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Illustration that packs a punch in the post
November 2009, by Anne-Marie | 3 Comments Latest by TiffanyFreelance life can be tough. Long gaps between commissions. Accounts departments who just can’t seem to find your invoice. Not to mention the ever-present need to get your work seen by the people who count.
Jonny Wan, a freelance illustrator from Sheffield, knows all about that. A graduate of the Manchester School of Art, he’s constantly striving to ensure his unique illustrative style (think abstracted facial expressions, patterns, symmetry and hand-drawn lettering) snags the attention of creative directors everywhere – and he does so via Business Cards and Postcards from MOO.
MOO first caught his eye at his university degree show, where he noticed that all the students’ cutest promo materials were produced by the same company – MOO! Then we tempted him with a free Business Card sample, giving him a chance to try our ordering software (”simple, logical and gives the user complete control”) and evaluate our print quality and finishing (”very pleasing”). Duly hooked, Jonny ordered a set of Postcards and some Business Cards featuring a range of his work, and is preparing to send them off to art directors as we speak.
As an illustrator, working in a visual medium, presentation is very important to Jonny. “I like to make little promotional packs of my postcards and business cards”, he says. “I send them out packaged in self-seal clear bags. It’s good to put real thought into how the art director receives your promo materials – it’s boring to just whack some cards in an envelope.”
Like many creative types, Jonny’s happiest when he’s working, even between commissions. An example of this is his self-initiated “Can’t Afford It” project. Whenever he wants an item of clothing he can’t afford, he draws it instead! Eventually to be self-published as a book, working like this helps him improve his work rate, hone his Photoshop and Illustrator skills, and keep his unique style fresh and ever-evolving.
No matter how his style develops, MOO’s short print runs means that his promotional materials are always in step with his latest work. “As an illustrator, your style is always changing and improving. The last thing you want is to end up with a thousand cards of the same design. You need to keep existing and future clients up to date with your freshest, latest work, because essentially they will hire you based on what they see on your promo material. It’s no good for an art director to commission you only to find that your illustrative style has changed or moved on.” He laughs. “After all, you wouldn’t be happy buying a Jay-Z CD to find a Metallica disc inside, right?”
When designing his cards, Jonny also took advantage of a new feature that allows users to upload images for both the front and the back of the Business Cards. “Anything that gives you more options allows room for creative control – and it’s that kind of flexibility that keeps me coming back to MOO. The ability to upload images for both sides of the Business Cards enables you to make the cards completely unique.”
“A business card is usually the first point of contact between a new client and an illustrator, so it’s important your card jumps out at people while being straight and upfront with your contact details. The fact that the cards can be individual rather than generic also gives a sense of professionalism – people can be impressed that you’ve put the effort into designing your own cards. A little effort can go a long way.”
Jonny’s constantly thinking of new ways to promote his work using MOO products. “I love the Stickers – I can see them being a very unique selling point. They’re a little different and unexpected, which is beneficial in an industry where everyone strives to promote themselves in a unique way.”
MiniCards appeal to him for the same reason. “MiniCards are great because they get straight to the point and don’t take up a lot of space. Art directors get bombarded with samples every morning. They open their mail and have to make snap decisions about what to keep and what to chuck.”
“They’re more likely to pin a MiniCard onto their noticeboard than, say, a leaflet, because they know it won’t take up a lot of space. And if your work’s on their noticeboard, they’re more likely to bear you in mind when it comes to commissioning. And that’s what it’s all about!”
Thanks for talking to us Jonny! We look forward to seeing more of your work soon.
Like Jonny’s work? He’s available for commissions so get in touch, and say hello from us too.
3 CommentsMaking events & trade shows work for you
November 2009, by Pete | 1 Comment Latest by Gianfranco ChiccoIn many company blogs, marketing teams often have lots to say (or at least, they’re pretty hard to keep quiet). With MOO this isn’t always the case - our customers usually give the rest of the team so much to blog about, we barely get a look in.
