CMP News and Notes

White Ink Technology. So What?

2012-01-09T09:40:00.001-05:00

What is white ink technology and why do I care?

If you've ever asked yourself this question, let me make it simple for you. You care because you can now specify colored paper, as in dark, rich, beautiful, colored paper, for digital printers who have white ink technology.

Yes I said colored paper, with white ink. And you can print it digitally. See, it does matter to you.

When digital printing came into our world, those of us who love colored paper, heaved one collective sign of dismay. Gone were the days of using rich, bold colored paper to spread your message, especially if that message involved a small printed quantity. Everything digital since has been viewed by designers as having to think about putting color on white paper. Well, not any more. Not with white ink capabilities.

Times, they are a changing

With the availability of white ink technology in West Michigan, you now have the option to create an impression with colored paper. Here is a link to a recent article in Print Magazine, explaining things from a designers point of view. For more information, and white ink technology tips, check with your local digital printer. When you are ready to choose some paper for your next digital job using white ink technology, contact us.

We would love to hook you up with the perfect colored paper for your next job!

Paper is vital.

Tree Farming: A Look Inside

2011-12-16T07:30:00.003-05:00

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

2011-12-13T06:00:00.001-05:00

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

2011-12-12T08:25:00.000-05:00

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

2011-12-08T14:57:00.000-05:00

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?

2011-12-01T11:34:00.005-05:00

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?

2011-11-21T15:05:00.000-05:00

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

2011-11-09T07:31:00.000-05:00

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

2011-10-29T15:03:00.000-04:00

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

2011-10-17T10:13:00.000-04:00

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

2011-10-04T15:58:00.001-04:00

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

2011-09-13T16:19:00.000-04:00

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

2011-08-22T15:31:00.003-04:00

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?

2011-08-15T10:45:00.000-04:00

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

2011-07-19T13:57:00.000-04:00

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

2011-07-06T09:30:00.000-04:00

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

2011-06-28T13:52:00.000-04:00

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

2011-06-23T13:24:00.000-04:00

“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

2011-06-08T08:41:00.000-04:00

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...

2011-06-01T21:33:00.000-04:00

...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

2011-05-25T16:07:00.000-04:00

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

2011-05-19T16:35:00.000-04:00

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

2011-05-09T14:25:00.000-04:00

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

2011-05-04T07:30:00.002-04:00

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!

2011-05-03T14:27:00.001-04:00

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

2011-04-29T11:53:00.000-04:00

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

2011-04-21T12:54:00.000-04:00

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.

Get On the Digital Train, Or Get Off the Track

2011-04-19T09:00:00.001-04:00

Photo Courtesy of Mollie Kwiek Photography
https://www.facebook.com/molliekwiekphotography

47% of all print volume will be projects under 2,000 finished pieces.--Taken from a recent NewPage Digital Presentation by Michelle Garrett

I've been on a mission lately, to learn more about digital printing.

I figured I better get on the digital knowledge train, or get off the track altogether. So this blogpost is the first in a series of posts to share with you what I have learned. Even though some of it may be things you already know. I figure there might be some of you out there who have also resisted change and who were clinging to the hope that someday offset printing would rebound and be restored to its former glory. Like I was.

But change is good. Knowledge is good. And, you can teach an old dog, new tricks.

With that in mind, I have traveled and toured two places so far. Both were gracious and welcoming and answered all my (dumb) questions. Yes, I admit some of mine were a little out there.

While there are many players in the digital arena, I learned there are basically three big ones: HP Indigo, Kodak Nexpress and the Xerox I-Gen. I also learned that of the three, two use a dry toner/heat based process...the Nexpress and the I-Gen, and the Indigo uses a liquid ink/cold process.

Why is that important? Well, because it affects the paper selection. And because heat melts and paper curls. So proper paper selection is important. So proper grain direction is important. So sheet sizes are important. (Certain equipment has maximum sheet sizes and for digital sizes we aren't talking 25 x 38 or 23 x 35, we are talking, the largest sheets are 13 x 19, 14 x 20, or smaller. )

When Indigo presses first came out, they needed a special sapphire treated paper. Now mills are introducing digital options that are HP Indigo certified (without the need for the sapphire treatment and without the short shelf life it had) and most of those will also work in the other equipment. Yay!

That means....you now have choices for the paper used for your digital print job.

When digital presses first came to the forefront I was of little help in suggesting paper for digital jobs. Mostly because the machines were so new that printers were only using papers recommended by the manufacturer of the press. But I am happy to say that things are different now. The paper industry has caught up (somewhat) and you now have choices, sized appropriately, and with the proper grain direction.

And now that you do, I have already heard rumors to the effect that the cost of the job goes up, if you choose your own paper. Please don't let anyone tell you that, as a general rule, choosing your own paper is the reason the cost of a job goes up. If you are switching from an uncoated cover to a pearlescent cover, then Yes, the cost will most likely go up. But apples to apples, No, it most likely will not.

Keep in mind that paper for a digital printing job is only a small portion of the overall cost of that job. It might be worth it to pay a little more for a unique paper that gets your piece noticed.

The list of paper options for digital printing is growing (almost weekly)...let's discover together what works for your next job.

I will, as usual, ask you a lot of questions.
I will, as usual, dash some of your paper hopes.
I will, as usual, help you to make the best selection I can.

Stay tuned....more digital knowledge to come.

Productolith Points Is Now HP Indigo Certified

2011-04-15T10:13:00.001-04:00

Productolith Pts. Digital® C1S & C2S just got even better! We can add HP Indigo certified to its list of attributes.

Now available in:

10, 12 & 14 pt C1S
10 & 12 pt C2S
18 x 12, 19 x 13 & 20 x 14 sheets

Here is more information about Productolith Points taken from the New Page Website.

Attributes:

Versatility; optimal performance on dry and liquid toner printers, color and black & white laser printers and digital offset technologies
Coated cover trusted for digital
Matching coated one- and two-sided options
Exceptionally smooth, semi-gloss finish
Contains 10% post-consumer recycled fiber

Guaranteed for digital offset and production laser equipment:

Xerox iGen guaranteed
HP Indigo certified by Rochester Institute of Technology on both the coated and uncoated sides
Kodak NexPress qualified by the Rochester Institute of Technology
Matching web, sheets and digital items
Consistent brightness and shade to standard Productolith and Sterling® Ultra offset papers
Superior toner adhesion for better image reproduction
Precision cut to prevent paper edge bonding jams and duplex registration issues
Caliper and PPI guaranteed
Strict quality control yields ultra-clean paper, reducing paper dust contamination and increasing productivity and equipment life
Vapor barrier wrapping to prevent moisture absorption that can lead to curling and jamming
Manufactured in North America

Environmental Certifications:

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
"The Independent Assurance for Responsible Forest Management."
Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)

NewPage mills utilize environmentally friendly Elemental Chlorine-Free (ECF) papermaking for enhanced permanence.

Ask your CMP sales representative for more information or for samples.

CMP Introduces the LunchAbout

2011-04-11T11:59:00.000-04:00

You’ve heard of a Walkabout right?

Crocodile Dundee made it famous in 1986 when Mick Dundee, who is from "Walkabout Creek", uses the term "walkabout" in the movie's dialogue. Random house defines it as an Australian noun meaning: a brief, informal leave from work, taken by an Aborigine to wander the bush, visit relatives, or return to native life; or as an absence from work.

Well CMP is introducing a LunchAbout.

No, we are not asking you to take time off from work to take a walk in the Australian bush (although that does sound kind of fun), instead we’re offering to help you learn.

LunchAbout is a chance for you to learn more about….whatever industry topics interest you, all while eating lunch, our treat!

