheet - if you need to print on coated, then a gloss coated sheet is your best option.

For more helpful printing tips, sign up to receive our Full Circle newsletter.

The Recyclability Equation

2010-10-08T09:43:00.004-04:00

The latest issue of Down To Earth (IP's look at environmental issues and trends) is out. It asks the question "How do you fit in the recyclability equation?" At first I am thinking, ok aren't we all pretty well versed on recycling by now? Then I am reminded by how many misconceptions are out there. For those looking for quick primer on paper recyclability - this is it.

Did you know that paper can be recycled up to seven times? That's because it's a natural product to begin with and the technology that exists is able to recover, reporcess, and remanufacture wastepaper for use in new products - making it both green and economical. In 2009, 63.4% of all paper consumed in the US was recovered for recycling? Compare that to the 18% for tv's and computers and a mere 10% for cell phones.

Not every piece of paper can be recycled, for office and business papers to be recovered successfully depends on how everyone in the chain cooperates - from how its manufactured and converted, to the the types of inks used in printing, the amount of non-paper objects that go into recycling bins and the way paper is collected and sorted - all of these effect the efficiency of the recycling process. Not to mention the costs associated with recycled fiber. Right now demand is extremely high - The Chinese market alone is over 60 million tons a year and is project to be at 90 million tons annually by 2014. And demand isn't the only thing that makes recycled fiber so costly - the transportation involved to recover fiber to the mill often costs more because it travels up to fives times farther that new (virgin) fiber - not to mention the higher CO2 emmissions.

Types of paper products suitable for recycling:
Computer paper and higher grade office papers
Newspapers
Pulp substitutes
Corrugated paper
Catalogs and magazines
Direct mail, envelopes, unsorted household mail and office mail
Paperboard
Paper made from mechanical pulp or non-kraft pulp
Paper bags

To learn more or request the current copy of DOWN TO EARTH, go to DoYouKnowTheFacts.

Domtar Launches PaperBecause Campaign

2010-09-27T09:38:00.002-04:00

Domtar Corporation is launching its "Paper Because" campaign through advertisements that will appear in major U.S. and Canadian media outlets, including: The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Globe & Mail, Fast Company, Audubon, National Geographic and other consumer and trade publications. The campaign will also feature online banner ads and a series of short videos that will appear in a variety of online media.

"There are times when no substitute for paper will suffice - it is how great ideas begin, how the world learns, how important news gets shared and how people meaningfully connect with each other," said John D. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer. "What has evolved over time is the continued improvement of our environmentally sound forestry practices and high levels of recycling that have made Domtar a leader in the effort to make paper sustainable and renewable."

Domtar has earned the support of recognized environmental organizations because of its investments to increase forest certification and reduce the environmental impact of its operations. More than three quarters of the energy used at Domtar mills, for example, comes from renewable sources. Domtar has also cut greenhouse gas emissions from continuing operations by 32 percent since 1990, far exceeding the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol.

"The Rainforest Alliance has been working with Domtar for more than a decade, and Domtar has raised the bar for the paper industry when it comes to increasing the supply of fiber from responsibly managed forests, certified to the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council(TM)," said Rainforest Alliance President Tensie Whelan. "Domtar's commitment to FSC(R) certification has made it possible for the Rainforest Alliance to work with forest managers to improve environmental and social conditions on ecologically important forestland and for consumers to easily find FSC(R) certified paper products."

Domtar's "Paper Because" campaign will demonstrate that paper is sustainable, personal and purposeful:

- It's easier to learn on paper, because reading on paper is up to 30
percent faster than reading online.
- Nearly 60 percent of senior executives prefer print versus online
information.
- Three out of four people have made a purchase as a result of direct
mail.
- Paper is one of the most recycled products on the planet; more than 63
percent of the paper that's used gets recycled.
- Domtar collaborates with the Rainforest Alliance and other
environmental organizations to encourage environmentally sound,
sustainable forestry practices, high levels of recycling and the use of
renewable energy at its manufacturing facilities.

"Domtar has been at the forefront of the responsible use of paper because the future of our business is linked to a healthy environment and the availability of both virgin and recycled fiber," said Mr. Williams. "We're not just a paper company. We're a sustainable paper company."

For more information, please visit www.paperbecause.com.

New Neenah Website Advances Use of Paper Through Technology

2010-09-23T10:03:00.004-04:00

Some might find it ironic: one of the world's leading fine paper makers using advanced digital technology [paperless!] to sell paper? What are they thinking?
"Because consumers today get most of their information from web-based resources or smartphone apps, we need to embrace that and speak their language," explains Tom Wright, senior director of advertising and design for Neenah Paper. "We simply must find new and increasingly effective ways to reach them and that includes using technology as part of the mix."

As testimony to that commitment, Neenah has launched a totally redesigned and retooled website, neenahpaper.com. Designed to engage today's Neenah customer in ways no other industry site can, it is a significant feat for a paper company and a unique investment into creative tools that marry paper and technology.

"We've made a significant investment in studying what today's communications professionals want and need," says Wright. "They're searching for resources that enhance creativity and effectiveness. They're looking at how to reduce out-of-pocket costs and even reduce or eliminate waste that might end up in a landfill. We've designed and added a myriad of opportunities and cross-functionality to the new site to meet those desires. It's our way of expressing to customers, 'we get it,' and letting them know Neenah intends to continue to bring to market a series of inspirational tools and programs that empower them."

A cornerstone of the site is the expanded Neenah Personal ProofSM, an online service that allows users to create high quality, custom-printed samples using their own artwork. With the Neenah Personal Proof, designers can order up to three free printed samples of a single design on close to 500 different Neenah paper stocks including CLASSIC(R) Papers, ENVIRONMENT(R), SUNDANCE(R), ESSE(R), and EAMES(TM). Once they submit their Personal Proof order, the samples will be custom printed and sent to them in three to five business days. Multiple visits are encouraged.

"The Neenah Personal Proof is really revolutionary for our industry," explains Wright. "The ability to digitally view the color and texture of paper online and then receive a printed sample of your own work empowers designers in a way that no one has ever done before."

According to David Schimmel of And Partners, the New York-based design agency responsible for creating the new site, the Personal Proof illustrates how the website moves beyond enabling customers to empowering them.Says Schimmel, "Our goal with the redesign is to empower customers with options that let them see more, learn more and do more. People want do it themselves using improved, accessible technologies and services. The Personal Proof gives them that."

Fundamentally, the new website is not an information vault but a portal to the world of paper. It does much more than simply provide information about Neenah products. It shows up to work, too. The website currently offers users 22 tools that can help them make better informed paper choices. That is just the beginning.

"Our new site deploys leading technology that brings inventive resources to the equation. By allowing individual users the power to interact with us, what was once a static experience becomes a dynamic, interactive online relationship. Rather than tell, the site does. You can put it to work on the task at hand," says Wright.

The totally revamped neenahpaper.com website allows users to select the applications that fit their style - from highly conceptual to highly functional. Explains Schimmel, "No two designers are alike. For example, some are logical and prefer to work with a solid, practical plan. Others are visually conceptual and never follow a plan. Rather than assuming what the user wants and how she works, we provide a portal to elements that let them define their own style and work approach. We leave it up to users to take their desired path in how they wish to interact with color, texture and weights."

Right Brain

Right-brained designers (conceptual) can explore a variety of inspiring widgets and resources:

NEW Best-in-Class Paper Selector, a visual way of searching for paper online that closely approximates the feeling of spreading out printed samples on a work table. Designers, printers, distributers and consumers can filter their choices by color, grade, finish and weight.
Think Ink: Color Unleashed, Neenah's proprietary application lets users build custom color palettes using the Dewey Color System(TM) (the world's only scientifically-validated, color-based personality testing system).
Printed Promotion Library, Neenah's print promotional brochures and swatchbooks can now be viewed online.
Improved Neenah Paper Store to purchase paper by color, texture, grade or application.
And expanded Envelope Offerings

Left Brain

Those left-brained (practical) designers have their own set of choices that they can put to use:

Adobe Swatch Exchange Files permit users to accurately simulate exact paper color and remove the guesswork.
Interactive Swatch Book Library puts every Neenah swatchbook right on the desktop and is never outdated.
Integrated Folder and Envelope Die Lines that lets users make comps faster, easier and more accurately.
Mobile apps of Neenah's most popular tools that can be downloaded for the iPhone or BlackBerry.

In addition, Neenah will continue to host its most popular resources online including Neenah Green information (with logos, terms, paper choices by post consumer content and/or FSC certification), merchant and printer finder applications, live chat help, a complete glossary of paper terms, logos, contest forms and galleries, and it's popular blog, Against The Grain, featuring stories about creative professionals across the country.

"Is it counter-intuitive for a paper company to use paperless technology to sell paper?" asks Wright. "Let's put it this way: it makes sense to give customers the tools they need to work more efficiently and effectively with their paper providers. The new neenahpaper.com makes the process of finding papers more intuitive, user-friendly, relevant and even fun. It's a next generation website for the next generation of designers

Variable Data Printing and Political Campaigns

2010-09-23T08:31:00.003-04:00

International Paper has been on the forefront of arming sales reps with great tools from their GetGrowKeep campaign. Not only are the pieces cleverly designed but it's a great tool to help promote print. Want to know which industry represents $9.9 billion dollars of all print buying in the US or which vertical markets have access to the most customer data? It's all on www.getgrowkeep.com

The latest arsenal in the GetGrowKeep tool kit is called Vote Print - the ideal running mate for any campaign. It highlights how more effective marketing communications can serve political organizations. The piece demonstrates how variable data printing can utilize the info in a database to drive personalized messages to individual recipients allowing the most precise targeting possible. It also breaks down the myth that you don't need a ton of data to get meaningful results. By adapting techniques such as pURLs and surveys, you can rapidly grow the data you have, allowing you to build a campaign with greater messaging and support over time.

You can request the Vote Print kit through our online sample studio, just fill in Vote Print in the print promotions line.

Is Print Still Viable?

2010-09-08T13:23:00.002-04:00

There's an interesting discussion going on in one of the LinkedIn groups I am member of. The question seems simple enough: "Is print still a viable part of the marketing mix?" The answers however are many and varied. As the medium continues to morph, I guess the word "viable" remains subjective. Below are some of the insights from the discussion. Care to share your thoughts? Leave us a comment.

"With the advent of new technology usage such as QR codes, print and on-line are becoming interlinked. We have only just begun to see where this will lead us."

"It really depends on the client. For example, we transitioned one of our clients from a print-based marketing mix to an online-based one with no loss of business and huge cost savings. For others, we recommend a complete marketing mix including online and traditional print-based media. Many of our clients are in retail or the non-profit sector and print is an integral part of the mix.

"We're seeing a dramatic decline in print from just three years ago with our retail clients. Business to business still seems to be more viable, but it too has dramatically declined. Online has all but taken its place as the go-to media as customers search online and rely on their industry's online publications."

"In some industries there is definitely a place for a well designed piece of printed literature. To hold a piece of quality print work in your hands is something people instinctively get. They know what this piece is trying to say to them."

"A good marketing strategy should always include both online and offline media, by only concentrating on one you will exclude part of your market."

