Tree Farming: A Look Inside

  

Image taken from down2earthonline.com

 How much do you know about tree farming?

Many of you may be thinking Christmas tree farming right now, especially if you went out and cut down a fresh one like my family did. But that isn't they type of tree farming I am referring to. I'm talking about the 11 million individual owners of private forests in the U.S., who use their land to plant and harvest trees to generate income. Over 90 percent of wood harvested to make the paper and wood products we use everyday, comes from these private landowners.

Not only does an important raw material--wood--for the forest products industry come from this land, but forests provide critical ecological and social benefits as well. Land ownership is not free, and without a positive economic balance, many land owners decide to sell their land for development. (Think strip malls instead of forests).

When we lose our forests, we lose valuable ecological and social benefits including:

• Carbon sequestration
• Wildlife habitat
• Clean water
• Scenic beauty and recreation

 So what is tree farming:

• It's a continuous cycle that takes about 35 years
• It's planting 3 trees for every one harvested
• It's private landowners planting 4 million trees per day
• It's responsibly harvesting trees for wood products
• It's managing the land for clean air and water, and for biodiversity

You can help support responsible forestry and the millions of tree farmers in the U.S. by your continued use of paper and other wood-based products, and by promoting the use of certified products. Help by educating your fellow employees, your customers, heck, even your kids, about U.S. forest ownership, the challenges of private landowners and the value of paper products made from wood


Check out the Go Paper. Grow Trees. Campaign from International Paper.

When you buy paper, you help keep forests growing. It’s true. In the next 30 years the U.S. could lose 44 million acres of forest to development. When you use paper, you help keep trees growing.

Trees are planted in greater numbers than they are harvested. Since the 1940s, annual growth of new trees has always exceeded the number cut down. By 1992, tree growth outpaced harvest by 34 percent and the volume of wood in the forest was 360 percent more than in 1920.

 

The latest Down To Earth: A practical look at environmental issues and trends Why Is Tree Farming Important for America and America's Forests is now available? Check it out online here or ask for a printed copy of the brochure from CMP.

 paper is incredible.

paper is

There are some things we think a person should never be without, paper is one of them. Paper plays a vital role in our personal and professional lives. Think about how many times a day paper impacts your life. From cereal boxes to paper towels, tissues to catalogs, “to do” lists to thank you notes, permission slips to recipes, and those are just at home! At work there are daily uses for paper like; copies, faxes, brochures, notepads, invoices and other correspondence. The list goes on and on.

Paper makes our lives easier. It provides us with the information we need to live. As long as we use it responsibly, it will continue to impact your life positively. Don’t let the greenwashing get to you. Paper is sustainable, made from renewable resources and easily recycled.

Paper is here to stay.

The "paper is" printed on our CMP notepads and other giveaway items is our way of gently reminding you that paper is vital, necessary, and essential to our lives. No to mention, it can be pretty darn inspiring.

So think about it, paper is what to you? We'd love to add your word(s) to our list.

Make your mark on paper.

Write your own story.

Paper shapes our lives.

Something About A Book

It surprises me how books still have the power to ignite great emotion. And I don't mean just from the stories they weave.

The doorbell rang on Saturday, it was our mailman, with a package. My 17-year-old came running down the stairs gleefully yelling, "It's my books. It's gotta be my books!" And indeed, it was. Now the fact that a week and a half before Christmas he ordered two books off of Amazon without my consent, does not thrill me. But knowing that it was a book, and not a video game or another electronic gadget, secretly made my heart swell.

The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini

was my son's Christmas gift to himself.

I come from a long line of readers, so part of me is super excited that I grew a couple of my own. Even in this world of so many electronic forms of communication, so many ways to get information, my kids love going to the library and checking out actual books. And as Nancy Drew long ago did for me, when you find a series of books that draw you in and take hold of your heart and imagination, you not only want to read them, you want to own them. With all the other available distractions out there, there is still something about a book that is good for the soul. Kind of like an old friend that you can pull off the shelf, settle down with, and lose track of time.

Beautiful words, well painted stories, and printed on actual paper, now that's a combo that will always draw me in!

How about you? What is your favorite book or series?

Paper is powerful.

Here is a link to the history of book publishing courtesy of  Brainpickings.

Who Knew? Holiday Stamps Are Printed On NewPage Paper

I chose this stamp design for my family Christmas cards, who knew they were printed on NewPage?  That's just an added bonus. ---Terri

 This holiday season, NewPage has teamed up with MACtac® Printing Products to produce the new Holiday Baubles Forever® stamp series from the U.S. Postal Service. Inspired by ornaments from the 1950s, these stamps are sure to add beauty and nostalgia to your holiday correspondence.

Printed on NewPage paper, MACtac supplied the pressure-sensitive adhesive label materials for more than 1 billion of the 44-cent first-class stamps issued.

The first holiday stamps to be released in the Postal Service’s forever series, the Holiday Baubles stamps feature four colorful, glass ornaments based on styles popular during the 1950s. These stamps were art directed by William J. Glicker and  illustrated by Linda Fountain.

This season’s Madonna stamp is also printed on NewPage paper.

Paper is functional.

iPads Vs. Textbooks: Which Side Are You On?

