MI Printing: Black Friday Special

25% Off Any Printing item Today Only. New Orders Must be made today.

Now is the time to order all those things that keeps your business going all year long. Get your brochures, business cards, flyers, letterhead, envelopes and multi-part forms.

Do you need help with your next print advertisement?  Call MI Printing 623.582.1302 and lets us be your local resource.  Effective communication is what your business needs.

Presented By
MI Printing
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
http://printinginaz.com
http://miprintingpromotions.com

Sears Deserves A Huge Ata-Boy

As we shop for Christmas this year you have a huge number of places where you can spend your money.  If you wish to purchase something for yourself or as a gift and the choice is Sears or another retailer please stop and consider the Sears policy that relates to US Service men and women.

What is that policy you may ask? Well, I’m glad you did.

First here is the link to the actual Sears page that goes over all of their military benefits and accomplishments. http://www.searsholdings.com/communityrelations/hero/military.htm

We hope that you have all seen the reports about how Sears is treating its reservist and National Guard employees who are called to duty? By law, they are required to hold their jobs open and available, but nothing more. Usually, those serving take a big pay cut and lose benefits as a result of their active duty service.

Sears (company-wide) is voluntarily paying the difference in salaries and maintaining all company benefits, including medical insurance and bonus programs, for all active duty reservist and National Guard employees.

Sears is indeed one of the employers who take additional steps to show support for workers involved in serving their country (either in the Reserves or the National Guard) by guaranteeing the continuance of their civilian pay (for up to 60 months) and allowing continued participation in life insurance, medical and dental programs.

Although Sears is singled out in this example, many other American businesses, large and small, do the same for their Reserve and National Guard employees. . I submit that Sears is an exemplary corporate citizen and should be recognized for its contribution.

Sears is indeed one of the employers who take additional steps to show support for workers involved in serving their country and allowing continued participation in life insurance, medical and dental programs. Although Sears is singled out in this example, many other American businesses, large and small, do the same for their Reserve and National Guard employees. Reports of such businesses can be found on the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve web site. http://www.esgr.mil/

At MI Printing we wish you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving. If possible please support Sears this Holiday season.

Do you need help with your next print advertisement?  Call MI Printing 623.582.1302 and lets us be your local resource.  Effective communication is what your business needs.

Presented By
MI Printing
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
http://printinginaz.com
http://miprintingpromotions.com

Who Moved Black Friday?

In the past Black Friday was the day after Thanksgiving when stores put some of their items at special prices to kick off the holiday shopping season. Then they decided that Friday started at midnight and to get the jump on competition they would open at 12:00 a.m. so they would be the very first to offer their shoppers these special item prices.

Well 2013 rolls around and it is one of those years where Thanksgiving happens much later in the month and there is less than thirty days till Christmas.  So the thought process is to move Black Friday back into Thursday.  Major retailers are going to open sometime on Thursday to start their Black Friday sales.

The thinking is that no one really celebrates Thanksgiving anymore so we might as well shop.  What? One thing is for sure the sales people aren’t given a chance to spend quality time with their families this Thanksgiving.  Do Mega Corporations really need these precious family hours to make a few more bucks?

I don’t know about you but I have been buried in emails (since sometime last week) telling me I don’t have to wait for Black Friday.  I can shop online or at the stores now and still save big.

With all the Pre-Black Friday deals do we still need to open stores at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday?  Seems like that is the way of the big box retailers.  So, does this mean that next year we will have retailers that will open normal hours on Thanksgiving day?

I know that people are already camped out in front of many of the stores in preparation for the big Black Friday (or Thursday) sales. Those ringing cash register (OK, sliding card swipes) will be prove that If You Open They Will Come.

Many of our family and friends do have to work on Thanksgiving day.  They provide necessary services to the community and are truly needed to staff healthcare, power companies and first responder positions.  We all take for granted that our Police and Fire Departments never close. But the retailers just don’t fall into these types of services.

Do to lack of planning some of us will have to buy gas on this coming Thursday and we appreciate the service stations and convenience stores that do stay open.  Many of us have planned our menus well in advance and have carefully done our holiday shopping.  But, we still may find we have forgotten one essential item (maybe two) and hope that one grocery store or so will be open at least limited hours so we can recover from our oversight and put up that special holiday dinner.