"My clients are migrating away from gratuitous print to a more responsible use of the medium. There is no substitute for some print leave-behinds, but there is more discretion in what is printed and the quantity. Money saved by not going to press so frequently often justifies the exploration of Variable Direct Mail tied with a Personalized Landing Page - very compelling way to track ROMI."

"My belief is that the next generation of business people will be totally familiar with online comms, and that print will be perceived as niche and novel... A bit like email/SMS/social network sites when they first landed...and look how well this has been received and used daily..print will rise again."

Mohawk SuperFine Promotion - Mode of Transportation

2010-08-25T11:30:00.002-04:00

In looking at the new Mohawk Paper promotion, Mode of Transportation - The Adventure, Discovery, Fascination & Evolution of Life on Two Wheels, I couldn't help but touch every page. The piece, printed on Mohawk Superfine, and designed by VSA Partners, Inc., showcases the timeless, two-wheeled advancement of human culture - the bicycle.

The piece features this classic mode of transportation throughout modern times and reminds us of how universal its appeal is. You can't help but get nostalgic for the first tastes of freedom from your youth as you turn the pages of this piece. From a classic Audrey Hepburn in the 60's, a swimsuit clad Farrah Fawcett on a ten-speed in 70's, to Pee Wee Herman's cross country trek in the 80's, you see why the bicycle's appeal is timeless.

The piece is beautifully done, from the cover featuring four color process with metallic touchplates and foil - and a sculptured emboss, to the deep rich solids on the text pages - also featuring dutones, tritones, and quadtones. This one is a keeper in my print + design file.

To request your copy, contact your favorite Millcraft rep or order on with our online sample request form.

Finding the True Costs Associated with Print Collateral

2010-08-25T11:00:00.000-04:00

A recent blog post on Print CEO contends that more than half of the total spending associated with marketing collateral results from collateral management activities like procurement, fulfillment, and inventory management. If you'd like to see how you can improve the efficiency of marketing operations and stretch your marketing spend budget, check out this article by G. David Dodd of Point Balance.

Mohawk 11 Show - Winners

2010-08-25T09:57:00.007-04:00

The Mohawk Show allows thousands of printers and designers a chance to catch the eye of their peers and potential clients by having their entries reviewed by Mohawk’s marketing team, an esteemed panel of jurors, and viewers of the traveling exhibit. This year’s show chair, Marty Neumeier, Director of Transformation, Liquid Agency said of this year’s winners, “The top winners of Mohawk 11 couldn’t be more varied: a premiere thought-leadership organization, a hip greeting card company, a pioneer in sustainable floor products, a leading science organization, and an internationally known photographer. What they have in common is this: an insistence on excellent design, meticulous printing, and intelligent paper choices.”

The five Best of Show winners are: California Academy of Science for Evolution at the California Academy of Science, Cahan & Associates for TED Program Guide, Toth Brand Imaging for Folio No. 3, Pilot NY for The End and Paper Culture for The Faces of Stationery.

See a complete list of Mohawk Show 11 winners and finalists here.

Download a Mohawk Show 12 entry form here.

Meet Your Type

2010-08-04T05:00:00.001-04:00

This one's for all our design friends out there. While, we love paper here at Millcraft, we so appreciate all the elements of beautiful design - and that includes typography. Now, we know out strengths - and typography is not one of them. Luckily the Font Shop has just introduced a great new tool called "Meet You Type: A Field Guide to Typography."

Their website proclaims "Why settle for casual flirtation when looking for a long-lasting relationship? Finding the perfect match is easy if you know the rules. Meet Your Type will help you overcome common obstacles, and keep your heart thumping for your one true love: typography." It was created in collaboration with the students at BYU, you can check out the e-book here.

Neenah Goes Hard Core with the Environment: Eco-Trip to Costa Rica

2010-08-03T11:09:00.004-04:00

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (Aug. 3, 2010) — Life is full of choices when it comes to protecting the environment. You can take small steps from the comfort of your own home or office (always a good thing!), or you can go “hard core” and experience conservation in the heart of some of nature’s most fragile environments. In celebration of its ENVIRONMENT® Papers line, Neenah Paper has launched an “Eco-Trip for Two” sweepstakes in which one lucky winner will have the opportunity to help make the world a better place through an environmental adventure to the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica.

The Neenah “Eco-Trip for Two” sweepstakes runs from July 30 to September 30, 2010. During that time, designers, printers, and anyone with a passion for the environment can enter to win by registering at neenahpaper.com/environmentcontest. One winner will be randomly selected from all entries to receive the all-expenses-paid* grand prize trip for two which includes airfare, ground transportation, six days and five nights of accommodations at an ecologically friendly resort as well as a guided day-trip to the Neenah Reforestation Project, a project in partnership with the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin and Friends of the Osa. Neenah will offset the carbon footprint for the winner’s entire trip with carbon credits.

In addition to the grand prize, Neenah will award three $100 gift certificates (to REI, Keen Footwear and Patagonia) as secondary prizes. To be eligible for the gift certificates, participants can visit neenahpaper.com/environmentcontest and answer five easy questions designed to test their environmental awareness. It doesn’t matter whether they’re an environmental expert or need a “green” primer, all completed quizzes qualify to win.

Says Kristen Hogan, senior brand manager for Neenah Paper, “While the eco-trip will give two people the chance of a lifetime to experience the reforestation project first-hand, the broader message is that even a simple act like purchasing environmentally conscious paper can set off a chain of events that ultimately leads to the protection and conservation of the world’s natural resources.”

Inspired by a Partnership to Preserve
The trip to the Osa Peninsula was inspired by Neenah’s support of the region. In 2009, Neenah Paper, with mills, finishing and distribution in Wisconsin, partnered with the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin and Friends of the Osa to help reforest this conservation property in Costa Rica. One of the most biologically diverse regions in the world, the Osa Peninsula is widely acknowledged as a global conservation priority by organizations such as the Nature Conservancy and Conservation International. In addition, this forest provides a critical habitat for 54 species of Wisconsin’s migratory birds that winter in the Osa Peninsula. Eighteen of those species are conservation priorities, three are threatened and one is endangered.

With Neenah’s support and contributions, the reforestation project is creating a new habitat for endangered wildlife, protecting and restoring viable plant and animal habitats, removing carbon from the atmosphere, and restoring land degraded by deforestation.

“The Osa Peninsula is important for Wisconsin’s birds, but it’s also a global conservation priority because, among other things, it is home to the largest remaining mangrove forest in Central America,” notes Adrian Forsyth, acclaimed conservationist and president and founder of Friends of the Osa. “We’re grateful for the support of Neenah Paper and the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin because north-south partnerships such as these help make long-term conservation possible.”

In addition to its partnership on the Osa Peninsula Reforestation project, Neenah - through its Neenah Green platform - makes its own “hard core” choices in an effort to preserve the planet’s natural resources. For example:
• All scrap and waste paper generated in the making of Neenah paper brands is recycled or used in a waste-to-energy program;
• Neenah’s Appleton, Wis., paper mill generates up to 33 percent of its electrical needs from on-site, non-polluting hydro power;
• Neenah buys wind-generated electricity for all of its fine paper mills;
• And, ENVIRONMENT® Paper is made with 100 percent renewable electricity.

“Our goal is to make hard choices that err on the side of the environment, even when it might cost a little more or we have to rethink the way we do things,” explains Hogan. “While the Eco-Trip for Two sweepstakes will be an enjoyable way for people to think a little more about the environment, we want people to turn that thought into action and join us in making a difference.”

Neenah Paper Promotion - Striking Every Time

2010-07-19T08:59:00.004-04:00

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — It’s time to take a closer look at ESSE® and OXFORD® Premium Papers from Neenah Paper (NYSE: NP). The new “Striking Every Time” promotion contains eight unique clock faces and a great contest to inspire designers to create their own one-of-a-kind clock face. The interchangeable clock faces that come with the promotion showcase a range of printing techniques from four-color process to metallic inks, as well as embossing and die cutting.

The papers themselves are designer favorites. ESSE® Paper features four color families in solid and pearlized colors plus a set of vivid accent colors, all with the soft, gridded texture that increases in size as the weight increases. The rich, sumptuous color range and tactile impressions of OXFORD Premium Paper will never fail to add excitement to any print project.

Anyone can enter the “Your Time To Shine” contest by creating their own original clock face using photography, type, illustration, whatever means they choose, as long as they use ESSE® or OXFORD® papers. Sample sheets will be sent free of charge, and instructions for uploading a photo of the clock face can be found inside the promotion as well as on the contest website. The site also offers an opportunity for users to vote for their favorites—including their own—as often as they like.

The five posted clock face designs with the highest number of votes on October 1st, 2010 will win the contest. These winning clock designs will be turned into the newest Neenah Paper iPhone and iPad App.

To get your ESSE® and OXFORD® Papers Striking Every Time clock kit, contact your Millcraft Paper sales representative. For more details and information about the contest visit www.neenahpaper.com/clockcontest.

Direct Mail and e-Mail Working Together

2010-07-14T10:54:00.002-04:00

A sustained marketing message is the key to any good campaign's success. Across the board, studies show that response rates increase when combining e-mail and direct mail marketing efforts. DM News has a good article out citing 5 key elements to consider when planning your next integrated marketing campaign.

1. Branding
Start with the offer and the creative. Your e-mail HTML should contain the slogans, logo and other identifying marks used in the print piece, and the channels must reference each other. Similarly, the e-mail subject line must repeat the envelope copy or a prominent line in the postal piece.The channels have different strengths. Direct mail confers legitimacy, e-mail is interactive and easy to use. But the message should be the same in both.

2. Timing and Frequency
In most cases, the first e-mail should hit a week after the postal mailing piece arrives (give or take a day or two). The printed piece goes first because it has a longer shelf life. E-mails should continue at regular intervals.

3. The List
Profile your customers, using a multichannel database, then select names from that
same database with identical characteristics for both mediums.

4. The Call to Action
Every piece in every channel requires a strong call to action. That is your close, and you should restate it multiple times.There are five critical components: Visibility, Verbiage, Direction, Immediacy, and, most importantly, Value.

5. Analysis
The channels have to work in harmony, and they have to be evaluated that way.

The success of a marketing campaign should not fall on the shoulders of a sale, but on the initiation of dialogue. To read the complete article, click here.

Chinese Subsidies = Cheap Paper

2010-07-07T05:00:00.003-04:00

The Economic Policy Institute recently released it's paper "No Paper Tiger, Subsidies to China's Paper Industry From 2002-09", highlighting why domestic papers have been losing market over the past decade - it should come as no suprise to anyone in manufacturing - same story, different industry.

The Economic Policy Institute's (EPI) report highlights the continuing efforts of the Chinese government to promote the development of its paper producers at almost any expense. The academic study identified roughly $33 billion in subsidies provided to China's paper producers in a variety of forms that have stimulated enormous capacity increases and jeopardized production and jobs in the U.S.

This study backs up the facts that underlie the trade case that was filed by our companies and the United Steelworkers (USW) union last September. That case alleged that Chinese and Indonesian paper producers benefited from subsidies and were dumping their products in the U.S. market. At each stage of the government's review of the cases, the concerns were validated and relief has been authorized.