Many US schools adding iPads, trimming textbooks

Many US public schools providing iPads to students, moving away from traditional textbooks

Stephanie Reitz, Associated Press, On Saturday September 3, 2011, 4:25 pm EDT

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- For incoming freshmen at western Connecticut's suburban Brookfield High School, hefting a backpack weighed down with textbooks is about to give way to tapping out notes and flipping electronic pages on a glossy iPad tablet computer.

A few hours away, every student at Burlington High School near Boston will also start the year with new school-issued iPads, each loaded with electronic textbooks and other online resources in place of traditional bulky texts.

While iPads have rocketed to popularity on many college campuses since Apple Inc. introduced the device in spring 2010, many public secondary schools this fall will move away from textbooks in favor of the lightweight tablet computers.

Apple officials say they know of more than 600 districts that have launched what are called "one-to-one" programs, in which at least one classroom of students is getting iPads for each student to use throughout the school day.

Nearly two-thirds of them have begun since July, according to Apple.

New programs are being announced on a regular basis, too. As recently as Wednesday, Kentucky's education commissioner and the superintendent of schools in Woodford County, Ky., said that Woodford County High will become the state's first public high school to give each of its 1,250 students an iPad.

At Burlington High in suburban Boston, principal Patrick Larkin calls the $500 iPads a better long-term investment than textbooks, though he said the school will still use traditional texts in some courses if suitable electronic programs aren't yet available.

"I don't want to generalize because I don't want to insult people who are working hard to make those resources," Larkin said of textbooks, "but they're pretty much outdated the minute they're printed and certainly by the time they're delivered. The bottom line is that the iPads will give our kids a chance to use much more relevant materials."

Read the full article here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have mixed feelings about learning via electronics vs. physical printed books, for a couple of reasons. The first and obvious one is that "yes", I work for a paper merchant, and I want to sell more paper.

The second has to do with my particular learning preference. When I was in school our only option was to learn from printed textbooks. There are so many different options now for the younger generation (iPad, Kindle, notebook, laptop) etc, but back in my day it was a good old fashioned book.

Studying (learning) for me involved having that book on my lap, a highlighter poised at the ready, and a pad of paper next to me for note taking.

Even now as a user (and lover) of several electronic devices, I still revert to paper when I am attempting to learn or absorb something new. I have to print out what is on screen, because if I really want to remember something, I have to hold it in my hand. That is simply how I learn best. I need to read and reread things often, and doing that with paper is much easier than attempting to do it on a screen. Running my finger under important passages is frowned upon when using a screen.

There is something about being able to flip back and forth between pages, clarifying, rechecking to make sure I really got the information properly that cannot be achieved via a screen.

And being a true paper lover, I also need to take notes in the margins, on the back of the sheet, to really make things gel.

Reading fiction for pleasure works okay for me on an electronic device, but if I need to learn, really grasp something new, I need a book. I need paper.

Paper is important.

How about you? How do you learn best? Which side of the iPad vs textbook issue are you on?

Are You Ready to Play With Paper?

Just in case you haven't heard....it's time for our annual Play With Paper Event.  

Paper is inspiring, energizing, stimulating, entertaining, motivating, useful and just plain FUN. Hope you can join us on Wednesday, December 7 to come and PLAY. French Paper will be providing us with some fabulous paper to play with. You can get creative making wrapping paper, notecards, gift tags or journals!

Email terris@cmpaper to reserve your spot.

I Saw The Future Of Technology...And Paper Is Still In It

After attending the AMA of West Michigan meeting yesterday, where Dr. William Ward, Professor of Social Media at Syracuse University, spoke about "harnessing digital and social media to become a learning organization", I am surprisingly optimistic about the future of paper.

Why, you might ask? Because as I sat and watched the Ted video below, called Sixth Sense Technology, I was amazed to find that no matter how weirdly futuristic life may get, paper is still in the picture. Some of the things shown in this video are way beyond my comprehension, admittedly I often have trouble with my smart phone, but what I do see, is that paper still has a place in the world.

A big place. Check it out.



And this all just makes me happy.

Paper is timeless.

The Art Of Cutting Paper

Check out this incredible Ted video from artist Béatrice Coron who's creations are made totally from cut paper. She started her works of art from paper because in her words: "Paper is cheap, light and you can use it in a lot of different ways."

With an exacto and a roll of paper, she creates intricate worlds, cities and countries, heavens and hells. Striding onstage in a glorious cape cut from Tyvek, she describes her creative process and the way her stories develop from snips and slices.

Talk about having a vision with just a blank sheet of paper. Hers is an interesting concept, instead of adding her vision to the paper with ink, marker or pencil, she removes what isn't part of the story by cutting it away. Truly visionary.

Paper is..........Inspiring.

It Only Makes Sense

You don't have to convince us that direct mail works. There are plenty of numbers out their to prove direct mail marketing's effectiveness, especially when tailoring your message to the right audience.

Most of us are getting less mail in our mailboxes, so not only do those messages that are relevant get noticed, they also get read. Add in some sensory marketing to your piece; a little scent here, a little taste strip there, some moving images or a little noise, and you've got yourself a stand out!

Check out the excerpt below from the USPS' Deliver Magazine about last spring's Scented Campaign from TruGreen. Can you smell the fresh cut grass?

Sensory Mail Grabs Hold of the Target

October 10, 2011
by Lekan Oguntoyinbo

An Appeal to the Senses

Spring came early this year in many of the nation’s colder regions, courtesy of lawn care giant TruGreen. In February, oversized postcards with a picture of a lush lawn in the foreground and a family in the background began showing up in mailboxes of 1 million prospective customers of the lawn care company. “Say hello to Spring,” the card read in big white letters.