One marketing ‘channel’ (yes, sorry, some marketing buzzwords and jargon coming up) that has given us lots to talk about over the last year however, is events and trade-shows. MOO has visited Austin, Boston, Las Vegas, London, New York, Providence, San Diego, and we are at Washington DC this week. In total we have spoken to tens of thousands of photographers, graphic designers, artists, fashion designers, students and more. We have met hundreds of businesses along the way, and while it’s been pretty tiring, it has also been lots of fun, and very educational.
Trade-shows can be very expensive, time consuming and demanding, so it’s really important to get as much from them as possible.
Today, we thought we’d share five things that worked for us - hopefully some of this will be useful for those of you considering trade-shows as part of your ‘marketing mix’ next year (I did warn you about the jargon!).
Customisation
Where possible, MOO builds its own booth. That means no cookie-cutter plinths and stands, no shiny black velvet drapes, no bar stools and definitely no $100 waste-paper baskets. A good company has a brand worth protecting, and it’s visual identity is a huge part of that. This remains the case at a live event - any old furniture and fuscia coloured carpet shouldn’t suddenly become acceptable. As an on online business, an event may be one of the few times a year you have a physical presence in the real world. So we invest in design and customisation. Our current booths are created by our marketing and design teams, from scratch. They begin with a brief and a blank piece of paper, and then we work out what we want to achieve, but more importantly what will customers and visitors want to experience at a MOO booth. It ends up looking something like this;
Relevancy
We often talk about short print runs helping relevancy. Making postcards specifically for a job interview, or tailoring your business cards to the trade show you are about to attend helps you to stand out and get noticed. The same should go for when you are exhibiting - marketing materials shouldn’t be left over from a different exhibition - the money you save handing out the leftovers may well be negated by the customers who take their business to someone with a more relevant offering. MOO tries to make sure everything we hand out is fresh, current and targeted to its recipient. At the HOW Design Conference we talked about vector art, graphics and illustration. At PhotoPlus, we talked jpegs and megapixels.
Creativity
If you are speaking to creative people, it helps to speak their language, and prove you understand their values. Make the effort to be creative. Some booths pop out from a mile away, even if they are tiny - because they look vibrant, or clinical or crazy or fun - what matters is that they support the company brand, and appeal to the type of customers you want to engage with.
Generosity
People walk up to a booth and ask ‘what kind of show specials do you have?’ - you need to decide if discounts and specials are part of your events plan, but you can be generous in other ways. Give people some time, listen, ask them some questions and find out a little about them. If I know a bit about the person in-front of me, it’s much easier explaining how they could use MOO, and how a creative print project would benefit their business or project. Leaving a booth with a firm idea in mind that might benefit your business is far more powerful than a discount flyer or a mouse-mat. At PhotoPlus in New York, we designed and printed Blurb books full of ideas and inspiration on how to use MOO products, and the response was far more positive than any promotional material.
Going for a walk
This one is simple - the best way to learn what works well at any specific show is see for yourself. Look at every booth (both the busy ones and the quiet ones), and speak to the teams working there. Carry lots of Business cards - and make some connections.
And finally?
Well we have one more show, the InDesign Conference in Washington DC, which runs (this very week) from the 4th to the 6th of November 2009. If you are close by, we would love you to pay us a visit. Then after that, a rest.
PS If you have some more tips, we’d love to hear what works for you. 1 Comment
‘My mini-mini portfolio’
October 2009, by Anne-Marie | 12 Comments Latest by ZoeAfter giving you the story behind Perch’s MiniCards, we thought we should catch up with photographer, Simon Warren. Also featured on our MiniCards page, he’s been taking advantage of the latest features and comparing them with the larger Business Cards he’s been using (and loving) for a while. Here’s what he had to say:
Simon Warren is one of the UK’s top location photographers. He’s been using MOO’s Business Cards to showcase his outstanding graphic images: bold exteriors, sleek interiors, arresting construction shots and more.
Though happy with the size and scope of the Business Cards, he’s recently been experimenting with MiniCards, with positive results.
A hardcore Business Card fan, Simon was initially worried by the slimmed-down dimensions of the MiniCards (about half the size of a full-size business card.)
