Nigel Knows

Chapter 8 vehicle kits are especially designed kits which comply with Department For Transport guidelines for safety at street works and road works

2012-01-24T12:10:00.003Z

They are increasingly being requested by highway maintenance and emergency service operators.
Applying them seems to be easy, but what are the ins and outs?
In this issue I find out...

1. What you will need to get started
2. How to get the longest life from your kit
3. How to make the application process as easy as possible
4. How to maximise safety on the roads at all times


When fitting any Chapter 8 vehicle kit you will need a small collection of tools to help during the process. The standard tools you will need are things like a bucket and sponge (for washing the vehicle!), a surface cleaner (such as Avery), masking tape, plastic applicators and snap off knives.

Ever heard the saying ‘by failing to prepare you are preparing to fail’?

Well, this is particularly true when applying Chapter 8 kits. Preparing the vehicles surface correctly will vastly reduce the possibility that the kit will prematurely fail – i.e. the panels will adhere to the surface correctly.

Applying a Chapter 8 kit is easy as long as you stay organised and work methodically.

Some kits will be supplied to you with each panel masked to its neighbour, meaning that all you need to do is position each section on your vehicle using masking tape to hold them in place and then start applying each panel.
When the kit is masked in place on the rear of the vehicle, start applying from the centre of the kit and work outwards, applying one panel at a time.

Before starting to fit a Chapter 8 kit to a vehicle you should always read any information you receive from your supplier. There may be valuable instructions that you need to follow in order to validate any warranty on the product you are using.

Get those muscles working! With a plastic applicator apply even pressure to each panel of the kit in horizontal strokes.
Be careful not to trap air under the panels as you apply them. If this does happen you can remove any small air bubbles with a snap off knife when the full kit has been fitted, taking care to squeegee the whole kit after doing so.

When the vehicle is in use the driver may need to open the rear doors whilst stopped at the side of the road.
By applying the door lozengers you will ensure that safety is not compromised and that the stationary vehicle is still visible to other road users.
The final stage is to remove any dirt from your finished vehicle with a lint free cloth.
For a more in depth guide why not take a look at this one from Victory Design (your supplier may have something similar that they can send to you). Click here to view the guide.


	You may want to find out more about Chapter 8 and other road safety products. Here is a short list of documents, web pages and videos that may be useful to you... Chapter 8 regulations Chapter 8 application guide (written by Victory Design) Chapter 8 kit application tools 3M ECE104 reflective rolls - application video

With printable wallpapers becoming increasingly popular in the digital print world I thought I’d take a look around and see what all the fuss was about...

2012-01-05T11:42:00.003Z

To be honest, it didn’t take me long to see the full potential of this type of product.
It offers the ultimate in personalised, bespoke interiors and with the removable products on the market the prints can be removed or relocated quickly and easily. But I did have a few questions...

The list of potential customers is really quite endless, as printable wallpaper is a product which can be used in almost any interior environment to create eyecatching displays.
It only took me a minute to come up with the list opposite and I'm sure I've only scratched the surface!

The best way to approach these potential customers is by showing them the product in action. This will show them the true potential of personalising their space. Ask your supplier for a sample of the printable wallpaper they supply to take along to your meetings with customers.

Popular places for printed wallpaper:

• Retail environments
• Universities
• Shops
• Corporate foyers
• Theatres
• Hotels
• Restaurants, bars & cafes
• Exhibitions & galleries
• Hospitals
• Showrooms

When talking to people about the idea of printed wallpaper there were a number of reasons that they found it attractive, especially in public spaces and corporate environments. Here are a few things people said to me:
• I like the idea of choosing my own image
• I would have a totally unique interior - nobody else would
   have the same as me
• This would be great as one of my marketing tools - I can
   reinforce my corporate image on my walls too!
• The self adhesive wallpaper sounds great - much easier than
   putting up normal wallpaper with all that paste!
• I really like the idea of the repositionable stuff - I could
   change my shop displays really quickly and easily

From a production point of view, printing onto digital wallpaper is just like any other digital media. Many products can be printed using solvent, eco solvent, water based, latex and UV inkjet inks, so there may be no need to set aside a specific printer or change any of your usual processes.

Even though there may be a fabric feel to the digital wallpaper you use, it should slit and trim easily with a retractable knife. It is usually advised to leave your print for a day to dry and then you’re good to go.
So, for very little or no change in your usual production processes you could be producing high quality, bespoke prints for your customers by printing onto digital wallpaper.

Make sure you know where your customer is thinking of using the printed wallpaper so that you can source the correct product for the job.
i.e. Is it in a place where there is lots of moisture?
Does it need to be repositionable?

I tested the Victory peelable wallpaper, which is advertised
as repositionable. It was easy to apply to my wall (quite unlike my past wallpapering experiences) and the print looked stunning.

I left the print on the wall for a number of weeks and then decided
to test its removable properties. I have to admit, I was a bit worried about the wall underneath. Would I be left with a patch of wall with the paint lifted off? I am pleased to say that the answer
is ‘no’.
I peeled away the print and revealed the wall in exactly the same state it had been in before I applied the print. Magic!

Garment personalisation products – What is the Oeko-Tex Standard 100?

2011-08-19T11:38:00.002+01:00

The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 is a globally uniform testing and certification system for textile raw materials, intermediate and end products at all stages of production.

The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 was introduced at the beginning of the 1990’s in order to test and certify textiles and textile products using practical assessment. The Oeko-Tex label is designed to easily demonstrate which products are harmless to health.

The laboratory tests comprise around 100 test parameters and take into account all possible ways by which harmful substrates could be absorbed into the human body (orally, via the skin or by inhalation).

By using garment personalisation products which carry Oeko-Tex approval you can choose a film to suit your requirements.

The following list explains which Oeko-Tex standard is suitable for which types of garments;

Product class 1 suitable for use on babies clothing.

Product class 2 suitable for use on clothing with direct contact with skin.

Product class 3 suitable for items with no direct contact with skin.

Product class 4 suitable for decoration materials.

Maximise your garment personalisation business with these simple steps

2011-08-17T12:38:00.002+01:00

When running your business day to day it can sometimes be difficult to think of quick and easy ways to attract new customers.

I wanted to help out a little with this. I racked my brains to think of a few ways of generating business in quick, easy and time saving ways...

Where sport goes, supporters follow and by thinking of upcoming sporting events, such as Wimbledon and the Olympics you can help your customers back their favourites. Having examples of garments related to these events in your shop window and on your website will really get people talking.

Find products which match these events. Think about the colours used for the events, such as the green, white and purple of Wimbledon or the bright pink and yellow of the Olympic logo and see if your garment film supplier has films to suit these colour schemes. Examples for Wimbledon would be easiMARK Cotton green, white and plum, making the perfect set for any Wimbledon tshirts, caps, hoodies, etc. There is even easiMARK Nylon for all those much needed umbrellas!

We all know how kids and teens get attached to the next big thing, such as Twilight and Jedward (although by the time you get this email they'll have probably moved on to something else!).

Simple and quick designs help these dedicated followers of fashion follow their big love of the month and take very little time for you to produce.

They also make ideal gift ideas. Take your inspiration from films, books, TV and music - it's a win, win situation!