Among the study's findings:
- "Since 2000, China has tripled its paper production..."
- "China's rapid rise in the global paper industry has been fueled by over $33.1 billion in government subsidies from 2002 to 2009."
- "China has no natural competitive advantage in papermaking, and lacks the natural resources to fuel the industry... Despite global overcapacity, China's paper industry has added on average 26% of new capacity every year from 2004... (E)xports have led the development of China's paper industry with detrimental effects on the United States and global economies."
- "The U.S. trade deficit with China on paper has been increasing exponentially since 2002. Imports from China are rising faster than those from any other country for this industry. In February 2010, the annualized growth rate of Chinese paper and paper-product imports into the United States approximated 22%."
- "China has no inherent cost advantage in the capital-intensive paper industry. Indeed, labor makes up about 4% of the costs in this industry; in contrast, imported recycled paper and pulp comprise over 35% of the costs. Raw materials, which make up three-fourths of the costs of producing paper, as well as electricity, coal, and transportation, have nearly doubled in price over the last decade. Yet, Chinese paper sells at a substantial discount compared to U.S. or European paper."

"This study shows that Chinese subsidies are pervasive and have fueled the development of their industry. Their policies have damaged production here in the U.S., and cost jobs. Our case seeks to address only a portion of their subsidies that have affected the coated paper sector. But, something must be done to address China's overall subsidies so that other sectors, producers and workers do not become victims as well," said Sandra Van Ert, president and chief executive officer of Appleton Coated LLC.

"EPI's study strengthens our case and shows that China's actions are part of a larger strategy to grow their industry regardless of the cost to others. China is a non-market economy that simply doesn't play by the rules. All we're seeking is the restoration of a level playing field where we're allowed to compete and continue to invest in plant, equipment and people," stated Mike Marziale, senior vice president, marketing, strategy and general management of NewPage Corporation.

Mark Gardner, president and chief executive officer of Sappi Fine Paper North America said, "This study clearly demonstrates the need for a competitive market in coated paper. Our trade case is meant to restore a level playing field. Until something is done about China's overall predatory policies, we and other industries will continue to have to pursue such trade cases."

The companies and the United Steelworkers filed unfair trade cases on September 23, 2009 with the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and the U.S. International Trade Commission alleging that certain coated paper from China and Indonesia had been dumped and subsidized resulting in injury to the domestic industry and its employees. The paper products covered by the petitions include coated paper in sheet form used in high-quality writing, printing and other graphic applications, with a GE brightness rating of 80 or higher and weighing up to 340 grams per square meter.

The domestic industry has experienced capacity reductions and under-utilization resulting in the loss of jobs in communities all across the country. The petitions show that unfairly traded imports from China and Indonesia are a significant contributor to that underutilization of capacity, mill closures and resultant job loss.

US Postal Service Proposes 2 Cent Increase

2010-07-06T14:01:00.002-04:00

The U.S. Postal Service proposed raising the price of first-class stamps by 2 cents, to 46 cents, while rates for periodicals increase 8 percent and parcels 23 percent to narrow a deficit projected at $7 billion this year.

The increases would generate $2.3 billion in the first nine months of 2011, the service said today in a statement. Increases, which must be reviewed by Postal Regulatory Commission, would take effect Jan. 2.

“We’re doing this because the Postal Service really faces a serious risk of financial insolvency,” said Stephen Kearney, a senior vice president with the Postal Service.

The commission has 90 days to rule on the proposal, one of several steps the Postal Service is considering to cope with a decline in mail volume as Internet use increases. The service also is seeking approval from Congress to end Saturday delivery, provided since the Post Office was founded in 1863.

“The Postal Service is wrong on the law, wrong on the economics, and wrong as a matter of public policy,” James Cregan, executive vice president of government affairs for the Magazine Publishers of America, said in an interview before the announcement. The increase will drive away profitable mail, heading the service toward a “death spiral,” he said.

Mailers of catalogs, magazines and newspapers are prepared to fight the rate increase, Cregan said. The group’s members include Time Warner Inc. and Meredith Corp.

‘Exceptional, Extraordinary’

The Postal Service is using a legal provision that lets it propose increases greater than the rate of inflation under “exceptional or extraordinary” circumstances, Kearney said. The average increase would be 5.6 percent, compared with inflation of 0.6 percent, he said.

Express mail and priority mail, such as the flat-rate boxes advertised by the Postal Service, are excluded from the current proposal, and higher prices for those offerings will be announced in October, the agency said.

A 23 percent increase would apply to parcels under one pound, said Maura Robinson, a spokeswoman. Heavier packages typically used to ship books, videos and merchandise face an average increase of about 7 percent, she said.

The Postal Service’s parcel charges “will remain competitive, which shows how underpriced they are now,” Kearney said.

The Postal Service lost $1.6 billion in its recent quarter as customers continued to use the Internet to pay monthly bills and read publications that previously were delivered by mail. The service projects a deficit of $238 billion through 2020.

Mail volume dropped 6.3 percent from Oct. 1 through March 31, the service said May 6. Profitable types of mail are falling faster than less-profitable categories, which include bulk advertising mail, Chief Financial Officer Joseph Corbett said.

The agency also has asked Congress for permission to delay a required retiree health benefits payment and for more flexibility to close facilities

French Paper Promotion - Free CSA Designs

2010-06-28T13:49:00.007-04:00

Do you love the designs featured in French Paper's promotions? Well today is your lucky day. French has just announced that their artwork, created by CSA Design is available - FREE, when printed on French Papers.

CSA Images have been created and curated for use on countless French Paper promotions produced by CSA Design over the past 25 years, and posters designed using CSA Images and printed on French Paper are included in the New York Museum of Modern Art's permanent collection.CSA Images is the only stock image library ever to be included in the Smithsonian Institution's Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum Triennial highlighting a handful of the most innovative American designers across all disciplines including Frank Gehry for architecture and Kate Spade for fashion.

In case you need refreshing, French is known for their beautifully tactile uncoated papers such as: Speckletone, Durotone, Muscletone, Construction, Parchtone, Glotone, Poptone, Modtone, and Smart White. You can request samples of French, from our online sample studio.

Mohawk Collaborate on New Open Source Sustainability Website

2010-06-25T09:22:00.005-04:00

Mohawk Fine Papers launched a collaborative website livingprinciples.org. The site advocates a shift in sustainability thinking by challenging the conventional triple bottom line paradigm, and creating four integrated streams: environmental, social, economic and cultural.

According to the site, its intention is to provide a forum for "individuals and leading design organizations around the globe to come together, engage in lively conversation, and collaborate across disciplines and continents to promote a consistent and holistic understanding of sustainability thinking in design. This site is structured to capitalize on the power of an open-source knowledge exchange."

DMA Report Shows Paid Search Ads Part of Multi-Step Sales Process

2010-06-21T09:15:00.002-04:00

The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) released the 2010 Response Rate Trend Report which provides key cost and performance benchmarks to help marketers gauge the efficiency of their campaigns. The updated report shows effective paid search campaigns usually lead to a multi-step sales process.

Key Findings Include:

· Email to a house list averaged: a 19.47 percent open rate; a 6.64 percent click-through rate; a 1.73 percent conversion rate; with a bounce-back rate of 3.72 percent and an unsubscribe rate of 0.77 percent.

· Response rates for Direct Mail have held steady over the past four years. Letter-sized envelopes, for instance, had a response rate this year of 3.42 percent for a house list and 1.38 percent for a prospect list.

· Catalogs had the lowest cost per lead/order of $47.61, just ahead of inserts at $47.69, email at $53.85, and postcards $75.32.

· Outbound telemarketing to prospects had the highest cost per order or lead of $309.25, but it also had the highest response rate from prospects of 6.16 percent. The highest response rate for a house list was also telephone, at 10.41 percent.

· Paid search had an average cost per click of $3.79, with a 3.81 percent conversion rate. The conversion rate (after click) of internet display advertisements was slightly higher at 4.43 percent.

· Response rates for B-to-B campaigns were generally higher than for B-to-C campaigns. Lead generation and high-end average sale campaigns also had higher response rates.

· Nearly 60 percent of direct mail campaigns in financial services aimed to produce a direct sale. The average response rate was a comparatively low 2.66 percent to a house list and 1.01percent to a prospect list.

Genetically Modified Paper On It's Way

2010-06-17T05:00:00.000-04:00

ArborGen received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to plant a quarter million genetically modified eucalyptus trees in an effort to increase paper production, according to an Associated Press report.

According to the report, ArborGen is a South Carolina-based biotech joint venture between International Paper, MeadWestvaco and Rubicon, and plans to plant the altered eucalyptus trees in Florida, South Carolina, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and Louisiana.

Eucalyptus trees are ideal for paper production because of the high quality pulp they produce. They also have a faster growth rate than hardwoods. According to the article, ArborGen said using the altered eucalyptus could produce more timber with less land use, allowing native forests to be conserved. The trees can grow 25 feet a year and be ready for felling within three years, according to the report.

Although other, non-altered eucalyptus trees have not proved invasive in test nurseries in Florida, critics have voiced concerns about the plan. The article quoted a biologist on the Sierra Club’s genetic engineering committee who cited lack of evidence of the benign nature of the trees as a concern, while the Global Justice Equality Project argued that the trees use considerable water resources and could spread north beyond the testing plantations.

An expert in eucalyptus trees hired by ArborGen said that while the introduction of the genetically modified trees poses the risk that it could transfer its genes to other trees, the eucalyptus is relatively efficient in its water use and is not particularly flammable.

The trees have been modified to survive in colder climates than their native habitats. The test will help determine how far north the modified trees can survive.

The Marketing and Printing Industry Gains Revolutionary Global Resource PrintMediaCentr.com

2010-06-16T05:00:00.000-04:00

Tallahassee, FL – June 15, 2010 – With the fast-changing print and marketing industry taking enormous strides to save clients time and money, a team of printing and marketing industry experts have developed PrintMediaCentr.com (PMC), an online media rich environment consolidating global resources, printing and marketing quotes, industry news, employment, events, training and education. The platform is available in 42 languages and embraces the latest technologies intertwined with social media marketing. Utilizing its partnership with the highly successful LinkedIn Group, Print Production Professionals, PMC has already reached over 10,000 print and marketing associates and companies worldwide.

PMC provides a free portal for companies to gain exposure and connect, allowing each user to set-up a profile and create a complimentary listing in the Print and Service Directory while signing up for RSS feeds specialized for the Print and Marketing industry. The PMC Jobs forum provides real time recruitment and enables users to search for the perfect job or the perfect candidate, upload resumes, post opportunities and subscribe to JOBS RSS feed. Enhanced upgrade packages are available and include more detailed access to the Print & Service Directory and participation in PowerQuote.

Print & Service Directory: Option to list business or search the directory of Print Industry, Marketing and Creative Service providers by location and specialty keywords.

PowerQuote: Finding a Logo or Lenticular, Financing or Finishing, Copy or Catalogs, Equipment or E-books has never been easier. Submit Print, Marketing and Creative projects as well as bids for equipment and services to the PMC vendor network for quotes returned in your specified time frame.

“The access to this global resource allows printing and marketing companies to avoid expenses of everything from online development of storefronts to the creation of their own blogs. While buyers of printing and marketing services have easy access to a consolidation of resources,” says, Nigel Cliffe, Print Media Centr chief executive officer.

Advertising opportunities are available on the PMC home page as well as within the forums and news feeds for contextual visibility.

