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4 Freebies You Should Be Getting At Trade shows

by | Mar 1, 2017 | Tips & Tricks

I was sTrade Showscanning the internet looking for inspiration for this week’s blog article and I came across one that Sage posted in January of 2015. As I read it I couldn’t help but thinking did I take advantage of all of these when I attended the PPAI Expo this year? I feel like I did take advantage of these four freebies from trade shows. Probably not to the extent that I could have.

With this being my first real trade show experience I wasn’t sure what to go in expecting. I came out the other end feeling a bit overwhelmed. I really think that these four freebies are a great starting point for any one attending a trade show in any industry!

By: Jansen Manfredini

Having just returned from Sin City, where I was for The PPAI Expo last week, I’m feeling like a bit of a rule breaker.  So – just this one time – I’m not going to let what happened in Vegas stay in Vegas.  Here are four free things I bring back from every trade show (and you should, too!).

Four Freebies from Trade Shows

  1. Feedback. Keep your ears and mind open during trade shows. You might be surprised by how much others’ two cents is worth.  We all tend to be biased toward our own ideas, but you can’t make a living off selling to yourself (if you’ve figured out a way to do this, please contact me.)  Outsiders give excellent advice! So don’t be resistant to their constructive criticism, it will only help you improve. At The PPAI Expo, I was overwhelmed by the number of people who stopped by the SAGE booth simply to say hello or rave about SAGE.  Who wouldn’t love hearing that?  But the people we love just as much are the ones who took the time to let us know what features we should add to make our products better.  They’re the reason we continue to grow and improve.
  2. Knowledge. It seemed around every corner was another opportunity to learn.  All of the education at these trade shows is geared toward helping companies in the promotional products industry flourish. So why wouldn’t you take advantage of it?  And the best part?  They’re all FREE!  Take it from someone with student loan debt, free education is something you cannot afford to pass up! The education available at The PPAI Expo was kicked off with a SAGE Conference on Monday. We had record-breaking attendance! If you missed this exciting day of free knowledge, videos from the sessions are available on the SAGE Conference website.  SAGE also provided one-on-one training as well as education sessions during the expo.  We will be providing these opportunities again at Expo East in March.
  3. Connections. One of the most beneficial aspects of trade shows is the opportunity to meet with people face to face.  With actual human interaction becoming less common as technology evolves, it’s important that we’re still making these vital personal connections we need to succeed.  However, it’s not merely about meeting people.  It’s about forming relationships, which requires staying in touch.  To keep in touch most effectively, I recommend using a mobile CRM tool, such as the one available in SAGE Mobile.
  4. Freebies! It’s what we do.  Besides, who doesn’t love coming home with all of the latest and greatest promotional products?

Source: http://www.sageworld.com/blog/index.php/2015/01/22/4-freebies-you-should-be-getting-at-tradeshows/

Types of Printing Explained

by | Feb 22, 2017 | Product Help, Tips & Tricks

In the custom apparel industry there are three different types of printing that are used today: screen printing, direct to garment (DTG) printing and heat press. Here at Pacific Company we use the screen printing technique. However, we do get asked from time to time why we use that versus heat press or DTG.

We wanted to take a minute to explain what the types of printing are and why we use screen printing over the other two.

Types of Printing:

Screen Printing

Ink + Screen (stencil) = screen printing! It really is that simple, one screen is used to print each color. One color at a time the inks are pushed through the screen using a squeegee. Then the apparel is ran through a large dryer to cure the inks.

Screen printing is the best option for printing when you have large quantities of shirts and require a higher level of vibrancy for the design. When screen printing, the ink is applied thicker than digital printing resulting in brighter colors even on darker apparel.

DTG (Direct to Garment)

DTG printing is typically used for smaller orders or orders that the design requires a great amount of detail. Direct to garment printing uses specialized or modified inkjet technology allowing for a more photographic print. When using DTG to print it is best to print on lighter colored apparel so that the design will show up better.

Heat Press

Heat press is the process of applying vinyl or digitally printed graphics to apparel with heat and pressure. This is also referred to as heat transfer printing. When using vinyl, a machine is used to cut out the design and then a heat press is used to transfer the design to the desired apparel. With digitally printed graphics they are first printed on to special heat transfer material using a solvent ink. From there a heat press is used to transfer the design to the desired apparel.

Image result for screen printing vs digital printing vs heat press | Types of Printing

At Pacific Company we use screen printing as our preferred method of printing because it gives us the ability to do orders of all sizes in a timely manner. We pride ourselves on being experts when it comes to screen printing. Because of this you know you will high quality work done in a timely manner!

Have questions about our process? Contact Us!

History of Screen Printing

by | Jan 26, 2017 | Behind The Scenes, Tips & Tricks

GabeScreenPrinting | History of Screen PrintingSince screen printing is such a large part of what we do here at Pacific Company we figured we should probably give you a little bit of the history and how screen printing became one of the most popular printing techniques today.

Screen Printing History:

Would you believe us if we told you that screen printing has been around for over 1,000 years? You should … Some of the earliest signs of screen printing appeared in China around 960 AD, during the Song Dynasty. In the 18th century screen printing made its way to Europe. However it did not gain any traction until the 19th century when the silk mesh used in the process was more available for trade.

Screen printing was patented in England in 1907 by Samuel Simon. Over the years has grown into one of the most popular printing techniques used by commercial printers and fine artists. They not only print on paper, but apparel, DVDs, glass, metal and wood.

