Seeing as we have a staff full of Indy natives and transfers alike, we thought we’d share some of our favorite Indy sites, sounds, and savory treats with our soon-to-be East Coast visitors.  If you’re looking for the inside scoop on the local faves, look no further!

Best Breakfast - Cafe Patachou

It is the most important part of your day, so we figured we’d start here first. Cafe Patachou has locations all over town including one right off Capitol Ave. That means you can fill up on the  most delicious omelets and cinnamon toast in town before taking a ride on the Zipline. (Or… maybe AFTER taking a ride on the zipline?) If the wait is too long at their downtown location, it’s only a short trip to one of their many other restaurants around town. We’re serious about the cinnamon toast. Serious.

Most Awesome Place in the World - Indianapolis Motor Speedway

We had to put this one toward the top of our list, as it really is one of our most favorite places to be. We can practically hear the race cars during practice from our office, and hold our annual Company Picnic in Turn 3 on Carb Day.

Even though the real Indy 500 celebration doesn’t begin until May, there are still many reasons to visit the track in the off-season. They have a great museum that details the history of racing both in Indy and throughout the world, and track tours almost every day. Plan to make this place part of your trip and you can cross “kiss the bricks” off your bucket list.

Favorite Nighttime Entertainment - White Rabbit Cabaret

We might be a little biased, but we’re positive the White Rabbit Cabaret is the best nighttime spot in Indy.  The White Rabbit is home to Hasenpfeffer, a group of cabaret style entertainers guaranteed to make you laugh at their antics, and your jaw drop at the ladies’ beautiful…ly choreographed dances.

Lucky for you, they are performing their show “Hasenpfeffer: BUSTED” Friday before the game. And if you can’t catch it Friday, join them on Saturday for “The Burlesque Bingo Bango Bowl”, the only place in the city where you could drink a PBR and possibly win a Velvet Jesse Jackson. Or an insanely large jar of pickles.  You just never know.

Most Delicious Local Brewery Beer - Sun King Brewing Co.

With a tasting room featuring 6 locally crafted beers on what looks like a million taps, you won’t have to wait long for a taste of some of Indy’s favorite suds. It’s only a few blocks from the center of town, is sold in more than 450 bars and restaurants around Indy, and will be hosting events throughout Super Bowl Week. Be sure to taste the Cream Ale and the Wee Mac, Print Resources employee favorites, and then feel free to bring a growler on over to our place. We’ll be happy to help you finish it.

Awesome Antique/Art Shopping - Midland Arts & Antiques Market

You might be surprised to know how vibrant and alive the art community is in Indianapolis. We happen to boast one of the premier art schools in the country (Herron @ IUPUI) and “First Friday” gallery tours are one of the more popular weekend activities for Indy’s artistic residents.  With over 200 independently owned art and antique dealers, Midland is one of the best places to capture a piece of the Indy Art scene. You might leave town with the perfect piece to fill the void over your fireplace. Or the perfect set of old gym lockers to decorate your office… *ahem*.

Alright Indy buffs, did we get it right? Share some of your favorite places with our out-of-town guests!  (And maybe some of us locals, too…)

Sure you are!  Everyone and their mother will be throwing down in Indy this year as our city serves host to Super Bowl XLVI.  Whether it’s a corporate event or a friendly get-together, here are a few tips to set your amazing bash apart from the other ho-hum ones:

1. Irresistible Invitations

To make sure your party is the one that shouldn’t be missed, you need some super invites.  We can ensure that your invites will stand out in the crowd with vibrant color, quality paper, personalized headers and mailing panels, and matching envelopes to boot!

2. Banners & Signs

When your guests arrive, they’ll know they’re at the party of the year thanks to the incredible Super Bowl signage hanging in your designated party area!  Check out the great deal we’ve got going on 2’ x 5’ banners:

http://printindy.com/pr-specials/2-x-5-banner/

This deal is only available for a limited time, so start your planning early and grab up a banner now!