Team PMC

Nigel Cliffe is the chief executive officer and founding director of PMC, responsible for the global growth strategy combining service and support to users and partners. Cliffe has 30 years of print experience, working on all sides of the supply chain.

Mark Davey is the chief technology officer and founding partner of PMC, responsible for the technical infrastructure and future development of the site and its functionality. Davey brings 25 years of experience in advertising, marketing and publishing.

Deborah Corn is the chief operations officer of PMC, a shareholder in the global infrastructure, and founder of the Print Production Professionals Group on LinkedIn. She is responsible for managing the day-to-day activity on PMC and drives policy on customer service. Corn provides 21 years of experience in print production and advertising agency management.

To learn more about Print Media Centr, please visit http://printmediacentr.com/.

Tips for testing Paper

2010-06-15T11:53:00.005-04:00

According to a recent MultiChannel Merchant article, when the going gets tough, catalogers often look at changing their paper to cut costs. According to the recent MCM Outlook 2010 survey on Catalogs, 39.2% of respondents said they had decreased their paper stock/weight in the past 12 months. Here are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to reducing you paper weight:

-Lowering paper weight will not only reduce your paper costs because you'll be using fewer tons, it could potentially reduce your postal costs too.

-Lowering weight may allow you to add more pages to your catalog without increasing your budget.

-Moving to a lighter basis weight also means compromising opacity (show through). Test heavier weight paper to if there's a rise in response rates.

As rough as last year was economically for many catalogers, 13.6% of Outlook 2010 survey respondents said they had increased paper stock/weight in the past 12 months.

“Increasing paper weight is not necessarily a bad thing,” Warburton says. “It may cost a little more money, but as long as you are just maximizing postage (and not going into the piece/pound rate), the incremental costs should not be that significant.”

Lastly, the article notes to consider the following when it comes to paper for your catalogs: brightness, bulk, use paper samples, work with your printer and paper suppliers, segment your test subjects, test it on press. Check ut the full article here.

Do You Know The Facts?

2010-06-08T14:32:00.003-04:00

As many companies and advertisers are looking to invest their marketing dollars in cost effective and alternative media channels, its important to remember that print is a proven means of marketing communication, generating powerful ROI. Not only is print's success proven, it is also one of the most environmentally friendly mediums available to marketers.

The Millcraft Group partnered with International Paper to produce "Do You Know The Facts?" - a short, engaging animated video. "Do You Know The Facts?" is an integrated marketing campaign designed to raise awareness about the environmental and business benefits of print as a marketing and communication channel. The campaign utilizes multi-media to communicate its message, with the launch of a video and website today, followed by a series of direct mail pieces and print ads.

The video, co-sponsored with International Paper, aims to dispel the myths and change the perception that print on paper is harmful to the environment and an ineffective means of marketing communication. The intent is that once media buyers and consumers know the facts, print will remain a top choice for achieving reliable, cost effective and sustainable marketing solutions.

Survey Finds College Students Believe Paper is Still Essential for Life's Big Moments

2010-05-28T05:00:00.001-04:00

MONTREAL and FORT MILL, SC, May 25, 2010 (Canada NewsWire via COMTEX) --Survey Finds College Students Believe Saving the Planet is Important, But They Think Paper is Still Essential for Life's Big Moments .

Most college students in a new nationwide poll rank themselves as environmentally conscious and two-thirds believe going paperless helps the environment, but they draw the line at electronic copies for key documents - especially when it comes to college diplomas.

The nationwide poll found that while college juniors and seniors believe going paperless helps the environment, fewer than 30 percent would give up printed books, magazines and newspapers, photos or official documents. And nearly 70 percent said the idea of receiving an electronic copy of their diplomas either bothered them or they considered it so terrible that they hated it. Only 4 percent of the respondents said they would "love" the idea of a paperless college diploma at graduation.

"This is hardly a superfluous scrap of paper," one of the respondents said. "Doggone it, I've worked my butt off in school, and I want a piece of paper on my wall to prove it."

The nationwide survey was conducted by Eric Mower and Associates and commissioned by Domtar, one of North America's leading paper companies. Researchers contacted 420 college juniors and seniors nationwide between April 16 to 20 to ask them their views on what they could do to protect the environment and personal paper usage. The survey has a margin of error of 5 percentage points. The complete survey results are available at www.domtar.com/diploma.

"A document like a college diploma should be handed to the graduate in paper," said one student. "It is something that people take great pride in and want to show to people, frame and hold in their hands."

"While it's important to use paper responsibly, there are also myths about paper that should be dispelled. There will always be times when a substitute won't do, because paper is simply more convenient, more effective and more meaningful," said Lewis Fix, Vice President of Brand Management and Sustainable Product Development at Domtar. "Business gets done on paper, people learn on paper, love is declared on paper and rights are guaranteed on paper. Even students who identify themselves as environmentally conscious recognize the importance of paper."

The survey also found that:

- When it comes to studying at school, 52 percent of students like
materials on paper. Twenty-three percent report they prefer hard copies
of most notes and professors also print out class materials. Another
29 percent of students said that while they like hard copies, their
professors tend to send out electronic copies.

- Students clearly prefer paper copies of key documents. Less than a
third of the students want electronic copies of their legal contracts
(29 percent), real estate deeds (25 percent), marriage licenses
(23 percent), birth certificates (17 percent), passports (15 percent)
or drivers' licenses (12 percent).

- College juniors and seniors identified the top four ways they
personally display environmental consciousness include turning off
power when electronic devices aren't being used (81 percent), recycling
(75 percent), using less water (54 percent) and doing only full loads
of laundry or hanging clothes to dry (53 percent). Thirty-six percent
say they are "going paperless" to display their environmental
consciousness, ranking it fifth in the survey.

- Less than 30 percent would give up printed books, magazines and
newspapers, photos or official documents. However, more than 60 percent
of students would be comfortable going paperless with bank statements,
class schedules/grade reports and bills.
>>

"The survey shows that college students are certainly concerned about the planet's future, and want to take steps to reduce their impact - we find that very encouraging," Fix said. "It's also interesting that even with all of the electronic options available to today's youth that paper is still important - whether in the classroom as the medium for their education - or on the wall as a symbol of years of hard work and dedication."

"Something could always go wrong with electronics," one student said of their reason for wanting a printed diploma. "Diplomas are important mementos."

"Getting a diploma over an email makes it seem so much less official," commented another student in the survey. "You worked for it like mad, and gave the school thousands of dollars, the least they could do for you is give you that piece of paper."

As part of the survey, students were asked how they typically send personal notes at an important moment to someone they really care about. Thirty-one percent said they write it on paper, because it's more meaningful and the recipient would appreciate it more. A note on paper beat out a phone call (27 percent), text (22 percent) and email (20 percent).

When it comes to landing a job after graduation, 47 percent of students say they will send out resumes electronically, while 27 percent report they will send out both electronic and paper resumes and 17 percent say they prefer to send their resumes on paper. "It was interesting to see the weight students place on using paper for documents that are important to them - everything from their college diploma to textbooks to personal notes to key people in their lives," Fix said. "For some reason when it comes to their resume - a critical first step in building a career, the largest share of students plan to use email to reach potential employers. Based on how they react to a document on paper, they may want to rethink relying solely on electronic copies of their resumes."

Domtar invests in projects to increase forest certification and reduce the environmental impact of its operations. Because of this, Domtar has earned the support of respected environmental organizations. More than three-fourths of the energy used at Domtar mills comes from renewable, carbon neutral sources, and Domtar has cut green house gas emissions by 33 percent since 2002 - far exceeding the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol.

"Domtar is at the forefront of the responsible use of paper in part because the future of our business is linked to a healthy environment and the availability of both virgin and recycled fiber. We're not just a paper company, we're a sustainable paper company," Fix says. "Students should not feel guilty about using our paper, because paper is a plant based product that is renewable, sustainable and recycled with ease."

Ad Spending Upturn in First Quarter

2010-05-27T10:57:00.003-04:00

A recent NY Times blog notes that ad spending is on the rise for the first time in over 2 years, with a gain of 5.1% compared to Q1 2009 - the largest increase inspednign since Q1 2006. The blog suggests that this may be a signal that perceptions of better times along Madison Avenue may start becoming a reality, as a leading ad tracking service reported that advertising spending in major media rose in the first quarter, marking the first gain since the first quarter of 2008.

Among print medium gaining strength were Sunday newspaper magazines, national newspapers and Spanish-language newspapers. Click here to read the full article.

Small Business Owners: Print Ads Most Effective

2010-05-19T13:58:00.000-04:00

FedEx Office (formerly FedEx Kinko's), an operating company of FedEx Corp. has released the results of its third annual small business Signs of the Times national survey. The study found that:

•Small business owners are optimistic -- almost three-quarters (72%) of small business owners say they will be the driving force behind the U.S. economic recovery in 2010. One-half (51%) of the small business owners polled say their businesses have already or will fully recover by the end of 2010.

• In 2009, 34% made cuts to their marketing and advertising; Three out of 10 (31%) say that decision had a negative or extremely negative impact on their business results.

•Examining the marketing and advertising tools available to small business owners, 87% of respondents report that printed marketing and advertising tools are somewhat to very effective at driving customers to businesses, and 61% believe traditional marketing and advertising methods are more effective than web-based counterparts at bringing in customers.

•44% of small business owners plan to grow business in 2010 by increasing communication with existing and potential customers via printed materials like newsletters and direct mailings. These entrepreneurs are also actively leveraging other traditional marketing/advertising tools such as brochures (43%), Yellow Pages listings (39%), flyers and signs/banners/posters (37% each) and newspaper advertisements (32%).

•Interestingly, 18-34 year-old small business owners are greater proponents of signs, banners and/or posters (51% for 18-34 vs. 36% for 55+) and flyers/brochures (57% for 18-34 vs. 47% for 55+) as cost effective marketing/advertising tools than older SB owners.

•Online cannot be ignored as a valuable tool -- 46% of small business owners have plans to grow their business in 2010 by improving their company's online presence, while another 36% plan to utilize social media/networking websites to build business.

Mohawk 11 Show - Call for Entries

2010-05-12T08:57:00.005-04:00

We talk with each other. We make our marks. We print our ideas, desires, inspirations and words.

Mohawk Fine Papers celebrates the designers who make concrete the complex communications of our culture, who go beyond the expected and make visuals extraordinary.

Mohawk invites you to show the best of your work in Mohawk Show 11. Five winners will receive $5000 each. And finalists will be awarded $500 each. This year's show offers the “Sustainable Design Award” recognizing techniques, processes, or materials that helped reduce environmental impact. Entries are being accepted from now until May 31, 2010. A jury of four distinguished designers will act as judges to choose five best-of-show winners. Enter as many projects as you like. There are no entry fees. Click here to download entry form.

Stay in the Loop with Millcraft

2010-05-10T09:05:00.003-04:00

Looking for the most comprehensive line of recycled and environmentally preferable papers? Millcraft Paper is pleased to announce Mohawk Loop to our lineup of eco-friendly writing, text & cover papers.

Made with renewable energy and post-consumer fiber - inlcuding the largest selection of 100% PCW options - these papers offer unquestionable environmental pedigree without sacrificing quality, range, or availability.