We can schedule a LunchAbout at your office or here in our CMP conference room covering any topic(s) that interest you. Whether you want to learn more about the latest in paper, industry trends, digital printing, sustainability in paper, paper basics, greenwashing or getting started in social media.…we can help.

If we don’t have an expert here at CMP, we’ll find one! CMP has access to a variety of industry experts, on a variety of current topics. So put us to work for you.

Contact your CMP representative and learn the details of scheduling a LunchAbout right quick mate.

676-9203 or 1-800-632-4910

Why Technology Hasn't Killed Direct Mail......An excerpt from Deliver Magazine

2011-04-05T14:02:00.001-04:00

Have you checked out this publication yet?

Deliver Magazine. It's a USPS® publication that features marketing research, news and commentary. It is an awesome resource for me. But then, I sell paper, so I believe in the power of print and direct mail. And I am always looking for facts to use to promote their effectiveness.

Bet you could use some information to convince your clients that print is definitely not dead and that it should remain a vital and relevant part of their marketing campaign, right?

So, I'm sharing the links. Click here to check out Deliver Magazine and here to subscribe to it.

Most of you reading our CMP News & Notes Blog make your living in this industry. Let's work together to keep paper and print alive & well in West Michigan. Spread the word.

****************************************************

The following excerpt was taken from a Deliver Magazine article posted August 24, 2010

Why Technology Hasn't Killed Direct Mail

Look at recent developments, and it becomes clear we’re witnessing a new age of direct mail.

Long an effective marketing device, mail is now being linked with new technologies in astounding ways that improve its effectiveness and bring a new engagement. Such advancements ensure it will last several more generations, and will likely launch mail into a new era of viability.

It wasn’t supposed to be this way. The explosion of digital technology was supposed to be the death knell for direct mail. The medium was expected to take what direct had done, and do it better, faster and cheaper.

Consider the irony then that far from killing it off, digital is helping usher in this new era of direct mail.

Of course, direct mail and digital have always been buddies. Mail was the primary way most of us learned about the Internet. (Remember those ubiquitous disks from a major online company?)

Catalogers have always known that mail can drive additional sales and online visits, and many digital entrepreneurs have turned to the mailbox to drive people to the inbox.

The difference today is that marketers are now finding methods for combining digital technology with mail to increase the power of the message. Mail is no longer the carrier, the device you use to drive someone online. It’s the beginning of a conversation that carries on once the customer logs on.

Full article here: http://www.delivermagazine.com/2010/08/why-technology-hasnt-killed-direct-mail

New Mohawk Product Announcement

2011-04-04T15:56:00.005-04:00

Introducing ....Everyday Digital!

Not every project’s budget allows for the use of a really unique paper. And that is why, at times, a trusted house sheet is key. Engineered by the team that introduced premium papers for digital color, Mohawk Everyday Digital is an affordable collection of uncoated and coated papers specifically engineered for digital color production printing presses and certified for use in the HP Indigo.

“Mohawk Everyday Digital house sheet will give printers fantastic results while maximizing both productivity and their bottom line,” says Chris Harrold, Mohawk's Vice President of Business Development, Digital Technologies Group.

Everyday Digital Uncoated

98-bright, white
Available 60# text to 120# cover, including 12 pt. smooth and 14 pt. vellum

Everyday Digital Coated

95-bright, white
Available 80# text to 130# dtc silk

Mohawk Everyday Digital house sheets are FSC certified, manufactured with windpower and are electronic printing guaranteed.

Click here for an Everyday Digital product chart which shows sizes and carton quantities.

Mohawk Everyday Digital is featured in the new Mohawk HP Indigo Guide (pictured at right), which also features The New Mohawk Studio Collection, a line of pastel, mid-range and deep shades specifically developed for white ink applications on HP Indigo presses. HP Indigo’s new white ink technology allows the use of white type and full-color printing on colored stocks by providing an opaque printing base.

I heard we already have a printer in GR using this cutting edge technology. Awesome!

Our sample department is expecting Everyday Digital swatches to arrive soon and inventory is already arriving in our warehouse.

P.S. Please send in your awesome printed samples so we can build our CMP library!

Please Cease and Desist With The Greenwashing

2011-03-31T09:57:00.002-04:00

So in response to my blogpost yesterday I received a cease and desist e-mail from the company I mentioned in it. I guess I must have made a point or two. So the good news is that people are reading my blog. But after thinking about it, I decided to drop all reference to that company's name from my blogpost. What I say about the misuse of the facts about paper, trees and the environment can be said about many companies who are confused about the information relating to the paper industry, why should I single out just one.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Here is the edited blogpost without the names of any company referenced.

I saw a tweet come across my Tweetdeck and felt compelled to respond to it. Here is what it said:

"Going #paperless or at least reducing #paper is our goal. We aim to help in doing what we can as retailers. Going #green always feels good."

I checked out the company. They sell a software program for retailers.The premise is that retailers who purchase and install this program of emailing receipts to customers, (instead of handing one to you with your purchase), will instantly save time, money and, it implies, the environment.

This company believes that the software program will save money for business owners instantly by reducing their paper costs by a 3:1 ratio. Apparently paper costs have increased so much it is causing retailers to raise prices and shrink their profit margins. When did providing a receipt to customers who make a purchase from you become an extra, not a given?

If I follow along with the idea that a receipt is not a necessity, then I also have to accept that the costs involved in printing out that receipt for my records, are now my responsibility. But my printer takes 8.5 x 11 sized paper---a cash register receipt is usually a small strip of 3 x (however many items you purchase) sized lightweight piece of paper. Which of these options ultimately then creates less waste?

The company video is well produced and hits all the heartstrings. It encourages businesses to do their part for the environment. It implies that by not using paper you are impacting the world in a good way for yourself, your children and your children's children. That's great stuff. If only it were true.

If we stop using paper, there may not be any environment left for our children's children. No paper use equals no new tree plantings; which in turn means no oxygen, no carbon sequestration, no wildlife habitats from those trees. If we stop using paper, our children's children may not even have forests, instead they will see endless strip malls and developments. http://www.internationalpaper.com/apps/gopaper/index.html

I do understand that this company wants to sell product. Just like we want to sell paper. But let's make sure we don't mistake greenwashing, for facts. The paper industry is sustainable and renewable. Using paper is not a bad thing, nor is being smart about times not to use it. The truth is that banks save money when they don't have to mail us our statements, phone companies save money when they don't have to print and mail our bills, and bottom line...stores save money when they don't have to print our receipts.

So let's just quit with the greenwashing. From my point of view, a more valid point for this company to make to a consumer like me, is that it is more convenient to not have to store and hang onto that receipt after a purchase, especially if it is an item you think you will not need to return. I can relate to that.

I believe in being sustainable. I believe in recycling. I believe in using recycled paper. But I also believe in the facts. No one is going to convince me that e-mailing a receipt to someone (who will more likely still print that receipt) is "greener" than having the store hand you one. And what about the negative environmental impact or the costs involved in maintaining all those servers which store the receipt data? Not to mention they get your e-mail address.

Seems backwards to me. I would stop frequenting a store that put the burden on me, the customer to print my own receipt at home. But then, I am also offended when any company asks me to go paperless to "save trees".

I sell paper. My husband works for the United States Postal Service.
You are barking up the wrong tree.

Who Knew We Had Such Talent at CMP?

2011-03-29T23:17:00.000-04:00

Rachel Dunneback, Steve Holman & Dennis Gracey surprised us all when they performed a beautiful version of the Jason Mraz/Colbie Caillat song Lucky (at the request of Mark Bultema himself) for Mark's retirement party. Who knew we had such employee musical talent within CMP?