To open or when to open is a concern for every business owner.  How do you decide what hours of service and products to you provide to the community?

Don’t forget to support your local businesses on Small Business Saturday (November 30th).

Do you need help with your next print advertisement?  Call MI Printing 623.582.1302 and lets us be your local resource.  Effective communication is what your business needs.

Presented By
MI Printing
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
http://printinginaz.com
http://miprintingpromotions.com

McDonalds Setting A New Low For Fast Food

On Friday November 22nd we stopped for lunch at a local McDonalds store. What I found inside took me several looks to fully understand and comprehend what the sign said and meant.

First here is a photo of the sign. Take a moment and read the sign.  The way I read it this McDonalds limits the time you can spend eating your meal.  I cannot understand putting a time limit on a customer who has paid for their food and wants to consume it at your location.

Yes, the sign does say; Time Limit: 30 MINUTES While Consuming Food. No, this isn’t a PhotoShop alteration. The sign makes no mention of a time limit for folks who aren’t consuming food. I’m not sure how it is enforced or what the basis is for starting your visit.  Surely they wait until you have at least placed your order.

Now I can understand having a no loitering policy.  You don’t want people just taking up space when you are busy and stopping others from using your tables. After all the number of seats are a limited resource.

But the time limit while consuming food makes no sense at all.  I sure don’t want to be rushed while eating.  Now days it is common to take time and relax while eating breakfast, lunch or dinner. This McDonalds like most of them provides free WiFi.  Many folks even stop by a McDonalds so they can work during lunch.

Based on the sign I decided to time my lunch duration. Eating at a normal pace (for me) it took thirty-seven minutes.  That meal was a McRib, shared fries and a medium drink (with one self-serve refill).

Does it make any sense to set a tight time limit on the length of a customer visit?

What if, at this McDonalds, the customer found that he or she was still hungry and decided to purchase more food. Does their time limit reset and they get another half hour?  Does a single person who buys just a small coffee and a mother with four children and a twenty dollar purchase get the same time limit?

I don’t think that a time limit on your consuming food is what we have in mind when we think of FAST FOOD!

Do you or would you do something like this in your business?  Please take time to drop me an email and let me know what you think of this policy as it (or should it) applies to a restaurant or any other business.

Do you need help with your next commercial printing product?  Call MI Printing 623.582.1302 and lets us be your local resource.  Effective communication is what your business needs.

Presented By
MI Printing
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
http://printinginaz.com
http://miprintingpromotions.com

MI Printing New Customer Special

For new customers - 15% off any offset printing order of $100 or more. For best results a PDF file is required for the customer supplied artwork. Please refer to this ad when calling. Offer expires December 7, 2013.

At MI Printing we can take care of all of your offset printing needs. Offset printing is used because of its capacity to make commercial quantities of prints with high quality results and cheap production cost, offset printing is a good choice for large numbers of printing projects.

We are ready to help just give us a call at 623.582.1302 for a quote on your printing job.

Presented By
MI Printing
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
http://printinginaz.com
http://miprintingpromotions.com

Getting New Customers, Your Plan

Is it fair to say that adding more customers to your business is a day-to-day goal?  OK, you also want to keep the customers you already have, as well.

I won’t say that your goal is easy to achieve. But achievable it is.  What it takes is a plan, a workable plan.  Now the questions is in your court, what is your plan?  What are you doing on a day-to-day basis to attract those new customers and keep your existing ones?

What is your plan?

Do you run traditional print or media advertisements?

Do you send direct mail marketing pieces?

Do you have a website for your business?

Do you do any type of Social Media?

Do you use Coupons or Thank You Gifts to existing customers?

Do you reward existing customers for new customer referrals?

What promotional materials do you offer to customers or potential customers?

When was the last time you promoted your business at a community event?

Do use you collect email address from your customers?

When was the last time you sent an email marketing letter to your customer base?

When was the last time you read a book on marketing your business?

What organization do you belong to that promotes local businesses?