On the lower left side of the postcard an invitation beckoned: For the smell of a healthy spring lawn, peel here.

The scent of fresh-cut grass filled the nostrils of potential customers who accepted the invitation.

The scented postcard, a key component of TruGreen’s integrated marketing campaign this year, is the Memphis-based company’s first foray into sensory marketing.

“As a company we wanted to change the conversation from killing weeds to lawn enjoyment,” says Amy Simpson, director of brand communications for TruGreen.

While it’s too early to release any definitive data on this new campaign, the evidence so far suggests the use of the scented postcards was well received, says Simpson: “We have anecdotal comments from customers. They say it evoked an emotional appeal, and they liked the smell. It made them want to be outside.”

Read the full article with more examples of other effective sensory marketing campaigns here.

Familiar Faces, New Places

We have some people on the move...and thought it was about time we shared the good news!

Danielle Parker, Outside Sales

Danielle Parker, formerly of our sample and inside sales departments, is now hitting the streets to help spread the word about CMP and the products we carry. In this age of  "non traditional customers" owning and operating digital printing equipment, and having a need for paper, there is no shortage of places for her to visit. We certainly will miss her knowledge and smiling face in the sample department, but are happy more of you will have the opportunity to interact with her. Good luck, Danielle.

Steve Blackport: Inside Sales & Sample Department

And stepping over part time into Danielle's shoes, from his inside sales position, is Steve Blackport. He will "hold down the fort" for Rachel on the days she is not in the office, and when time allows, will work with her to keep things moving. Steve's always been a handy guy, but we are putting him to the test as he learns to make dummies, envelopes, pocket folders and whatever else is needed. You may notice from the picture above, that he always comes prepared!

Looking ahead, and to keep things a bit more consistent, we have added a samples@cmpaper.com email address which will be checked by whomever is manning the sample department. Please switch over to using the new email address. Responses will come from Sample Dept at CMP and the person handling your request will add their name at the bottom, in case you need to reach someone via the phone.

We are lucky to be a small company with a huge pool of talent to draw from. We'd like to think that makes using CMP for all your paper needs a win/win situation for everyone.

Way to keep it fresh by mixing things up CMP.

Choose Print.Org /A Win Win For All

Some CMP folks are in Chicago at GraphExpo this week. Besides having a little fun, they are gathering lots of new information about paper and printing. They ran across Choose Print, an organization working diligently to get the word out about the value and power of print.

Their mission statement reads: The Choose Print campaign provides research-based facts and tools needed to get more print into clients’ marketing mixes – and improve the bottom line in the process.

Check them out on Facebook and on follow them on Twitter at @ChoosePrint!

Here is one of their videos:

The Only Thing Missing Was The Paparazzi/ My Trip With Brian French

It's okay to be a little envious of me.

I recently made calls with Brian French in beautiful Traverse City.

Not only did I get to walk around downtown T.C., but I was with Brian French.

He's famous. People ask for his autograph. They really do. (They did the day I was with him).

For those of you not aware of who he is, Brian is 6th generation French. Son of Jerry, Grandson of Ed, of the French Paper Company fame.

Who doesn't love French Paper? Especially around here. After all they are located in Niles, Michigan. That makes them family owned, "local", Michigan based, and American made.

I experienced the "Brian phenomenon" with my own eyes.

Everyone wants to see him. It just so happens he is the fresh face of a 140 year old super cool company. An instant "in" around these parts. Funny thing is, he's just a regular guy. Brian's been known to answer the phone at French Paper Company when the receptionist is busy, he periodically has to clean out the basement at the mill, and when traveling for work he even sleeps on the floor at a friend's cottage to save money on hotel fees.

Told you he was just a regular guy.

Adding to his coolness factor, is the fact that he brought along French Swag on our trip, including the new French envelope promotion.

Have you seen it yet?

The New French Paper Envelope Promotion.

Although the info is not yet on their website:

French is now stocking  9 x 12 catalog

 envelopes in 8 different colors!

Yiiiiiiiiiiippppppppppppeeeeeeeeeeee. Bring on the color choices, no more white only.

The 9 x 12's come in Kraft Speckletone and 7 PopTone colors, including (Berrylicious, Black Licorice, Gumdrop Green, Hot Fudge, Orange Fizz, Razzleberry, Sour Apple).

And, it gets even better!

They are also stocking 6 x 6 Square envelopes in all colors of Construction, Poptone and Speckletone.

Yes, you heard me right.

You can get envelopes in super small quantities off the French website or, in boxes of 500 (for the catalogs) and 250 (for the squares) from CMP. Keep in mind they are not on our warehouse floor so there may be a  1-2 day wait for them.

Since I hadn't quite grasped another little tidbit, until my trip wth Brian, I thought I'd pass it along in case you missed it, too.

French stocks 4-Bars (aka A-1's) /3.62 x 5.12 in all colors. That is the smallest size envelope mailable without extra postage required, and it fits quite nicely into an A-6 as a reply card.

Ask for your French Envelope Promo today! Because French is not able to sample their envelopes, it gives you a great working tool with examples of the real thing.

FUN FACT:  Brian calls legendary designer Charles Spencer Anderson, Uncle Chuck.

