Dear Fellow WPT Members,

Based on the feedback I have received, as well as my own experience, the 2009 joint IEGA/WPT Annual Conference was an excellent event with timely and relevant content. We had great speakers, networking opportunities, lots of fun and a very fine wine tasting.

While I missed some of you there, I understand these tough economic times have called for all of us to make changes to our regular routines, which kept some from attending. The past two years have been tough on trade associations as well. Those of us that make up the WPT realized a long time ago that changes would have to be made if we wanted to keep our group together. After a great deal of discussion, the conference concluded with the following resolution:

“Be it ersolved this July 11, 2009, that it is our intention as individual members of the Worldwide Printing Thermographers Association to resign as individual members and place the formal organization in hiatus until we deem it needed again. Further, as individuals we intend to join the IEGA under their leadership but with the intentions of promoting thermogprahy within their organization as an operatin committee.”

Since the WPT will no longer be in operation as a distinct association, you will receive a membership invoice from IEGA after the first of the year. Do not think of this as a dissolution of our identity. The combination of our associations provides new opportunities to reach out to the more thermographers and other specialty printers and to educate our target markets to the value of what our specialties bring to ink on paper.

Our first mid-year meeting as a group will be held Friday, January 29th back at the Horseshoe Bay Resort in Marble Falls, Texas. Two current WPT board members, WPT Vice President, Joel Isenstein, and I, will join the IEGA board as general members. Joel and I are looking forward to seeing all of you at the meeting as we move into this new chapter of our existence. We are invigorated by this opportunity for us to grow wit the IEGA and hope you make the decision to grow with us.

Sincerely,
Amy Sterling
President, WPT

You may print out a PDF version of this application and mail it to: engraved1@earthlink.net

Harris Griggs
Fax number 615/366-4192

The Thursday afternoon session featured a series of round table discussions. Both keynote speakers were available for the additional exchange of ideas with Conference attendees. Other discussion sessions were led by:

Brad Cannaday, Neenah Paper, “The Sate of the Paper Industry”
Randy Overly, “Workflow Solutions I”
Eric Nelsen, Xitron, Inc., Tim Murphy and Bill Frederick, Printware LLC, “Workflow Solutions II”
Pam Blake, Central Textas School of Etiquette, “Business Etiquette”

The Friday program featured the annual golf tournament and Associate Members’ Table Top Exhibits. The Associate members also sponsored the dinner Thursday evening.

As usual, the final Conference event was the Awards dinner. Golf tournament and Freddies winners were announced.

Pictures from Conference Review:

As you will see in the video the targets were rather unusual, computer screens… “they blow up so nice.” One of the friend’s wife was interested enough to ask for a turn. Having done it once, she was heard to say it’s something she can cross off her bucket list now.

After all these years as friends in their raised printing businesses and belonging to the same organization, they only recently discovered their common passion for guns and used the occasion to refine that passion. “There are guns, then there are machine guns – it’s a world of difference.”

View Video Here

I am often asked about what details should go on a business card.  This article attempts to give my views.

In this day and age, information technology has become so advanced that everything, it seems, is done online.  Marketing is no exception – search engine optimization (SEO); pay-per-click (PPC) advertising; article marketing; directory placements, and such internet marketing tools have become buzzwords in the marketing world as a result of this ‘going online’ trend.

Nonetheless, the increasing level of internet usage and penetration (70.2% for the United States as of July 2007 according to Nielsen/Net Ratings) does not mean that you no longer have need for business cards.

Business Cards – Why do you need them?

In the world of stiff-necked, Saville Row suited businessmen (or their 20th century, dress-shirt-and-slacks equivalent) you’d feel mightily out of place if you didn’t have a business card to give out.  Truly, exchanging business cards with new acquaintances and possible business contacts is a tradition that you should never neglect.

It’s tradition…

Business cards are something that people expect to give out and be given whenever they meet someone new.  Business cards are not exchanged merely for advertising or marketing purposes; they are necessary reminders of people you have newly met.  Business cards, in effect, are actually some sort of social lubricant – easing new meetings along and making remembering other people easier on all the parties concerned.

Smooth operator…

Business cards also provide you with a way to advertise your services without seeming crass or obvious.  Upon introducing yourself and relating what you do, you simply hand out your business card and let it do your advertising and pre-selling for you.  No overt selling is required.  You can simply become the epitome of the perfect businessman – smooth, savvy and trustworthy – and thereby create a favourable impression on your potential client.  This way, you leave a lasting impression on your prospect without having to resort to pushy marketing techniques.

Latent marketing…

Business cards are effective marketing tools, too.  People usually collect and keep business cards – if not on their wallet or purse, then on their own card case or their cards drawer at their office.  People like being prepared for every possible eventuality so they are likely to keep your business card just in case they have need of your services in the future.

That’s the main advantage of business cards – staying power and latent marketing.  Even if those people who have your business card do not call you immediately, if and when they do need a service that you offer, they’d be much more likely to call you than some anonymous person or company that they find in the phone directory.  After all, they have met you or – in cases where their friends gave them your business card – at least their friends know you.  Business cards, therefore, give businessmen –especially small businessmen in the services industry – a trust-based, potential market.

The Ideal Business Card

Indeed, business cards are a definite requirement for any businessman, especially startup entrepreneurs.  If you don’t have them, be sure to have some printed out – fast.  Not all business cards are equally effective, though, so before you order some business cards, remember the following design basics.

The size…

Your business card should be small enough to carry around in your prospect clients’ wallet.  It should also fit standard card holders.  A business card with a 3.5” x 2” dimensions should do.

The look…

Definitely, your business card should look attractive.  Be sure to use colours that repeat your company colours but first, make sure that your colour combination really works for the target clients that you have in mind.  Your business card should be easy to read, too, so steer clear of fancy fonts that take too much effort to decipher.