3. Custom Tickets

Okay, so you’ve got limited seating available on the comfy couches and only the first 25 VIPs will get those seats, so you’ve got to have some presale tickets available for the party.  Or maybe you’re raffling off that a one-of-a-kind autographed Dr. Squigglebottom jersey for your charity event and you need to have some special raffle tickets printed off.  Just give me a call and I’ll make it happen!  Sequentially numbered, perforated, full color tickets?  No problem!

Open right 25, Charley B on the 4!  Hut hut… Hut hut… PRINT!

If you need any Super Bowl event printing, I’m here to make sure no other party can hold a candle to yours.

Yours in print,

Everyone is looking for ways to get in on the action, whether it’s scoring tickets, earning new business, or generally enjoying all the festivities that come along with being the host city for the best teams in the NFL.

Looking to get in the action yourself?  Make sure you are “Promo Prepped” by following the three easy steps below!

1. Gear up for the cold.

While plans are underway to provide “warm zones” where fans and families can battle the cold in fun and entertaining ways, February in Indianapolis can still be pretty chilly! Stay cozy and market your business at the same time by embroidering your logo on warm apparel like a parka, beanie cap, & scarf. (You won’t be missed in the bright orange one above!

Get your name out there by handing out disposable hand warmers in a convenient (branded!) carry pouch, or offer up travel tumblers full of hot coffee, tea or hot chocolate. The shivering masses will certainly thank (and remember) you!

2. Throw a party.

Whether your team is in the game or not, the Superbowl has become one more reason to throw a killer party. Make it an event to remember with some fun party accessories!

Glowing, reusable ice cubes and napkins in corporate or team colors are great for fancier soirees, and camp chairs & can koozies are a must for tailgating. (Just see #1 for some more tailgating suggestions…) Remind your guests not to stress about calling in sick on Monday with football shaped stress relievers.

3. Invite Print Resources to your event.

Invite Us

Outside of helping you score great promos for your Superbowl experience, we can also offer our services as generally fun people.  We like beer.  And we like parties.  And sometimes we bring our own.  The beer… and the party.

See you in February!

In addition to our love of print and promotional products, the Print Resources crew are avid music lovers. Today we had a CD Party!  We each brought in 5 of our favorite CDs to load into our office radio.

Some of us had vast collections to choose from, which made it hard to narrow it down to five.  Some of us hadn’t actually purchased a CD in years, having embraced the digital music world, so our real CDs were pretty dusty!

What do our selections say about us?

Tim
Here Come the Mummies – Bed, Bath & Behind
Neil Diamond – In My Lifetime
Forrest Gump Soundtrack
Johnny Cash – The Legend of Cash
Lou Bega – A litte bit of Mambo

Bonus – The Zionsville Middle School Band 2002-2003

Kurt
Joy Division – Substance
Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon
Squeeze Singles – 45′s and Under
Big Audio Dynamite – The Globe
Boy George and Culture Club – at worst… the Best of

Jason
The Black Keys – Brothers
Pulp Fiction Soundtrack
Rolling Stones – Exile on Main St.
Rock’n'Roll Hits – On The Rocks  Part One
Bombay the Hard Way – Guns, Cars & Sitars

Toni
Killers – Hot Fuss
Black Eyed Peas – Elephunk
Jay-Z – The Gray Album
Color Me Badd – C.M.B.
Young MC – Stone Cold Rhymin’

Erin
No Doubt – Tragic Kingdom
Fleetwood Mac – Rumors
Michael Jackson – Thriller
Bush – Sixteen Stone
Outkast – ATLiens

Robin
U2 – The Best of 1980-1990
STYX – Greatest Hits
Boyz II Men – II
garbage – Version 2.0
Justin Timberlake – Justified

Tom
Beatles – Abbey Road
Queen – Queen II
Steely Dan – Can’t Buy a Thrill
Kansas – Masque
Boston – Boston

Cheryl
Donovan Frankenreiter
Elvis Presley – Live on Stage in Memphis
Foreigner – The Very Best And Beyond
Heart – Greatest Hits
Air Supply – Greatest Hits

Phil
Eagles – Hotel California
Black Crowes – Southern Harmony
Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here
Anita Baker – Rapture
Tesla – The Great Radio Controversy

What are some of your favorites!?

