2012 - 52 Weeks 52 Works - Calendar

Dear Artists,
Thank you for submitting artwork for the 2012 AGC Desk Calendar, 52 Weeks 52 Works.

It was a very impressive collection of artwork to select from. As with most years, we received many more submissions then space allowed. While we initially select the 52 artists to display within the calendar year, we then select between 10-15 artists to display in the Notes section.

Those of you who were chosen for display within the 2012 calendar will be receiving 2 copies of the desk calendar this week (based on emails I have received I know some of you have already received yours.) Those of you who were not selected will be receiving 1 copy of the calendar this week or next week (depending on mail delivery).

Every effort was made to ensure accuracy of the information you supplied, but inevitably errors occur. We do apologize in advance for any misrepresentations.

Regarding additional calendars, we do not sell the calendars. Since the publication is used as a marketing tool for our company we are not comfortable selling them. The intent is not to earn money or recoup costs, but rather to demonstrate the power of printing and the multitude of creative forces in our community, and we sincerely thank each and every one of you for assisting us with this goal.

As many of you know we distribute this calendar to approx. 2500 local business executives. Upon completion of distribution we generally have 100 – 200 extra calendars. It is our attempt to use these as a sales tool throughout the year, but also to assist you, the artists, in sharing this piece with family and friends. Therefore, I ask if any of you are interested in additional copies please inquire in mid-January. At this point distribution will be complete and we can attempt to accommodate your requests.

The calendar will be posted to our web site in the next couple days along with the 2013 submission form.

If you have any questions please let me know.

Again, my sincere thanks to all of you for making this a truly beautiful representation of Cleveland's talented creative force.

Wishing you a prosperous new year!
Sincerely,

Candice C. Champion
Vice President
Editor & Publisher, 52 Weeks 52 Works

WHERE DIRECT MARKETING IS HEADED

In early 2010, PRIMIR commissioned J Zarwan Partners with Interquest to investigate direct marketing and where opportunities exist for the graphic communications industry.

This new PRIMIR study, Trends and Future of Direct Marketing, examines direct marketing, and in particular, how printed direct marketing channels are performing in light of a host of new non-print direct marketing options.

“Email, websites, social media and mobile channels pose threats to print,” PRIMIR reports. The study addresses the impact of technology, economic and social issues, environmental concerns, postal rates and demographics, as well as developments and differences in more than 16 key vertical market sectors such as retail, finance, insurance, healthcare, and business services.

The resulting report reveals that direct marketing’s share of advertising expenditures has shown a strong upward trend over the past decade and continues to grow, accounting for nearly half of all advertising spending.

In 2009, direct mail (31%) and telemarketing (29%) were the most important channels. Of concern to the graphic communications industry, however, are non-print media such as web-direct, email, mobile, and social networks, which have increased in importance and share.

Despite the challenges, marketers believe print has a number of significant advantages, particularly deliverability and the ability to finely target. These marketing executives believe that print is more personal than other media and that customers prefer print.

One of the central questions of the study was the degree to which marketers will return to printed direct marketing when the economy recovers. And by the conclusion of the study in late 2010, direct mail volume had increased; the consultants believe this trend will continue. Marketers value printed direct marketing as an effective acquisition channel.
The 450-page report is available exclusively to members of PRIMIR.

Source

Diversify Your Marketing Dollars & Unite Your Message

The variety of marketing options available can be overwhelming. From printing and advertising to websites, blogs and social media, it's easy to become beleaguered and question which direction you should take your brand message.

Depending on the audience you are trying to attract the choice can be varied.

So what's the best approach? Diversify. Diversify your marketing dollars and unite your message.

There is no guarantee that one option will serve all your needs, in fact, it's probably more accurate to say that one option will not serve all your needs. According to a columnist, Thaddeus B. Kubis, who frequently writes about converging technologies, "much data has been posted that shows people use three diverse media to gain information and perhaps make a purchase, or a choice. Some data indicates that as many as eight touches are needed, and social media is only one of them."

When you diversify your reach is wider, your potential to attract the various people within your audience is greater. The goal is to stay true to who you are, respect your market and what your brand represents and unify your message with every media option you choose.

At AGC, our goal is to help your brand evolve, remain relevant in this cluttered world of media, and ensure your message remains consistent across all marketing platforms.

Calling All Artists 2012 Edition of 52 Weeks 52 Works

The 2012 edition of 52 Weeks 52 Works marks the 10th anniversary of the calendar!

The deadline for submission is October 1, 2011

We are amidst the production of the 10th annual 52 Weeks 52 Works desk calendar and we need your talent! Any artist living and working in NEO is eligible (nudity and explicit imagery are restricted). If you are interested or if you know any one who may be interested please forward this information along. You can download the 2012 submission here

Upon completion of the calendar every participating artist will receive 2 copies along with your returned submission. You will see first hand the impressive results achieved when combining the versatility of eco-friendly print communication with the unique talent of NEO’s local artists.