Does your company have a marketing brochure?

When was the last time you updated your company marketing brochure?

Are you using your business cards as handouts each and every day? Why Not?

Can I ask again, what is your goal and what is your plan to reach it?

Do you need help with your next print advertisement?  Call MI Printing 623.582.1302 and lets us be your local resource.  Effective communication is what your business needs.

Presented By
MI Printing
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
http://printinginaz.com
http://miprintingpromotions.com

Made In The USA – Whitman’s Candies

In 1842, a 19-year-old Quaker named Stephen F. Whitman set up a small "confectionery and fruiterer shoppe" on Market Street near the Philadelphia waterfront. His shop attracted Philadelphians from all walks of life, leading citizens to sailors. Thanks to exotic ingredients taken to Whitman by well-traveled sailors, his candies quickly gained renown across the Northeast.

Whitman was an innovative marketer; he knew that presentation could be as important as taste to some customers. So he created beautiful packaging and well-crafted advertising campaigns that focused prospective customers on the quality of his candies. Whitman's became a familiar name, thanks to ads in newspapers and magazines as early as 1857.

Business thrived, and the company's facility in Philadelphia expanded. New products, including tinned Instantaneous Chocolate, brought acclaim and boosted profits. In 1869, the next generation took the reins when Horace Whitman replaced his father as company president. Horace introduced America to cellophane, a then-wondrous material that helped keep candy fresh, colorful and clean.

By 1907, Whitman's Candies were appearing on the shelves in "better drug stores" across the region. Four years later, Walter Sharp stepped in as president; he developed new products and initiated the company's money-back guarantee that continues to this day. Sharp also created the Whitman's Sampler®, an assortment of the company's best-selling chocolates. Inspired by a cross-stitched sampler hanging in his home, Sharp worked with a skilled employee to create the sampler that's reproduced on Sampler boxes to this day. By 1915, the Sampler had become America's best-selling box of chocolates, a position it still holds today.

The company has a long history of honoring servicemen and women. During World War I, the company began distributing chocolates to soldiers, another noble tradition the company continues today. Whitman's Candies survived the Great Depression without sacrificing quality, lowering prices, or reducing dealer profits. In fact, more magazine ads were run in the 1930s, at the height of the Depression, than at any other time in the company's history.

Products and packaging evolved ... new products were added ... and the company continued to prosper. With the start of World War II, the company introduced the beautiful Land, Sea and Air Tins. Women working the candy lines added handwritten notes to packages sent to soldiers; some of those notes results in long-term friendships and in a few cases, marriage.

Refrigerated display cases in 1946 enabled dealers to store fresh candy longer. After WWII, Hollywood's brightest stars promoted Whitman's Candies, often in exchange for payment in chocolate and a mention of the star's latest movie.

As America became more health-conscious, the company introduced Light Chocolates in 1984, Sugar Free candies in 2001, and the Net Carb line in 2003. In 2005, Whitman's partnered with Weight Watchers International® to produce a line of Weight Watchers Chocolates.

Consumers continue to recognize Whitman's as one of a handful of brands that have stood the test of time, a true sampler of American ideals and values. It is fitting, then, that American presidents offer Whitman's Samplers to guests at the White House and those traveling on Air Force One.

Location: 4900 Oak St. KansasCity MO 64112 • 800-477-8683

Website:  http://www.russellstover.com/

Do you want your business printing made in the U.S.A.?  Then please contact MI Printing and tell us about your printing needs.  We are ready to listen and help.

Presented By
MI Printing, LLC
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
http://printinginaz.com
http://miprintingpromotions.com

Today We Remember The Gettysburg Address

Today is the 150th Anniversary of the Gettysburg address. Lincoln's Gettysburg Address was first delivered nearly five months after the major battle that left tens of thousands of men wounded, dead or missing. It was read today by a re-enactor to mark the anniversary. The ceremony included a wreath-laying at the Soldiers' National Cemetery. There also was a graveside salute to U.S. Colored Troops at noon (EST), and a tree planting ceremony in the afternoon.