Keep up to date with the national band tours and gigs in your area and display relevant tshirts and hoodies in your shop window and on your website. ROBBIE! GARY! Sound familiar? I know at least 8 groups of people who have been to see Take That on their current tour and they were all keen on showing their support for their favourite band member. Tshirts and hoodies will go down a storm for these occasions and putting band member names on them will take you a matter of minutes!

Make sure you always have a little stock of all the most versatile products that you use. This way, quick, simple but popular designs like the ones suggested in this email will be even quicker to produce. Strike while the iron (or rather heat press) is hot!

Stag and hen season has already started and things will only be hotting up over the coming months! More and more people are going away to warmer climates to celebrate their forthcoming nuptials, so items such as bikinis, shorts, caps, vest tops and hoodies for travelling in are all topping the list of stag and hen essentials.

Something out of the ordinary...

You could suggest something a little different to your customers. I know a stag group who recently went out dressed as convicts in orange boiler suits, fully personalised with nickname and 'position' within the wedding party. And of course, there were handcuffs and a ball and chain for the groom too!

You'll soon get to hear about what is happening and popular amongst your customers (and potential ones) if you take a mental note of what is being asked for. If something seems to be getting 'big' make sure you have some standardised designs ready to produce those mega-popular products at the drop of a hat.

Are you compliant with ECE104 regulations?

2011-05-25T15:46:00.002+01:00

When operating, selling and servicing goods vehicles and trailers it is important to keep up to date with the regulations that are in force and which ones you need to comply with.

In this edition I hope to shed some light on the regulation regarding ECE104 so you can decide whether it applies to you and, if so, what you may need to do to comply.

ECE104 is a regulation that establishes guidelines for the use of retro-reflective safety markings on heavy goods vehicles operating on our roads. It has already been introduced in a number of European countries. If you own, operate or service any goods vehicle over 7.5 tonnes or trailers over 3.5 tonnes then you need to know about this piece of legislation. The good news is there are a number of easy to apply products in the market which make it really simple to comply.

The regulation will be mandatory from July 2011 for all newly registered HGVs over 7.5 tonnes and trailers over 3.5 tonnes.

Front: White
Sides: Yellow or white
Rear: Red

There are two options to choose from; a complete contour line marking or a partial contour marking.

Partial contour markings are the minimum requirement. Contour markings should cover at least 80% of the total length and width of the vehicle/trailer and should be as close as practicable to the edges. A combination of marked and unmarked vehicles/trailers is discouraged.

A number of companies have produced easy to apply ECE104 approved retro-reflective tape, with one of the 'leading lights' in the industry being 3M.

Their range of homologated rero-reflective marking tapes carry the compulsory "E-mark" and meet all the requirements of regulation ECE104.

They are easy to apply, resistant to peeling and other damage and will retain their brightness and colour even in the harshest working conditions.

REMA is the Retroreflective Equipment Manufacturers Association.This guide shows you an at a glance view of what type of marking is required and when.

ECE104 regulation document.This document outlines the regulations and who and what it applies to.
Click here to read more...

Success with printed transfers

2011-01-25T14:38:00.001Z

There are no limits when it comes to printed transfers - you can produce caps, jackets, t-shirts, polo shirts, bags and workwear, all with exactly what your customers want printed on them, in all the colours of the rainbow.

But how do you know which product to use? And what happens if the transfers don't print exactly as expected? Here's a few hints and tips about producing printed transfers...

There are so many products available in the marketplace and it can sometimes seem confusing.
There are 3 questions you need to ask yourself before making that decision:

1. What type of printer are you using?
2. What type of material are your garments made of?
3. What are the garments going to be used for (i.e. industrial use or lots of wear & tear)?

These three things will help determine the product you can use and then it is just a case of shopping around and choosing between transfer films suitable for eco solvent, inkjet and thermoresin inks.

Use the correct profile

Using the correct printing profile will go a long way to ensuring the best possible print results and each media has its own specific print profile. Profiles are called either Textile or Garment, depending on the printer and are totally different to the profiles you would use for printing onto vinyl or banner. An example would be the Roland profile 'TTRH'.

Use RGB print settings

Using the correct profile will ensure the best colour reproduction of your customers logos. I would also recommend using RGB settings rather than CMYK. This is because CMYK settings can lay down too much ink on the media, causing anything from long drying times to damaged transfers through the spread of ink.

Following all product, pressing and washing instructions is the most important thing to do when producing full colour printed transfers. By following the recommended instructions you are minimising any potential for error and maximising the durability of the printed transfer on the garment.

The inks you use will depend on the printer and media you are using, but the most popular are eco solvent or true solvent inks. Your media supplier will be able to advise on the inks you should be using with your particular media.

All the information you will need for pressing the transfers should be on the specification availabale from your supplier. Again, pressing times and temperatures will be unique to the printable transfer film you are using, so your media supplier will be able to supply those to you.

As an example, please click here to see the spec sheet for easiMARK Cotton.

Please note that you will be able to get instructions from your own media supplier

I would recommend the use of a teflon sheet when pressing full colour transfers. Even though your press may be teflon coated, the teflon sheet will help protect it against inks which may otherwise transfer onto other garments later on.

If you are still experiencing problems but are certain you are using the correct product, there are a number of troubleshooting tips that you could try. Here are some of the most common queries...

The inks from my sublimated top are showing through the transfer?
This can occur on full polyester tops, however there are print medias that can be used to combat this (such as easiMARK Colourprint Premier).

The inks from the transfer are transferring onto my application tape?
This could either mean that the inks haven't been left long enough to dry or that the incorrect print profile or inks have been used.

The transfers are peeling off after the garment has been washed?
There could be various reasons for this;

1. The pressing instructions weren't correctly followed
2. The transfers were washed at too high a temperature
3. They have been tumble dried for long periods on high temperatures
4. Intense stain removers have been used in the wash

It is important to follow cutting and pressing guidelines for the product you are using.

The instructions for easiMARK Colourprint products can be found here under 'garment films'...

Have you heard about Chapter 8 Reflective Recommendations?

2010-10-27T11:18:00.002+01:00

If you are asked to supply markings for fleet vehicles you may want to consider suggesting Chapter 8 compliant markings to your customers.

The Department For Transport code of practice for safety at street works or road works require rear conspicuity markings an all works vehicles. Failure to comply which results in a serious accident carries the risk of substantial liability.

Read on to find out how you will know what to use and when...

Reduce accidents and save lives
Improve safety and increase visibility of vehicles
Reduce accidents meaning less downtime & decreased repair costs
Improve corporate image by being more proactive about safety
Protect against potential legal action related to third party safety

It all depends on the usage of the vehicle and the speed of the roads they are travelling or parked on. The table below gives a few ideas of the types of vehicles that may need to comply with Chapter 8 - keep them in mind when quoting for vehicle markings...

Suggested vehicles to comply with Chapter 8
Corporate vehicles, i.e. energy, breakdown, communications and courier companies
Highways agencies, motorway maintenance, council, community support and service vehicles
NHS/community transport vehicles
Self hire companies who rent out minibuses, transits and lutons

Road speed	3M	Nikkalite
Under 40 mph	680 Engineering Grade 3485 Neon	Flexible Engineering Grade Hi-SCAL Neon
Over 40 mph	DG3 3485 Neon	Crystal Grade CVF Hi-SCAL Neon
Other reflective products are available within the industry

By using the Chapter 8 compliant kits you could save yourself and your customers money. Here's how...