Yeah, I know, pretty awesome.  (And I’m not normally one to brag unless there’s good reason, i.e. 5000 folds an hour.)  This is all in part to my new folder – the Duplo DF-1000.

I love getting a new piece of equipment for my bindery department.

It’s like welcoming a new baby to the family!  A 300-pound steel baby, granted, but still cute as a button.  If you like 300-pound steel buttons, that is – which I do, though I won’t be bouncing it on my knee.

Half folds, letter folds, double folds, engineer folds…

Even the seldom seem triple chocolate banana split fold!  Okay, okay… that one is still in the developmental stages.  Otherwise, we’ve got all your folding needs covered.  In addition to our already impressive list of services, now we can bump this to the top of the list.  Thanks, Duplo!

Have you got any letter mailings that need to go out this week?  How about some 4-page brochures to get to your clients ASAP?  Just give me a call and I’ll make it happen, thanks in no small part to our new family member!

Printed on our iGen110, folded on our DF-1000, handled by Print Resources and yours truly…

Want to see some video of our new folder in action?

http://www.duplousa.com/Download/DF1000/df1000folder.swf

For more info on our friends at Duplo, check out their full website:

http://www.duplousa.com/index.asp

Dr. Squigglebottom III, Ph.P.

Today’s quick tip for effective digital printing: True Black vs. Rich Black

Hey, graphic designers:

What does 35 C 60 M 60 Y 100 K mean to you?

Give yourself 100 points (or a cookie, or a pat on the back… whatever makes you feel special) if you answered “Warm Black”.  Way to go, you!

Warm / Cool / 400%

Have you ever had an experience with digital printing when that “warm black” came out on the printed piece looking a little more “warm” and a little less black than you wanted?

Ever had a “cool black” come out looking a little more green than you had planned on and probably designed for?

How about setting up a file using the classic “400% Black” to try and achieve that really deep rich black you’re hoping for, only to have the printed piece looking like something a frog might hop out of?

How Blacks Work in Digital Print

When it comes to blacks, most modern digital presses prefer a pure 100% black for the most effective black printing.  Digital printers are literally looking at dpi, and the layers of ink in modern digital presses are not organized using the same CMYK model that’s been used in the past.  So the 400% black that used to put down layers of cyan, magenta, and yellow before having the black finish it out over the top simply won’t work the same way when a digital press puts them down in a different order.  This is especially apparent in the use of gradients and vignettes.

This doesn’t mean that digital printing can’t accommodate your PMS hexachrome black C or your company’s specific pantone gray.  Our digital press, Squiggy, can make it all work!

If you need help making your blacks work for digital printing, give me a call!  I’ve got the prescription you need!

Yours in Print,

For more info on this topic, check out this article:

http://www.printernational.org/rich-black-plain-black.php

Last week, as the thick heat of summer descended on the midwest, the Promo Team headed north to the Advertising Specialties Industry (ASI) Tradeshow in Chicago, IL.

(FYI: Apparently humidity in Chicago is visible in the form of a cloud which sits exactly 2″ above the ground.  We couldn’t see Lake Michigan from our hotel… which was two blocks away from said lake… Nature is crazy!)

I often have clients ask me, “What is new? What’s different? What’s trending?” The ASI Chicago Show is a great opportunity to discover new products, suppliers, and ideas. Imagine all the giveaways at a tradeshow for giveaways!

Here is a list of some of the items that stood out for us at the show.  Maybe it will spark an idea for your next campaign, fundraiser, giveaway…. or practical joke.

Favorite Finds

Sofia's Cookies

These mini cookies were delicious, come in several different flavors, and are packaged in an adorably designed tin.  Perfect for a gift basket, or a “thank you” for your best customers, you can easily add your logo to their template designs, or design the entire label to fit your branding. Love it!

Toddy Cleaning Cloth

Eyeglass cleaning cloths have been around for a while, but with the explosion of tablets and phones with glass screens (iEverything?) they’ve found a convenient new use. The “Toddy” is especially great because it has two sides – a silk microfiber like a traditional glasses cloth and a cotton microfiber – and it is easily the best cleaning cloth I’ve ever used.  (Just check out the reviews!). Include your full color branding on the silk side, and then take them by the armfuls to your next event. It’s a product that’s guaranteed to stay with your client… probably longer than that outdated cell phone.