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
November 19, 1863

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Abraham Lincoln

Everything we’ve achieved since that time was born out of the sacrifice of the soldiers that fought there and the patriots that followed through their footsteps throughout American history.

Do you need help with your next print advertisement?  Call MI Printing 623.582.1302 and lets us be your local resource.  Effective communication is what your business needs.

Presented By
MI Printing 
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
http://printinginaz.com
http://miprintingpromotions.com

Give Them Something To Remember

The rules for great advertisements are really very simple.  First Get Their Attention and then Give Them Something To Remember.  We sum it up in “Tell A Great Story.”  There is an ad that is creating a lot of buzz these days.

If you love martial arts and action movies, then you are without a doubt familiar with this legendary name that needs no introduction: Jean-Claude Van Damme. 

If you are Volvo how would combine your truck product line and an action star.  One who’s signature move is a wild leg split.  Well they did and now have a commercial that has grown a great set of viral legs.

Here is the link to the YouTube version; http://youtu.be/M7FIvfx5J10

First, is it real? Here is a set-up video; http://youtu.be/Yatg89gi0nM

Van Damme, 53, was hooked to safety lines that aren’t visible in the film, and each foot is on a small platform that was built on the trucks’ side mirrors but, Van Damme actual did the split between the two moving trucks.  Several days of rehearsals were needed to pull off this video.  Several comments have been made that if it is faked there will be a backlash to the ad.  Reminds me of the old saying… “As long as they are talking about you…”

As of this morning, November 18th 2013, the YouTube video has been viewed more than 24 million times. Reaching those current truck drivers and owners was a big part of the marketing strategy, says Volvo a spokesperson. Volvo scored big with this ad, but in reality, most marketers don't come close to garnering this type of digital attention. In using social media rather than a traditional TV ad, Volvo also hoped to boost brand awareness with young people who could be "future truck drivers."

The new dynamic steering system combines conventional hydraulic powered steering with an electric motor that is fitted to the truck’s steering gear. The electric motor receives 2000 signals per second from the truck’s on-board sensors, allowing for more precise steering, according to Vilhelmsson. He said the steering system offers a more relaxed and ergonomically designed experience for truck drivers.

When Volvo began planning the launch of five new trucks twelve months ago, the creative team adopted a strategy of producing YouTube films that would create attention, and inform and entertain audiences. That would pave the way for future advertising and sales campaigns in local markets.

In case you missed it Van Damme isn’t the first Volvo truck stunt and you may enjoy this one even more, take a look at; http://youtu.be/1zXwOoeGzys - The Ballerina Stunt

Let MI Printing help you communicate your business story to your businesses’ audience. Brochures, flyers and coupons are what will help you sell more and bring customers back to your business. Call 623-582-1302 to find out more.

Presented By
MI Printing 
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
http://printinginaz.com
http://miprintingpromotions.com

MI Printing Special: Custom Business Cards

15% Off Business Cards, Full Bleed. 4/4 (Full Color Both Sides), 14 pt UV Coated  From customer supplied art. For best results a PDF file is required.  No one will mistake these cards for homemade ones!

Sales tax, if necessary, not included.  Please mention this ad when calling to order.  Offer expires November 30, 2013

At MI Printing we can take care of all of your business card needs far beyond just simple black on white.  They say you simply aren't in business without your business cards. Need to know more about all the uses for business cards?  Learn about the many options for your cards.  Please give us a call at 623-582-1302.

Presented By
MI Printing
Phone: 623.582.1302
http://printinginaz.com
Email: sales@printinginaz.com

Marketing Mayhem What’s Your Function?

If you are of a certain age or older you will likely remember the ABC program that featured "Conjunction Junction" program from the 1970s Saturday morning children's show "Schoolhouse Rock!"

Schoolhouse Rock! was a programming series of animated musical educational short films (and later, videos) that aired during the Saturday morning children's programming on the television network ABC. The topics covered included grammar, science, economics, history, mathematics, and civics. The series' original run lasted from 1973 to 1985, and was later revived with both old and new episodes airing from 1993 to 1999. Additional episodes were produced as recently as 2009 for direct-to-video release.

Now there is an advertising campaign by Norfolk Southern Railway that does a fantastic job of a “Cover” of the "Conjunction Junction" song.