- Kits are pre-cut - all the hard work is done for you and they are edge sealed, meaning no water or dirt will get into the reflective which could compromise its performance

- Convenience - a detailed plan comes with the kits and all the panels are numbered, speeding up application time

- Peace of mind - if any panels do fail you can get free of charge replacements within 24 hours, just pick up the phone*

- If you keep using the wrong material you may need to strip off what you have already done and replace it with Chapter 8 compliant markings, which would cost you time and money and possibly your customer too!

*this feature may only be available at Victory Design Ltd

It may be useful to familiarise yourself with the guidelines and legislations surrounding conspicuity markings for works vehicles. Click the links below to find out more...

Link	What is this?
	REMA is the Retroreflective Equipment Manufacturers Association. This guide shows you an at a glance view of what type of marking is required and when.

	DFT (Department For Transport) guide. Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual shows you the DFT guidance on vehicle marking.

	Chapter 8 kit diagram. This example shows you the diagram that is supplied with the Chapter 8 compliant kits* and how the panels are numbered to make fitting easier.

Want to make more money without investing a lot?

2010-10-01T10:03:00.000+01:00

If you are a sign maker or a garment personalisation business looking for ways to expand your business and broaden your target market, chances are you're only a few items of equipment away.

Check the list below to see if you could be diversifying your business into other areas without spending a fortune to do so...

Have you ever thought...

Wouldn't it be great to be able tell your signage customers that you can also produce all of their corporate uniform?

Or let your corporate uniform customers know that you can also produce their shop signage, stickers, labels and vehicle graphics?

This table shows how many consumables and bits of kit are used in both the signmaking and garment marking industries. If you use most of them already, you could be sitting on a gold mine!

Product	Used for Sign Making?	Used for Garment Marking?
Plotter
Software
Printer
Heat press
Sign vinyl
Garment film
Application tape
Weeding tool

Learn about how to make the most of these products in both industries...

Plotter

If you are creating Cad cut lettering or logos, whether it be sign vinyl or garment transfer films, you will be using some form of plotter. There are loads in the marketplace, but to be able to maximise your usage you would be best to have a 1220mm wide plotter which has OPOS eye technology.

Software

For cutting lettering and logos you will need a vector based CAD cut software for operating your vinyl cutters. For full colour printed jobs you will need a software which incorporates a print RIP.
A software which incorporates the two would be ideal, although you are also able to design in an external software and then import it into your CAD cut software or print RIP.

Printer

The most flexible type of printer to use for both printed signage and full colour garment transfers would be a large format solvent printer. The same inks can be used for both signage jobs and printed garment transfers. You may even decide to opt for a printer which can also contour cut - making it ideal for printed stickers and garment transfers.

Heat press

This is the only bit of kit on the list that is only usable in the garment marking industry. There are many presses available and prices can vary quite dramatically, but you can be making back your money from this investment in no time.
You may also like to consider renting your press on a monthly basis, giving you the opportunity to 'dip your toe' into this market, without a large investment.

Sign vinyl

This product is obviously only suitable for sign making applications, but they are cut in the same way as garment films using your plotter. There are a wide range of different products available with varying life expectancies and colour ranges. Ask for samples and colour swatches from suppliers.

Garment film

There are lots of different colours, effects and textures in garment films, all designed to give you ultimate flexibility in the products you can offer your customers. Cut in mirror image using the same plotter as your sign vinyl, with the excess weeded away it can then be applied
onto the garment. Offer corporate wear, work wear, polo shirts, hen and stag shirts - and with the right press you can also create caps and hats.

Application tape

Application tape is applied in exactly the same way in both industries - you just need to use the right tape for the specific application. Using application tape aids the application process, making it quicker, easier and without the potential of losing your graphics in the process. It is also handy for preparing your full colour garment transfers and storing them for pressing later.

Weeding tool

As you will always need to weed away excess media you will always need a weeding tool. These are used in exactly the same way on garment film as they are on vinyl and can greatly increase working speed and accuracy, making sure you don't lose parts of your design.

Both industries are pretty open and friendly places and you'll find lots of places for advice if you need it. There are a number of online forums and trade publications, packed full of experts and advice - all you have to do is ask!

Once you have all the equipment, materials and know how you need, give your new service a good chance of getting off the ground by promoting it correctly from the outset.

Here are a few marketing ideas that shouldn't make too much of a dent in your pocket...

• Add the message to your own workwear - "ask me about personalised clothing" or "ask me about signage"

• Add it to your business cards and any other stationery

• Put posters up in your shop advertising your new service

• Send an email to your existing customers letting them know about your new service

• Put flyers advertising the new service in the orders you despatch

• Add it to your website and email signatures

Do you ever feel it should be easier to use your application tape?

2010-09-20T11:48:00.000+01:00

Experience has taught me that choosing the right product for the job is essential in achieving the best results - and application tape is no exception.

If you're having problems or difficulties when using your application tape there could be a number of reasons behind this and that is exactly what I'll be investigating in this bulletin...

Application tape should be stored on end, at room temperature. Maximum shelf life of application tapes is one year when stored properly.

Application tapes must have the correct adhesive strength to "tack" to lift the cut vinyl lettering from the liner backing, yet be able to remove easily from the vinyl lettering once it is transferred to the application surface.

A general guide for lettering

Generally speaking, high tack application tapes are required to lift smaller vinyl lettering from the liner backing. Larger vinyl lettering may need a medium tack application tape for easier removal after transfer.

A general guide per application type

Please see the table opposite for a guide based on type of application...

surface/ application type	suggested tack required
Banners (vinyl)	medium to high
Boat/ marine graphics	high
Glass	low to medium
Fleet, caravan & trailer graphics	low to medium/ high
Latex-painted walls	low
Display board	low
Vehicle graphics	medium to high

There are a number of things to consider using your application tape all of which are covered in the 'Using Application Tape to Transfer Graphics' leaflet opposite...

The following areas are explained in the leaflet:

- Preparing your surface

- Wet and dry application

- Over soaking

- Applying pressure
- Troubleshooting

Please note the above leaflet refers to R Tape application tapes, which have been tested to provide the corresponding information

If you are still experiencing problems but are certain you are using the correct product, there are a number of troubleshooting tips that you could try. These are all detailed in the Tips and Tricks leaflet (last two pages), but here are some of the most common problems:

Problem	Suggested solutions
Adhesiveresidue on vinyl when using wet solution	Are you using too much solution? It is not necessary to wet both the application surface and the adhesive side of the vinyl. Wet only one of these surfaces with a fine mist - do not soak.

Vinyl will not stick to the application surface	Try using more squeegee pressure.
	After positioning the vinyl, do not remove the application tape for at least 10-15 minutes. The adhesive on pressure sensitive vinyl increases its bond considerably after a short period of time.
	How cold is it? Pressure sensitive vinyl may resist sticking immediately to very cold surfaces. Ideally, application environments and surfaces should be at least 10°C.