P.S. If I would have been on my game, I'd have taken a picture of him myself.

I'm A Paper Lover, Are you?

   Terri's thoughts on paper.

          

Photos were taken at a Play With Paper event at Gilda's Club earlier this year.

As a kid I spent many hours "practicing" my handwriting and making thank you notes for my mom and dad's friends. We had a cabin up north, on a river, in the woods. We spent almost every weekend of my growing up years there. It was remote and a bit isolated.  There were no "neighbors" to hang out with, most of the time I had my little sisters and my own creative mind to play with.

Crafting was a natural thing to do there. Playing with paper, especially the really special paper that came in a "pad" of colors, was part of the weekend entertainment. I made thank you notes for every cocktail party, dinner get together, or day at the beach my family was invited to.

The paper I used was so special to me that I kept it in the linen closet, tucked away under the sheets so no one else could find it. I was afraid that if I left it out, my little sisters would get their hands on it and "waste" it.

Imagine my excitement  nearly 15 years later when I got my first job in paper and walked into the sample department.

All that paper. All those colors and textures. I was definitely in paper heaven.

And truthfully, I still am.

I continue to love paper. I love the way it feels and the "thunk" it makes, the sound of scissors attacking it, the smell of markers decorating it. I love playing with paper and getting my hands on it. Typing on a keyboard, drawing on a monitor, reading on a screen just don't do it for me.

I have been lucky to have seen so many cool pieces designed on my papers over the years, to have been a part of the process of creating with paper.

As a kid I used to be afraid to put my pen to paper, for fear I would mess up and waste that beautiful paper. Working at a paper company, I've totally gotten over that. It helps me to know that using paper actually helps grow forests, which leads to more paper.

Paper is ... so many things to so many people. One thing I hope it never becomes, is extinct.

Help keep paper in the mix, via identities, notecards, folders, brochures, direct mail, in whatever way possible, "think paper" as a component of your next project.

And hey, if you need any crafting ideas....I've still got a few I can pull out and dust off from my younger days.

Get Clipping! Boise Adds Box Tops For Education Labels To X-9 Multipurpose Ream Wraps

A pretty cool announcement was made back in May that slipped right past without the fanfare it deserved.....one of our suppliers, Boise®, joined up with Box Tops for Education!

Such a great idea.

Quite by accident one afternoon I noticed that the current copy machine paper we were using here at CMP (we switch them around a lot) Boise® X-9 20# had actual box tops you can clip and save on the ream wraps. Interestingly enough there is also a QR Code included that takes you to a website explaining how and why they partnered up with Box Tops for Education).

Here's more info on this great program which includes Boise Fireworx and HD:P branded papers as well : http://scr.bi/nXQuRr.

We think it is such a great idea that CMP would like to take it one step further....if your company would like to save the Box Tops off the reams of the X-9 you use for your copier, CMP will collect them and turn them into a local school for you.

If you are already into clipping and collecting them, and would like to turn them in yourself, by all means go for it! But if you 'd like some help following through with actually turning them in, we volunteer for the job.

I am personally one of those people who cannot throw away any kind of package that has the Box Tops label on it without clipping it, but then I throw it in a drawer and forget to turn them all in. Well, until that drawer gets cleaned, that is. (Which at my house, isn't very often).

CMP would like to make sure the clipped box tops off the reams of X-9 actually make it to a school where they can make a difference for students. 

So, if you save them, we'll collect them. We'll also save ours here and turn them all into a school in need (hopefully in one large batch where the collective contribution will make an impact).

If you would like, we will happily pass along your company name to the school chosen to give you credit for your efforts, and will give you a "shout out" on our CMP Facebook and Twitter pages.
We might even be able to give some CMP swag (slang for CMP promotional items) for your Box Top saving efforts.

If you are interested in helping a local school out by saving the Boise® Box Tops for Education labels, contact Terri Spaulding via email at terris@cmpaper.com or call 616-676-9203 x 242. We appreciate your purchasing Boise® X-9 Multipurpose Paper from CMP, and for doing your part for education!

Additional links of interest:

http://www.boiseinc.com/products/imaging/BoxTops4Education.html
https://www.facebook.com/BoxTopsForEducation#!/BoxTopsForEducation
http://www.boisex9.com/

Cascades Paper: The Mill That Walks The Talk

Terri Spaulding recently visited the Cascades Paper Mill located just outside of Montreal. This is her personal wrap up of the event. Warning: it is photo heavy!

The specification seminar attendees.
We called ourselves the paper dolls!

I visited the Cascades Paper Mill in St. Jerome, Quebec a few weeks ago for their first ever Specification Seminar. Cascades has long been one of my favorite mills, because they have a fantastic environmental story, but I found out during my visit just how fantastic the mill and its people really are.

The local landfill

We started our visit by stopping at the local landfill where methane gas (normally burned off and released into the atmosphere), is now delivered by pipeline to the paper mill. It powers 95% of their manufacturing! Talk about reducing your carbon footprint.  

Our guide.

I learned something about landfills...they don't stink if managed properly. In fact, as we exited the van we caught a whiff of a stinky smell, which we all assumed came from the landfill. However, our guide was quick to point out that the smell was not coming from the landfill itself, it was coming from a customer's container for their garbage. Ick--it was stinky!

The pipeline from the landfill that delivers
the methane to the paper mill.