Here is a link to the YouTube video. http://youtu.be/OL_V_y2zYR4

The video was the high point of the otherwise largely perfunctory shareholders meeting. It was the first showing of the new Norfolk Southern TV commercial, which premiered at a National Train Day event at Union Station in Washington.

"There's a familiar song in it that some of you may recognize," the chairman said in introducing the commercial.

The ad, to air soon on cable channels, vamps on the "Conjunction Junction" feature from the 1970s Saturday morning children's show "Schoolhouse Rock!"

Against the backdrop of a collage of Norfolk Southern locomotives and other images, a funky chorus of singers wails, "Norfolk Southern, what's your function? Hooking up the country, helping business run" and "Norfolk Southern, how's that function? Helping this big country move ahead as one."

Reminds me of the saying “Every Thing Old Is New Again.”

If you’re like me you’ve been mesmerized by Norfolk Southern’s commercial set to the melody of Schoolhouse Rock, “Conjunction Junction.”. What made the original so memorable was the unmistakable voice of Jack Sheldon. If you’re old enough, you remember him as the wisecracking trumpet player from the Merv Griffin show.

But is it Jack on this commercial?  His own website hasn’t been updated in years.  He is alive, but at 81 he might not be singing anymore or have the range he once had.

No, sorry it is not the original performer.

Do you need help with your next print advertisement?  Call MI Printing 623.582.1302 and lets us be your local resource.  Effective communication is what your business needs.

Presented By
MI Printing
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
http://printinginaz.com
http://miprintingpromotions.com

Made In The USA – Valvoline Motor Oil

When we talk about different companies that are “Made In The USA” we talk about companies that create, manufacture or assemble here in the United States.  Yes, oil imported from beyond the U.S. is refined into the different Valvoline products but that refining happens here in the US, hence the Made in U.S.A. listing.

Valvoline started in 1866 and was used in steam powered machines and locomotives. It became a division of Ashland Inc., and serves more than 100 countries worldwide and is a leading marketer, distributor and producer of quality branded automotive and industrial products and services.

Valvoline invented motor oil. They’ve been reinventing it ever since. Valvoline has helped car owners achieve maximum performance and prolonged life from their engines with motor oils specifically designed to meet the needs of different engine types and driving conditions. Their newest innovation is NextGen™ the premium motor oil that’s better for the environment and great for your engine. With 140 years under the hood, you can rely on the proven technology of Valvoline motor oils and products.

With Valvoline announcing a new motor oil called NextGen, which is made up of 50 percent recycled motor oil. Even though everyone told us – and every bottle of the stuff proudly proclaims – that NextGen is also "100 percent Valvoline" and will offer up the same performance that people expect from any other Valvoline motor oil, the company knows that this product is not guaranteed to be a instant hit. After all, would you put used motor oil in your engine?

Well, you might if you got the same detailed explanation about NextGen. Here's the short version:

When you buy a new bottle of motor oil, what you're actually getting is a liquid that contains 85 percent motor oil and 15 percent additives. When that motor oil runs through your engine for a few thousand miles and gets "used," all that really happens is that additives get contaminated and useless, while the 85 percent motor oil is still there, still okay. This 85 percent is called base oil, and it can be reclaimed and turned into new motor oil.

For the "independent" Valvoline, motor oil is not an afterthought, something to do alongside drilling for crude. Okay, if you want to be picky, then, yes, Valvoline is a division of Ashland Inc., but why let the truth get in the way of a good story, especially since Valvoline is not vertically integrated and really, really cares about making good motor oil? Motor oil is the company's main reason for being, and it hasn't introduced a new, big product since MaxLife, an oil designed for high-mileage vehicles, in 2000.

Location: Valvoline World Headquarters P.O. Box 14000, Lexington, KY 40512 • 800-TEAM-VAL

Website:  http://www.valvoline.com

Do you want your business printing made in the U.S.A.?  Then please contact MI Printing and tell us about your printing needs.  We are ready to listen and help.