Vinyl will not lift from liner backing	Try using more squeegee pressure to tape and graphic.
	Have you changed your vinyl brand, type or colour? Sometimes even a simple change in the colour of the same brand of vinyl can change application tape performance.
	Lift from the liner, rather than with the tape. 1. Flip the graphic over so the taped side is facing down 2. Starting at top corner, peel the liner backing at a 180° angle
	Was the graphic cut too deeply? This could fuse the edge of the vinyl into the liner backing. If so, try wetting the back of the liner with a fine mist of wet solution or damp sponge, then attempt removal.
Click here to see more troubleshooting ideas...

Why is it important to use the correct weight banner material?

2010-09-09T13:53:00.002+01:00

Hello, it's Nigel Knows here with some guidance for you on choosing the right banner material for each application.
There are 2 main reasons why it is important to choose the right banner material:

There is no point using a quality premium product when an economy material would have been sufficient!

It is important to use the right product for each environment. It would be incorrect to use an economy material on a high building exposed to windy conditions. This could result in your customer returning the banner and the job could cost you more.

Before quoting a customer for a job ask them what the banner is for and what sort of environment it is going to be situated in. Once this is determined the job can be accurately quoted for.

Short Term Banners

This is usually the most popular banner material because of the price. Economy banner material is ideally suited for use either indoors or in sheltered areas outdoors for low stress applications.

Mid Term Banners

For a mid term banner, an intermediate banner material will be ideal. This gives extra strength and the material can withstand more windy conditions than an economy material but is not as expensive as a premium banner material.

Long Term Banners

For a long term banner or a banner that is positioned in a harsh environment a premium banner material is required. Premium banner materials are heavier, more flexible and stronger so that they can withstand the pressures of high wind an other weather conditions.

Mesh Banners

Mesh material is usually used in applications where there are high wind loadings and a lighter weight and reduced wind resistance is required. Mesh is often used for giant mesh building wraps, large wall murals, exhibition booths, backdrops at concerts and fleet graphics.

Why Choose A Short Term Banner Material?

> Low cost

> Short term use

> Lightweight

> Suitable for indoor use and outdoor low stress applications

Why Choose A Mid Term Banner Material?

> Gives extra strength in comparison to a short term product

> Cost effective - strength/price ratio

Why Choose A Long Term Banner Material?

> For a long term banner

> Banner positioned in a harsh environment

> Heavier weight

> Flexible and strong

Why Use A Mesh Material?

> Ideal for environments where there are high winds

> Lighter weight

> Reduced wind resistance in comparison to other banner materials

Banner Finishing...

Banners are generally finished by either stitching or hemming with banner tape. It is sufficient to many banners by hemming with banner tape rather than subcontracting the stitching of banners. Once you are aware of the environment that the banner will be exposed to then this decision can be made. Why pay extra for stitching when you can keep things in house and use banner tape?

Top 10 Marketing Tips...

2010-07-29T09:20:00.000+01:00

It's sometimes hard to think of ways to promote yourself when you're bogged down with the day to day running of your business, so I've put together 10 marketing ideas that you may like to try.

1. Leaflets and Flyers
This one is easy - all you need is your computer, printer and a bit of time!

From the creation of the leaflet to actually distributing them, you can do this every step of the way, targeting exactly who you want, how you want. The most important thing to remember when putting a leaflet together is to make sure that you include a solution to a problem your customers might be experiencing by highlighting the benefits of your products and services.

Save on distribution costs by including them in orders that are already being sent to your customers or by delivering them to local homes and businesses yourself.

Don't forget to follow them up by contacting your customers directly - this will give you the opportunity to hear vital feedback and reiterate your message at the same time.

2. Press Releases

There's always something new happening in your business - let everyone know!

Whatever is happening in your business it'll be of interest either within your industry, locally to you or the business world in general. The topics of your press releases could range from talking about charity events you are involved in to moving to new premises. Don't be shy - blow your own trumpet!

Adding a new product or service to your business is of interest within your industry and to the general public, so you could submit this kind of story to a few different places. Try trade magazines, local press, local business publications and the business sections of national newspapers. You could even send out a press release about how business has quadrupled since you implimented these marketing activities! **

3. Using Article Directories

In terms of free marketing you can't get much better than article directories...

Article directories are web based directories where you can submit a written article about any topic you like and, if approved, can become a very powerful tool for things like link building to your website, getting your website or blog listed on Google's natural listings and simply getting your brand known.
By writing useful articles people will get to know your company name and will also see you as an expert in your field.

4. Attracting Passing Trade

Getting people through your door...

By 'setting out your stall' using A Boards, banners and posters you can reach a vast amount of prospective customers who may pass by you every day, but may not yet know exactly what you do.

These products can be placed on, in and around your business premises and can be easily changed and updated if needs be. You might also like to combine your poster display with the opportunity to distribute your leaflets at the same time, using a display system which incorporates a leaflet holder too.

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best - tying some helium balloons to your pavement sign could make you even more noticeable to passers by.

5. Advertising On The Move

By branding your company vehicle (or even your family car!) you can be advertising your business 24 hours a day whether parked up or on the move. According to a recent survey vehicle advertising is seen on average by 3000 people per hour which equates to 16 million advertising opportunities per year.
You don't need to go for a full wrap - partial wraps, contour cut lettering or magnetic signs can be just as successful.

Brand your workwear

Having parked up, imagine the impact you'd create by stepping out wearing a fully branded shirt, polo shirt or overall. By branding your workwear you can turn yourself into a walking advert.

6. Email Marketing

Ways of collecting your customers and prospects email addresses:

Add an enquiry form to your website
Add a field for email address on your order form
Copy them from business cards you are given by customers and prospects
Buy data (fully cleansed & opted-in data)

Every time you have an offer, a new product or a bit of news why not let your customers know easily and cheaply by sending them a quick email. You can do this through your standard email application that you may be using or, if you are sending to hundreds or thousands of email addresses it may be useful to invest in an email marketing application.

There are some very reasonable packages available that are easy to set up - it is just a case of finding the best one for you. You could start looking by searching for 'email marketing software' in your internet search engine. You'll also find some really good hints and tips from some of the email marketing software companies.

7. Networking

Never underestimate the power of networking, whether it be face to face or via the internet using LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or some other business networking website (there are plenty out there!).

Word of mouth is still one of the best ways to have your message passed on as it also comes with a little 'unofficial' recommendation. People are more likely to remember you if they have spoken to you face to face.

Networking events may seem a little daunting, but they are usually quite informal and if you get into the swing of it you'll soon be reaping the benefits. Some even offer the opportunity of a speaking slot, where you could get the chance to speak to the whole room.

8. Using Your Chamber of Commerce

Although there may be an annual membership fee for your local Chamber of Commerce, the benefits can be vast. For example, my local Chamber is currently providing opportunities for free exhibition space at a networking event.

Chances like this are invaluable to your business and could open doors to developing business partnerships and promoting yourself. In addition to events like this, your local Chamber is also a great source of business information about training, funding and support. Find your local Chamber here...

9. Collect Testimonials

It's great to get endorsements from your customers, as they can be used in all of your marketing activities such as leaflets, emails, adverts and website. You can blow your own trumpet until you're blue in the face, but your competitors will be doing exactly the same thing, so anything that sets you apart from the rest can only be a bonus.

A testimonial is the best advert you could have, as it has the 'word of mouth' element to it. Approach your best customers for testimonials - you could even offer them a small incentive such as a percentage off or free delivery on their next order.