P.S. Notice partway through the video Mark and Kay hold hands. So sweet!

Wausau Astrobrights Line Gets A Face Lift

2011-03-23T09:18:00.000-04:00

Just in time for Spring.... Wausau Astrobrights announces a new and improved Color Line Up!

4 New Colors. 5 Improved Colors. Several New Product Codes.

No other bright color paper outshines, outsells and outsatisfies like Wausau Astrobrights.

Check out the link below to see the new and improved colors.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/51326684/astrobright-refresh-info

And this link takes you to the Cross Reference Chart for the new product codes.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/51327923

All items should be available for purchase the second week of April. Swatches arriving soon.

Gone Golfing...Well We Sure Hope So!

2011-03-21T13:30:00.000-04:00

We wish you happy days on the golf course, Mark!

CMP partied last week in honor of Mark Bultema's retirement. Surrounded by his family, his CMP family, friends and long time customers, Mark said goodbye to 23 years as a paper sales rep. Mark came to CMP in 1988 after spending many years as a sales rep for Dickinson Press. His desire was to stay in sales but also to stay closer to home for more time with his wife and young family. Seems like that move worked out well for him and for CMP. He not only raised a wonderful family, but managed to contribute greatly to CMP's growth over the years.

With good food, good stories and some awesome CMP musical talent, we sent him off in style. We wish Mark and Kay a wonderfully happy retirement, filled with health, grandkids and of course, lots of golf. It was obvious by the tears and the emotion shown at his farewell lunch, that Mark will be missed. His customers all echoed one very clear thought as they said their goodbye's: "Mark always felt like he was part of our team, like he had our best interest at heart. It seemed like he was working for us!"

Way to go Mark. He obviously believed in putting his customers first. While the goal is to sell paper, how nice that it can be done with the friendship and respect of your customers and peers. Thanks for your loyal years of service and for your wonderful example. You will be missed.

Now, enjoy.

Mark enjoys the company of family, friends
and longtime customers.

Mark's daughter Holly, grandson Heath, and wife Kay

Yummy spread.

The CMP Trio of Rachel Dunneback, Steve Holman
& Dennis Gracey

The McNaughton & Gunn folks receive an award
from Dave Beebe/Cascades Paper! Great job using
so much environmentally friendly paper.

The happy couple: Kay & Mark (they still hold hands!)

P.S. To see all the pics from this event, visit www.facebook.com/cmpaper and look under photos!

Going, Going, Gone

2011-03-17T14:26:00.000-04:00

This morning our resident baker extraordinaire, Gail Watts, brought in some Irish Soda Bread in honor of St. Patrick's Day. While we often have food in our CMP Gathering Place, aka "the break room", you have to be quick to nab a portion. Thanks for the yummy treat and for sharing your recipe.

Oh and, Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!

Gail's Irish Soda Bread!

Perfectly round and browned to perfection.

Apparently everyone is too polite to snag the last piece.

GAIL'S IRISH SODA BREAD RECIPE

Ingredients:
4 cups all purpose flour, plus 1 Tbl extra (for covering the raisins)
4 Tbl sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
4 Tbl (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 inch chunks
1 3/4 cups cold buttermilk, shaken
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 tsp grated orange zest
1 cup dried raisins

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the butter and mix on low speed until the butter is mixed into the flour.

With a fork, lightly beat the buttermilk, egg and orange zest together in a measuring cup. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture. Combine the raisins with 1 Tbl of flour and mix into the dough. It will be very wet.

Dump the dough onto a well-floured board and knead it a few times into a round loaf. Place the loaf on the prepared sheet pan and lightly cut an X into the top of the bread with a serrated knife. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. When you tap the loaf, it will have a hollow sound. If bread gets too brown before it is done, lay a piece of foil on top. Cool on a baking rack. Serve warm or at room temperature. Enjoy.

P.S. Watch for more CMP recipe favorites. We seem to eat a lot around here.

Cascades Rolland ST50 Has A New Name

2011-03-14T11:01:00.001-04:00

Cascades Rolland ST50 just got a makeover and a brand new name. Introducing....Rolland ENVIRO 100 SATIN .

Enviro100 Satin now is 100% post consumer recycled, FSC certified, EcoLogo and processed chlorine free accredited, manufactured using renewable biogas energy, and has a unique silky smooth feel.

Wow, that is a lot to say in one breath.

And, to answer your question, yes there are some visible bits and pieces in it. You want your 100% recycled sheet to look recycled, right?

Think of Enviro100 Satin as being a hybrid between a coated and uncoated paper. It has a bit of extra special "something" to make ink sit more on the surface. When you print 4-color there's going to be a little more pop happening on the Enviro100 Satin surface than there would be on a completely uncoated paper.

Don't tell anyone, but in the old days we'd have described this as a "wash coat".

Think of the possibilities. Newsletters. Brochures. Magazines. Sell sheets. Direct mail. Manuals.

Cascades is one of CMP's "go to" mills when someone is looking for good white paper at a great price. Oh, and if you want to be environmental and sustainable, then geesh... Cascades is a no brainer. Check out cascades.com/papers/ for more information. Or ask us for one of the Cascades promotions called It's Time to be Transparent.

Other papers you might want to check out in the Cascades family: Rolland Opaque 50, Enviro 100 Print and Rolland Hi-Tech 50.

Can we bring you some swatches?

This One Is For The Visual People...

2011-03-10T14:00:00.000-05:00

Check out this well done video using simple graphics to explain how using more paper leads to more trees! Way to go International Paper, we could not have said this better ourselves.

For more information on their Go Paper. Grow Trees campaign click here http://www.internationalpaper.com/apps/gopaper/.

Help us spread the facts and stop the greenwashing.

Paper Basics Road Show

2011-03-05T10:39:00.001-05:00

My job is so much fun!

Last week I took my Paper Basics Presentation on the road to Ferris State University/Big Rapids Campus.

Me & the FSU Graphic Design Juniors

I've been doing a version of this Paper Basics presentation for almost 23 years and I am constantly trying to improve it. I learned long ago that bringing some type of food, either candy or granola bars, always earns extra attention from starving college students.

It is also much more fun to learn about paper if you can touch and feel it. So the presentation includes a packet of blank papers in various colors, weights and finishes that students can touch, feel, bend, scratch and interact with. As a parent of a "visual" learner I know the importance of including several "hands on" activities that engage both the auditory and visual portions of the brain, as well. Anything to help people retain more of the paper basic information that is delivered.

William Culpepper, Assistant Professor at FSU, sent me some of the FSU student's comments following the presentation. Here are a few:

"...As she walked us through the different samples she offered advice as to how we could approach a client and justify the use of these papers. For example, the paper with the highest recycled content looks much more like 'recycled' paper than the paper with only 30%. This fact may seem obvious, but if someone really wanted to push the idea that their materials are earth-friendly, the paper might as well show that it is recycled..."

"I think this was an excellent paper presentation. I was obvious that she knew her stuff and cared. Her delivery of the material, with a hands on approach, was a great way for a bunch of visual people to learn!"

"The printed packets that she handed out were extremely useful and I plan on keeping it in my production binder. My favorite part was being able to touch, scratch, feel, and hold the different paper samples. I have a far better understanding of the differences among papers and coatings."

"In my opinion, Terri was...very informative and confident in her company and what they have to offer. She will be a very good contact for paper needs in the future."

Thanks FSU juniors for being an interested and excited audience, and for all the fabulous feedback.

And a special thanks for testing out my new paper term to definition matching game.

It's a keeper!

Need some Paper Basics in your life? Give me a shout! terris@cmpaper.com

Stitchless & Glueless & Die Cut, Oh My!