Lovely landfill attire. That's CMP's Cascades
mill rep, Dave Beebe, second from the left.

When properly managed, a landfill does not stink. If the methane were allowed to just build up and and the gas were to release on its own, then it would. However, when a system is in place to capture the gas, it can be piped to where it will be used, or in the case of excess amounts produced, burned off. Burning off methane does not smell either, who knew? The pipeline system to the Cascades Mill is in my opinion, genius.

View of the Cascades Paper mill from
the guesthouse. Peaceful and quaint.

Our next stop was the Cascades guest house, right on the grounds of the mill, where the seven of us attending the seminar were staying for the two nights. It is a lovely old house, complete with seven bedrooms and is located across the river from the mill. It used to be the Rolland Family home (original owners of the mill), before it was converted into a guest house. Charming. I wish we would have had more time to just chill in it, but they kept us pretty busy.

The guesthouse.

After several inspiring presentations from key employees of the mill, we began to get a sense of how special this mill really is. Did you know the Lemaire brothers who bought the Rolland Paper mill and started Cascades Paper in 1964, began in the recycling business? As children they learned to salvage to survive, and from there it evolved into a business. This entrepreneurial and environmental spirit has grown Cascades Paper into a 4 billion dollar company that employs 12,500 people. Awesome!

Me in my lovely mill touring attire.

What other paper mill do you know who is powered by landfill gas, who limits their distribution area to reduce effects on the environment from diesel emissions, who founded their own deinking facility back in 1995 to ensure quality pulp for their recycled paper, who's trucks collect curbside paper waste from areas in New York, Maine and Canada, and who's employees are always looking for ways to take their sustainability to the next level? None, that I can think of. Which is what makes Cascades Paper so unique!

The headbox of Cascades small paper machine.

Fun fact: Sophie, who manages the Cascades Sample Department, recycles the pieces of plastic wrap she collects when unwrapping the printed pieces she receives and personally takes that box of plastic to a recycler. It makes me want to be better at recycling even more than I already do at work and at home. 

Piles of recycled paper scraps that go into
making 100% recycled paper!

Hooray for Cascades Paper, a mill that produces an awesome group of products, at awesome prices....while striving to ensure they leave as small a mark as possible on the environment. Personally it made me rethink my own sustainability efforts (why can no one else in my house unplug devices not in use?) Grrrrr.

I want to walk the talk like Cascades Paper.

For more information, visit the Cascades website  http://www.cascades.com/papers/.
Be sure to check out their updated environmental calculator!

Direct Mail Is Where It's At

The latest Fold Factory 60 second super cool fold of the week certainly demonstrates that your folds don't have to be fancy to be effective. Direct mail, when combined with the right message, the right audience and the right design.....can achieve some fantastic results. Add in some variable data for personalization, and those results can be over the top.

A few direct mail facts courtesy of PaperBecause.com (Domtar) and Down To Earth (International Paper) :

• 75% of people have made a purchase as a result of direct mail
• Those who received a printed catalog from a retailer were twice as likely to buy online as consumers who did not
• 56% of people say they enjoy reading mail
• Campaigns combining direct mail and Internet yield up to an additional 25% response rate
• Nearly 80% of households either read or scan advertising mail sent to their household

And be sure to check out these awesome articles, courtesy of Deliver Magazine, which offer great tips for getting the most out of your direct mail campaign.

 http://www.delivermagazine.com/2010/12/5-steps-for-making-an-offer/

 http://www.delivermagazine.com/2010/12/10-direct-mail-mistakes-to-avoid/

http://www.delivermagazine.com/2010/12/integrate-mail-with-other-media/

http://www.delivermagazine.com/2011/05/what%e2%80%99s-a-good-response-2/

We are always willing to help you select the perfect paper for your next direct mail piece. Contact your CMP sales rep or email terris@cmpaper.com.

We "heart" paper. And we believe in the power of print.

Augmented Reality: Keeping Print Relevant

“There exist limitless opportunities in every industry. Where there is an open mind, there will always be a frontier.”  --Charles F. Kettering, American engineer, inventor of the electric starter

I'm old.

So it goes without saying that I am a little slow to catch onto new things.

I thought I was keeping up with technology. In a short while I have attempted to learn social media, delved into understanding digital printing, embraced blogging, acknowledged that there are things like PURL's and Variable data, heck I finally just figured out QR codes.

And then comes.... augmented reality. Huh?

I'm fairly certain I do not fully understand this concept yet, but I did a little preliminary research and I have to say the application is ....cool beans. Check out this link that was most helpful to me in understanding the concept.

Why does it seem that my mind keeps getting blown away by the advancements becoming available to us in the not so distant future?

Don't say it, I know what you are thinking... because I'm old. But being old does not mean I can't have an open mind.

So, thank you Print Media Centr for opening my eyes to the latest and greatest new technology available for companies to incorporate into their printed materials to make them both relevant and current. And for use in other printed applications as well. Places like text books, t-shirts, movie posters, and oh my, the list might just be endless.

Please check out this post from Print Media Centr, which gives examples of  how augmented reality is currently being used in print campaigns. And be sure to follow along to the conclusion of the article Deb Corn references from the Marsid M & M Group Blog. They also share a ton of useful information and examples.

I'm not sure who said this first, but I personally love it: Print is not Dying, it’s Evolving!