10. Blog

You don't need to have a website to have an online presence these days - a blog can do the job just as well and it is free and totally editable by you. Some popular blogging sites are Blogger, Wordpress and TypePad.

This activity is all about investing time rather than spending money and, if planned well, it could become a great source of business for you and an interesting and informative place which your customers and prospective customers will visit time and again.

The traditional use for a blog is to treat it like an online diary - you could use it for publishing your press releases yourself on your blog.

Getting the best results when heat pressing...

2010-07-02T10:09:00.001+01:00

To achieve the best possible results from your heat pressing there are certain things that need to be checked which should only take a few minutes each week.
Do parts of your designs fall off after pressing?
Do your designs move around as you press them?
Does a border of adhesive appear around your pressed transfers?

Find the solutions to these problems and much more by reading on...

The Heat Press

By going to a reputable supplier for your heat press you can make sure that you have the best start in your garment personalisation business. A good press is a great investment and will form the basis of everything you do, so it's important to buy the one that best suits your needs. You will also get a good warranty with your press when purchasing from a reputable dealer.

Some questions you may want to ask yourself before purchasing your press...

• Are you pressing sports tops?

• Do you press a large volume of garments?

• Will you need changeable platens for different sized garments?

• How much work space do you have for your press?

• What is your available budget?

Press Maintenance

Carrying out regular checks on your press is important, such as checking for cold spots. If you are experiencing things like the garment films not adhering properly to your garments this could suggest cold spots on the plates of your press.

There are various ways to check for cold spots including using an infrared thermometer gun or temperature indicator strips - your garment film supplier may be able to supply these to you.

Base Platens
The silicone base platen of your heat press is one of the most important parts of the machine as it helps to compensate for any imperfections in the metal part of the base platen, avoiding inferior pressing results.
Keeping this part of your press in good working condition by replacing when required is key to keeping things running smoothly.

Pressing Your Garments

Teflon Sheets
Using a Teflon sheet can also improve the results you get from heat pressed transfers. The Teflon sheet will protect your heat press from the possibility of anything sticking to it, reducing the risk of anything transferring onto another garment.
They also stop scorching of white garments during the pressing process.
They are durable and easily cleaned
- a sound investment.

Heat Tape
Another useful tool when pressing your garments is heat tape which stops the garment film moving position whilst being pressed onto the garment.
This can be especially helpful if you are multilayering a few different colours and need to make sure that the different elements line up properly.

Pressure & Pressing Times
Make sure that your pressure and pressing times are correct for the product and garment you are using.
The transfer won't adhere to your garment if you use too little pressure, but if you use too much you could find a border of adhesive appears around your pressed transfer.
This information should be readily available from your supplier - if you
are using easiMARK garment film you can find this information here...

Test Before You Press

It is always advisable to do a pre test with any garment film (especially speciality films such as glitters). By testing a small amount on an off cut of material before you press your whole job you can eliminate any possible problems without ruining any of your customers garments.

Getting Your Garments Right

By carefully sourcing your garments and shopping around for the right supplier you can cut down on the amount of testing you will need to do in the long run. For instance, for standard cotton t-shirts many suppliers will have a product that has a vast range of colours and is available for both men and women.

Your customers will feel spoilt for choice in terms of colours and sizes and you will only need to test a couple of times to cover all bases. Keep a couple of spare versions of your most popular garment to one side so you can test any new garment films you might start using.

The main thing to remember is that you should always follow the manufacturer's guidelines for the product you are using. These will be available from your garment film supplier and will make sure that you get the best results every time. If you have any queries I'm sure they will be able to help you out.

Perfect Doming in 6 Easy Steps

2010-07-01T16:28:00.002+01:00

I've had a couple of people ask me recently about doming - a great way to add protection and a professional finish to all sorts of items including ID cards, medals, coins, trophies and key fobs.

I have been using a polyurethane doming kit for years with great success and wanted to show you how easy it is...

6 Easy Steps

1. About half an hour before you intend doming, estimate the number of cartridges you will need for the work and stand them upright so that any nitrogen bubbles rise to the mixer cap.

2. Place the labels to be domed on a sheet of metal, plywood or toughened glass.
Spraymount the label media down to ensure they are flat and level.

3. Assemble the gun as shown. Unclip the hinged cartridge retaining bracket and insert the plunger into the gun handle. Insert a dual-barrel cartridge into the retaining bracket (hold the gun with the mixer cap pointing upwards to prevent nitrogen bubbles returning into the fluid).

4. Remove the cap, ensure the cartridge is tilted upwards, and holding a plastic cup underneath, slowly squeeze the handle so that the fluid rises to the top of both tubes.

5. Hold the gun nozzle about 25mm above the label and gently squeeze the handle.

Aim to cover approx two thirds of the area to be domed. Extra resin can always be applied some minutes after the first application.

6. If, after a few minutes, there are small air bubbles it is important to remove these by applying heat from the heat gun supplied.

Doming Hints & Tips

1. Allow a minimum corner radius of 1.5mm when designing square or oblong shapes for doming,as the resin will not flow to form sharp points.
2. We recommend that you leave at least a 6mm gap between labels to reduce the risk of overspills between labels.
3. Ensure that working and curing areas are clean, dry, warm and dust free.
4. Any deposits of hardened resin that might be present around the sealing rings in the neck of the cartridge tubes can be removed with a craft knife, small screwdriver or other suitable pointed object.
5. Use a cocktail stick, matchstick or similar object to work resin into the edges or corners of labels with complex shapes (this won't be necessary for round, oval or other simple shapes).
6. If the polyurethane spills over the badge or decal you can scoop up the excess with a blunt craft knife then quickly run the point of the knife around the profile of the decal to prevent further overspill.

Why Should You Laminate Your Prints?

2010-07-01T14:05:00.002+01:00

Giving your digital prints the best start in life often requires the decision to laminate them, but sometimes we forget how this process can help.

Here's a quick reminder of the reasons to decide to laminate and also a few handy hints thrown into the bargain...

Benefits of laminating...

UV protection
Laminating your prints prevents media deterioration and colour fade caused by sunlight and environmental pollution. Different lamination films offer different levels of protection, so you may need to do some researchh into the best suitable film for your job.

Finish enhancement
Depending on the digital media and inks used, lamination can add further vibrancy to the colours in your prints. There are also a number of special effect films available, such as sand, linen, leather and canvas which can add an extra element to your prints (such as using sand lamination film for floor graphics, which will add a slight non-slip characteristic).

Abrasion protection
One of the main reasons to laminate - it offers added protection from scrapes and scratches.

Easier graphic installation
After lamination of digital prints, the additional thickness often makes your prints easier to handle and install. This is particularly true of vehicle graphics.

Choosing the right product...
Now the reasons to laminate are covered, now it's just down to using the right product for the job.

There are a wide range of lamination films available on the market which are each ideal for different applications. As an example, the table below shows matched lamination systems that will give the best results for your digital prints. Ask your supplier to advise on matched systems for the media you use.

Laminating Tips

1. Allow your inks to dry for 24 hours before laminating (some inks may require longer). Delamination and blistering can occur if inks are not allowed to completely dry. If they are tacky to the touch, they're not ready!

2. Ensure you use the correct roller temperature and speed when laminating your prints, as failure to do so can cause silvering of your media and poor adhesion.