With an unparalleled palette of colors, finishes, and basis weights - ranging from 24# Writing up to 130# Cover - Loop is for every project, every day. Request your copy of the new Loop swatch book from Millcraft's online sample studio.

Multichannel Marketing Links Consumers Experiences

2010-04-27T05:00:00.000-04:00

An online survey conducted by ATG, shows that consumers are using multiple channels to research, shop and purchase, and catalogs area strong driver to the web.

Nearly one-third of consumers say they rely on more than three of different channels (online, in-store, print catalogs, mobile devices, customer service reps) from the time they start researching products and services to when they complete the purchase; Eight out of 10 say they (78%) use at least two or more channels to do their purchase research.

78% of consumers said they use catalogs to browse and discover new products and services, and six out of 10 consumers surveyed say that make purchases via catalogs four times a year or more.

Mobile commerce is playing a role in the cross-channel experience, particularly with younger consumers

•27% of consumers 18 and older are using their mobile devices to browse or research products and services at least periodically--this number jumps to 41% for the 18-34 year-old age group.
•13% of consumers are using them to make purchases at least four times a year.

•The 18-34 age group makes the greatest use of mobile devices for commerce, with 23% making purchases on their mobile devices at
least four times a year, 15% doing this monthly and 8% doing it weekly.

"On average, more than three-quarters of consumers are using two or more channels to browse, research, and purchase products. Because consumers are coming to merchants through multiple channels, it’s necessary to link those experiences and create a continuous conversation to avoid gaps where the sale could be lost. Merchants don’t have to necessarily serve up the identical experience in each channel, but rather optimize and connect channel interactions to deliver consistent brand experiences."

New Mohawk Loop Promotion is A Living Almanac for Responsible Design

2010-04-26T09:59:00.002-04:00

“Finish what you start,” states the bold introduction to A Living Almanac, Mohawk’s newest promotion for the just-launched Mohawk Loop. The almanac is not your typical paper promotion. Yes it showcases examples of beautifully printed images with a multitude of printing techniques on a variety of Mohawk Loop papers, but this promotion is more. The almanac is a daily reference guide for responsible design…for every project, every day.

“Beautiful papers with bright ideals” is the concept behind the new Mohawk Loop line. The name of the new line, which the almanac explains, explores the idea that loops are everywhere in nature, from elemental cycles of the sun, moon and water to the age-old chicken or egg question. Loops guide our seasons, days, lives and planet, and inspire actions like renewing, recycling and reusing. And that is why Mohawk has added its own Loop to support the process of preserving and extending our common resources.

Like the Farmers’ Almanac, which was the inspiration behind A Living Almanac, each day offers an insightful piece of information in consideration of the world around us. French-folded, at-a-glance, tip-in calendars highlight dates of environmental importance, such as Arbor Day, Earth Day and the International Day of Climate Action. With tips on making sustainable design choices, pop-out sustainability glossary cards, pull out reminder cards and more, the almanac engages its reader encouraging participation. Also included in the almanac is a pull out of AIGA’s The Living Principles which Mohawk supports.

A Living Almanac, designed by Tomorrow Partners, San Francisco, CA, presents Mohawk Loop — the world’s most comprehensive line of recycled and environmentally preferable papers — while conveying Mohawk’s longstanding commitment to sustainability. The almanac showcases the work of 13 different artists on 11 Mohawk Loop papers, including the new 50% pcw coated Mohawk Silk. The cover is printed on Mohawk Loop Inxwell, a 100% pcw sheet with high-performance capability.

For more information about Mohawk Loop, please contact your Millcraft Paper Rep.

Think Digital

2010-04-15T05:00:00.000-04:00

Earth Day Tip #4 - Ask your printers about digital printing as an option. Digital quality is now starting to rival offset printing, and it has many advantages over offset in terms of sustainability. Print-on-demand technology offers a number of major pluses—elimination or dramatic reduction of inventory issues, reduced shipping costs, much less waste overall, and when combined with targeted marketing is even more efficient—often with surprisingly little compromise on quality impression.

Paper Logistics?

2010-04-14T05:00:00.001-04:00

Earthday Tip #3 - Source paper that is close to your final destination. Transporting goods, especially heavy products like paper, requires significant amounts of energy, which should be factored into your sustainability decisions. Using a recycled paper is good, but not if it has to be transported halfway around the world. A typical ocean-borne container ship produces 1,190 lbs. of CO2 to transport one ton of cargo 7,000 miles.

To be truly responsible, you should be looking at every aspect of the transportation associated with your project, from paper shipments to distribution. Keep in mind that aircraft account for about 12 percent of all CO2 emissions in the United States, and ocean-borne ships are responsible for approximately three percent of all emissions worldwide.

Print Grows Trees

2010-04-13T11:34:00.002-04:00

Does crop farming grow trees? Does raising cattle grow trees? Does urban sprawl grow trees? The only commercial use of land that grows trees is managing forest land for use as paper and wood products. That's what the website“Print Grows Trees”says.

The website is part of an educational campaign by PGAMA that uses facts to show that print on paper actually helps to grow trees and keep our forests from being sold for development. By connecting the dots between print and the private landowners who own almost 60 percent of U.S. woodlands, “Print Grows Trees” challenges the widely held belief that by using less paper, trees will be saved.

"Deforestation is a complex and critical problem, with no easy answers. Printed paper is taking a lot of the blame in the public’s mind for this act. We are told to “Think before you print” in order to save trees and shown pictures of clear-cut forests that break our hearts and anger us. But when we see a pasture with grazing cows, a field with new-mown hay or endless acres of corn, we think it is beautiful. The fact is that those beautiful scenes were once forests. Between 1850 and 1910, we lost about a third of our forests – about 190 million acres. When you fly across the Midwest, it’s the most evident. That’s where most of it was converted to agricultural land – when Americans cleared more forest than the total amount cleared in the previous 250 years of settlement. The fact is that when landowners have a financial incentive, they will grow more trees to replace the ones they cut down and even where there currently are no trees."

According to The World Business Council for Sustainable Development, The Sustainable Forest Products Industry, Carbon and Climate Change: "By providing a market for wood, the forest products industry gives forest owners an incentive to keep land as forest as opposed to converting it to other uses that provide few or no watershed or carbon benefits."

To find out more, visit Print Grows Trees. Leave a comment telling us why you choose print and you could win one of five t-shirts featuring the printgrowstrees logo.

Get the Biggest Bang for Your Buck - and The Environment

2010-04-12T13:37:00.003-04:00

Earth Day Tip #2 comes courtesy of Mohawk Paper. To get the most out of your press sheet with as little waste as possible, start with the end in mind. Working backwards from stock size press sheets (ex. 26x40), determine the most efficient final size of your piece - before you design it. Ask your printer for help when it comes to planning for allowances like gripper margins, grain direction, bleeds, etc.

You can also minimize the impact of waste by "ganging up" print runs. And for even more efficiency, take advantage of Millcraft's custom sheeting operation, Deltacraft, to order a special sheet size - but make sure to plan ahead, this usually requires lead time.

For a really helpful tool, visit the re-nourish site for their project calculator.

Eco-Friendly Ink Tip

2010-04-08T08:19:00.003-04:00

As we approach Earthday (April 22nd), I thought I'd highlight a few eco-friendly print tips over the next few weeks.

Things to keep in mind when choosing eco-friendly inks:

• Consider the source, and go renewable - like vegetable or agri-based compound. Agri-based inks are produced without toxins and biodegrade, effectively eliminating environmental, health and safety hazards.

• Spec low VOC inks, some of the new inks on the market are lower in VOC’s than older based soy inks. Over the last two decades, ink companies have made a significant effort and investment in developing and reformulating ink systems that have lower VOCs than inks sold previously for similar applications. Eliminating VOC-releasing products is an important step toward greening your ink.

• Stay true to sustainability principles and work to find recycled inks.

• Always use inks free of heavy metals.

• Avoid metallic and neon inks, which typically contain higher levels of toxins.

• According to the National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers, many printers employ sophisticated “capture and control” mechanisms to minimize air emissions during the printing process. Typical examples are publication gravure inks (largely based on toluene), where the solvent recovery systems used on the printing press are near 99.5% effective. The “recovered” solvent is reclaimed and recycled to make more ink or for other uses.

Mohawk Paper - Get In The Loop

2010-04-01T12:04:00.004-04:00

Mohawk Fine Papers (Cohoes, NY) announces the launch of Mohawk Loop: a comprehensive line of recycled and environmentally preferable papers. The papers are made with renewable energy and post-consumer fiber — including the largest selection of 100% postconsumer waste (pcw) options — without sacrificing quality, variety or performance. The line also includes the new coated Mohawk Silk with 50% pcw.

Mohawk Loop includes:

100% postconsumer waste (pcw), recycled papers.
A rich color palette with 35 shades ranging from bright white to rich black, with fibered shades and fashion colors.
Eight finishes, including a "silk coated" finish with 50% pcw, among the highest pcw content coated papers available.
All the most popular weights, from writing papers to extra heavy covers and paperboard for packaging.
Envelopes stocked in commercial and announcement sizes.

Mohawk Loop is entirely FSC-certified, manufactured with Green-e certified windpower, and made carbon neutral. Green Seal certification is pending. Mohawk Loop papers are packaged in Mohawk's new environmentally responsible packaging materials.

"As a family-owned business, our sustainability initiatives are comprehensive and completely woven into the fabric of our lives, culture and business practices, which is one of the reasons we support The Living Principles," says Thomas O'Connor Jr., chairman and CEO, Mohawk Fine Papers. "The development of Mohawk Loop has been a carefully considered endeavor, from the items offered and developed for this line to the name and positioning of the brand. This is the most unique, truly environmental paper line. It has everything every business needs every day to produce great work while adhering to corporate and sustainability goals."

Mohawk Loop merges Mohawk Synergy, Mohawk Genesis, Mohawk Passport and Mohawk Proterra with brand new Mohawk Loop shades and finishes to create the full line.

For details, see www.mohawkpaper.com/getintheloop.

Even Twitter Sees the Value of Print

2010-03-31T08:43:00.004-04:00

There's no denying social media's role in the marketing mix, however even social media darlings like Twitter have come to realize print plays an integral role in a company's overall marketing strategy. At this year's SXSW conference in Austin, Twitter employees handed out business cards for the first time ever at the event. Interesting to note, they opted not to go with the mainstream white smooth cover, but rather chose to subtly reinforce their environmental commitment with a kraft-like fiber added shade (if I had to guess I'd say Environment Desert Storm or Speckletone Oatmeal). Even though "bumping's" convenience can't be denied - there's nothing like the feel of a sturdy, well designed and produced business card to connote your brand's image to the recipient when exchanging contact information.

"This antiquated thing called 'business cards' is a helpful way for some of us to bridge our online and offline worlds with potential employees, partners and the thousands of developers who make Twitter applications," said company spokesman Sean Garrett, noted by CNN's SciTech's blog. They muse could paper be the new mode of social networking? I'd argue it was the original mode of social networking. In case you're wondering, yes we have a twitter page as well.