MarilynMonroeScreenPrint | History of Screen PrintingOne of the most iconic screen printed images of modern times is Andy Warhol’s 1962 Marilyn Monroe piece. Warhol is one of the few people that popularized screen printing among the artistic community.

Screen printing techniques have changed and improved so much over the years, but the idea behind it remains the same. Today screen printing onto garments now accounts for over half of the screen printing in the USA.

Have a question about our screen printing process? CONTACT US

 

Photo courtesy of Harbor Graphics Inc.

Frequently Asked Questions

by | Jan 18, 2017 | Product Help, Tips & Tricks

Frequently Asked Questions

There is no fancy title for this one, so let’s get straight to the point. We get asked questions on a daily basis about what we do and how we do it.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can you do small orders?

That depends, if you are referring to doing one shirt by its self then no we can’t do that. However we do offer a smaller minimum than most screen printing and embroidery companies. Our minimum for a one color print is 12 pieces, two or more color prints the minimum is 24 pieces. For embroidery orders our minimum is 12 pieces.

Do they have to all be the same product?

Nope, you can select different products and sizes as long as they all have the same design on them.

How fast can I get it done?

Typically it depends on the time of year, but most orders we can turn around within 14 business days. If you need something sooner than that check with us and we will figure something out!

Can you do design work?

Yes! We have a great in house designer that can work with you on a custom design or replicate your artwork. Have questions about artwork? Contact Us!

What format do you need the files in?

Ideally we would like the files to be vectored in .eps, .ai, .pdf, or .cdr format at 300 dpi. If you only have a .jpg, .png, or .tiff file we can work with you on recreating them, please keep in mind that some artwork fees may apply. You can provide artwork via email, drop box or by bringing in a thumb drive with the artwork.

Don’t see the answer you are looking for here? Chat with us on Facebook, tweet at us, or send us an email and we will back to you as soon as we can!

Be on the lookout for an official Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page being added to our site soon!

Holiday Gift Ideas for Your Clients and Employees

by | Nov 2, 2016 | Product Help, Tips & Tricks, Uncategorized

The holidays are quickly approaching and they can already be stressful enough with everything you need to do for family gatherings. You don’t want to forget about your most loyal clients and your employees. Here are some holiday gift ideas to get you started:

Enter, Pacific Company. We have put together a list of gift ideas that are both professional and useful to ease your shopping experience this year.

Holiday Gift Ideas:

For Clients:

  • Holiday Cards | Holiday Gift IdeasHandwritten Card – If you are wanting to give your clients something with more of a personal touch cards are the way to go. You can get quite a few of these printed and then add a personal note to each person. Even though this is one of the less expensive options it does take a little more time. This is a great option if you have a small client base.
  • Fleece Blankets | Holiday Gift IdeasFleece Throw Blankets – You can never have too many blankets! With the chill in the air your clients will love the thought of cuddling up with a cozy blanket. You can customize the blankets with your logo and every time they use it they will think of you! Blankets are great, but they are also on the higher end for cost. We recommend these for those that have a larger budget or smaller client base as well.
  • Calendars | Holiday Gift IdeasCalendars – These are a great way to keep your client thinking about you all year round! Calendars are budget friendly and you can customize them with your information. They come in all shapes and sizes! From wall calendars to desk or tent calendars, they can be extremely handy for reminding clients about important industry dates.
  • Customized Chocolate Box | Holiday Gift IdeasCustomized Candy Box – Customized candy doesn’t last quite as long as a calendar, but who doesn’t love chocolate? By doing something out of the ordinary like customized candies your customers will be sure to remember you the next time they need a service that you offer!
  • Custom USB Drives | Holiday Gift IdeasCustom USB Flash Drive – Not only are flash drives a very useful and budget friendly gift idea but they can be very unique too. Flash drives come in so many shapes and sizes so that you can make it unique to you. Every time your client uses it they will think about you!

 For Employees:

  • Business Card Holder | Holiday Gift IdeasBusiness Card Holder – Almost every professional out there has business cards, right? How many of them are just sitting in a pile on their desk or stuffed in a drawer somewhere? Business card holders make a great gift for your employees. You can get one that sits on their desk or a holder that they can carry with them.
  • Tote Bags | Holiday Gift IdeasTote Bags – Over the last couple years tote bags have become increasingly popular with people. They are a great go to bag for going to the grocery store or for a day at the beach. Tote bags come in all sorts of sizes and colors and be customized with your logo. They are sure to please your employees for the holidays!
  • Leather Portfolio | Holiday Gift IdeasLeather Portfolio – A leather portfolio or notebook holder is perfect for those employees that are rushing between meetings. Keeping track of documents can be done in style with everything you need to stay organized and looking professional.

 

  • Soft Shell Jackets | Holiday Gift IdeasBranded Jacket – Company apparel is always a hit! Especially during the cooler months when people are trying to find the perfect jacket to stay warm. Pacific Company can help you pick out the perfect jacket for your team and customize it with your logo. Your team will love them!
  • Coffee Mugs | Holiday Gift IdeasDrink-ware – This is always a safe bet when it comes to gifts. People always need more coffee mugs and they are budget friendly. You can customize the mug with your company logo or go a step further and make it more personal to your employees.

 

If you have an idea but need some help finding the perfect gift or finalizing the design let us know! We know the promotional products industry and have years of experience helping clients with their needs.

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