3. Always laminate in a clean, dry environment.

4. Allow your laminated print to lay flat for a minimum of 2 hours before trimming or rolling. Ideally this curing time should be closer to 24 hours.

Polymeric, Monomeric, Cast - Which One Should You Be Using?

2010-04-27T16:47:00.002+01:00

Hello, it's Nigel Knows here with (hopefully) another useful bit of information.

We all know how easy it is to get used to working with and using one type of vinyl or digital media.

But if there are terms used in the name of the vinyl that you're not fully conversant with, how do you know you've got the right product for the job?

Monomeric Vinyl
This can often be the most popular vinyl, due to price and the fact hat it is ideal for flat surfaces, serving the purpose for a large portion of signage requirements.
Monomeric vinyls are calandered vinyls. Its short to medium life (2, 3 and 3 - 5 year durability) also fits the needs of most customers. It is usually 75 - 85 microns thick.

The downsides to monomeric vinyl is that it can shrink slightly over its lifetime and if used on channels and recesses it will pop out because of its strong memory.

Why choose monomeric?

• Ideal for standard, flat applications.
• Can be lower in price.

• Short to medium life (can suit most customers needs).

Why decide against monomeric?

• Not suitable for uneven surfaces.
• Can suffer slight shrinkage.

Polymeric Vinyl
Polymeric vinyl is ideal for flat and slightly curved surfaces and offer 5 - 7 year and 8 years + durability.

Polymeric vinyls are calandered vinyls.

As well as its longer life, another reason for its higher price is that this vinyl won't shrink over its lifetime and has the added bonus of being useable on slightly curved surfaces.

It is usually 70 - 75 microns thick.

Why choose cast?

• Longer life span.
• No shrinkage.

• Ideal for flat and slightly curved applications.

Why decide against polymeric?

• Can be pricey compared to monomeric.

Cast Vinyl
This is the highest quality, premium type of vinyl.

They are normally 8 - 10 year films and are 50 - 60 microns thick. Cast vinyl is soft, thin and flexible, which makes it ideal for vehicle livery on cars, vans, motorcycles, planes, etc.

No matter how deep the recess you apply it to, you'll have no problem with it popping out at all. Unlike calendered films, cast vinyl will not shrink or pull back to its original form when exposed to heat (such as a heat gun).

Why choose cast?

• Even longer life span.

• Won't pop out of even the most severe recesses.

• Soft, flexible and thin.

Why decide against cast?

• No reason - if high conformability is what you need, it's just a case of shopping around for the best price.

Why is it important to set up a plotter blade and blade holder correctly?

2010-04-14T15:46:00.000+01:00

Why is it important to set up a plotter blade and blade holder correctly?
Throughout my years of using plotters, I have come to realise that I can help optimise the longevity of my blade and avoid cutting problems by doing certain checks and setting it up properly.
Believe it or not, every material is different in characteristics so each blade and blade holder needs to be adjusted accordingly; different colours also need to be set up differently.

How to set up your plotter blade:
1. For genuine blade holders and blades the knife only needs to be showing the thickness of the material you are cutting. The easiest way to check this is by adjusting the blade in the blade holder to what you think is correct so it is just showing a fraction.

2. With the blade holder in your hand take a scrap piece of material and manually draw a square. If you can weed the square correctly and the blade has not cut right through the backing paper then it is set up correctly.

3. If the blade has cut too deep through the material and backing paper it could also cut into the machine hich can take the tip off the blade, ruining it and maybe damaging your machine. It should very slighly indent the backing paper but not cut through it.

4. Once you are happy put the blade holder and blade into the machine and adjust the knife pressure to suit the material you need to cut.

How long will the blade last?

This depends on:

1. What meterial you are cutting.

2. If the blade is set up correctly.

3. The quantity of cuts your blade has done.

Different types of blades...

There are different types of blades for cutting speciality materials and reflectives.

Standard Blade:

This has a 45 degree angle which is suitable for cutting vinyls and garment films.

Reflective Blade:

This has a 60 degree angle which is ideal for cutting sandblast, flock and glitter.

Quick Tips...
Knife pressure

Roland, Summa and easiCUT knife pressures are all in gram/force. Graphtec knife pressure is in points.

Blade wear

As your blade wears your knife pressure will need to be increased to compensate.

Blade holder

The blade holder need to be regularly maintained, there should be no adhesive residue on the holder. We recommend spraying WD40 inside the holder which can be left overnight. This can free up the internal bearings inside the holder.

What can I do to check my blade and blade holder?

• It is recommended that you set your blade up as advised above before cutting each material.

• Carry out regular checks of your blade. If the tip of the blade is rounded the blade is wearing out and will work better if you replace it.

• The end of your blade holder should be flat. This prevents the blade holder from pushing through the material and damaging the blade and the machine.

Popular plotters

Pick Your Blade...

Tips for generating business during quiet times...

2010-03-23T11:37:00.000Z

It can be really disheartening when business is slow and you can find yourself at a loss of how to turn things around.

Here are some great tips on where to get started with drumming up business when business is slow.

Business Generating Tips...

Speak to customers

During quiet times why not pick up the phone and contact past customers? This way you could identify any new opportunities or your customers might even know someone who needs your services. Telesales is a cost effective way of generating business.

Networking

There are a wealth of FREE business clubs and networking events these days. Networking needs to be a continuous activity and it's about building good relationships which takes time and effort. Check out your local Business Link www.businesslink.gov.uk or Chamber Of Commerce www.britishchambers.org.uk for networking events.

Send something in the mail

If telesales is not for you why not send your customers something in the post? Today snail mail is more effective than e-mail. A well-designed flyer can deliver your message better than electronic marketing, because it is much more visual and takes a little more effort to discard than just pressing the delete button. Combining phone calls with direct mail dramatically improves response rates. If you have added new equipment or a new service to your shop use direct mail to promote it.

Follow up old leads

Make sure that you always follow up any quotes that you have sent. By contacting people who have asked for a quote you are reminding them of your services. You can also find out why your quote wasn't successful, dig for any information as this will be useful to you in the future.

Find new customers

Decide who is your ideal customer and then contact these face to face, by phone, mail, email or advertising. If you have never tried this before you might find it quite difficult at first but if you continue with this it will start to generate a steady flow of new and exciting enquiries.
Housekeeping

If it's quiet spend time updating your website (or creating one!), update any literature, update your show room or samples so that when customers do call in they can see lots of good examples of the work that you can do.

Identify and sell more to your most valuable customers

Being in a position to focus on your most valuable customers might sound like a luxury. After all, many small businesses are grateful for your customers of any kind. But every business finds that some customers are more valuable than others. Successful businesses are generally those that identify these customers, build relationships with them and work to bring in new customers with a similar profile.

Best buying practice

2010-03-16T14:09:00.000Z

Being shrewd about your purchasing can sometimes mean a huge difference in the product you get for the money.

To help keep things running smoothly and get more bang for your buck read on...

1. Ensure you get quotes in from different suppliers

This can sometimes feel time consuming, but making sure you get a broader idea of the market means you are up to date with the current market value for your purchases. It can also give you some great negotiating possibilities with your usual supplier!

2. Try to get prices on regular purchases held for a year

By promising to buy a particular product regularly from your supplier you can negotiate special prices. Suggest holding them for a year to ensure you get a great price all year round!