Amen to that. ---Terri

Everything Old Becomes New Again

Anyone else notice a resurgence of interest in the “hands on” crafty portion of the printing industry?

Processes like screen printing and letterpress seem to be making a comeback of sorts. I've noticed many mill one-of-a-kind printed samples featuring letterpress and even the latest Dodge Ram Truck commercial shown below likens the process of letterpress to achieving greatness. Wow!



I’m quite happy to see this attention given to a skill/craft once thought of as an endangered species. Unfortunately, it still is hard to find letterpress operations in our local area. But small, quirky screen printer shops are popping up around GR, so maybe letterpress is next. Crossing my fingers....

I faithfully read a futuristic series of books by J.D. Robb called the “In Death” series, and I am fascinated by her ideas of what the world might be like 20 years from now.

In these books the technology of the time refers to things like “links”, which are basically cell phones with the ability to “see” who you are talking to—think phone skyping—or that face to face thing the new Ipads have. Once upon a time that kind of ability may have seemed far off in the future, but the fact is, technology like that is currently upon us.

Makes me wonder, will there even still be printing 20 years from now?

I sure hope so.

While we need to embrace the new technology around us, we also need to look back and treasure some things from our recent past. In the book series I mentioned above, things like “real” coffee, or “real” meat hotdogs (not soy versions) are luxuries to be cherished, as are “real” printed hold-in-your-hands books, (not e-books). As we watch the technology change at alarming rate, and we begin to feel a bit like dinosaurs in our own industry, we need to remember that everything old becomes new again.

Its use may not be as widespread as it once was, but paper will remain. I am hearing encouraging stories of companies who a year or so ago completely embraced the electronic age and stopped printing their sales materials, only to find that their customers actually preferred something tangible, something printed. And those companies are now back to using paper and printing. Is it a trend? A sense of  false hope indicating our jobs will be safe in the future? Who knows?

Maybe paper won’t be back in the way we want it to be. But there are studies and support emerging that show how much more effective direct mail vs. email can be. And, how holding a catalog or a printed piece in your hands, makes the greater impression.

So remember to cherish and treasure the “old” crafty ways of our industry, and also to embrace the new ones. (Think digital printing, for example, and all its personalization opportunities.) Let’s all use the power of print, paper and craftsmanship to work together most effectively to send our message.

It is a comforting thought that there will be paper in my future, maybe not so much in thinking about the resurgence of leg warmers or perms, though.

Something New To Swatch For...

...Notes from a "colorful" conversation with Ned Heidenreich of CTI paper.

I sat down with our CTI Rep a couple weeks ago, and got the lowdown on the new things they have going on. Because it seems that everyone has been asking for pearlescent or metallic options for their printing needs lately, I thought it might be helpful to share what I learned.

Inside the new Metallic & Translucent Papers swatchbook I discovered some interesting things! By the way, the new swatch is printed on Fireweed (pink), in case you think you may have an old one.

Did you know?

• There are eight New Colors in Petallics. They are all available in 105# cover and 81# text.
• All new colors are FSC certified, and they are transitioning the rest of the Petallics line to FSC also.
• Petallics are dual platform: they work for traditional offset printing, and laser-toner applications (think personalization on preprinted shells).

Here are some other interesting tidbits that you may not be aware of...

All the colors listed as "new" in the Petallics line are ink jet compatible. For real. That is HUGE. And all are available in 8.5 x 11 cartons, too.

The ENTIRE line is suitable for color copy and high heat toner based printing - think Canon, Xerox, Biz Hub, Konica, Minolta etc.... and the results look spectacular!

An extensive array of matching envelopes are now available from CTI in the Petallics line. In smallish quantities, too! (250).

DIGITAL NEWS

There are now 5 colors of Petallics available for digital printing, which means, they are HP Indigo, Nexpress and IGen approved!

Sizes available for digital:

18 x 12/ 12 x 18
19 x 13/ 13 x 19

CTI will sell them in packages of 250 for the text and 125 or 150 for the cover. Check out the swatchbook for the specifics.

Side note: Ever wonder why sometimes the paper sizes are listed both ways like above? It's because the second dimension listed is the paper's grain direction.


In digital printing that can be important because Indigo presses require short grain for the cover and long grain for the text. Why? So the end printed result does not curl. A sheet with the grain running on the short dimension would be listed like this: 18 x 12. The grain would be running with the 12 inch dimension. A long grain sheet would be listed like 8.5 x 11, so the grain is running with the 11 inch dimension. Make sense?

Let's talk GLAMA now...

Regular glama is color copy compatible! (Be sure to test this first if you are thinking of using it for this application though--all copiers are different).

So not only is glama green, and a true natural product made of 100% cellulose fiber, which contains no petroleum additives and is bio-degradable, it is also the best selling translucent in the U.S.! Envelopes are available from CTI: in A-2, A-6, A-7, #10's, Mini-lopes & various square sizes. 

We've got the pink Metallic & Translucent swatchbooks in our sample department now. If you need a new one, contact your CMP rep or our sample department right away!

Don't be Shy About It...Spread The Word

Paper is sustainable. Paper is personal. Paper is purposeful.

It's one of the most recycled products on the planet.

• More than 63% of paper used in the U.S. was recovered for recycling in 2009.
• This compares to 35% for metals, 23% for glass and 7% for plastic

Opening a nice envelope is surprisingly exciting.