The content…

Do not fill your business card with superfluous information (marital status and interests are definitely out).  Just put in the basics:  your name, company logo, company tag line or motto, company name, company address, telephone number/s, email address and company website – if you have one.

These are just the design basics.  You can innovate all you want – go for rounded corners, zany colors, etc. if you want.  Just remember not to go beyond the bounds of good taste.  Your business cards are not there to show that you’re creative (unless you’re in the creative designs field) but mainly to give your prospects a no-sweat means of getting in touch with you.  Therefore, one primary rule stands:  make your business cards easy on the eyes and easy to understand.

Article Source: Mark Gwilliam

WPT Membership News Release – 12-9-08 – Nashville

The latest WPT Quarterly Membership Conference Call was perhaps the best.  In response to an email asking what topics would best benefit the membership in our quarterly conversation, President Amy Sterling said almost everyone wanted to talk about the economy and what we were all doing to protect ourselves.

The group that called in was small so it allowed an easy and free exchange of ideas for about an hour.  Here is an idea of what was discussed;

• How we make credit decisions with new and existing customers.
• Collection methods for existing and “good” customers.
• How the collection numbers are tending to get out farther and farther and what actions we need to take to control this.
• Shipping and delivery services.
• What to expect in the shipping industry and how it relates to timely inventory.
• Credit insurance and how to protect your company from being hurt through default of a large receivable.
• Job flow and order entry software and how to better use it with exception reports and other features to better monitor your customers.

It was a very productive hour and as usual everyone expressed the feeling that sharing is the greatest asset our organization offers.  It was noted that this conversation was rather defensive in nature and perhaps next quarter we could be more proactive and talk about finding more sales, the fuel that would solve most of our problems.

We need to remind everyone that our mid-year meeting (in Nashville) is coming up January 17-18 at the WPT Headquarters where we will have more time to share as well as finalize plans for the Convention in Texas this up coming July.

Amy Sterling

President WPT

Mitsubishi Imaging (MPM), Inc. and Mohawk Fine Papers, Inc.

Check out our Associate Members page for more information!

In an effort to enhance our reach we have joined with the International Engraved Graphics Association. The combination of our associations provides new opportunities to reach out to more thermographers and other specialty printers and to educate our target markets to the value of what our specialties bring to ink on paper.

2. Are there certain colors that look especially good when thermographed?
Although thermography adds an extra shine and dimension to all colors, bright colors look especially vibrant when thermographed. Thermography adds a professional look and feel to black lettering in every font type, which is why it is a leading choice for business and social stationery. A recent trend in wedding invitation design features the elegant look of thermographed pastel colors.

3. How can I learn about the special thermographic processes that are available?
To obtain more information on using applications such as glitter and fluorescent thermography, refer to “Thermography in Design.”

4. How do I let a printer know what part of my design I want thermographed?
It is essential to establish good communication with your printer in order to obtain the finished piece that you envision, no matter what special processes you will be using, including thermography. Be sure you clearly mark the areas of your design that you want thermographed. Include a black and white copy of your artwork with your printing instructions written on it, or highlight the area to be thermographed.

5. What types of designs benefit the most from thermography?
Designs with fine lines, similar to etching, really stand out when thermographed. Using thermography on just one element of a design can really make an impact, such as thermographing just one pine tree in an open field.

6. Can any design be thermographed?
Yes, most designs will benefit from the creative use of thermography.

7. Do all printers provide thermography?
Most printers offer thermography. However, be sure to inquire before you choose your printer. For a complete list of thermographers across the country go to the Worldwide Printing Thermographers Association member list on this site.

8. Is thermography expensive?
Comparatively speaking, no. Thermography is an affordable alternative to engraving and is often comparable to flat printing in cost.

9. How is a thermographic plate made?
Whether the work is generated by computer, by traditional hand methods, or a combination of both, making the thermographic plate only requires the black and white art of the design, lettering or area to be raised to have a finish added.

10.What types of thermography powders are available?
Thermography powders are now available in a range of granule sizes, to allow proper coverage without overrun. There are two types of thermographic powders used today: transparent and opaque. Transparent powders are the most popular and are available in various finishes. The color of the finish is determined by the color of ink used with transparent powder. Opaque powders are offered in metallic and a variety of primary and pastel colors. There are gloss, semi-gloss, matte and dull finishes available in clear or colored powders.

Professer Testimonial: Deborah Larkin, Moore College of Art & Design

WPT is working with leading art colleges and associations across the country to raise awareness about using the art of thermography as a design tool. Our newly launched “Guest Professor” program offers seminars on thermography for graphic design departments at art colleges and professional associations throughout the country. Each seminar is tailored to the background and level of those attending. We have had positive feedback from prestigious institutions including:

- Moore College of Art and Design/Philadelphia
- The Art Institute of Dallas/Texas
- Montclair State University/New Jersey
- Paier College of Art/Connecticut

According to the nation’s leading design experts, there’s a renewed interest in “tactile” design with texture resurfacing as a critical element. Our goal is to educate graphic design students and designers on the varied uses of thermography, a tactile design tool that is not familiar to many design students.

In a recent seminar only one student raised their hand when posed the question “What is thermography?” We have designers in the thermography industry located throughout the country who are available to speak in graphic design and production courses, summer programs or seminars. The designer can talk about:

- The thermography process
- General do’s and don’ts for thermography
- Practical insider tips of the trade
- Thermography samples and how they were created.

We are flexible and can change our program format to meet the needs of your students or members. Please call Pam Boyd or Cathy Shea at 856-642-6226 if you are interested in exploring this opportunity further.