3. Plan your buying activities carefully

There's nothing worse than having 'dead stock' on your shelves and then ending up with a delivery of the same product with nowhere to put it. Carefully plan the timing of your ordering based on the patterns of how your products leave the shelves and this should help combat this problem.

4. Try purchasing expensive items towards the end of the month. Prices are generally better on expensive items towards the end of the month, as sales staff will want to close a deal to make sure it is included in that months figures.

If you can hold off on buying something it might be worth seeing if you can get a better price this way.

5. Keep cost price lists up to date

If the price you purchase goods at changes, you should make sure that your cost price lists reflect this, as it will have a knock-on effect on the profit you make. If your cost price increases you may need to increase your sales price too. But if it decreases, you may want to pass these savings on to your customers.

6. Negotiate

There is an art to this and it can sometimes feel awkward at first, but by negotiating a good price you'll be able to keep your selling prices competitive.

Remember that cheapest isn't always the best - the main thing is to be comfortable with the prices you pay for the product or service you receive.

7. Buy as much as possible

You can make the most of quantity discounts that may be available to you by buying as much as possible at one time.

Get it all wrapped up...

2010-03-04T14:50:00.002Z

Vehicle wrapping can be a really profitable service to add to your business portfolio, but it is sometimes a daunting prospect when you're just starting out!

I've put together a list of useful vehicle wrapping tips that will help in acheiving the best possible results when wrapping your next vehicle.

Top Vehicle Wrap Tips... How can I find out more?

Location

Make sure that the vehicle is inside in a clean and warm environment.

Vehicle furniture

Remove as many items of furniture from the vehicle as possible to aid application (i.e. lights, mirrors, etc.)

Clean the vehicle

Giving your vehicle a deep clean will ensure that any grease or dust that may interfere with the wrapping process will be removed. A product such as Avery Surface Cleaner is specially designed for this purpose.

Fitting the livery

Before 'sticking anything down', set up the graphics on the vehicle to make sure that all the livery fits.

Work back to front

Commence application from the rear of the vehicle, working your way to the front.
As they say, practice makes perfect and there is no better way to get experience than on a vehicle wrap course. This gives you the chance to try your techniques on a vehicle that doesn't belong to one of your customers and also to get professional advice as you go along.

Victory Design organise a number of these sorts of days throughout the year which have proven to be very useful for the hundreds of people who have attended so far.

The next available dates are

7th April and 9th June.

Click here to find out more...

Heat the media

Heating the media to work in the recesses helps the process along - this is tutored fully on the training course.

Break the memory

Reheating the recesses between 80°C and 90°C breaks the memory of the film, making it even more pliable.

Remove all handmarks

Wipe all handmarks off the vinyl on the vehicle after application - this can be done either with a dry cloth or Avery Surface Cleaner can also be used to do this if the print is laminated.

Get the job signed off

It is always advisable to have your customer look carefully around the vehicle straight after the wrap and to make sure the work is approved and signed off by them.

For your records, taking photographs of your work is also a good idea.

Further information

Interested to find out more?

This video shows up to date vehicle wrapping techniques and the Victory vehicle wrap day in progress.

Here you can see the kinds of things you can expect to experience on the day. Watch video...

Addressing the Pressing Issues...

2010-02-15T10:29:00.021Z

This week I'll be looking at the easiMARK range of garment films and seeing exactly what I can do with them.

Along the way I've also thought of a few tips about garment personalisation in general that you might find helpful...

Can I use more than one garment film on the same garment?

To make your garment transfer designs more interesting why not try using multiple colours on the same garment? You should be able to do this with most ranges of garment films, but having tested the easiMARK range I've come up with a quick reference chart showing which ones can be layered over each other.

To create tshirt designs that really pack a punch just take a look at the easiMARK multi-layering chart and let your imagination run wild!

How to make more money...

When someone asks you about getting their staff tshirts branded, do you also ask them about the other items of uniform they may have?

By creating a cost effective package deal for your customers you could be maximising on every enquiry you get for uniforms. Download this handy poster and fill in the blanks...

How long should I press for?

Pressing times will vary, depending on the garment film you are using. Click on the links below to see the instructions for each easiMARK film:

easiMARK Premier White

easiMARK Fashion

easiMARK Photoluminescent

easiMARK Reflective

easiMARK Metallic

easiMARK Colourprint

All pressing and care instructions are also shown on the easiMARK wallchart. Click here to download your copy. easiMARK WALLCHART

Printing full colour transfers

There are loads of printing technologies out there and probably the easiest way to get started is with an inkjet paper such as DarkJet. This is great for rush requests such as Race for Life t-shirts that you can do 'there and then' for your customer.

Solvent printing is another more permanent way of producing printed transfers that is really popular in the personalisation industry. easiMARK Colourprint is just one of the solvent transfer medias on the market, with which I got great printing results.

Be creative...

A large number of stag and hen parties choose to celebrate abroad and with those travels come more opportunities to sell your products.

Along with the standard t-shirt, why not offer personalised bikinis, boxers, hotpants, speedos - even a mankini? And for after the wedding, his'n' hers t-shirts for the honeymoon - they make a great keepsake!

A package deal for hen and stag parties might sell quite well - why not give it a try?

Useful Resources

Victory Catalogue To browse all the product information take a look at the Victory catalogue (digital version) - it has recently been updated with all the latest information and is jam packed with personalisation products.

easiMARK Multi-layer Chart Use this chart to find out which easiMARK garment films can be layered over each other. By using more than one colour and texture you can create more appealing designs.

easiMARK Wallchart Find all the colours, pressing and care instructions you need in one place. This handy wallchart can be printed off and displayed in your shop for customers to choose the colours they like (colours shown as a guide only).

Pressing Instructions As I tested all the easiMARK garment films I put all the pressing instructions into spec sheets. You can find them all here by selecting the appropriate film from the menu.

Getting started in health and safety

2010-02-15T10:03:00.006Z

Whether you are a new business or have been trading for years, its always good to keep up to date and remind yourself of health and safety issues in the workplace.

Here's a handy list of things to consider for you and your employees...

1. Register your new business Decide whether you need to notify the Health and Safety Executive or your local authority about your business and where necessary, do so. Click here if you need to do this: register with the Health and Safety Executive.

2. Take out Empoyer's Liability Compulsory Insurance Employer's Liability Compulsory Insurance covers you against claims from employees who are injured or become ill as a result of their work. Find out more here...

3. Appoint a competent person The law says you must appoint a competent person to help you meet your health and safety duties. This does not have to be an external consultant.

4. Write your health and safety policy Your health and safety policy sets out the arrangements you have put in place for managing health and safety in your business. It is a unique document that says who does what, when and how. For a template click here.

5. Assess the risks Decide what could harm people and what precautions to take. This is your risk assessment. You must act on the findings of your risk assessment, by putting sensible controls in place to prevent accidents and ill health and making sure they are followed. Click here for five steps to risk assessment.

6. Provide basic welfare facilities You must provide a safe and healthy environment for all your employees. This includes toilets, washing facilities and drinking water, and appropriate lighting and temperature. More information about facilities...