2011-03-03T11:45:00.001-05:00

What a yummy fold!

Check out Trish's 60-Second Super-Cool Fold of the Week #89!
I love this. I love the inspiration. I love the die cut.

Even if it's on a paper I cannot sell. Use Cascades Rolland Opaque50 instead.

Have you signed up for her FREE fold of the week yet?

You should. Visit foldfactory.com.

How about looking through your files and sending her something cool to feature?

It's Time...Announcing the Mohawk Show 12 Call For Entries

2011-03-02T07:30:00.024-05:00

Mohawk Fine Papers celebrates the designers who make concrete the complex communications of our culture, who go beyond the expected and make visuals extraordinary.

West Michigan... it is time gather up your great work on Mohawk paper and enter!

I saw the local talent celebrated at the West Michigan Addy's last week, it was very award-worthy. How about submitting again, this time to the Mohawk Show 12?

Winners of this show not only receive awe & kudos from your industry peers nationally, but you can also win BIG money. The only catch, it has to be printed mostly on Mohawk Papers. The good news...Mohawk bought just about everyone in the industry, so that means a lot of papers qualify.

Details:
Four best of show winners will receive $5,000 each. $2,500 will be paid to the winning design team in each of these three special categories: Sustainable Design, Strathmore Showcase and Digital Print. And fifteen honorable mentions will be awarded $500 each.

Entries are being accepted from now until May 31, 2011. Enter as many projects as you like. There are no entry fees. And only 5 samples of each entry are required.

Click here for the order form and more details. http://bit.ly/eXwCaE

And hey... if the Mohawk Paper was purchased thru CMP, I'll even send in the entry for you. Just get me get me the 5 samples (and the details) and I will take care of it.

Someone has to win. Why not you?

Get Well Soon...And Thanks For Sharing

2011-02-28T07:30:00.009-05:00

Now that's what I am talking about....way to go Boyne Mountain Ski Patrol!

My friend and graphic designer-turned jewelry designer, Robin Smith of DesignSmith in Spring Lake, had a bit of an accident on the slopes of Boyne Mountain a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately when she fell, her bindings did not release, and she heard the dreaded knee "pop".

Yep, she was one of the unlucky few to make the trip the rest of the way down the mountain in a ski patrol sled. Which by the way, according to Robin, was terrifying.

Robin got this card in the mail from the ski patrol director last week.

It's nice to see someone using the power of paper, even if it is following a not-so-great-experience on the slopes. Good use of a paper card, direct mail and the USPS. And props to Boyne Mountain for their awesome follow through.

Robin will having ACL replacement surgery in late March.

The folks at CMP wish you a super speedy recovery.

All Good Things Must Come To An End

2011-02-23T11:10:00.012-05:00

But can lead to exciting new beginnings!

Gail Watts, CMP's resident "mom" baked a cake for Bill Benson.

Yesterday CMP got together to celebrate the retirement of one of our long time mill representatives, Bill Benson, of Wausau Coated. How fun! It isn't every day we say farewell to someone who has been an integral part of our coated label paper sales for more than 20 years, so it made for a special occasion.

And yet another reason to eat cake. So much for those New Year's resolutions.

Originally Bill was our rep for another pressure sensitive supplier, and when he switched over to Wausau Coated, so did we. How's that for loyalty? We've had a great working relationship and friendship with him over the years. We asked what he was going to do in his retirement and Bill told us that he and his wife Donna recently renovated their cottage on Washington Island, WI into a year round home. They now plan to live there and spend time sailing, fishing, and hiking. Not one to just sit back and relax, Bill tells us he has also joined the Lions Club on the island and is training to be a Coast Guard volunteer.

We are all hoping he saves a little time to just relax.

L to R: John Barbour, Bill Benson, Gail & Larry Watts, Chris Cutter, Glenn Bechard

Bill says "Goodbye" to CMP, and we say "Hello" to Glenn

CMP is now looking forward to a new beginning with Glenn Bechard, our newest Wausau Coated rep. Having spent time at Curtis Paper, Cross Pointe and several other mills, Glenn brings with him years of paper industry experience. We look forward to putting that knowledge to use, and to many great years ahead. Welcome, Glenn!

While it is a little bittersweet for us, the CMP team wishes Bill a healthy and happy retirement. You will be missed, old friend! And oh by the way...we are totally jealous.

Just Passing Along.....Processed Identity

2011-02-21T10:52:00.001-05:00

Have you seen the website called Processed Identity yet?

I recently got a tweet about an article Laura Shore, of Mohawk Fine Papers, wrote for Processed Identity. Having attended several spec seminars given by Laura over the years, I know that she always has something interesting to say. This article makes some good points about design, the future of print and of course, paper. See the full article http://bit.ly/i55zS2.

"While we may be moving toward a paper-less society—I don’t expect we will ever see a paper-free society. But where we do use paper these days, we need it to count." --Laura Shore

After working in print for many years, Laura Shore now oversees social media, branding and e-commerce at Mohawk Fine Papers. She recently developed the design blog and marketplace, Felt and Wire. If you haven't already checked it out, please do. In my opinion, you can never have too many sources of inspiration.

And maybe I am the last to know about the Processed Identity website, but just in case you haven't seen it either I wanted to share. It was launched in 2010 by Steve Zelle, a visual brand identity designer with over twenty years of experience designing and developing his creative process with clients. He currently operates as idApostle, based in Ottawa, Canada. His personal interest in the creative process and the increase in both availability and popularity of stock logos and “brands” that can be downloaded instantly, inspired him to create Processed Identity.

Processed Identity's Goals:

to highlight the benefits a customized and structured process can achieve
to become a source of information for clients
to provide a source of inspiration for identity designers
to impart to young designers starting out, the value of the creative process

The spirit of the site is to share, encourage, and discuss in a thoughtful, mindful manner with respect for all contributors. Most of the content for the site is developed by designers willing to share their experiences and insights.

Got an idea or thought you want to share? If you would like to contribute to Processed Identity, there are a number of ways you can do that through the contribute tab on the website. West Michigan has great talent, and great ideas. I hope to be reading one of your articles on Processed Identity's website soon!

In fact, send me a tweet @cmpaper when you do. I'll help spread the word.

Color Trends and Local Talent

2011-02-17T07:50:00.004-05:00

I thought I'd share a recent blog post I came across from Jude Stewart called RDA Color Trends, From Coast to Coast on Imprint-The Online Community for Graphic Designers. In it she highlights some local award winning work and summarizes the latest nationwide color trends, as seen in Print’s Regional Design Annual 2010.

Her color picks:

Strong yellow with hot pink
The new browns: cardboard, buff and sepia
Sky-blue
Honey-bees and tuxedos: yellow with B&W
Super-dark purples
The new CMYK and alternate rainbows

And she just happens to feature some local West Michigan work, People Design's commemorative Artprize poster. How cool is that?

According to Stewart, "While not exactly a new trend, more than a few projects from this year’s RDA turned to natural-pulp paper and a related palette of soft browns. It’s a durable trend for many reasons, several of which are unusually relevant right now. Browns are warm, rich and tactile –a luxurious feel on the cheap. Their almost living texture (whether actual in print work or suggested in web projects) makes an equally fitting background for crisp, “produced” messages or handmade stamping or other crafty angles. Browns and tans hint at heritage, authenticity, craftmanship, credibility and Americana. They push that right optimistic button, suggesting a blank slate to be filled with fresh, even noble ideas, whether that expresses itself as corkboard, parchment, wood, concrete or butcher drawing paper." Check out the full article: http://bit.ly/fmg0Yj

Be sure to check out French 's Speckletone & Dur-O-Tone lines, Mohawk 's new Loop Antique Vellum and Wausau's Royal Fiber for papers that CMP offers in that natural, rich brown palette.

