If there’s anything the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us, it’s the value of our relationships, our time, and that sadly, unexpected circumstances can come along and make a mess of our lives. The virus has also caused people to spend significantly more time at home, resulting in an unprecedented upturn in remodeling and home organization projects. As this difficult season fades away, you may want to take this opportunity to scan your documents now, so you can rest easy knowing you’ve kept everything safe and where you need it as you head into a new normal.
Back Up Your Originals
In some circumstances, such as applying for a passport, marriage license, or social security card, you will need to submit your original documents. Since they are not easily replaced, the following important originals should be stored in an easily accessible, fire safe box:
Long- and short-form birth certificates
Passport
Social Security card
Marriage license
Adoption certificate
Citizenship papers
However, even if you have them safely stored away, you should scan your documents and save the copies in several different forms and locations. Save your files in a clearly marked folder on your computer, upload them to a cloud-based drive like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or iCloud, and keep them on a portable drive as well. That way, you’ll have your documents right where and when you need them. In addition, if your originals are ever lost, stolen, or damaged, you will still have copies of your vital information, and the Federal Records Center can create new originals based on your scanned documents.
Access Your Files Anytime, Anywhere
When you scan your documents, they are available to you 24/7 wherever you can access the internet. This can be especially important while traveling or when you need them unexpectedly. You can even save your files as photos or PDFs on your phone, so you’ll be able to locate them immediately and print them right from your phone. More than just convenience, it can save you a great deal of hassle if you’re asked to produce them right away.
Get Rid of Clutter and Simplify Your Life
Though your most vital documents don’t take up much room, you likely have other important paperwork that is accumulating somewhere. Tax forms, product warranties, bank records, bills, and receipts are just a few examples of documents taking up space in your drawers or on your desk. Experts recommend saving your tax documents and investment records for seven years, pay stubs and canceled checks for a year, and warranty information and related receipts until they expire. Since most people are too busy to keep track of all that, they end up keeping everything “just in case,” creating piles of clutter and making it difficult to find what they need. Fortunately, once you scan your documents, you can shred whatever contains sensitive information and recycle the rest.
You have a lot on your plate and probably have a lengthy list of things you want to get done eventually. Let Minuteman Press help you get organized and safeguard your most vital information. We’ll take your stack of papers, scan your documents, and put it all on a portable drive for you to take home and upload wherever you wish. You’ll feel good knowing you can scratch one more thing off that to-do list.
Staying competitive in the business world requires hard work, innovation, and the willingness to explore new ways to reach your target audience. Though your marketing strategy should include digital channels like social media, email, video, and web content, you shouldn’t neglect the power of out-of-home (OOH) advertising to gain the attention of potential customers.
While a billboard may be the most recognizable form of OOH advertising, a custom vehicle wrap (sometimes referred to as a mobile billboard) is an eye-catching, memorable way to get your company noticed by people in your service area. Here are four compelling reasons why a wrap may be just what your business needs to get a leg up on the competition and boost your revenue this year.
Visibility
You may be surprised to know that:
57% of people who see mobile billboards notice them all or most of the time. (Nielsen)
A single custom vehicle wrap can generate 30,000 to 70,000 daily impressions (ARD Ventures)
97% of those who view mobile advertisements remember them (RYP & Becker Group)
Mobile billboards command 2.5 times more attention than static billboards (Perception Research)
These findings are very convincing, especially when you consider the size of your area and the number of vehicles you may want to use to advertise your business. More impressions, greater visibility, and better recall increase the likelihood your company’s name will come to mind when people need the services you provide.
Impact
The most effective advertising campaigns leave a lasting impression on potential customers, and a custom vinyl-wrapped vehicle makes your company’s name 15 times more recognizable than any other type of advertising. In fact, over 96% of people surveyed by the American Trucking Association said that mobile billboards have a greater impact than standard billboards. When you consider that your vehicle is also stationary at times — in traffic, at stoplights, and when it’s parked — it exposes your potential customers to your advertisement for a much longer period than when it’s moving.
Brand Identity
Your business is more than just your company name and what you offer; it’s your story, your mission, and what makes you unique and special. Your logo, colors, designs, and words are all critical to communicating who you are. A custom vehicle wrap provides more than just information — it gives your audience a clear, concise snapshot of your brand identity. So whether you want to show that your business is elegant, reliable, innovative, or just plain fun, your vehicle will leave a memorable impression on everyone who sees it.
ROI
Perhaps one of the most compelling reasons to consider getting your vehicle wrapped is the amazing ROI potential. Wraps are relatively inexpensive, typically ranging from $1000 – $4000, and can last up to five years. So, for a few hundred dollars per year, you can have a highly visible, attention-grabbing advertisement that reaches an enormous audience wherever your vehicle goes. If you include a unique phone number in the wrap design, you’ll be able to accurately track how much your business increases from the use of your mobile billboard.
If you think your business could benefit from a custom vehicle wrap, contact a digital printing specialist who will work with you to create the perfect design to represent your company. In a few short days, your wrap will be printed, installed, and turning heads.
The seasons are changing…and the holidays are quickly approaching!
Holiday cards are a simple way to reach your customers and remote employees and to show your appreciation. We can help you avoid the rush of the season! Order now and have your cards delivered with time to spare.
We have styles for business and personal use in a range of price-points.
With fears of Coronavirus spreading, hand sanitizer is out of stock in many stores across the country. We still have access to two different brands!
Customized with your logo
Choices of bottle size and fragrance
The CDC recommendations for hand-washing and hand sanitizer:
“Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.”
(The guidelines are recommended by doctors year-round to keep you healthy…not just when a new virus spreads!)