“At first, I was concerned that the cards would be simply too small to showcase my photos effectively”, he explains. “But actually, this can work very well. The cards show snippets of images – almost abstract – giving a hint of information, but (quite literally) not the full picture.”
Rather than being a hindrance, this fits well with other design aspects of his brand. “My website works in exactly the same way – visitors are shown an interesting or intriguing section of an image, which they click to see in full. It’s a simple but effective way to get people involved and interacting with my work.”
He also likes the impact the MiniCards can have when shown together. “Once you have a whole bunch of cards spread out on the table, the viewer is able to get a better impression of your work than a single image can provide, so that’s how I like to show them. Then I let the viewer choose whichever one they want. The fact that they’ve been involved in the choice often helps them remember your work better than if you simply thrust a card into their hand.
“I often refer to my MOO Business Cards as my ‘mini-portfolio’. My MiniCards are now my mini-mini portfolio!” he laughs. “Sometimes when you’re carrying a full set of business cards around in a holder, it can be a little clunky. At a very basic level, they’re physically easier to carry around with you. As a photographer, you carry so much equipment with you - that’s a big plus.”
Simon’s also pleased with his MiniCard holder. “It swings open sideways and then you push the cards out with your thumb. It’s unusual and I think people like that.
“At networking events so many people are handing out conventional business cards in conventional holders. Sometimes that’s what you want, but other times it’s good to stand out a little. MiniCards can help you do just that.”
Thanks for chatting with us Simon!
Find out more about Simon’s work, or check out his portfolio.
Beat the UK Postal Strikes
October 2009, by Dan | 6 Comments Latest by DeniseAs you are probably aware, Royal Mail have scheduled further strikes this week. Please note this only affects “Standard” delivery to UK addresses, not Express.
Local delivery services and the sorting office at Royal Mail HQ will be closed this Thursday, Friday and Saturday. We want to make sure that your order doesn’t get caught in the backlog and we have some alternatives for you to think about when placing your order.
Express
At checkout, you can choose our Express service. This is a guaranteed, signed for service, which is totally unaffected by the strikes. UK Express starts at £10 and is definitely value for money. You will be able to track the delivery online and the service is 1-3 days guaranteed (once shipped).
Collection
During the strike action, we are offering a special collection service. If you are based locally to our Clerkenwell warehouse in London, please send us your order number via the contact form, quoting COLLECTION in the subject line. We’ll then flag your order for collection and give you instructions on how/where to collect your order. This is for a limited time only, so be sure to get your order in ASAP!
In the meantime, fingers crossed for a speedy resolution to these disputes.
6 CommentsThe story behind the Perch MiniCards
October 2009, by Denise | 7 Comments Latest by RachaelAs you know, we’ve updated the features on MiniCards. You can upload an image for the front and the back - and there are some other neat features too. On the MiniCards page, you’ll find some images of real cards. Ones our customers have made - like these, from Perch:
We contacted Perch after seeing their cards at dConstruct, a conference in Brighton. We liked them so much, we wondered what they’d do with the new features we had planned for MiniCards. The cards above are the ones they made, and this is the story behind them.
Perch is a “really little” content management system. (Their words, not ours!) It’s designed to be simple, straightforward, and easy to get running, so that even internet novices can edit content on a small website with no muss and no fuss. The really little CMS also has a really neat little price and, confesses Drew McLellan, Director and Senior Developer at edgeofmyseat.com, the company behind Perch, a slimmed-down marketing budget to match.
Despite this, Perch have been using their MiniCards to do mighty things. Things that might have carried a hefty price tag with another printer. Prior to launch, Perch produced a batch of MOO MiniCards with a special 20% discount code on the back – a time-tested, traditional way to promote a product, which gave people a reason to hold onto the card until the company went live.
After launch, they began to look at new ways to market themselves, by sponsoring conferences, and speaking about Perch at events. In order to test the effectiveness of such activities, they needed a way to track where their site visitors had heard about the product - and this is where the mighty MiniCard things started happening.