And a big thumbs up to People Design from your CMP fans!

P.S. Here is the link to Print's Regional Design Annual 2010. Kind of exciting that RDA is online for the first time in its thirty year history. http://bit.ly/gHQD7L

Playing With Paper for Valentine's Day....

2011-02-14T07:30:00.001-05:00

A sample of handmade paper fun.
Thank you Grace, for the example.

You are probably aware it is Valentine's Day today, right? I mean how could you not know when it's been weeks of red hearts, boxed candy and Valentine's day decorations displayed at every store.

But did you know the day is named after an early Christian martyr, Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD? Wikipedia calls it a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards known as valentines.

Originally valentines were personal and were handmade and handcrafted with love. Unfortunately most handwritten valentines have given way to mass-produced greeting cards.

That's why last week CMP brought the fine art of Playing With Paper to the members of Gilda's Club. Several ladies made handmade valentines out of the beautiful colors of French, Mohawk & Wausau Papers. My friend, and local designer, Gayle Raymer came along to offer up some creative support.

I'm pretty sure she will agree it is so cool to watch how "Playing With Paper" brings out the creativity in everyone, even those who believe they don't have a creative side. Paper is fun!

If your office would like to "Play With Paper" for any upcoming holiday, like Easter, Mother's Day, spring birthdays or even just to make personalized thank you notes, let us know. We'd be more than happy to share our paper love.

Oh yeah, and Happy Valentine's Day!

60-second Super-Cool Fold of the Week #86

2011-02-12T15:54:00.006-05:00

Check out this fold. What a great way to get all your information in one handy package. I'm thinking hospitals, universities....the possibilities are endless.

Did You Know...Our Standard Paper Size Was Made Official By Reagan?

2011-02-10T13:16:00.001-05:00

Why is the standard paper size in the U.S. 8 ½" x 11"?

Back in the late 1600's, the Dutch invented the two-sheet mold. The average maximum stretch of an experienced vatman's arms was 44". Many molds at that time were around 17" front to back because the laid lines and watermarks had to run from left to right. Sounds big?...well to maximize the efficiency of paper making, a sheet this big was made, and then quartered, forming four 8.5" x 11" pieces.

This was well before paper machines dominated hand made paper labor. A couple centuries later when machines dominated the trade (although many hand made paper makers still existed), and the United States decided on a standard paper size, they stuck with the same size so as to keep the hand made paper makers in business.

Oddly enough, the United States used two different sizes - the 8" x 10.5" and the 8.5" x 11". Separate committees came up with separate standards, the 8" x 10.5" for the government and the 8.5" x 11" for the rest of us. Once these committees found out about each other a couple years later, they agreed to disagree until the early 1980's when Reagan finally proclaimed that the 8.5" x 11" was the official standard sized paper.

Read full article here: http://www.afandpa.org/paper.aspx?id=511

Maybe, Just Maybe....

2011-02-07T08:41:00.001-05:00

...Wishes do come true!

Remember my post from last Monday about bringing back the lost art of sending Thank You notes? http://bit.ly/e49dJE

Well, I just happened to be scheduled for some outpatient surgery last week, and it was quite a surprise when two days later I got a thank you note in the mail from the Spectrum Health Surgical Team. It was hand signed and included personal notes from my nurses and some of the other staff.

How cool is that?

This notecard is actually printed on white paper.
Not so sure about my camera skills.

Even though the surgery itself was a bust, the notecard left a great lasting impression. Oh, the power of paper and personalization!

Awesome.

Have you sent one lately?

A Look Back...

2011-02-04T08:20:00.001-05:00

Terri Spaulding, CMP

...And a leap forward!

I have recently become a certified social media strategist for CMP. And while some people might think that is a bit of an oxymoron (since I am a paper rep and social media does not use much paper), I disagree. There are several solid concepts that social media marketing and paper specification are founded on.... relationships, partnering, and earning trust.

For 23 years, I have worked to build and maintain relationships with designers, partnered with printing sales reps, mill reps and printers, and earned trust by working to ensure the right paper always gets selected for the job. I believe that print is definitely not dead, and that direct mail marketing is a relevant and effective choice in combination with social media marketing. So the way I see it, the combination of paper specification rep and social media strategist, is kinda perfect.

What inspires me about using social media for CMP is the opportunity to connect with designers in a new way. I can take my knowledge of paper, my desire to grow valuable relationships, and my interest in the right brained creative world, to another dimension. Maybe one that includes less "face time" with designers and specifiers, but still a way to work together in this ever-growing digital world. There are many tips, tools, and links that I run across that the “nowness" of social media allows me to share more quickly, and perhaps even more effectively, than doing it in person.

Years ago there was always something new to share about paper. New colors, new textures and new grades of paper came out regularly, and everyone wanted to see them. There were endless mill promotions, annual reports and identity samples to share. But things are different now. Instead of new grades, I talk of mill consolidations and grade reductions, recycled paper and sustainability, environmental concerns and certifications, and every now and then, something new.

Social media is my chance to stay connected with you and to continue to grow our relationship. I really do want CMP to be your first stop for all things paper!

Change is inevitable. Some changes are good, some are not so good, and some are just different. I’m not even going to pretend I don't miss the "face time" I used to have with designers.

But, this social media gig has me working on some really cool possibilities/ ideas/ partnerships. I cannot wait to share them with you. I pledge to continue to make paper fun and to promote print.

I hope you will stay tuned.

Follow Terri on twitter @cmpaper and “ like” CMP (Central Michigan Paper ) on FB for additional updates and information.

Is The Thank You Note Becoming A Lost Art?

2011-01-31T11:54:00.001-05:00

I really hope not.

I will admit to being one of those people who still sends out handwritten (and handmade) thank you notes, and makes her children do so as well. So this video I saw yesterday on the CBS Sunday Morning Show did not sit well with me.

In it, as part of the ongoing "Assignment America", Steve Hartman takes a look at the lost art of handwritten thank you notes.

I actually received a hand written note in the mail a few months back from a friend. She wrote just to say thanks for being a good friend. It was completely out of the blue and completely wonderful. It inspired me to send out a few of my own thank you just because cards, and hers is still tacked to the side of my refrigerator, where it continues to make me smile.

Think what kind of an impression you could make with a card of your own. In an age where a handwritten thank you note is a dying art, let's dare to be different.

May I suggest you use Warm White, Via Felt or Smooth with a matching A-2 envelope for yours?

Tips For Avoiding the Dreaded "Mill Stock" Monkey Wrench

2011-01-24T15:21:00.001-05:00

It happens to everyone. You work hard to choose a paper that is a perfect complement to your totally awesome design, only to find as the project nears completion, that the paper is not stocked by the merchant.

Panic, Anger, and Dread ensue. Okay, maybe not so much. But it can be an added delay that your project cannot afford to encounter.

So what can you do to make sure this doesn't happen to you?

My first, last and biggest tip is to encourage you to work with your local paper rep and printer at the start of the project (or at the very least, before getting your heart set on a specific paper.) Your paper rep can check to see if you have chosen a paper that is stocked. If it is, you are halfway there. Keep in mind though, even after finding this out, you aren't 100% out of the woods yet.

For example, what if the paper is stocked but not in the size your printer needs for your project? Let's say you are creating a pocket folder and your printer will eventually need a 26 x 40 sheet, but the particular paper you want to use is stocked by your merchant in 8.5 x 11 only?

Oops, it then becomes a mill item again.