7. Provide free health and safety training & supervision Everyone who works for you, including self-employed people, needs to know how to work safley and without risks to health. So you need to train them and supervise their work. For tips about training click here

8. Consult your workers Consultation means discussing health and safety with your workers allowing them to raise concerns and influence decisions. Click here for a guide to consulting your employees.

9. Display the health and safety law poster This is required by law. The poster includes basic health and safety information and lets people know who is responsible for health and safety in your workplace. Or you can give workers a leaflet. Buy the health and safety law poster here.

10. Indertsand RIDDOR reporting procedures The reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR), require you to report work-related accidents, diseases and near-miss incidents. Make sure you know how to report, even if you never need to. Find out more about RIDDOR.

Keep up to date

You can follow the news in your sector through e-bulletins, news feeds, podcasts and texts to your mobile.

For further information check out the Health and Safety Executive website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/

Get the most from your website

2010-01-27T12:21:00.010Z

If you have a website and feel you could do better in search engine listings, this email could start you on the right path to doing just that. Below I've put together some of the latest techniques for getting the most from your website using Search Ebgine Optimisation.

Link Building

Link Building is the term that describes the efforts of a web owner to add links to his/her website in other sites. There are many ways to get links to your website - you can subscribe to web directories, post in forums having a link to your website in the signature, and many more. Generally, the more links you have to your website, the better. Note, however, that search engines can distinguish a forum signature from a link to your website in an article. This means that you should try to receive links from quality websites on topics similar to yours.

6 Useful Rules About Content
Updating: Frequent updating of content, at least once every few weeks, but if possible once a week or more.

Spelling and grammar: Few or no errors. No page should have more than 3 misspelled words or four grammatical errors.

Paragraphs: Primarily brief (1 - 4 sentences). Few or no long blocks of text.

Lists: Both bulleted and numbered should form a large part of the text.

Sentence length: Mostly brief (10 words or fewer). Medium length and long sentences should be sprinkled throughout the text rather than clumped together.

Contextual relevance: Text should contain numerous terms related to the keyword, as well as variations of the keyword.

Sensible Titles and Heading Names

Heading tags (H1 through to H6) are given more weight by search engines than regular body copy, so they should be used wisely to reinforce the page's overall keyword theme.

Keyword Research

Keyword research is a practice used to find and research actual search terms people enter into search engines. The following tool is quite helpful: https://adwords.google.co.uk/select/KeywordToolExternal

Useful Resources
SEO Quake / Yahoo Site Explorer SEO Quake is a powerful tool for Mozilla Firefox, aimed at helping website owners who deal with search engine optimisation and internet promotion of websites. SEO Quake allows you to obtain and investigate many important SEO parameters of your competitors.

Free SEO Training There are plenty of free SEO training courses and tips from organisations such as Business Link.

Sitemaps A sitemap is a way of organising a website, identifying the URLs and the data under each section. Google's XML format was designed for the search engines, allowing them to find the data faster and more efficiently. A useful tool is http://www.xml-sitemaps.com/.

Social Media and Blogs Social interactions and media sharing amongst social network participants create the kind of content that can improve a brands visibility within search results through profiles, videos, blog posts or other media. Follow me on twitter and blogger.

Patience!
Search Engine Optimisation is an ongoing process of refinement. However you tackle your websites optimisation, it's important to understand that you'll need to maintain and update your website if you want to keep up with your competition.Don't expect changes to be immediately noticeable and remember that great websites need to be nurtured!

Confidence Strip

2010-01-14T09:42:00.013Z

I've been working in this industry for a long time now and along the way I have picked up some pretty useful information!

Today I'd like to tell you about confidence strips - a really useful printing tip.

What are confidence strips?

Confidence strips are coloured strips that I recommend you print down the side of all your digital print jobs.

Why print confidence strips?

To check each ink colour is firing correctly.

The strips can act as indicators to see if the ink has dried.

Confidence strips can help diagnose printing errors and determine if it's a printer or file problem e.g. if you notice a printing error through the strips and print file you are printing this indicates a printer problem. If you have a print file error you would see a fault in the printing of the file but the confidence strip would be OK. Very useful in diagnosing print issues.

The strips force each nozzle to fire a small amount of ink to keep each ink nozzle active - vital if you are printing lots of the same colour.

How do I create a confidence strip?

Print a rectangle of each colour next to each other the length of your print. Position the strip on the right hand side to identify issues sooner.

Download the file (.pdf) you need here...

Confidence strip for 4 colour printer

Confidence strip for 6 colour printer

**For EasySIGN RIP users confidence strips are already available with the tick of a box in the software**
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Top 10 Accounting tips from Nigel Knows

2010-01-07T16:11:00.007Z

Hello, I'm Nigel Knows

I've been working in this industry for a long time now and along the way I have picked up some pretty useful information!

To put this knowledge to good use I thought it'd be good to email you now and then with helpful tips about products, services and probably most importantly, running a business in general.

There will be various helpful topics and handy hints that I hope you find useful and if you have any thoughts, feedback or suggestions for future topics after reading any of the emails please don't hesitate in letting me know. You can email me here...

Top 10 Cash flow tips... Probably one of the most worrying aspects of running a business is cashflow - how to keep things ticking over nicely and minimising the risks ofrunning out of cash. Here are 10 top tips to help you out...

1. Maintain cash flow daily When it comes to cash flow you need to be on top of it. Make sure youset aside a little time every day to keep on track of things. Making itpart of your daily routine at the same time every day will ensure that it soon becomes second nature.

2. Encourage prompt payment Waiting for payment can drive you a little mad and badgering doesn't always work! To prevent getting into this situation there are ways to encourage prompt payment, such as offering anearly settlement discount.

3. Communicate with customers and suppliers Something as simple as keeping the lines of communication open with customers and suppliers alike can go far in combatting cash flow problems before they even occur. Don't be afraid to pickup the phone and be honest and open.

4. Invoice Factoring Debt factoring involves selling your invoices to a third party. In return they will process the invoices and allow you to draw loans against the money owed to your business. Essentially, thesecompanies provide a debt collection and ledger management service.It is commonly used by businesses to improve cash flow but can also be used to reduce administration overheads. Businesses that supply this service are called factors or debt factoring companies.

5. Credit Check To protect yourself as much as you can from possible future 'late payers' it is important to doproper research about companies asking for credit accounts with you. You can use agencies todo credit checks and also ask the company for references from their current suppliers.

6. Cut Your Costs This sounds simple, but sometimes you can fall into the trap of buying things that you just don't need. Unless it is business critical, don't spend! You know the old saying - if it aint broke, don't fix it!

7. Confront Problems Early If you see something bad about to happen, or even if it already has, don't stick your head in the sand and hope it is going to go away - it won't! By confronting problems early you'll find your solution faster, which will prevent the problem from snowballing.

8. Ensure You Have Good Financial Reports Prospective business contacts can view your financial reports and if they are not in good condition you may find it hard to get credit accounts or even to strike up good relationships in the first place.

9. Establish Debt Chasing Procedures Debt Chasing sounds horrible, but by putting certain procedures in place it doesn't have to be such a daunting thing to do and by getting into the habit of it you'll soon find a way that works best. Suggestions could be to send overdue letters on a weekly basis and make regular phonecalls.

10. Invoice Accurately By insisting on using order numbers and ensuring the correct prices are charged you and your customers will know exactly what they are paying and for what items. Simple, but effective!