Rather than the general discount card they’d used previously, Perch ordered some new MiniCards, with unique discount codes on the front where the photo normally goes. They wrote some software to generate the codes, and output an XML file that they then “mail merged” into their images using the Data-Driven Graphics tool in Adobe Fireworks. This created 100 unique images for each batch of MiniCards, which they then uploaded as part of each order.
“The ability to have 100 unique cards in a run of 100 has been fantastic for us”, says Drew. “Doing it any other way would have been a nightmare. Firstly it would have been difficult just to find someone able to do it, and you can bet it would have been expensive - probably too expensive to be worth doing! Now when someone uses a discount code, we can tell which event they picked up the card at by tracking the code back through our systems.”
Perch also find MOO’s short print runs to be very handy, because each batch they order is a small commitment both financially, and in terms of strategy. Fresh illustration work, a small tweak to the logo – all can be incorporated into the MiniCards next time a batch is produced. “The fact that we order 100 cards at a time means it’s no hassle to make that sort of change”, says Drew, “and it’s great to order up some new cards knowing that the wastage from the old cards is really minimal. We’ve probably got about £5-worth of unused old design cards sitting around, which is nothing. If we were printing traditionally at volume then you’re tied in and can’t stay nimble.”
“MOO’s generally our first port of call when we need something printed”, says Drew. “We’ve been really pleased with the quality and the ability to click a few things on a web page and have something physical that you’ve created turn up at your door is awesome.”
Thanks to Drew for taking the time to talk to us - and thanks to Anne-Marie for writing this up. Find out more about Perch and what it can do for you, or make some MiniCards of your own.
7 CommentsMiniCards just got some HUGE updates! (Don’t worry, the cards are still Mini)
October 2009, by Denise | 17 Comments Latest by Amarand AgasiYou’ve been asking for improvements on our first ever product and we’re excited to say they’re finally here. MOO MiniCards now offer even more creative possibilities - and some of your most requested features.
There’s now the option to choose from a bigger range of fonts, colours and templates to personalise the ‘details side’ of your cards. We’ve also added the option to upload your own logo, or choose an icon from our brand new selection.
Want to upload an entire image for the details side of the card? No problem. Just like our larger Business Cards, you can now upload a full JPEG or PDF.
At the end of the process check your cards (text and images) on a brand new preview page – another chance to check your spellink spelling, and make sure you’re happy with your images.
And, last, but not least, all that goodness is packed into a very smart new MiniCard presentation case! Designed in-house by Paul, our product designer, it’s sturdy but recyclable card.
Enough already? Go take a look at the New and improved MiniCards for yourselves!
There’s magic in sharing Mathematics
October 2009, by Anne-Marie | 12 Comments Latest by MoonzieSome subjects lend themselves naturally to MiniCards and Business Cards – what could be more tempting than a picture of, say, a tin of sweeties, or a delicate filigree necklace? And other subjects are little more challenging. Like, for example, mathematics. How do you promote yourself when you’re a Cambridge-educated maths genius with a clutch of degrees and a bundle of prizes to your name? How to stop people going “Ew, maths – boring!” and trying to run away when you start talking about what you do?
Matthew Handy knows how. He’s a private maths teacher, providing tuition to individuals and small groups to help them pass their Maths and Further Maths A-levels. He helps with undergraduate courses with mathematical content, and advises pupils on UCAS, including Oxbridge. He also designs some rather nifty business cards – take a look at these Bauhaus-inspired beauties…
His cards feature mathematical theorems and diagrams in classic red, black and white colours, turning what might have been a potentially dry and challenging business card into a beautiful visual object that can also, of course, double up as a study aid. We got in touch with Matthew to tell him how much we liked his cards, and to find out how a maths guru like him developed such a knack for canny self-marketing.
We love the design of your cards – very creative and graphic. How have the cards been received? Do they seem to stick in people’s minds?