Back in the old days, a mill item was synonymous with "Okay we can get that paper for you, but it's going to take a while." Today, mill stock does not necessarily equal a long delay. (We get three trucks a week from Mohawk, where years ago we might have gotten one). Instead, mill stock usually means "CMP does not have that specific item on our floor, but we can get it for you in even cartons pretty quickly from the mill."

No problem then, right?

Well, maybe yes, and maybe no. Go back to that even cartons part for a minute.

Ordering a mill stock item means that your printer will need to purchase the entire carton of the paper ordered. If there are 500 sheets of 26 x 40 paper in the carton, you get it all. If your pocket folder finished quantity is only 100, you will more than likely have way too much extra paper, which in turn will make that paper you selected too expensive for the job.

So what can you do? You can circumvent the mill stock delay by choosing a stocked paper so your printer can order whatever quantity of sheets are needed to complete your job, or find an alternative that may still be mill stocked, but contains a smaller number of sheets in that carton. Mills have been getting smarter about packaging heavy weights and dark colors in smaller carton quantities just for this purpose!

Averting an unplanned project delay is easier than you think. Communication between the designer, printer and paper merchant is key. Begin the dialogue at the beginning. Feel free to contact me via -mail if you need any help with paper selection for your next project. terris@cmpaper.com

Something to Celebrate

2011-01-21T17:18:00.000-05:00

This weekend CMP will be getting together for a post holiday celebration and to honor some key employee anniversaries. I think it is pretty fabulous that we have such a great history of employee retention. With folks always on the move these days, our company is made even more valuable by its combined depth of experience.

Although some folks have surpassed the 30 year mark already, this April our current President, John Barbour, will be celebrating his 30 years with the company. Congratulations, John on your dedication to CMP and to the employees and customers.

Also putting up a big number, is John Haney (25 years). John normally works behind the scenes taking care of our network and communications, but has recently moved out from behind the computer to help in the sample department while Danielle is out on maternity leave.

Chuck Oleniczak, Spec Sales Representative, also celebrates a milestone, 20 years! He too has been working extra hard to help cover the sample department. Thanks John & Chuck for the many years of loyal service to CMP and for pitching in to help when needed.

Two guys who work behind the scenes in our warehouse to make sure things flow smoothly, Mike VandeSteeg and Dave Kurdziel, are both celebrating 15 years with CMP. Simply awesome.

And although it sometimes feels like these two have been around forever, Bev Block and Scott Marks, CMP Sales Reps, will celebrate ten years of service. We are really glad to have you two out there representing us.

As we celebrate together this weekend, and begin our 126th year in business, we will not only be honoring our employees, but will honor those we do our work for: our loyal customers.

Wish We Had Thought Of This...

2011-01-18T14:46:00.001-05:00

Instead, I will share with you the coolest thing I have stumbled upon lately.

Ever wanted to do something unusual with your direct mail piece, brochure or invitation, but lacked inspiration?

Problem solved.

There are so many 60 second videos of unusual (and not so unusual folds) in the fold factory archives that you may not get anything else accomplished once you start looking at them.

Sign up (I sure did) to get Trish's free Super-Cool Fold of the Week or check out the many she has shared already at http://208.67.58.163/fotw_archive.php

This idea is so awesome I wish we had thought of it!

The above video is just one cool example.

Do You Believe In The Power of Print?

2011-01-17T08:39:00.001-05:00

I ran across this article and video. Thought they were worth sharing. How awesome to see industry leaders working together to promote the power of print!

For the past year, The Print Council has attracted more than 900 media and marketing decision makers across the country to its Print Delivers seminar series. The purpose is for industry leaders to work together to raise awareness about the effectiveness and advantages of print.

Featured below is a video recap of the latest Print Delivers presentation held in Chicago on November 2, 2010. Full article available at: http://printinthemix.rit.edu/fastfacts/show/396

Where Did My Print Button Go and When Can I Get It Back?

2011-01-13T09:02:00.000-05:00

In my new endeavor for CMP I have become addicted to searching the internet for social media tips and have become somewhat of an information junkie. There is so much information out there. I'm great at mining the information, but there is no way I have time to fully read or even being to retain all the great stuff I find. Which for me means... I need a hard copy to refer to.

No problem, just print them, right? Wait....Where in the world did my print button go?

Back in the "old" days of internet research there was always a button at the beginning or the end of an article that said "print" this article now. I know this because I have two teenage boys, both had many research papers, essays and class projects due over the high school years and I was always their chief researcher.

Go ahead ask me about osmosis, the Greek Gods, Buckingham Palace or Leonardo DaVinci.

Since I am one of those learners who doesn't retain a lot of information on the first reading, I like to refer to my text over and over again to really grasp it. Unfortunately, I am less adept at going back to find an article on the internet to re read it.

Have you ever clicked on a link here, then clicked again and finally found the right thing, but had no idea at what site you ended up?

That's me....almost every day. So where did that print button option go? No, I don't want to blog, Twitter, Facebook or Subscribe to this article, I want to PRINT it.

Is this someone's misguided thought that by not offering a print button we will save more trees, save landfill space or be greener? I hope not. Because unless you want to get my rant going, do not tell me that by not printing something we are saving trees. I know better.

I need my print button back. Who took it anyway? And, no I do not want to highlight, paste, copy, move and format my articles to a word document and then print. I just want to print....

Give it back! Please.....

Some Food for Thought....Go Paper. Grow Trees!

2011-01-03T10:41:00.000-05:00

In my 2011 quest to encourage the use of paper wherever I can....

http://bit.ly/eki9vW

I urge you to clink on the link above and check out the latest campaign from International Paper that further explains how using paper can actually lead to growing trees. Get the facts. Bust the myths. Spread the word. Do something!!!!

It's All About The Mix....

2010-12-21T15:31:00.000-05:00

No, not the cocktail mix....the marketing mix, silly.

Social media, the Web page, e-mail, smartphones and yes, print----are all part of a great conversation. As we head into the Christmas holiday, here are some "food for thought" facts taken from the just released New Page Corporation's Ed #14/ "Getting Personal". http://edliveshere.com/issue/getting_personal

126 Million Blogs in 2009

2.5 Billion facebook photos uploaded monthly

1 billion videos watched daily on YouTube

800 Million seaches performed daily on Twitter...

(more than Yahoo and Bing combined)

Half of all marketing e-mail is deleted within 2 seconds

47% of small businesses consider direct mail

important to finding new customers

60% of consumers surveyed purchase from catalogs 4X per year or more

In typical Ed fashion, it is chock-full of interesting and timely facts. No doubt social media is here to stay. And guess what? Printed communication is as important as ever. I'm thinking you will want your own copy of this one.

We're making a list....reserve your copy at terris@cmpaper.com

'Tis the Season....

2010-12-16T11:24:00.002-05:00

We thought you might like to see CMP having a little holiday fun.

Holiday Fun At CMP

2010-12-06T13:11:00.001-05:00

Local jewelry designer Lisa Lehmann/Studio Jewel puts her creative talents to paper for a change

Paper, paper and more paper was made at CMP's Annual Play With Paper Wrapping Paper Event last Thursday in CMP's conference room.

What a nice way to welcome in this holiday season and get the creative mojo flowing.

Thanks to Becky Canter and French Paper for providing the large sheets of French Poptone, Parchtone, Durotone, Speckletone and Construction to get us all motivated. And a special thanks everyone who was able to join in the fun. If you missed it this year, watch for next year's invitation!