Presented By
MI Printing, LLC
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
http://printinginaz.com

Small Business Saturday Is November 30th

Are you giving customers a reason to Shop Small® with you on Nov 30. The information you promote in your marketing materials for Small Business Saturday® will determine how big your crowd is on that special Saturday.

Everyone has heard of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but growing in awareness is Small Business Saturday. This is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses across the country.

It was started a few years ago by American Express, and it's grown in popularity ever since.

With five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas and a late November start to Hanukkah, small businesses are prepping for the holiday season even earlier than usual, according to a new survey.

According to the annual Small Business Saturday Insights Survey, released by the NFIB and American Express, nearly one-third of small business owners are starting holiday promotions earlier this year, and 70% say participating in Small Business Saturday will be helpful in attracting new customers.

While small businesses generally can’t offer the steep discounts available at big-box retailers and department stores, Many business owners are trying to provide incentives to existing and new customers as well.

According to the survey, 67% of participants will offer discounts on Small Business Saturday, and 36% will offer coupons for future offers or discounts.

Many small business owners are banding together to increase traffic. Thirty-nine percent of participants are collaborating with other small businesses for a community event to promote Small Business Saturday.

What are your plans for this small business special weekend?

Using MI Printing you still have time to print coupon specials to hand out to your customers so they can take advantage of your business on Small Business Saturday and well beyond.

Let MI Printing help you communicate your business story to your businesses’ audience. Brochures, flyers and coupons are what will help you sell more and bring customers back to your business. Call 623-582-1302 to find out more.

Presented By
MI Printing
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
http://printinginaz.com

MI Printing Remembers Our Veterans

History of Veterans Day
World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"

The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m.

 President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first "Veterans Day Proclamation" which stated: "In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible."

The Uniform Holiday Bill was signed on June 28, 1968, and was intended to ensure three-day weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. It was thought that these extended weekends would encourage travel, recreational and cultural activities and stimulate greater industrial and commercial production. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holidays on their original dates.

The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971. It was quite apparent that the commemoration of this day was a matter of historic and patriotic significance to a great number of our citizens, and so on September 20th, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97, which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11, beginning in 1978. This action supported the desires of the overwhelming majority of state legislatures, all major veterans service organizations and the American people.

MI Printing would like to pay tribute to all our country's Veterans and thank them for their service.

Want help with your next print advertisement, brochure or flyer?  Call MI Printing 623.582.1302 and lets us be your local resource.

Presented By
MI Printing, LLC
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
http://printinginaz.com
http://miprintingpromotions.com

MI Printing Special: 15% Off Custom Carbonless Forms

15% Off Custom Carbonless Forms. Please let us know what type of padding you expect for your forms. For best results a PDF file is required for the customer supplied artwork. Please refer to this ad when calling. Offer expires November 30, 2013.

At MI Printing we can take care of all of your carbonless needs far beyond just carbonless forms.  These can be used for employment applications, order forms, job tickets, invoices, estimates or proposals. If needed, backside printing is available.

Need to know more about all the uses for carbonless forms contact us at MI Printing. 

We are ready to help just give us a call at 623.582.1302 for our current special pricing on carbonless forms.

Presented By
MI Printing 
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
http://printinginaz.com

How AT&T Got Kids to Make Some of the Year's Best Ads

Bigger. Faster. More. You know you have strong product benefits when they can be boiled down to simple value propositions even kids can appreciate. Children, and simplicity, are at the core of BBDO's classic-in-the-making "It's not complicated" campaign for AT&T, touting the size and speed of the carrier's network and other benefits. Prompted, and in many ways wrangled, by actor and comedian Beck Bennett, children answer the simplest of (unbranded) questions in a dozen ads and counting. What's better: Bigger or smaller? Faster or slower? More or less? The kids answer oddly, sweetly, hilariously—turning out charming, comic spots from what was always something of a gamble. "We knew there was a bit of wild card in talking to kids," said BBDO Atlanta creative director Stephen McMennamy. "But that's what we loved about it—taking time to get inside their heads and hear them talk so wonderfully about these really simple notions."