International Paper Launches Environmental Website

2010-03-30T05:00:00.001-04:00

Last week International Paper launched its brand new environmental website, Down2earthonline.com. The site notes that environmental issues in the paper and printing industries are very complex, easily misunderstood and, consequently, often misrepresented. Many myths and misconceptions have altered some public perceptions and led to campaigns for a paperless society. In response to these perceptions, and in an effort to present a more balanced and fact-driven picture of our industry, International Paper launched a series of educational brochures on environmental topics called Down to Earth™.

Down to Earth covers topical issues in a thought-provoking manner that helps to dispel some of these myths and misconceptions. By educating those inside our industries, customers and end users can better understand these complex environmental issues and the steps that the forest products and printing industries are taking to become more sustainable and make positive contributions to our world.

To request your copy of the latest Down to Earth piece:Is It Worth Printing, click here.

Featured Print Promotion - NUVO Magazine on Delta Gloss

2010-03-16T05:00:00.004-04:00

It's the little things that make my day. There is nothing like going to your mailbox and seeing the fresh edition of your favorite magazine hot off the press. For me, it was going to the sample studio and eyeing up this beauty - the Spring edition of NUVO Magazine. Simply Gorgeous. I was lucky enough to have it come my way by nature of the paper it's printed on - Millcraft's own Delta Gloss.

NUVO Magazine is a Canadian publication and is printed by Colour Innovations out of Toronto. The Spring edition features a fabulous black and white photograph of Chris Botti on the front, shot exculsively for NUVO by Fabrizio Ferri in New York this past December. The cover is on the 130#C Delta Gloss, featuring an overall film laminate for extra protection. The bright white shade, and unbelievably smooth print surface highlights the beauty of this photograph. Thumbing through the magazine, it's clear the publishers have a discriminating eye, and were obviously well versed on Delta's attributes and exceptional value. The text pages are printed on Delta 80#Gloss Text, an equally smart choice offering nice opacity and easy readability.

In speaking with Colour Innovations, they informed me that this edition of NUVO features stochastic printing and straight four color process. If you'd like to see the latest copy of NUVO, check out your nearest news stand, or if you're in the know, maybe you're favorite Millcraft rep might have one to spare. The first five people to comment below will receive their very own copy of the magazine.

Pulp Shortage Affecting Paper Availability - Buckle Up

2010-03-15T09:11:00.005-04:00

March has certainly started out like lion and there's no sign that the roaring will stop any time soon. For those who are in print - it's more important than ever to shore up your supply chain. Just when we thought there was light at the end of the tunnel, the forces that be are wrecking havoc on the paper supply chain. Here's a snap shot of the turmoil besieged on the paper industry since the beginning of March:

March 4th, Finnish port stevedores commenced a strike. Some paper mills have already been shut down because they can not store the paper anywhere. All Finnish ports have shut down, affecting goods flowing into or out of Finland. This affects approximately 600,000 tons annually of coated paper in the US. (Finnish mills UPM, Stora Enso)

Pulp prices in the US reached $900.00/ton last week - the biggest seven day increase in six years. Pulp in Europe could top $1,000/ton within a few weeks - that's higher than the last peak seen in 1995. Due to the earthquake in Chile, and the strike in Finland, which together comprise 12% of the world's pulp, mills have come to halt.

The US has had one of the worst winters on record, due to the unusually wet weather in the Southeastern US, mills are not able to harvest the pulp needed for production - further impacting the pulp shortage.

St Marys Paper announced plans to curtail production of specialty Supercalendered paper grades on paper machine #5 at its groundwood pulp and paper mill in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario for an indefinite period starting March 12, 2010. This is causing a scramble at the bottom of the coated paper chain to secure tons, affecting availability.

New Page Corp. announced a moratorium on any new #4 or #5 orders, along with a price increase of approximately 3-5% on its #3 and #4 coated web grades, due to the above circumstances.

All of these things are coming together right now to cause a perfect storm for securing paper tons. I'd advise against panicking, instead use this as an opportunity to have conversations with clients, stressing the importance of securing paper buys and planning for the remainder of the year. If you don't already have a relationship with at least two different paper distributors, now would be the time to begin to reach out to those suppliers. You'll weather the storm a lot better if you and your clients are prepared, and anticipate for the volatility that lays ahead. Here's a great article by businessweek, that offers a more detailed recap. Click here if you'd like further information on pulp and paper prices or paper availability info.

Neenah Paper: Pocket Folders Ample Sample

2010-03-09T09:06:00.001-05:00

For more information on Neenah's Ample Sample Pocket Folder kit contact your Millcraft Paper representative.

Working With Heavyweight Cover Stocks

2010-03-03T12:59:00.006-05:00

Heavy cover weights have been a significant trend in the print and design community for the past few years. Where 100#C was once considered standard, it pales in comparison to the 120#C and 130#C that have become today’s norm. In the past, printers have cringed when these basis weights were specified on a job, especially if you were going to flood the sheet with ink. With a little planning, the end result can be well worth the minimal effort and expense to upgrade to a heavier cover stock for next print project. Here are some tips to help you successfully execute your next project on a heavy weight cover paper.

Separations – these are pretty important, especially if you’re printing on an uncoated stock. To compensate for dot gain, you’ll want to open the separation allowing the pressman to print to normal ink densities. This will yield more accurate print fidelity, brightness and crispness of the image. This also allows a finer line screen to be utilized (175 and up). A traditional uncoated paper may allow you to open the midtones from anywhere from 9-15%.

Cutting – it’s important to remember that when working with a heavyweight cover, you’ll need to adjust the lift size, clamp pressure, and angle of the blade.

Folding and Scoring – when you’re working with a heavy cover weight, you definitely need to score the sheet first before folding. This may seem like a no brainer, but it this should be done with the grain of the paper. (Tip - grain direction is always the second number in the sheet size dimension, ex. On a 23” x 35”sheet, the grain direction would be on the 35.”) You’ll want to use a rounded rule or channel matrix for best results. For a clean fold, the ratio of the paper’s caliper (thickness) and width of the creasing channel (matrix). Testing is always a good idea. In general, you can find the right proportion by multiplying the caliper by 2 and then adding the width of the creasing rule. It’s recommended that scoring and die-cutting be done on a flatbed die-cutter to minimize risk of cracking. Cylinder letterpress scoring can be difficult with heavyweight covers. If possible, run the score to the end of the press sheet, ensuring that the piece has a complete score. Also, be sure to decrease pressure points that are caused by folding. If the paper breaks near a folded corner, try sanding or shaving down the ends of the creasing matrix where the miter joint occurs and leave a little space between the ends by slightly backing off the miters.

Also worth mentioning are considerations for perforations and climate control. Keep in mind a perf that runs with the grain will tear more easily than one that’s against it. When it comes to temperature, you really want to keep it to 70-75 degrees with humidity around 40-50%.

Due to the heft of the paper, offsetting can become an issue when working with heavyweight covers. It’s recommended to use spray powders with large particle size, running at a minimum of 45 microns – this allows for greater air circulation and better ink drying.

Remember, it’s always a good idea to test the sheet first, to request samples of a heavyweight cover stock for your next project, click here.

Magazines Unite to Promote The Power of Print

2010-03-01T10:02:00.005-05:00

Have you noticed the influx of industry promotions touting the value of print lately? Magazine execs have invested heavily in the power of print, and are putting their money where their mouths are promoting a campaign valued at more than $90 million. An article in today's Wall Street Journal details the plan, and says that nearly 1400 pages of the ads will appear in such magazines as People, Vogue, and Ladies' Home Journal this year.

The ads stress the fact that magazines have and continue to be an effective means of advertising in the digital age due to the depth and lasting quality of print, whereas as much of the web's content is fleeting. Data shows magazine readership has risen 4.3% over the past five years.

The first ad features a photo of Michael Phelps from ESPN The Magazine, with a headline of "We surf the Internet. We swim in magazines." Backing the campaign are Time Warner's Time Inc., Hearst, Advanced Publications' Conde Naste, Werner Media and Meredith. The ads were created by WPP's Young & Rubicam. Check out the complete article here.

Do You Know The Truth In Paper?

2010-02-22T08:47:00.003-05:00

For the past 2000 years, paper has established itself as an incredibly effective and versatile means of communication. Despite computers, cell phones, the internet and other electronic devices, paper has demonstrated its value time and time again. The folks at Domtar have put out great new piece, The Truth in Paper, that dispells the myths around paper and its environmental impact.

Paper is portable, secure, consistent and permanent. But perhaps most of all – paper is extremely effective.

myth: making paper destroys forests.
fact: no, in fact the opposite is true.

Paper is made from cellulose fiber, which generally comes from trees, but this doesn’t automatically equate to the destruction of forests. Companies like Domtar source their primary raw material from the forest, therefore it is in their best interest to ensure sustainability for the company’s long-term survival.

The concept of managed forests means that for every tree harvested, several more are planted or naturally regenerated in their place. In fact, according to the USDA Forest Service, four million trees are planted every day in the United States. Of this amount, the wood and paper products industry plants on average 1.7 million trees, excluding millions of
additional seedlings regenerated naturally. Increasing demand for forest products has provided powerful incentive for private landowners to reforest their harvest.

According to The State of America’s Forests, a report released by the Society of American Foresters, replanting and reforestation efforts have helped keep forestland stable. There are nearly 750 million acres of forests in the U.S. —about the same as 100 years ago. Annual net growth of U.S. forests is 36 percent higher than the volume of annual tree removals. Total forest cover in the U.S. and Canada basically remained the same from 1990 to 2005.

Sustainable forests are also carefully managed to help prevent catastrophic damage from fires, disease and insects. It is also important to remember that the majority of the forest provides
non- paper products. Lumber is used for building houses and furniture, while tree-based chemicals are used in products such as turpentine, chewing gum and toothpaste. In addition, a well-managed forest provides many recreational opportunities such as hiking, hunting, camping, fishing and bird watching.

“When people use more paper, suppliers plant more trees. If we want bigger commercial forests, then we should use more paper not less. Our policies should directly protect important wildlife habitats, not try to reduce our demand for paper.’’

Edward L. Glaeser,
Professor of Economics at Harvard University

Production Efficiencies

2010-02-17T07:50:00.008-05:00

Looking for ways to trim time, labor and cost throughout the printing process? Then you'll want to check out Domtar's newest piece featuring Lynx Opaque: More with Less, Production Efficiencies 2. The piece touts printing as an efficient medium, but acknowledges that today we are all asked to do more with less. That while the industry strives towards responsible management of resources, fiscal responsibility and clients demanding more value - efficiency is not optional, it's mandatory. Here are some tips for enhancing production efficiencies.

Rethink your ink - usage that it is when it comes to your layout. The number of inks used is a job significantly influences the sheet layout. In an eight page brochure with half the spreads printing five colors and the other half printing only one color, the most cost efficient way to lay out the sheet may be with all five color spreads printed on one side and the one color spreads on the other. While this may increase plate costs, the efficiency gained from using only one ink station during the second press run will more than make up the difference.

It's all about size. For most jobs, a standard sheet size will do - however, occasionally there are those that require a special sheet size for optimum efficiency. In these cases custom sheet sizes (or making orders) are the smartest choice. If the size and page count is large enough, you can achieve significant savings with a custom size sheet. For more info on custom sheeting, check out our state of the art converting facility, Deltacraft. The amount of business these plants do every day tells me there are some resourceful production managers out there making sure their clients are getting the biggest bang for their buck.

