Ever wonder how plastic bottles are converted in to cloth and then into promotinal products? Well if your answer is yes, check out this cool you tube where you can learn about the whole process.

If you are like me, you may find factory tours pretty cool. Well I just checked out how some cups can be digitally imprinted. These are awesome cups for attention grabbing images and can be used at tradeshows, community and sporting events. The options are as many as the cups that are offered. Check out the link below to see the process of imprinting visually stunning cups.

Cool Imprinted Cups

W. M. Martin Advertising just received an award in best in local buseinsses. 

How does a company recognize it's best and most dedicated employees or top performers and what do they use? The cost of turn over is very high and morale can be low during these times of recession. So what is an employer to do??? 

Check out Sabrina & Gypsy Bleu a fabulous band and customer. They are playing this weekend at TGIFs in McKinney. They are a very fun band and play tons of great rock and roll favorites. So if you are in the mood to dance, listen to some great tunes and have a good time,check out Sabrina & Gypsy Bleu and check out the new tshirts they are selling sporting a nice embroidered logo too.

What is BIC Secure Ink?
This ballpoint ink provides a durable defense against check or prescription fraud.

What is check or prescription washing?
Common household solvents can be used to literally "wash" away the writing ink that appears on checks and prescriptions. This enables others to rewrite checks or prescriptions, usually for fraudulent purposes.

BIC's Secure Ink is formulated to be water-resistant, light-resistant and eraser-resistant to help protect your secure documents.This ballpoint ink is a great product for the financial, insurance and general business markets.

This ink option is available in BIC Clic Stic, the most popular retractable in promotional products and BIC Clic, the most popular retractable in the banking and financial industries.

Let W. M. Martin Advertising, Inc. help you stay safe and secure by protecting your important documents with BIC Secure Ink.

Questions and Answers:

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Q: What is check or prescription washing?
A: Common household solvents can be used to literally "wash" away the writing ink that appears on checks and prescriptions. This enables other's to rewrite checks or prescriptions, usually for fraudulent purposes.

Q: Does BIC have products that prevent check or prescription fraud?
A: BIC's Secure Ink is available in BIC Clic Stic , the most popular retractable in promotional products and BIC Clic , BIC Clic Gold and Clear Clics , the most popular retractable in the banking and financial industries.

Q: What is BIC's Secure Ink?
A: BIC's Secure Inkwas formulated to be water-resistant, light-resistant and eraser resistant to help protect your secure documents.

Q: I thought Gel or Roller ink was the best defense against check washing?
A: BIC's ballpoint Secure Ink provides a durable defense against check or prescription fraud, adhering to ISO 12757-1 and 12757-2 Standards for indelible ink, and offers over 1 mile of write-out.

Q: Does BIC offer any Secure Ink Gel pens?
A: BIC does currently have Gel pens available in our product line, such as the Velocity Gel, Intensity ClicGel, Tri-Stic WideBody Gel and Pro+ Gel. We are in the process of testing the performance of these Gel inks against check and prescription fraud practices.

Q: What can I do to help protect myself against check washing?
A: Fraud experts recommend the following steps to reduce your risk of becoming a victim:

Lock up your checks.

Write checks only to merchants and people you trust.

Use credit or debit cards while shopping.

Consider online bill payment and other electronic methods.

Monitor your bank statements closely.

Report stolen checks to the police.

Close compromised checking accounts immediately.
Source:Liz Pulliam Weston 2006, Your paper check is a thief's best friend, MSN Money, April 10, 2006.

Q: Is there a marking or feature on the pen that differentiates it as having Secure Ink?
A: Upon customer request, the Secure Ink logo will be included in the imprint area near the customer artwork to advertise that the pen has Secure Ink.


Addtional Links on Check Fraud:

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National Check Fraud Center Site - http://www.ckfraud.org/
Check Fraud - A Guide to Avoiding Losses - http://www.occ.treas.gov/chckfrd/chckfrd.pdf

It Pays to Promote during a Recessionary Period

        In a study of U.S. recessions, McGraw-Hill Research analyzed 600 companies from 1980-1985. The results showed that business-to-business Firms that Maintained or Increased their Promotion Expenditures during the 1981-1982 recession Averaged Significantly Higher Sales growth, both during the recession and for the following three years, than those that eliminated or decreased promoting. By 1985, sales of companies that were Aggressive Recession Promoting had Risen 256% over those that didn't keep up their promoting.

In addition, a series of six studies conducted by the research firm of Meldrum & Fewsmith showed conclusively that Promotion Aggressively during Recessions not only Increases Sales but Increases Profits. This fact has held true for all post-World War II recessions studied by The American Business Press starting in 1949.

 

Should You Advertise During a Recession?

Consider this ad from 1935 and how it affects buying today.

Advertising dollars spent during slow times are the best investment a company can make. In 1929, rival cereal makers Kellogg's and Post were in a close race to win the breakfast cereal market. When the Great Depression started, Kellogg's maintained their advertising spending while rival Post cut back.                                                                        
                                                                       
                                                   
 At the end of the Depression, Kellogg's had achieved a category dominance that they maintain to this day. Your ad dollars work harder in slow times. If your company is less active, this is the time to steal market share and share of voice. Just because your customers are not buying at recent levels does not mean they have stopped reading, thinking, or formulating opinions about the companies and brands they buy from.

                                                                                                    

In this day and age of business, we are all wearing many hats and more often than not performing many tasks regularly. It used to be considered that women were the only ones that could multi-tasks but nowadays EVERYONE does. Now more than ever it is important to partner with one another in order to make each others lives and yes, job descriptions, go more smoothly. BNI, Business Network International, a business networking group, has a philosophy that "Givers Gain!". Many companies are struggling these days with the current recession, so rather than just succumb to a defeatest attitude, it is more important than ever that we all work together and not only use each others services but refer to others as well. Know someone who is a good printer? Let others know about them. Do you know a great graphic artist? Send some business their way. How about accountants, financial planners, janitorial services, plumbers, landscapers or any companies that have terrific customer service? Pass their name along. Let's work together to thrive in this economy, and fight for growth; not just accept that it is tough right now. At W. M. Martin Advertising we want to be "your secret weapon". We want to be your go to partner when it comes to promotional products, imprinted apparel, awards and incentive programs, and more. We appreciate your trust in working with us, but as an interested partner, we want and need referrals too and we'll do the same for you. So partner, if you know someone who has a tradeshow coming up, perhaps a company picnic, or just needs help promoting their company, please consider giving them our contact number. We want to be their "secret weapon" too.

             Congratulations goes to Spencer McGowan from Wachovia Securities, who has been named one of our nation's top 1,000 advisors by Barron's financial weekly. This is a highly regarded benchmark for success. Spencer has not only been a trusted advisor to the founder of W. M. Martin Advertising, Winnie Martin but has also been a valued customer for many years. It is with true sincerity that all of us at W. M. Martin Advertising give a "shout out" of major kuddos in congratulating Spencer for this achievement as well as to his entire firm at The McGowan Group of Wachovia Securities.