Dan and Jess concentrate on their paper

Mary Dilley/ FSU makes paper panels to decorate her cubicle

Andrew & Lindsay from Square One Design pause for a picture
& Kristi from Custom is busily working on her design in the row behind

Lots of holiday stamps to choose from

A paper creation from Carol Derks/DerkStudio

Custom Printers joined the fun

Carol Derks/DerkStudio working on another visual masterpiece

Another example

Did You Know That Only 18% Of Electronic Devices Are Currently Recycled?

2010-12-01T09:49:00.000-05:00

... And that 70% of all toxic waste in landfills comes from electronic waste? It's a fact that over 200 million items of e-waste are thrown away every year in the U.S. alone, making e-waste our single largest waste export.

That's why Richard Romano's article A New Shopping Season, a New Flood of E-Waste on the "What They Think Blog" hits home with me. I have two teenage boys and electronics are big items on their Christmas wish lists. It makes me cringe to think about the "old" e-items the new ones will be replacing and where they go after leaving our curb on trash day. Maybe that is why I, personally, have two old I-pod Shuffles, a Mini, a first generation Nano and a borrowed Nano currently in use.

I'm sure you are thinking, how can that be?

For the last couple of years I have been adding a bigger, better I-pod to my Christmas and/or birthday wish lists, and then at the last minute, taking it off. It seems that I have second thoughts about owning yet another electronic item (which will eventually end up in the waste stream). So instead, I keep repurposing the old stuff.

Currently one I-pod holds my Christmas music, one has yoga music, one I filled with my 3-year-old niece's favorite pop songs and gave it to her for her birthday, and one has all my music on it. In all honesty, I don't really need a new one.

So, for now I will just repurpose old ones and feel kinda good about it...hey, everyone has to start somewhere.

Makes me appreciate that paper is easily recycled and that wood is a completely renewable resource.

http://blogs.whattheythink.com/going-green/2010/11

CMP & US Postal Service Team Up Again

2010-11-30T22:22:00.000-05:00

Thanks Williams Group for allowing Terri Spaulding/CMP and Mike Spaulding/ US Postal Service to Debunk the Top 10 Greenwashing Myths About Paper and to share how Direct Mail can be both green and effective at today's lunch-n-learn. Contrary to popular belief...print is NOT dead and still remains a very effective part of the marketing mix. Want to hear more? Let us know....

If you are interested in hosting this presentation, please contact one of us. Terri 's e-mail is terris@cmpaper.com and Mike's is michael.k.spaulding@usps.gov

REMINDER the Play With Paper Annual Wrapping Paper Event Is This Week

2010-11-29T10:33:00.000-05:00

Thursday, December 2

8:30 am - 3:30 pm

(Come when you can, leave whenever you are finished!)

The RSVP's are in. Food is ordered. Stamping stuff is ready.

We are ready to watch you Play and get the creative mojo flowing.

P.S. If you forgot to RSVP but really want to attend, get a hold of me quick! terris@cmpaper.com

Got A Question About Paper?

2010-11-22T07:09:00.000-05:00

Do you believe the statement that there is no such thing as a dumb question?

We don't. (In all honesty we've heard some pretty silly ones over the years.)

But if it's a question about paper, we have your answer. The combined years of industry experience amongst our CMP employees would blow your mind. It's pretty much a sure bet that someone around here will be able to help. C'mon try us!

For fast answers call 616-676-9203.

Guess What Mohawk Has In Stock?!

2010-11-15T15:05:00.001-05:00

Just in time for all the paper-using, card sending you and your customers are planning to do this holiday season! Envelopes with roses in them.....Okay, maybe not. But the next best thing.........FOIL LINED Superfine, Ultrawhite Eggshell A-6 & A-7 envelopes. In three colors of foil. Gold, Silver and Red. Carton quantites of 1000 are available from the mill or we can order them in packages of 250!

CMP Brings Play With Paper to Gilda's Club

2010-11-09T22:30:00.001-05:00

What a great way to share our love of paper. CMP brought notecard making to Gilda's Club for a member workshop. We learned that Playing With Paper releases the creative mojo in everyone, even those who think crafting is not their thing. What fun!

When We Say Paper....

2010-11-05T13:51:00.003-04:00

....What comes to mind? CMP needs suggestions for something we need to name. What is your first thought when we say paper?....or your second, third and fourth thoughts are welcome, too! Help us please.

Election Day.....

2010-11-02T10:32:00.002-04:00

CMP encourages you to let your voice be heard. Vote!

Mohawk Panoramic Paper Has Arrived!

2010-10-20T07:31:00.009-04:00

An exciting new digital paper has just been introduced by Mohawk Paper. Mohawk Panoramic! Designed for the digital press market---specifically HP Indigos--it is used primarily for making photo books. The paper comes in three finishes; gloss, silk and uncoated with a special cohesive glue on the back of each sheet. Also available is endsheet white. It is a unique product because it produces lay flat photo books, (think no more people in the middle of the photo disappearing into the fold). Once you get a look at this paper, we think you will see it has endless possibilities. Items are on the floor at CMP, the price book has been updated, and your CMP sales rep is ready to bring you more information and samples.

Check out the video link below to see the unique Mohawk Panoramic Paper process!

http://www.youtube.com/user/ConvertibleSolutions

CMP Speaks to Students

2010-10-14T19:52:00.004-04:00

What a beautiful fall day I spent on WMU's campus! Tuesday I had the opportunity to spend time with the graphic design seniors at the Gwen Frostic School of Art. We discussed Paper vs. Pixels and went over Paper Basics. Great questions, great ideas, great students. Let's keep them around when they graduate.....who's hiring?

Debunking the Top 10 Green-Washing Myths About Paper

2010-09-27T13:28:00.013-04:00

(From left to right....Becky Canter/French Paper, Eric Campbell & Jennifer Lake/Tandem Design, Terri Spaulding/CMP, Mike Spaulding/USPS) Kudos to Tandem Design of Traverse City for hosting the first TandemTalk/people + paper event on Thursday, September 23. Terri Spaulding began the night by debunking the Top 10 Green-Washing Myths and explained how using more paper will actually help save a forest. Mike Spaulding continued on with the facts supporting the relevance of keeping direct mail in the marketing mix, and explained how to make it green. To end the night Becky Canter handed out the always-in-demand French Paper swag! Many thanks to Eric and Jennifer for their willingness to bring industry peers together for discussion and education. If you are interested in either of the aforementioned presentations, or would like to discuss hosting an event of your own, contact terris@cmpaper.com or michael.k.spaulding@usps.gov

Check This Out!

2010-05-12T13:25:00.004-04:00

Introducing CMP's newly renovated gathering space. If you haven't been out to see us lately, you may not know that we have been under construction. We combined our kitchen and a small conference room and made it into a really comfortable place to visit. Chatting with your sales rep, checking out the latest mill printed samples, or picking up a sample request has never been so pleasant. The coffee is always on in the CMP break room....come join us for a cup! (or, two).

CMP & On-the-Town Magazine!

2010-04-14T12:20:00.007-04:00

Have you seen our post-it note on the front of the April issue of On-the-Town magazine? We're promoting our 125th year of being in business as a local --Michigan--family owned company. And of course, promoting our fast, flexible, focused approach to doing business. Thank you West Michigan for your loyalty and for contributing to our continued success.

P.S. Ask your CMP rep for some CMP post-it notes of your own.

Mohawk Solutions Grade Gets a Makeover

2010-04-08T13:59:00.004-04:00

Check out the new Mohawk Solutions grade. It combines the core strengths of the old Feltweave, Nekoosa and Solutions gradelines into one comprehensive offering. It is FSC certified, manufactured with wind power and has 7 finishes and 19 colors. New swatches available soon!

Mohawk Loop in stock soon at CMP!