Don't for about folding and binding. How signatures are cut and folded out of a sheet plays a huge role in maxing out bindery efficiency. It's best for the binding edge to be parallel with the grain, this allows for greater success when scoring or gluing. Folding against the grain causes cracking on the spine, wrinkling or waviness in the sheet and poor pull strength - resulting in a book that tends to trap shut.

To request your copy of More with Less, or learn more about Deltacraft, click here.

Consumers Rely on Print to Deliver

2010-02-11T05:00:00.000-05:00

The recession has inspired a thriftiness in consumers that some believe will outlast the economic downturn. Bargain-hunting Internet users have turned to price comparison hubs and coupon sites in increasing numbers, but according to data from Adweek and Harris Poll, Americans think the best places to look for deals are still offline.

According to a recent e-marketer article, nearly one-quarter of US adults reported that newspaper and magazine ads were the most helpful types of advertising when they were searching for a bargain, compared with 18% who indicated online ads were best.

Print Pays Back

2010-02-10T05:00:00.000-05:00

600 million trees are planted every year by the paper and forest industry; that's more than what the industry harvests.

Improved forest management, regeneration of rests and selective harvesting have resulted in a net uptake of carbon because older, unmanaged forests lose their ability to sequester carbon.

The paper and forestry industry is one the worlds largest users of low-carbon energy in the world. Nearly 60% of the energy used to make paper in the US comes from carbon-neutral renewable resources, produced on site at mills.

Nearly 60% of all paper in the US is recycled, by comparison less than 20% of electronic devices are.

You can request your copy of the latest in the Down to Earth series from Millcraft's online promotional sample request form.

Uncoated Paper Fundamentals

2010-02-09T10:08:00.004-05:00

The impact of what's designed and the power of its message are influenced, more than you might think, by what type of paper is used, according to the folks at Finch Paper. They have put out a great new piece called the Uncoated Guide, which points out that paper is so much more than just a substrate for ink to sit upon.

Uncoated paper conveys a sense of fiscal as well as environmental responsibility - one reason it's a perfect for choice for high profile pieces like annual reports. Not to mention its non-glare surface makes reading easier on the eyes, and the bulk lends a tactile quality to the piece subtly reinforcing it substance. Not only does it help convey the message, but paper is critical to the final outcome of the printed piece - from its performance on press to meeting the budget.

Here are some things the Uncoated Guide by Finch highlights:

Uncoated Possibilities: Offset, Opaque, & Text and Cover - their attributes and end uses.

Fundamentals of Ink on Paper: Understanding dot gain, printer communication, and improving standard four-color process.

Image Adjustments: Working with curves on dark tones, medium toned, and light tones images.

You can request your copy of the Finch Uncoated Guide through Millcraft's online promotional sample request form.

Know the Facts - Print Pays Off

2010-02-03T09:27:00.012-05:00

International Paper has a new promotion in it's Down to Earth series helping marketers answer the question "Is it worth printing?" Now more than ever it's important to prove the economic and environmental value of print on paper. If we want to keep print viable we need to know the facts.

• Campaigns combining direct mail and internet yield up to an additional 25% response rate

• Nearly 80% of households either read or scan advertising mail sent to their household

• Direct mails gives advertisers a whopping 13-1 return on their investment

• Nearly 80% of internet users surveyed said they were directly influenced to purchase an item or service because of direct mail

• Brand recall is substantially higher using print vs. onscreen. Onscreen information is 20-30% more difficult to read

• Small and medium businesses still rely on newspaper and magazines (43.6%) and direct mail (43.5%) to get results.

Now you know. If you'd like to receive a copy of the latest Down to Earth piece, request your copy here.

Most Effective Print Campaigns for 2009

2010-02-01T05:00:00.000-05:00

A campaign for CoverGirl Natural Hue Compact was the most effective magazine ad campaign of 2009, according to reader reaction research by Affinity's Vista service.

After measuring reader responses to more than 30,000 magazine ads last year, Affinity ranked the ads on an index of reader scores for ad recall, brand association and actions taken. Check out the winners in a variety of major advertising categories, starting with the grand prize honoree. AdAge features a slide show of the 2009 top camapaigns.

Trouble Shooting On Press

2010-01-26T07:37:00.001-05:00

We all hope is doesn’t happen to us, but if it does, it helps to be prepared. Sappi has put out a great guide to help with some common issues that arise. Here are some things to keep in mind if things go amiss while on press.

Precautionary Measures to Take

· Allow time for paper to acclimate to pressroom environment before opening packaging

· Avoid cutting paper for press any sooner than necessary

· Rewrap cut paper as soon as possible

· Open no more paper than necessary during makeready and prior to approval

· Remove the top and bottom sheets, which may have been damaged during packaging, handling or transit

· Save 16 consecutively numbered printed and unprinted sheets with DEFECT CIRCLED.

· Flip 50 sheets prior to production run to assess side-to-side print consistency

· Cover press loads between passes to help maintain sheet integrity and stability

Hickeys
Hickeys occur when contaminating particles adhere to the plate or blanket, causing either a doughnut effect (small solid printed island surrounded by a white halo) or an unprinted void surrounded by printing.

Suggestions: Dip out ink fountain; drop fountain blade and clean; inspect roller condition; add fresh ink from new can or change inks.

Picking/Contamination
If ink is too tacky, or if the coating is defective, bits of coating/fiber are pulled from the paper’s surface. This material adheres to the blanket and leaves a color void or surface crater in the printed sheet where the pick-out first occurred. Subsequent sheets show partial filling, or
may continue to show absence of one or more colors.

Suggestions: Clean blankets, change contaminated ink, reduce impression cylinder squeeze or reduce ink tack. Try a different production run of paper.

Piling
Piling/Tail-edge pick occurs when ink builds up on the blanket until it eventually lifts off a portion of the image or pulls the fibers or coating from the sheet. This can be caused by defective paper coating, wrong ink consistency, inadequate film of fountain solution, improper fountain solution mix, excessive impression cylinder squeeze or blanket wash that renders the blanket sticky.
Suggestions: Try a lower tack or lower set rate of ink, and/or increase fountain solution to plate. If above suggestions do not work, replace the blanket or try a different production run of paper.

Dust
Loose dust particles on the paper surface adhere to the blanket, take on ink and print as dark specks, or show up as voids in print. Dust deposits can occur during sheeting or trimming operations.

Suggestions: Predust on impression with a dry, blank unit; inspect all four sides of paper for cut quality; wipe edges with a glycerin or tack cloth; trim paper on all four sides or replace with a different production run of paper.

Smashed Blanket
Sometimes a foreign object or a paper defect can actually smash, or render useless, a blanket or a plate. The only remedy is to clear away whatever has caused the damage, spot-check the remaining paper and replace the blanket or plate.

Scratches/Blade Streaks
Scratches or blade streaks are generally of short duration and are usually isolated to a small portion of the paper order. They sometimes occur during the coating operation in the
paper mill when a particle of grit or other contaminant becomes lodged between the coating blade and the paper. This cuts a groove into the paper’s coating in the grain direction. Very light scratches can be caused by sheeting equipment.

Suggestions: Isolate and replace affected paper.

Delamination
Delamination occurs when the paper itself pulls apart during printing. The surface of the paper may appear bubbled or lifted. There can be numerous causes of this problem: high-tack inks, partially dried ink on the rollers/blanket or high impression squeeze. Delamination is not to be confused with blistering, which occurs almost exclusively in the dryer unit of a web press.

Suggestions: Reduce ink tack on the rolls, reduce impression squeeze or try a different production run of paper.

Misregistration/Slur
Printing dots do not precisely align, causing a blurred image or color variance; register marks are out of sync. This can be the result of gripper slip, loose blankets, high ink tacks, misalignment on the feed table, bowed/scalloped/wavy sheet edges, quality differences between the consecutive sheets or off-square paper.

Suggestions: Adjust and clean grippers, torque blankets to spec, lower ink tack, readjust feed table, reduce impression squeeze, check sheet for wavy/tight edges and relief-cut blanket packing outside image area. Try a different production run of paper.

Offsetting
This occurs when ink transfers to the back side of the next sheet, sometimes causing the sheets to stick together. Offsetting can be due to insufficient spray powder, delivery pile that is stacked too high, excessive ink film, slow drying ink or paper, or a combination of water/ink balance and
humidity conditions.

Suggestions: Increase or change spray powder, decrease height of the delivery stack, run a stronger pigmented ink with less ink film or adjust ink/water balance.

Mottle
Mottle occurs when the ink lies unevenly on the sheet, especially in an area of uniform color, or cyan/magenta ink trap, like a blue sky.

Suggestions: Pull single prints to identify problem printing unit(s). For cyan/magenta mottle, reverse ink sequence and tack accordingly. Run tack-graded inks with the highest tack down first. Trap heavier coverage down last and put solid colors in latter-down units. Increase press speed, flip sheets or try a different production run of paper.

Blistering
Blistering, the occurrence of small bubble-like formations on both sides of the web paper, can occur when trapped moisture vaporizes as the printed paper is passing through the dryer on a web press. Causes vary, but are often traced to excessive dryer temperature, slow press speed and/or high-flash/high-solvent inks, paper moisture or form design. Heavyweight coated paper is more susceptible to blistering.

Suggestions: Increase press speed and/or decrease oven temperature, reduce ink/varnish film or use a lower flash ink so oven temperature can be reduced. Isolate problem rolls by machine reel or roll position. Try a different production run of paper.

Wavy paper
Wavy paper can cause problems with wrinkles, misregistration, dot slur or the aesthetics of the final printed sheet. This condition can be aggravated if the paper is exposed to extreme temperature or humidity changes.

Suggestions: Keep the paper wrapped until time of printing and cover loads between passes on press. Maintain proper temperature and humidity in pressroom. Try a different production run of paper.

What Adds Value to a Presentation?

2010-01-21T08:44:00.004-05:00

Don't compromise when it comes to the packaging - ever notice a woman's face when she catches a glimpse of that blue box with the white ribbon? You know what I'm talking about - the same goes for your presentation folder. It should communicate quality, performance, and craft. While the main purpose is to house its contents in an organized fashion, there is so much more that this single component can accomplish. You want it to be stunning, memorable and rewarding. Neenah Paper's new Ample Sample Kit promotion will help inspire you to do just that.

Featuring a collection of beautifully designed and printed presentation folders for a wide range of audiences, from companies like Target and Aspen Brand Clothing to name a few - you're sure to find inspiration for your next project. Plus Neenah now features a section on their website for custom pocket folder designs allowing you to downlaod a pdf file or illustrator file of the corresponding die line - how's that for convenient? For more info about presentation folders, fill out our online sample request form.

Some helpful hints to keep in mind when designing a pocket folder:

How will the folder be used?

How much material meeds to be contained in the folder?

Will one pocket folder be sufficient or will it need two or even three?

Delta = Change in Coated Paper

2010-01-13T05:00:00.004-05:00

The new coated paper grade, Delta, is available exclusively from Millcraft Paper. Delta is premium sheet delivering brilliant results for all your print communications needs. There's no sacrificing when it comes to this brand. Manufactured in gloss and silk finishes, with an environmental platform to support any sustainability initiative, it features a wide breath of items including:

heavyweight covers
digital/folio sizes
silk and gloss finishes
7 & 9 pt. minimums for postal applications
exceptional value
92 Brightness
ECF Pulp
FSC certified
10% post consumer fiber

Delta is the change in coated paper you've been waiting for.