The first print run (of 200) ran out within a week! Students love them because they cover the topics that they have the most difficulty remembering. Although mathematics is about understanding, it is much easier if you’ve learnt the building blocks. For younger students it’s the times tables. At A-level, it’s the material that I’ve put on my cards. I got so frustrated at writing out those formulas over and over again and this seemed the perfect way of promoting my services and demonstrating how useful they could be.
If you don’t mind us saying, graphic design and self-marketing is not normally a skill you associate with maths tutors, yet you seem to have quite a flair for it. How do you come up with your marketing concepts?
I’ve always been fascinated by page design. As a young kid I used to collect headed notepaper. I would write to big companies, just so they’d write back and I could add to my collection. I first discovered the Apple Mac at university - it blew me away - and since then I’ve worked on a number of design projects: from books and newspapers, to corporate image work for schools, a restaurant and a record company.
You founded Ivory Tower magazine at Cambridge, and launched MXpress, a newspaper for young people, after you graduated. Is the creative and practical side of magazine publishing something that appeals to you?
I love the whole process of producing something printed. Watching the first copies of MXpress coming off the presses was incredible: this huge room-sized machine, manned by half a dozen people, churning out tens of thousands of copies of something I’d created. It was like watching the birth of my first child. I love print.
Speaking of print - paper finish: Green or Classic for your Business Cards?
I’ve so far always opted for the Classic. It’s beautiful. That’s part of the pleasure I get from print: the physical feel of the material. I really should try the Green, though.
Did you find MOO’s creation and ordering process easy to use?
I’m a control freak, so I love the process. I can change things as often as I want without annoying anyone!
Any plans to use MOO cards in other ways in the future? For example, have you thought of doing a set of 50 and giving / selling them as a complete set of study tips?
That’s certainly on the cards (excuse the pun!). I’ve also thought about using the MiniCards as key-ring crib sheets.
Are MOO’s short print runs useful to you?
I’m a huge fan of MOO. Everything is so stylish, and it’s all done with a real sense of fun. The small print runs allow experimentation and flexibility, which is terrific for a small business like mine.
Thanks to Matthew Handy for chatting with us - for more information about his tuition or to book yourself a lesson, visit his site.
And for those who are confused by the ’s’ on the end of the word ‘math’ - that’s just the way we say it in the UK ;-)
Would you like to make some Business Cards of your own?
12 CommentsUK Postal strike update
October 2009, by Denise | Add a commentAs some of you may already know, there has been extensive industrial action by Royal Mail workers in the UK over the past few weeks.
This is only affecting our UK based customers, not everyone purchasing from the UK store.
Customers have been experiencing small delays and we encourage anyone based in the UK to allow a little extra time for delivery.
If you want to avoid the strikes altogether, please use our Express service, which is fully trackable and usually delivered the day after the items are dispatched.
Intermittent local and regional strikes by both collection and sorting services, plus your personal mailmen, are ongoing and at this point no resolution has been reached. At a recent Royal Mail member’s meeting 76% of postal workers voted for a national strike, which at this point has not been finalized or scheduled. We will be doing our best to keep UK customers in the loop.
UPDATE: Royal Mail Strikes
The Royal Mail site confirms there will be further strikes on Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd October. If you’re in the UK and need your order in a hurry, remember MOO’s Express shipping option!
Finally, for daily updates on the UK Royal Mail strikes, and how they might be affecting you, keep an eye on the Royal Mail site.
Add a commentMOO Customer Service Update
October 2009, by Dan | 7 Comments Latest by patriciaWe’ve been making some changes to certain parts of our Customer Service program and wanted to keep you informed - here are some of the highlights of our recent changes….
THE TEAM
Since the launch of MOO’s US store, we have split the CS team between London, UK and Providence, Rhode Island. This has meant some new additions to the CS family. We recently hired a new CS Supervisor in the UK (Meir), adding to the expertise of Fauzia and Ricardo (our UK reps).
In the US, we’ve had Dan SJ and Shay on board since May and a new rep, David, joined us very recently. While we are obviously all on the same side, there is some friendly rivalry between the two crews, prompting some members of the team to compete for the best CS feedback.