2010-04-07T14:27:00.002-04:00

Introducing a new grade from Mohawk Paper which combines the best items from four legendary grades: Synergy, Passport, Genesis & Proterra into the ultimate environmental paper. Look for increased post consumer content, a new 50% PCW Silk Coated sheet, new 100% PCW Inxwell sheets and new Digital with I-tone items. Mohawk Loop offers a comprehensive range of uncoated finishes—smooth, antique vellum, feltmark, linen, laid and 25% Cotton Writing, along with new Silk Coated and Inxwell finishes. The entire line is FSC certified, carbon neutral and manufactured with wind generated electricity. This will be the industry’s most comprehensive environmental paper grade. Loop swatchbooks and promotions available soon.

It's A Good Time To Deal

2010-03-08T14:48:00.000-05:00

Do you know anybody looking for an inexpensive answer to a small to medium size project, maybe you have to donate some printing for that special account? We have many items that have been discontinued or closed-out of our inventory that need to move to make room for new products arriving daily. Call customer service 616-676-9203 and tell us what you need. A solution may be a phone call away. Some notable items include digital items, coated items, uncoated offset and opaque (yes even skids on some items) Currently in stock for immediate purchase 23 x 35 119m 70# White Smooth Exact Opaque 92 brt old shade 20,000/skid 6 skids available. 12 x 18 80#/100# Cardinal Digital Gloss Text/Cover. Some items are hit or miss but we would be happy to match you with a product that just may work for you. Give us a call!

Congratulations to All

2010-03-01T13:30:00.004-05:00

I attended my gazillionth Addy Awards last week (okay maybe it was only like my 25th). It was fun to see some really old friends, Dick Hansknecht comes to mind, and somewhat sobering to see so many new faces. When did I get to be one of the "old folks" anyway? One thing is certain we have some great talent in the west half of Michigan. Great job everyone. Your talent amazes me.

P.S. Keep designing with paper.

R.I.P. Eddie

2010-02-18T12:43:00.005-05:00

Our industry lost another great soul on Monday and I felt the need to honor his memory with a few personal comments. I knew Ed "Eddie" Kastelz from back in my JMK Advertising days....mid 80's, I was just out of college, and newly engaged. He was our "film" go to guy at National Correct Color. (Back when there were film guys.) I haven't seen him or talked to him much over the last 20 years since I left the agency business and moved into paper....but whenever I heard that very distinctive voice (if you knew him, you know the one I mean) at an industry event or wherever, it brought a huge smile to my face. He was a great guy. A person I aspired to be like when I grew up....okay so he was only 16 years older...but when you are 22 and he is 38, he seems a lot older. He was fun, he was family oriented and he was a great "film" guy. I remember how smiles came easily to him, and he was always talking about his family. There was always some funny story or another to relate. A couple of months ago I had the opportunity to talk to him on the phone, kind of by accident, and he was the same 'ole Eddie---yukking it up and talking about his family, this time his ever growing brood of grand children. He was so proud of them. I can only imagine how sad they are to have lost him at age 63. That 16 year age difference between us doesn't seem so big now. Makes me think about living in the "now" and not the ... "when I retire someday I'll" ...mentality. He was too young. He had so much more to give. We will miss you Eddie. Rest in Peace.

2010-02-18T11:58:00.003-05:00

Check out the three latest additions to the popular series called Down To Earth: A Practical Look At Environmental Issues and Trends from International Paper. Each issue explores a different topic in support of using paper. There are currently seven issues available, including the popular: Are Pixels Greener Than Paper (the facts might surprise you), How Does Using Paper Lead To More Trees (strange concept, huh?) and the newest one called Is it Worth Printing? Great information, well presented...it might just help you get an "add on" print project to that new website you are designing! Let us know if you need copies.

Sustainability Made Simple(r)

2010-02-01T10:36:00.003-05:00

Sustainability is a journey, not a destination. Last week I was asked to do a presentation at the Kendall Green Council Speaker Series. I pulled together some current information that focuses on the papermaking industry and its sustainability practices. This presentation includes a look back to the late 80's when the idea of recycled paper first surfaced in the industry, a look at what mills are doing today to be sustainable, and more specifically what you as an end user or designer can do to promote sustainability. I found out some very interesting facts! If you think a presentation of this sort might assist you (or one of your clients) in achieving an environmental goal of sustainability in communications, please give me a call. I'd be more than happy to bring it to you. 676-3965 x 242

Welcome!

2010-01-25T10:08:00.001-05:00

Thanks for checking out the CMP Sample Department blog! Our department is maintained by Rachel Dunneback and myself, Danielle Parker. I will be posting updates on things such as paper line changes, mill news, printed pieces and exciting things happening here at CMP. Check back frequently to stay up to date on all things new in our ever changing industry.

Ed #13 is Here!

2010-01-19T09:48:00.001-05:00

Check out the latest Ed. Ed#13 is printed on Arbor Plus, New Page's new 30% post consumer coated sheet. Ed #13 offers a big picture view of sustainability in communications. Ed looks at the footprints of both print and electronic communications--their environmental costs and advantages--and ways to make the best use of both. All so you, the designer, can make a bigger impact on your audience while reducing your impact on the environment! Let us know if you need a copy.

Lets have a great year

2010-01-12T11:48:00.000-05:00

Happy 2010!! Looking forward to another great year in the printing and paper industry. 2009 was a challenge to say the least but lets hope that is all behind us and look optimistically toward the future and 2010. Lots of activity with new quotes and inquiries that will hopefully turn into orders for CMP. Our specification dept is hard at work with designers and end users asking for printers to use specifically Central Michigan Paper products. Everybody works hard quoting, sampling, and specifying these jobs so lets make sure the orders go to where the effort is made. I have only been with CMP for 3 years, but I have worked in the paper industry for 20. What a great place with intelligent, hard working, and friendly people. Nobody tries harder to achieve greatness than the employees and management at Central Michigan Paper. Lets make 2010 a great year!

Happy New Year

2010-01-05T10:28:00.004-05:00

2009 was a year filled with uncertainty. 2010 will hopefully be a year filled with opportunity. As I reflect back on the past year I realize I am thankful for this company; its leadership, its customers, its mills, its people. Hopefully the new year will bring us all prosperity and peace.

Thank you

2009-11-23T14:06:00.004-05:00

It seems an appropriate time to think about the things we are thankful for. I, personally, appreciate each and every paper spec for CMP. Thank you for your business, loyalty and friendship. Happy Thanksgiving!

Did you ever think that not doing anything… could make a big difference?

2009-11-10T09:23:00.003-05:00

It will if you don’t specify CMP to your printer. In these uncertain economic times, we need designers to make sure CMP is getting your paper orders. CMP has a long standing history of working with the design community in Western Michigan. We believe in the value of providing services like samples, dummies, swatchbooks, promotions, printed samples and spec reps. CMP is a local, family owned and operated Michigan company who has worked side by side with designers to keep them informed, educated and inspired about paper for years. Please help us continue to provide this level of fast, reliable and professional service by stepping up your efforts to ensure CMP gets your paper order. Specify CMP. We appreciate your business!

Arbor Plus is Here!

2009-11-03T13:09:00.004-05:00

We've been anticipating a 30% post consumer recycled paper announcement from New Page for EVER. And Arbor Plus is finally starting to make its way to CMP's floor. Arbor is the newest addition to the New Page coated line up. Available in gloss and dull, tri certified. You gotta love this!

Cascades Rolland Opaque 30 is now 50

2009-10-22T15:51:00.003-04:00

The popular Cascades Rolland Opaque has just been bumped from 30 to 50% post consumer recycled fiber! Same great sheet, same great price, and a higher recycled content. That's a no brainer.