If interested please visit 52 Weeks 52 Works to download a submission form or contact me at CandiceChampion@agcinc.org or 216-661-2550.

It is preferable that submissions are received via our File Submission Link on our website. Follow the instructions in the white box at the right of the screen.
In the Subject Box please enter “52 Weeks”
In the Message Box please enter “Your Full Name and the Title of Your Submission”

52 Weeks 52 Works is Academy Graphic Communication’s (AGC) annual desk calendar highlighting the talent of Northeast Ohio area artists. The calendar has served as a stage for the creative community of Northeast Ohio for the past 9 years. AGC is a full-service, marketing and print communication firm in Cleveland, OH. We operate three comprehensive facilities: The Creative Advantage Design Studio, Sustainable Print Solutions, and Fulfillment Yields Interest. This calendar serves as our capabilities brochure and seeks to demonstrate the power of expressing ideas effectively through print and the myriad of collaborative opportunities available with Northeast Ohio’s creative community. The collections of past calendars have ranged from sculpture to painting, photography to ceramics, fiber to jewelry.

52 Weeks 52 Works is published entirely by Academy Graphic Communication
View past issues of the calendar.

Don’t miss your opportunity to be included in this very special 10th anniversary edition!

QR Code Mail Promotion

This summer the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) is offering commercial mailers a three percent discount for mail that includes a QR barcode inside or on the mailpiece.

Below is the latest information to help you take advantage of this special offering:

· The QR Barcode Promotion will run from July 1 through August 31.
· First-Class Mail and Standard Mail (including Nonprofit Standard Mail) letters, flats and cards with a QR barcode inside or on the mailpiece can qualify for the discount.
· Participation requires electronic documentation.
· Commingled, combined and co-mail mailings are allowed and a separate postage statement is required for pieces with QR barcodes.

Using QR barcodes is a great way to integrate direct mail with mobile technology. Get more information, including updated FAQs, on the RIBBS website.

For more information on QR Barcodes http://www.visitagc.com/qrcodes.php

Save a Forest: Print Your Emails

It's okay to use paper. Trees are renewable, recyclable and sustainable.



By CHUCK LEAVELL
AND CARLTON OWEN

Well-intentioned email taglines inspired by sincere desire to help the planet have become ubiquitous in recent times: "Please don't print this email," "Save trees: Print only when necessary," or "Please consider the environment before printing this email."

However, the World Wildlife Fund has taken this to the extreme with a new nonprintable electronic document. Patterned after the highly successful PDF (Portable Document Format) that has revolutionized electronic document sharing and storage, the WWF format takes the decision away from you.

This tact is sure to frustrate and increase inefficiency, leaving some saying, "Wait a minute, I really needed to print that document!" What many folks don't realize is that it also may indirectly hasten the conversion of forests to other uses like strip malls, parking lots and housing developments—because the nation's forest landowners can't keep growing trees without markets for this natural, organic and renewable product.

Chuck's email tagline reads: "Notice: It's OK to print this email. Paper is a biodegradable, renewable, sustainable product made from trees. Growing and harvesting trees provides jobs for millions of Americans. Working forests are good for the environment and provide clean air and water, wildlife habitat and carbon storage. Thanks to improved forest management, we have more trees in America today than we had 100 years ago."

Now, understand that we don't advocate wanton waste of paper or any other material, but avoiding the print option does absolutely nothing to save the planet or forests. More forests are dying of insect infestation and disease or being paved over across this country right now than could be converted to an email print-out in a thousand years.

Paper is good. Around 105 A.D., man discovered that paper traveled and transcribed better than stone; it became the renewable medium of choice. Frankly, the human eye can only stare at a computer screen for so long.

We appreciate and applaud people who are sensitive to environmental issues. We both love forests and are avid environmentalists. But we are going to continue to print out those necessary emails without guilt.

Honest, it's okay to print. Trees are renewable, recyclable and sustainable.

Mr. Leavell is a musician, tree farmer, environmentalist and author. Mr. Owen is a forester, wildlife biologist and CEO of U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities.
Source WSJ

QR Codes > Enhancing your mobile marketing

Marketing today is all about looking at trends and being ahead of the curve. One of the newest trends that's growing fast is QR Barcodes. Creating interactivity within the print medium extends the shelf life as well as the value of print by offering readers layers of experience beyond the printed page.

QR codes are two dimensional bar codes and full of possibilities for marketing solutions. They can contain pure text, links to websites, contact information, coupons, phone numbers, etc.

Local charities can display QR codes on banners to view websites and make donations, in magazines and newsletters to view video and additional information about the editorial content, on advertisements to download coupons, on flyers, posters, and businesses cards to provide more in depth content and contact information, the opportunities are endless.

Incorporating creative mobile marketing within your print campaign provides an instant and meaningful bridge to interactivity.

Have you started incorporating QR codes in your print projects? Let us know how they are working for you.