• 56% of people say they enjoy reading mail
• Nearly 1/3 of respondents said they keep the special cards they receive "forever"

New customers are worth much more than the price of postage.

• 75% of people have made a purchase as a result of direct mail
• Those who received a printed catalog from a retailer were twice as likely to buy online as consumers who did not

Paper means that you mean business.

• 60% of senior executives say they turn to print when they want in-depth analysis
• 64% of workers prefer ink on paper when it comes to reading

It's easier to learn on paper.

• Reading on paper is 10-30% faster than reading online
• 70% of individuals say it's preferable and easier to learn from books than from a computer

PAPERbecause is a great program from Domtar. Feel free to share the facts. Click here for the entire campaign.

P.S. Sources for the information listed above can be found at paperbecause.com.

It's Kind of Like A Cooking Show...Only About Paper

Well, more specifically... this time, it's about envelopes.

Welcome to the first in our "CMP How To" video series.

In the video below Danielle will show you the proper way to use your CMP envelope templates to create hand made envelopes.

The CMP Envelope kit contains envelope templates for #10, #10 policy, A-2, A-6 & A-7 envelopes. They are perfect for printing identity system mockups for your clients (on the actual paper you are specifying). Or, for those of you sustainable folks, these can also be used for making fun envelopes out of repurposed paper, like wrapping paper or old posters.

Let your imagination go wild with possibilities. 

The templates are printed on Robeco printable plastic 20 pt and are available from the CMP sample department by calling 676-9203, through your CMP sales rep, or you can e-mail terris@cmpaper.com.

What do you think our next "How To" video should be about? 




P.S. A big thank you to Danielle for being the first "How To" CMP video host, and to John Haney for the video production assistance.

Get On The Digital Train or Get Off The Track, Part 2

Photo Courtesy of: Mollie Kwiek Photography

This blogpost is the second in my series about digital printing and my mission to learn more about it. I thought it might be helpful to review the digital vs. offset question. How do you choose? (Obviously these are just generalizations, as there are always exceptions).

Here is my take on the advantages of each process and a checklist you might want to start with to determine your digital vs. offset direction.

Digital Advantages:

1. Shorter turnaround
2. Lower costs for shorter print runs
3. Availability of variable data printing

Offset Advantages:

1. Higher image quality, higher resolution, no streaks in solid areas (although I understand this is not nearly the problem it once was)
2. Works on a wide range of paper surfaces
3. Unit cost goes down as quantity goes up
4. Quality and cost -effectiveness in the higher volume jobs

Keep in mind that most printers offer both offset and digital capabilities now. So, calling in your favorite print rep for consultation might be the way to begin the process. Or use this checklist to help determine your direction:

Quantity
Offset printing has a front end cost load. Which means short runs may have a high per unit cost. But as quantites increase, the unit cost goes down with offset printing.

Printing Medium
Do you need or want a special paper, finish or unusual printing surface or a unique size? The options are getting better for digital, but offset printing still offers the most flexibility.

Color
Digital presses use four color process printing. If you only need black or one or two ink colors, offset printing may offer a more cost effective solution. If you need four color printing, digital may be better for lower up-front costs.

Pantone
If you're planning to print using the Pantone Matching System, offset printing will give you the best match, since it uses actual Pantone Ink. Digital printing simulates the color using a four-color match process, so some digital printers may offer less accurate color matching on projects.

Turnaround
If you need it fast, digital usually offers quicker delivery.

Proofing
Digital offers more accurate proofs, since what you see is an actual sample of the printed piece, printed using the exact process as the intended run. For offset printing, if you need hard proofs, accurate color proofing can become expensive.

Customization
With the ease of database driven variable data printing, digital printing offers the most affordable way to customize marketing materials, direct mail pieces, letters, etc. with a different name/address or number/code on each printed piece.

Digital printing can be the ideal solution for some people, but offset lithography will almost always yield the superior result in print quality.

In the end, each project will have to be evaluated to find its perfect partner.  Similar to when you are specing paper: be prepared to ask questions, answer questions, and allow your print and paper reps to help you find the best solution for your project.

Did I mention that you now have choices in paper for your digital printing needs? You get to select more than just white, coated (or uncoated paper), when printing digitally. There are digital papers available in colors, finishes, metallics, and pearlescents to make your digital print job stand out from the crowd. New items are being added to that list, almost weekly. Call us for ideas 676-9203, or ask your printing sales rep to check in with us for the latest options!

The time has come to take paper specification back into your own hands. To borrow a tagline from our friends at Domtar Paper, Paper Matters.

Make it matter on your next print job!

Domtar's Lynx Opaque: Smooth Finish/Great Price

If Lynx Opaque Ultra were a beer, it would be a darn good one! Or so claims the latest Domtar promotion printed on Lynx Opaque.

smooth finish

great price

Always ready. Always satisfying. Made by Domtar, people who know how to make it.

The promotion is fun, printed on an offset press in 4 color process with match yellow, and filled with great images. Not to mention it's about beer. And has its own coasters inside.

   

Chicks Dig Paper Cuts

Real Printers Use Lynx

Will Work For Lynx

  

Lynx Opaque works for both offset and digital printing, making it a perfect sheet for both your small or large quantity paper needs.