Here are some great responses we have had in the last couple of months:
“I’m sure you know this, but you have a star in Shay. Much appreciation from a fellow entrepreneur”
“Just gotta say that Moo.com has some really great, and quick, customer service … thanks so much!”
“That is amazing Customer Service, I’ve used many other print services, but never had a company offer such assistance. Many thanks. I’ll order now!”
SAMPLE PACKS
We’ve devised a brand-new sample pack, containing examples of all our products. These sample packs also give information on pricing, pack sizes and some inspirational content. If you would like to receive a sample pack, please contact the CS team and quote “Sample Pack” in the subject line.
BULK ORDERS
MOO has a new bulk order program, with great discounts across our entire product range. Basically, the more you order, the cheaper each item will be! We offer automatic bulk discounts on all our products, but if you get in touch with us first, we’ll send you a further discount code based on the size of your order.
So if you are going to place a large order, please do get in touch with the CS team and quote “Bulk Order” in the subject line.
GET IN TOUCH
If you are interested in either of these new initiatives, or simply have a question for MOO, please do contact us via the feedback form.
That’s all for now,
Dan (good cop!)
Making the most of your illustrations - an interview
October 2009, by Anne-Marie | 7 Comments Latest by DeniseWhat do you get if you cross MiniCards with magnets? Moognets! We’re seeing more and more moognets out there, and one of our favourite moognet-makers is illustrator Luisa Vidal, aka Etsy seller Fashion Fuchsia.
Luisa sells her moognets as beautifully packaged themed sets. Bright yellow suns shine next to redheads in sunglasses. Blue boys and purple girls reach for each other’s hands from their respective MiniCards. Or the customer can go random and choose their own – fancy clashing a pink alien robot with a cat-boy in a brown dog costume?
As well as magnets, Luisa makes MiniCard bookmarks and uses Postcards to showcase her illustrations. We caught up with her to talk illustration, Etsy, moognets and more.
Hi Luisa! We love your work. Where do you get your inspiration?
I’ve always loved drawing – one of my earliest memories is of my Dad teaching me how to draw a cup of tea! And the inspiration for my subject matter comes from my two main hobbies: cinema and fashion. I love film: animation, sci-fi, fantasy, action – everything! I enjoy creating characters that are the protagonists of my own little movie-stories in my head. I like to imagine what life would be like for them: what they’d wear and who they’d be friends with. Then I put that into my drawings.
Do you produce your work by hand, on computer, or a combination of both?
It’s a combination. I draw my ideas on paper and then use the computer to finish or colour it. The initial freehand drawing on paper is very important to me – I appreciate it a lot in my creative process.
How long have you been selling on Etsy? Is it a good place for an illustrator to promote herself?
I’ve been selling on Etsy since March 2009. It’s easy to use and you can communicate with many people around the world. There’s a good community of illustrators on there. Managing an Etsy store does require time and patience, but it’s a lot of fun.
What made you decide to use MOO in your work?
I decided to create my own products because I often go to stores and can’t find what I’m after – little gifts with a special touch. I’ve always enjoyed using magnets to stick photographs, drawings, and notes to the fridge or filing cabinet or whatever. It’s such a sweet, personal thing to do. And I was looking at my MiniCards and realised that their measurements and finish make them perfect for making magnets from. I thought they’d make my designs look fun and colourful in people’s bedrooms, offices or kitchens.
How about the bookmarks?
Yes, I also make bookmarks with MiniCards. I like to think of my designs accompanying people as they go about their day-to-day lives. Reading a book is like starting a long journey with someone – the book becomes an inseparable companion. By day, by night, on the bus, the book’s there. I thought it would be fantastic for someone to have one of my bookmarks on the journey with them.
Is paper quality and print finish important to you?
Oh yes…. I admit I’m a bit of a perfectionist! I love good, thick paper and the finish on MOO products. I make all my things with great care, and I like to collaborate with people who take a similar pride in the things they produce. I’ve found a great place to print my designs in MOO.
Thanks for the interview Luisa!
Find out more about Luisa at www.fashionfucsia.blogspot.com or check out her work in her Etsy store
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