The agency prefers non-actor kids but has worked with actors, too. It looked beyond New York and Los Angeles, to places like Chicago and San Francisco, to widen the net. The children must have a certain dynamic and energy, but even that's not always reliable. "You can get a kid who does some great, random, wild stuff in casting, but on set the dynamic can be different," said McMennamy. "Is it the time of day? Did they get in a fight with their sibling? It's anybody's guess."

The agency films five groups of four kids per day, each group for two hours. Often they get nothing; occasionally they strike gold. In the middle of it all is Bennett, who first chatted with kids for AT&T in BBDO New York's more limited "Brackets by Six-Year-Olds" digital program a year ago. "It's amazing how good he is with them," said McMennamy. "I think of him as a traffic cop. Kids are just chaos. But he's very aware of what we need from a production standpoint. And by that I mean, 'You need to put your hands down, away from your mouth,' 'You need to stop fidgeting.' There's a lot of him helping us out."

Bennett's lead-in lines are scripted. From there, it's improvised, unless the kids are struggling, in which case Bennett will throw in another scripted idea the kids can riff off. An example is "Candy Island," in which a girl says saving money is better than not saving money because then you can buy an island made of candy. She was prompted to say that, "but then suddenly they're all sparking to this idea," said McMennamy. "What we ended up with was nothing like what we had on paper. And look at 'Werewolf' [a spot in which a girl acts possessed]. There's no way you could come up with anything that wonderful. That's Diana going nuts in her own head."

Once they have something solid, Bennett plays around with reaction lines the agency can use before the cut to the pitch. One thing that was crucial to the client: that the kids not be shills. "We don't want them talking about us or the wireless industry," said AT&T Mobility CMO David Christopher. "We just want them to express, in their own fun way, these simple, universal truths."

Do you need help with your next business printing job?  Call MI Printing at 623.582.1302 and let us be your local business printing resource.

Presented By
MI Printing
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
http://printinginaz.com http://miprintingpromotions.com

Made In The USA – Saladmaster Cookware

Saladmaster began in 1946 and was manufactured in America, and they are proud to say that all these years later, they are still manufactured in America using the highest performance quality American and Swiss steel available. They maintain the quality and integrity of their American and Swiss steel through rigorous testing using the latest technology and industry advancement.  In addition to the surface quality, they also consider the steel gauge, mechanical properties, metal composition and finish.

Made with pride In America
There are many traits that make Saladmaster a superior product such as using the best materials, having the best warranty, and the best people.  However, one trait that they are most proud of is that the Saladmaster cookware has been Made In America since it's beginning. They take pride in being one of the few kitchen equipment companies still manufacturing products in America.

All of their local employees are committed to making you a superior Saladmaster product that supports their Lifetime Warranty.  They believe in the value of Made In America so much that they continually invest in keeping their manufacturing plant as a state of the art tribute to American engineering.

For 60 years, they’ve been helping people eat healthier with their advanced cookware system. This is their core mission, which they continuously reinforce through product improvement research and staying connected with their customers to gain a genuine understanding of their needs. You save time, energy, and money when you use the Saladmaster premium quality, engineered system of cooking featuring 316Ti titanium stainless steel.  It is with great passion that Saladmaster cultivates creativity and pride of workmanship to provide their customers with continual lifestyle improvement.

Saladmaster is the foundation for a life-changing path to achievement.  In Saladmaster, they change lives by offering families a healthier food preparation solution, giving individuals the opportunity to achieve financial growth, and providing the highest level of customer satisfaction possible.  As an international direct marketer of healthy cooking solutions, Saladmaster supports and encourages associates, dealers and consultants to set high goals, maximize their potential and achieve their own financial success.

Location: 230 Westway Place, #101 - Arlington, Texas 76018 • 817-633-3555

Website: http://saladmaster.com/

Do you want your business printing made in the U.S.A.?  Then please contact MI Printing and tell us about your printing needs.  We are ready to listen and help.

Presented By
MI Printing, LLC
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
http://printinginaz.com
http://miprintingpromotions.com

Training, What Training – Of Course We Train!

On the Job Training, that is what most companies do.  For small businesses it is the practice to team up a new employee with one that has experience and as the new person goes about their duties they learn what to do (in some cases in can be instruction about what not to do) from the more experienced co-worker.