Delta is stocked exlusively at Millcraft Paper. You can request your copy of the new Delta swatch book or get samples of the paper for your next project through our online sample request form.

Is Green Marketing More Effective?

2010-01-12T10:40:00.001-05:00

A newly-released report “Green Marketing: What Works & What Doesn’t – A Marketing Study of Practitioners,” says that marketers who have experimented with green marketing messages generally found them more effective than standard marketing fare.

The study is based on a series of surveys conducted by the trade publication Environmental Leader along with trade publications including MarketingCharts, MarketingVOX, and MediaBuyerPlanner.

Key findings:
•More than 80% of the 370+ respondents indicated they expect their companies to spend more on green marketing in the future. Among manufacturers, that number is significantly higher.

•Close to 30% of marketers surveyed think green marketing is more effective than other marketing messages, compared to 6% of marketers who think it is less effective. According to the study, management is even more optimistic, with 46% indicating a belief that green marketing is more efficacious.

•Companies with smaller marketing budgets tend to spend more on green marketing. Firms with a marketing budget of under $250,000 spend just over 26% on green marketing, while those with budgets of more than $50 million spend 6% on green marketing.

•The most popular mediums for green marketing, as reported by respondents who have spent money on this technique, are the Internet (75%), followed by print (50%) and direct mail (40%).

•When split into groups that do or don’t measure advertising results, media-measuring companies tend to spend more on their green efforts, according to the survey.

•Marketers that track marketing spend and its relation to sales believe consumers will pay more for green products. When asked if customers would pay more for green products or to a green company, it was the direct-oriented media that showed the more positive results. Of the people who used the two least trackable media, TV and outdoor, only 29% and 25% respectively indicated that customers would pay more. That compares to 44%, 42% and 46% for Internet, print and direct respectively.

•In terms of actual green actions, about half of companies reported that they are consciously taking steps to become greener. The most popular actions are conserving energy in operations, at 59%, and changing products to reflect greener values (such as changing ingredients, packaging or intended use), at 54%.

•Companies with decision-makers who have a low regard for green marketing tend to be those with the larger marketing budgets, especially in the budgets between $10 million and $50 million per year, where more than a quarter indicated that their decision-makers held green marketing in low regard. This indicates that smaller companies may believe green marketing to be more effective than larger companies do.

Think Ink - Upgrade

2010-01-07T11:33:00.005-05:00

Who says you can't improve on innovation? Neenah Paper has taken its groundbreaking iPhone and iPod Touch application Think Ink: Color Unleashed, an industry first, and added four key enhancements requested by app users to give it even greater flexibility when building color palettes that inspire design and link to paper. Newly released Think Ink: Color Unleashed V1.1 can be downloaded for free from here.

"Thousands of designers have downloaded the original Neenah Think Ink V1 app, used it in the design process, and suggested ways to enhance it even further," said Tom Wright, director of design for Neenah Paper. "Our goal is to create tools and technology that makes integrating paper into designer's jobs easier, so we're pleased the people have taken the time to help us identify how to make this color tool and paper app better."

According to Wright, new features included are:
• The capability to build and edit base colors in both CMYK as well as the previous RGB color system. Designers simply take a swatch of their inspiration color and can choose to build their palette in either CMYK or RGB.
• The ability to see each individual color's CMYK and RGB value within the entire color palette build. And, with the 1.1 version, the values of both color systems appear right on the user's screen.
• A more sophisticated palette-blending function that creates color blends more closely tied to the proprietary Dewey Color System.
• V1's selection of coordinating colors and now in V1.1 an enhanced selection of CLASSIC CREST and CLASSIC Linen beautiful whites and off whites with every paper recommendation.

"The upgrades in Think Ink V1.1 gives designers more control and provides increased access to the information they need," explained David Schimmel, president and creative director of And Partners, which developed the iPhone application for Neenah. "We've been able to revamp this really popular app and add fresh features that give designers more opportunities to comfortably introduce color and paper into their projects as well as edit, create and concept their ideas more easily."

Neenah Paper's iPhone and iPod Touch application is the only app available that allows designers to pull inspiration from a number of resources to build their own custom color palettes using the Dewey Color System. Here's how it works: designers begin with one of four approaches - a photo taken on the iPhone's built-in camera, a product from Neenah Paper, a predetermined color swatch, or the psychology of color with the Dewey Color System. After they select their initial color inspiration, Think Ink gives them various palettes, such as subdued, pop, traditional and blended.

From there, designers simply place their palette on a variety of Neenah papers to see which works best for their selection. From their iPhone, they can save and e-mail their custom color palette to friends, clients or vendors, order coordinating paper samples of CLASSIC CREST and CLASSIC Linen Writing, Text or Cover papers, and see the palette in different proportions and type samples. In addition, they can explore statistically validated psychological meanings of color combinations that provide another tool in helping to connect their message with their audience. You can request samples of Neenah's paper using our online request form.

2010 - The Year Readers Pay for Digital Content?

2010-01-05T05:00:00.000-05:00

Ad Age came out with their 2010 forecast for the industry. The following is their prediction for print this year - buckle up.

Print's most fundamental changes and challenges of the past few years haven't really revolved around print itself; digital media has been changing the game from the outside. As the new decade gets started, however, print publishers are going to try changing digital. They want digital to provide two revenue streams, not just from ads but now also from readers.

In short, this will be the year when publishers find out whether readers will pay for digital content.

The first front is probably the least promising: wringing circulation from newspaper websites. All through 2009, players and outsiders decried the way newspapers post their content online free for all to read. Steve Brill and others started businesses to help newspapers start charging web surfers. Frank Rich and others pointed out that consumers got used to paying for TV.

Unfortunately, there's so much free information around that most publishers are probably going to struggle to make much money this way. "Proving that what comes up must come down," Fitch Ratings wrote in December, "Fitch expects pay walls will be erected and dismantled in 2010 as media companies (with print products) experiment with charging users for online content and are ultimately disappointed by the results."

The more intriguing avenue for publishers is selling electronic editions tailored for display on iPhones, electronic readers and those tablet computers everyone is eagerly anticipating. Condé Nast's GQ and Hearst Magazines' Esquire are already selling iPhone apps that deliver an issue's content plus video, interactive ads and other extras. Time Inc., News Corp., Hearst, Meredith and Conde Nast have formed a joint venture to build a digital storefront. They'll still face a sea of free competition, but consumers have already shown they'll pay for apps and content on cellphones.

A Look Back

2010-01-04T15:39:00.002-05:00

Today marks my 10 year anniversary in the paper and print industry. While much has changed, there’s still more changes to come - that is for sure. A look back over the past decade made me a little nostalgic. When I started grades like Strobe, Gleneagle, Vintage Velvet, Signature True, and Confetti were still around, mill trips were a week long event (death by fork and cork) and no one had heard of FSC.

Foreign sheets or imports hadn’t really come onto the market, but I distinctly recall their introduction – Cleveland was the largest port of entry at the time for coated imports. I remember being at a spec seminar held by Sappi, and we were all asked to write down a question we had about their products or the industry. I posed the question about imports and how to sell against them, since it seemed that many of the projects I worked on were being downgraded to foreign sheets from grades like Strobe or McCoy. The rep heading up the seminar quickly shot it down and said it had no relevelance to the market their papers were in. I remember being so emabrassed for asking that question at the time – I was a novice, what did I know? Looking back it seems more than that mill rep did.

Another thing that baffled me at the time was the term digital printing. It seemed this term meant something different to everyone. Being the newbie I asked the woman who was supposed to serve as my mentor what digital printing was, her reply was a xerox copier. At the time, in our market digital printing meant the printer had a DI press – there was no variable data or soft proofing yet to arrive and no one had a Nexpress. Nowadays, I’m challenged to find a project that doesn’t print digitally. The average run size back than was 20,000, now it’s rare if the quantity is over 1,500. A merchant’s stocking inventory was important but most jobs had enough time in them that they could accommodate a mill item – today it’s not only time that’s a premium, but if it’s not on the floor forget it and find something that is.

Today many lament we are doing more with less – I don’t necessarily think this is the case. I think we have so much more. There are more resources available than ever before. And they’re free. When I first started, the only resources that were around were some put out by the paper mills - remember the Fox River Designer Series and the Warren Standard? IP's Pocket Pal is still around and is definitely a valuable resource, but I have to say I love how easy and accessible the internet has made learning. Everyday I check my Google reader for my favorite industry blogs, and while I am inundated (like all of us) by email, my filters work pretty well so I can easily access the ones I want. Social media has added an entire other dimension to my work day - and yes it is productive, not a time sucker. While my knowledge of paper and print has grown over the past decade, the opportunity to be more is there every day – the fun is in deciding how to use it.

Leading Publishers Form Venture To Offer Consumers New Digital Storefront And Portable Reading Experience

2009-12-17T05:00:00.000-05:00

NEW YORK, /PRNewswire/ -- Conde Nast, Hearst, Meredith, News Corporation and Time Inc. jointly announced that they have entered into an independent venture to develop open standards for a new digital storefront and related technology that will allow consumers to enjoy their favorite media content on portable digital devices.

The goal of this digital initiative is fourfold, to create: a highly featured common reading application capable of rendering the distinctive look and feel of each publication; a robust publishing platform optimized for multiple devices, operating systems and screen sizes; a consumer storefront offering an extensive selection of reading options; and a rich array of innovative advertising opportunities.

Beyond the publications of the equity partners, the venture will welcome other publishers to offer their content via this new digital platform. Publishers will derive revenue from content and advertising sales, as well as from print subscriptions.

"For the consumer, this digital initiative will provide access to an extraordinary selection of engaging content products, all customized for easy download on the device of their choice, including smartphones, e-readers and laptops," explained John Squires, the venture's interim managing director. "Once purchased, this content will be 'unlocked' for consumers to enjoy anywhere, anytime, on any platform."

For publishers and advertisers, the venture will offer an attractive, cost-efficient, consumer-focused environment. Advertisers will be able to utilize innovative formats that benefit from the highly engaging, interactive nature of this new medium. In addition to entirely new magazine and newspaper reading experiences, content selections may ultimately include books, comic books, blogs and other media.

For the hardware, software and retail industries, the initiative will provide dynamic new business opportunities by organizing a library of quality content with a common format and technical specifications. The venture partners represent an unduplicated audience of 144.6 million according to Mediamark Research & Intelligence (MRI). By the end of 2010, Forrester Research estimates that 10 million e-readers will be sold in the U.S., and according to m:Metrics (comScore), there will be over 50 million smartphones in the U.S. by the end of 2010.

Smartpen Technology Suggests New Print/Digital Interfaces

2009-12-16T05:00:00.000-05:00

Can you imagine a business card or a print magazine page that can actually send an e-mail or facilitate the transaction of an online sale? According to a recent Adage article, those are concepts that Livescribe CEO Jim Marggraff is working on. The company's Pulse Smartpen -- which is a real pen containing a full-powered, internet-accessing computer -- is a tool that makes such actions conveniently possible. And the growing popularity of the under-$200 device among college students is creating a significant national audience for new sorts of print-based digital experiences. Check out the video here.