Promo Trends

Stress Cube with QR Code

QR Codes were definitely the name of the game at the show this year. Everything from t-shirts to stickers to stress balls had a QR code on it. I liked this stress ball…er…cube… that one of our suppliers handed out.  When you scanned the code, you were automatically entered into their raffle prize contest.

Anything that can be printed can be printed with a QR Code, so it’s a great idea to keep in mind for upcoming promotions.  Direct show attendees to enter for a prize, or let them know they can access pertinent info after the show by scanning the code. It’s an easy way to get the customer to interact with your brand.

Really!?

Logo your pizza, pancakes and... hot dogs.

Yes.  That’s right.  You can put your logo… on a pizza. Or a hot dog. Or a pancake. Or anything else you can think of.  Not to worry, the “EdibleDecals” that are used on these items are completely non-toxic and food safe. I know… it looks a little… questionable… but imagine the buzz you could generate by sending pizza with your logo to tradeshow attendees’ hotel rooms?  Your logo can be everywhere, including the stomachs of your best prospects!

——————————————————————————————–

I hope we helped you find some new ideas, or even a new spin on an old idea.

Until next year, Promo Team OUT!

Erin & the promopet Dog!

This chair is the perfect size for Robin.

The S is for aweSome.

Let’s be honest, statistics can be pretty boring.  But add some fun graphics and all of a sudden the boring numbers become interesting, and often surprising. For a visual (read: mathematically challenged) person like myself, it’s the best!

I found this infographic about the Promotional Products Industry and thought I’d share. Even though I do this for a living, I was still surprised by some of the information.  Any surprises for you?

Promo Infographic (Larger PDF Version)

Heading into the stadium.

16 Tech will repurpose Bush Stadium, a historical landmark and the former home of the Indianapolis Indians, into an apartment complex.  The surrounding area will focus on attracting the high-tech and life sciences market, as well as feature other residential and retail spaces.

This is very exciting news for Print Resources, as you can see from this map of the planned developments.

We’re very much looking forward to seeing the project proceed! We’ll be sure to keep you updated on our perspective as we see the area grow. (Speaking of – have you liked us on Facebook or followed us on Twitter yet?)

Keep your fingers crossed for a new coffee/ice cream/donut/hot dog shop or something equally delicious… Oh and more print & promo orders, of course.  ;-)

Kurt & Tim check out the development renderings.

Mayor Ballard addresses the crowd.

Guess who printed these DevlopIndy Media Kits? (Hint: It starts with Print and ends with Resources...)

For our out-of-towner & non-race-fan friends, Carb Day (formerly Carburetion Day, although now it could easily refer to the amount of barley and hot dog buns that are consumed) takes place the Friday before the Indianapolis 500 each year.  Between the Indy Lights race, IndyCar practice, Pit Stop Challenges, Free Concert and more – there is plenty of reason why many locals call in “sick” and spend the day at the track.

Lucky for us, the bosses give us a mandatory “sick” day and close down the office instead.  We pack up the coolers, set up the grill in the turn three infield, and settle in for a little camaraderie (and/or debauchery, but hopefully both).

This year was a little colder than years past, but we certainly had a lot of fun. Check out some of our pictures, and maybe you’ll join us next year?

Print Resources Beach Balls were a hit! Literally, we were throwing them at people.

This was our office for the day. Hey Janet!

Toni designed such awesome shirts this year that the girls in the bathroom were offering to buy them off our backs!

Kurt, Toni & Janet

Cheryl & her Aunt, Kathy

Jason & Phil, rockin' out!

Chef Kurt makes one mean bratwurst....

It's a beach ball invasion. Our lungs are in tip top shape after this Carb Day.

This guy didn't know he was our biggest fan when he got dressed in the morning. We hooked him up with some orange accessories.

Who knew beach balls also make a fine rain hat?

Another reason to celebrate - it was also Phil's Birthday! Happy 23 Phil!

It was a little muddy. This may have been an accident, or we may have been luring people into the mud for our own entertainment purposes.

Our Beach Balls made it to the Staind & Papa Roach concert!