Most small businesses have no formal training program or follow-up testing. They expect the new employee will learn the ropes as they apply common sense to their daily activities.

Larger companies do have orientation meetings and company policy reviews as part of the new hire process.  In some cases these larger companies even have days of training to teach a new hire what is expected of them and how to do their job based on company policies and procedures.

In some industries employees are expected to have training and licensing out of the way when they apply for a job. This applies to real estate, restaurants, hair care, childcare and many trades like plumbing and electrical installation and repair.

On-the-job training, sometimes called direct instruction, is one of the earliest forms of training (observational learning is probably the earliest). It is a one-on-one training located at the job site, where someone who knows how to do a task shows another how to perform it. In antiquity, the kind of work that people did was mainly unskilled or semiskilled work that did not require specialized knowledge. Parents or other community members, who knew how to do a job necessary for survival, passed their knowledge on to the children through direct instruction.

OJT is still widely in use today. In fact, it is probably the most popular method of training because it requires only a person who knows how to do the task, and the tools the person uses to do the task. It may not be the most effective or the most efficient method at times, but it is normally the easiest to arrange and manage. Because the training takes place on the job, it can be highly realistic and no transfer of learning is required. It is often inexpensive because no special equipment is needed other than what is normally used on the job. The other side is that OJT takes the trainer and materials out of production for the duration of the training time. In addition, due to safety or other production factors, it is prohibitive in some environments.

What does your business do to insure that a new employee has a complete grasp of their duties so that they do not adversely affect the business as they produce products, sell products or services?  How do you make sure they answer customer questions in a way that doesn’t cause the customer to make an incorrect buying decision?  If the new person is in a position that payment is related to the size of their sale, how do you track customer satisfaction rather than just sales amounts?

Proper employee training should protect and enhance both the company and the customer!

Want help with your next print advertisement, brochure or flyer?  Call MI Printing 623.582.1302 and lets us be your local resource.

Presented By
MI Printing, LLC
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
http://printinginaz.com
http://miprintingpromotions.com

Follow-up, Follow-up

Since you have asked we thought it would be a good idea to do a follow-up blog about our “Is Anybody Doing Follow-up These Days.”

If you missed the first blog and don’t want to find and read it, here is a Cliff Notes Version.

It was about four business that did zero or near zero customer service or follow-up when it came to questions or problems related to their business operations.

An insurance company, a car dealership, the USPS and a restaurant.  All had promised to follow-up with issues and all didn’t do proper follow-up.

Yes, here it is a week later and you have asked if anything has changed.  Well, in the case of the car dealership, since the issue was safety related we have called back (3rd time) and they did get to us and the issue was corrected.

With the USPS they still have not followed up and yes the package in question is still missing.  We have now also notified the shipper of the problem and have not received even an email about the missing shipment.  To be fair the USPS records do show they shipped the package and it made it as far as the USPS sorting facility here in Phoenix.

The car insurance company has not called yet and the next move must be ours to call them back and see if we can get a further discount (as promised) for the security device added to the car. 

The restaurant that didn’t have the good sense to make sure the plate of food was edible when brought to a customer, why would I go back.  Error not corrected. No refund offered. Why would I give them another chance?  Why should I?

It’s easy to forget to follow-up considering how busy we are. We may have every intention of calling our customer or prospect but we get caught up in our everyday business duties. Unexpected problems crop up, we find ourselves spending more time in meetings or stuck in traffic, and because we didn’t make notes about the follow-up, it doesn’t get done. This is a common dilemma but one that can be avoided by considering doing the follow-up like a scheduled appointment.

A quick telephone call after your product or service has been delivered confirms their decision to buy from you was the correct one.  Follow-up to a customer request or to solve a problem should never be forgotten or avoided.

So we ask the question again,,, How good is your business follow-up?

Have you visited MI Printing Promotions yet? You can find thousands of items that will help you promote your business. Have a need for quality business printing? Call MI Printing at 623.582.1302 and let us be your local business printing and promotion resource.

Presented By
MI Printing
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
http://printinginaz.com http://miprintingpromotions.com