Please contact us if you’d like more information about hand sanitizer or other health-and-beauty promotional products. We’re happy to show you different options and to provide a quote.
T-shirts are a highly-effective way to promote your brand. Consumers keep t-shirts for an average of 14 months, longer than every other promotional product category except outerwear. Brand recall is higher for apparel than other promotional items, with 85% of consumers being able to remember the advertiser that gave them a shirt or hat. In addition, branded T-shirts generate an average of 3,400 impressions, more than pens, umbrellas, or mugs1.
Unfortunately, fabric manufacturing can be harmful to the environment. From the growth of cotton to the by-products of manufacturing, there is an impact on the earth.
When Michael canvassed the floor of the PPAI show in Las Vegas, he was happy to see many vendors focusing on sustainability and environmental awareness. We’ve always believed in voting with our dollars and supporting companies with ethical and eco-friendly practices. He found several t-shirt brands that have re-thought the traditional manufacturing process.
The Allmade sample we have is possibly the softest t-shirt we’ve ever felt. When we picked it up, it actually made us take pause. It’s that t-shirt you’re always reaching for when you open the drawer. The kind that makes you feel disappointed when you realize it’s still in the hamper from last time.
The way Allmade manufactures their shirts is a huge bonus. Their tri-blend shirts are made from three eco-friendly and responsibly sourced materials…US grown organic cotton, recycled polyester, and Tencel Modal. Each of these tri-blend shirts contains the equivalent of 6 plastic water bottles. The Allmade 100% cotton shirts are made from cotton grown in Texas and fabriated in the Carolinas, reducing the environmental impact of shipping.
Allmade has a nifty impact calculator so you can see the real-world effects of choosing sustainably made shirts.
District is making waves with their new Re-Tee. Made from entirely recycled content, it’s an eco-friendly choice with budget-friendly prices. The colors come from old t-shirts and recycled polyester fibers, so there’s no need to re-dye it. This process eliminates the need for a traditionally water-intensive dyeing process and the need for new raw materials. By recycling existing fabric scraps, District is keeping materials out of the landfills, too.
We’re pretty sure that you’re familiar with Hanes. The good old standard in t-shirts and socks is probably found in most American homes. Did you know that Hanes prides itself on social and environmental responsibility?
Their website has a fantastic interactive tool that explains how Hanes t-shirts are responsibly made. They focus on water conservation in their cotton fields, low-waste yarn spinning, and state-of-the-art renewable energy in their facilities, They’re also reduced their carbon emissions from transportation by 50% since 2008. Way to go, Hanes!
We also thought we should share their effort to help homeless people around the US with their 10th National Sock Drive. Since starting this program in 2009, they’ve donated 3 million pairs of socks. Click here for more info on the Hanes 2019/2020 Sock Drive.
Marine Layer is a fun brand based in San Francisco with stores around the US. Their focus is on shirts that are so soft you’ll never want to take them off. From day one, they’ve focused on people and the environment. Their signature fabric contains micro-modal, made from recycled beechwood.
…and then Marine Layer got even better when they introduced Re-Spun. They recycle old t-shirts into new t-shirts with an entirely water-less, closed loop system. Talk about dedication to sustainability! They make their Re-Spun shirts without any water, dyes, or new materials. Their process starts with donations of old t-shirts, sorted by color and broken down to the fibers. They add recycled plastic water bottles to the fabric and create super-soft new shirts! Here are some fun FAQs about the process.
Marine Layer makes most of their shirts in the US, but when they occasionally have to outsource overseas, they utilize factories with the same standards we’d have here.
So whatever your vibe or style, we have an eco-friendly shirt for you! From the traditional look of a Hanes tee to the laid-back weekend attitude of a Marine Layer tee, we can help you choose the right style for your employees or customers. We can imprint all of these styles with your logo or message, and you can feel good knowing that you made an eco-friendly choice while still promoting your brand.
When Michael went to the PPAI show in Las Vegas, we promised to share some exciting new ideas from the promotional products industry. Many people think of “give-aways” and the old standards are brought to mind…pens, mugs, keychains. There is still a time and a place for these classics, but the world of promotional products is SO much more interesting now.
If sustainability and environmental impact are on your mind, the industry hears you. Each year, more companies introduce products that help you market your business with minimal environmental impact.
Who would have thought that someone could re-think paper? It seems like such a basic product. Sure, it comes in different weights and colors, but it’s just wood pulp, right?
A few years ago, we started using synthetic papers for printing menus. Some of our restaurant customers want extremely durable paper that won’t dissolve if it lands in a ring of water. Synthetic paper means that their menus are durable if they get wet and last much longer than standard cardstock.
Michael found something equally interesting this year. Washable paper. And yes, we tried it out.
The sample we received is a small portfolio with a removable wrap-around elastic.
The instructions say to machine wash with cold water and dry flat. We washed it three times to see what would happen.
Here are the results after it fully dried. You can see that the inner right side has a wrinkle. The left side with the pockets is still completely smooth, and the outside looks about the same.
The washable paper looks and feels more like leather than paper, but it’s just made from layers of kraft paper.
And the best news…we can produce shopping bags with this reusable paper! Stores recommend washing bags after several uses to prevent the spread of germs. No problem with these paper bags!
Want another environmental benefit? Evidence shows that plastic-based fabrics release small particles into the wash water, which in turn end up in our waterways. With these washable paper bags, you’ll be making a choice that’s better for the environment during the lifetime of the product.
Contact us if you want more information about the portfolios or bags. Stay tuned for more eco-friendly product features coming soon!