Lynx Digital items are now guaranteed for:

• Xerox iGen
• Kodak NexPress
• Canon imagePRESS Series
• Konica Minolta bizhub Series
• HP Indigo 5500 & 7000 Presses

Don't forget to check out Domtar's awesome PAPERbecause campaign. (The Paper Is Dead video might provide a nice chuckle.)

More Direct Mail = More Design, More Printing & More Paper. Go USPS!

Monday, May 2nd, 2011

The US Postal Service will launch a major advertising campaign in September seeking to promote use of the mail as a marketing tool by American businesses.

Postmaster General Pat Donahoe announced to the National Postal Forum this morning in San Diego that the campaign will target the sizable 75% chunk of US businesses that currently do not use the mail for advertising purposes.

The push to get advertisers on board comes as part of a USPS priority to boost the business-to-consumer channel to help counter a general decline in mail volumes.

The business-to-consumer channel is currently responsible for around 70% of its revenues and 80% of mail volume, but with three quarters of businesses not using the mail for advertising, Donahoe said there was a “major opportunity” for the Postal Service.

The campaign will include television spots and direct mail, building on the lessons learned from the USPS package delivery advertising campaign, “If it fits it ships”, which has so far seen 25m extra flat-rate boxes mailed in the US so far this year alone, a 35% increase year-on-year.

“We are ready to apply the lessons from our package marketing and develop a major advertising campaign to support mail,” he said.

Donahoe said the Postal Service hadn’t focused on promoting mail through significant advertising in 10 years. The new campaign would be “a little unusual, but it could be very powerful”, he added.

Industry Input

The Postal Service looks likely to use its existing advertising agency Campbell-Ewald on the campaign, and Donahoe said that as well as involving mailers in the campaign, the USPS would seek to share insights from the campaign with customers, and feed their thoughts into September’s message.

“This won’t be just a Postal Service campaign,” he said. “If our industry aligns around the same marketing insights about mail, the potential exists to multiply that advertising effect,” he said.

Donahoe told Post&Parcel this morning that his team would look to discuss the campaign’s initial research with members of its industry advisory group MTAC – the Mailers’ Technical Advisory Committee – as well as with key members of the advertising industry.

“We’re trying to get some advertising people together, to run some ideas by them,” he said. ”A lot of decisions are taken by large advertisers as to what their clients will use – and if they are not thinking about the mail, there’s not a lot we can do.”

Rough cuts of television spots that could feed into a possible campaign have featured representatives of the public speaking about their relationships with the mail and why they could not do with out it.

The Postmaster General is keen to promote the “tremendous value of the mail” to American businesses, particularly competing against the digital and television advertising.

“We’re saying to them: you can go on a website, and you’ve got to compete with millions of other website, and get people to go visit that website,” he said. “With the mail you’re just competing with whatever else is in the person’s mailbox that morning.”

Among the 75% of businesses that do not currently use the mail for their advertising, Donahoe told reporters this morning that the pharmaceutical industry could be a key target for this kind of campaign. The Postal Service researched America’s top advertisers ahead of a market trial to offer major advertisers a “money-back guarantee” this summer to promote the use of direct mail, and the research revealed that major pharmaceuticals are doing “zero” advertising through the mail.

“It’s shocking how little they use the mail,” Donahoe said. “For pharmaceuticals it’s zero through the mail, and yet they’re all running these television ads that make you afraid to buy anything they’re selling.”

The concept of working closely with its customers on the advertising campaign fits with a theme at this year’s National Postal Forum of “seamlessly aligning with your business”. Around 4,000 delegates – mailing companies, equipment and suppliers as well as Postal Service staff – are expected at this year’s event, which runs until Wednesday.

Source: James Cartledge, Post & Parcel http://bit.ly/lmnRuK

A Little CMP News & Notes Blog Love Is Needed

If you are reading this post right now, then CMP needs your help!

Considerable time has been spent with the start up of this blog, as a resource for you, our customers. We are hoping it will serve as an additional means of communication about paper, promotions, about our industry, and about CMP and its people.

While it appears that people are reading this, and we have had some face to face confirmation that people like what they read...we need just a bit more reassurance.

Is this blog helpful? Shall we continue on...

Do any posts assist you in specifying or purchasing paper from CMP? What would you like to see more of? Less of?

We're feeling the need for a little blog love.

If what we are doing is not effective, then we need to know this, and spend our time and resources elsewhere. If it is, we need to hear that as well, so we can continue on with all the contests and giveaways and future product posts we have planned.

Please take a moment to comment at the bottom of this post. A suggestion. A thatta girl. A story about how this inspired you to specify or use our paper. Anything....

Dialogue from our readers and customers is necessary to continue with this effort and channel of communication. We appreciate your help and support and, I suppose if we don't hear any responses...we will have our answer.

Many thanks to those reading. I hope to hear from you.

Terri Spaulding

Wausau Royal Metallics Goes Digital

Wausau Paper announces that three colors in their Royal Metallics line have gone digital.

You can now get digitally sized metallic paper in:

White Gold
White Silver
Champagne Pearl

Specifics:
86# cover only
18 x 12 sheets
250 in a carton

Features:

• Enhanced surface for exceptional digital performance
• HP Indigo 3-star certified, including photo applications
• Suitable for toner based equipment including the Xerox I-Gen & Kodak Nexpress
• Metallic finish on 2 sides
• 30% post consumer recycled fiber
• FSC & Green Seal certified
• Acid-free

What's not to love? Check it out for your next print job.