Inspiration

Roland DG customers are some of the most imaginative and creative people we've ever met. To support your creativity and need for inspiration,we have created a selection of blog entries to help you get inspired and excited about creating your next vehicle wrap, sign, custom graphic or prototype. The following content ranges from fun articles and infographics to customer interviews and print news.

What’s Your Secret Sauce?

12 September 2011 Patrick Kersey Marketing Expertise , Inspiration marketing expertise , quality , reliability , secret sauce

Back when I was in high school, our favorite burger joint advertised its secret sauce. Whatever it was made from, it gave their burgers a decidedly different taste than other hamburgers. Today, marketers often talk about successful brands having a “secret sauce” – and they’re not talking about fast food. For Apple, their secret sauce is not only inventing groundbreaking products, but packaging them in a way that is simplistic to the point of seeming obvious. As Jonathan Ive, Apple chief designer says, “It feels almost inevitable.”

Revisiting Japan… 5 Months After the Storm

22 August 2011 Dede Sabey Inspiration disaster , japan , miracle tree , recovery

It’s been 5 months since the country of Japan was turned upside down by a pair of natural disasters and a nuclear crisis. [See Dave’s Blog immediately following the crisis “The Sun Will Rise Again] While the world headlines have turned their attention elsewhere, the Japanese people are still dealing with the consequences and working on recovery day by day.

Recipe for a Successful Web Site

03 August 2011 Patrick Kersey Inspiration home page design , web navigation , web site design

We recently updated the home page of our web site at Roland DGA. It sounds simple enough to do, but the reality was quite different.

Take the Time

28 July 2011 Andrew Oransky Inspiration down time , entertain , unplug

After a break that stretched too many years, I have been riding my bike a lot lately. Don’t worry, this isn’t going to be a preachy post about the value of exercise, or good nutrition. There’s a lot out there on that, and everyone should make their own choices in life. No one who has met me would mistake me for a long-lost Schleck brother, and I’ve got a very long way to go before anyone’s likely to ask me for fitness advice.

Summer Camp

20 July 2011 Rick Scrimger Inspiration

Every summer we head to Japan for what we affectionately call, Summer Camp. The similarity it has with most summer camps is that it's typically very hot & humid in Japan at this time of the year, about 85 degrees and 85% humidity!

You Need More Than One Cow

06 July 2011 Dana Curtis Inspiration inkjet , labeling , rapid package prototyping

In a recent article in the Harvard Business Review, Barnes & Noble was commended for their innovation and risk taking in their attempts to revive the struggling book business. They are fearlessly expanding their offering and moving away from selling printed books. The author equates this strategy to that of the dairy farmer who acquires a second cow instead of trying to get more milk out of his single cow. Its the same in durable graphics inkjet printing: if the only products in your catalog are PVC banners and stickers, printing them faster and cheaper won't expand your profits. You'll simply spend more of your time figuring out how to milk the same cow harder and faster while your business (and your profit) shrinks. Simply put, you need more cows.

Send in the Clowns

01 July 2011 Patrick Kersey Inspiration

It was announced recently in the news that McDonald's had received a letter in the form of full-page ads signed by 550 health professionals and organizations demanding that they stop marketing to kids and retire Ronald McDonald. My overall impression is that we've given up on moms and dads taking responsibility for what their children eat.

Survey says… Positive Outlook!

21 June 2011 Rick Scrimger Inspiration 2011 outlook , isa , isa expo 2011 , survey results

Attached is a survey that ISA recently distributed that I think you’ll find interesting, and a very positive outlook for the sign business going forward. It was compiled after ISA spoke to 200+ CEO’s or shop managers at the recent 2011 ISA show.

Using a Roland DG product the Italian Way

26 May 2011 Dede Sabey Inspiration custom chocolates , experience day , golashes , inspiration , italy , mid europe , rainboots , roland dme

What is it about the Italians that makes them so cool? The romantic language? The fast cars? The creamy gelato? The Italians certainly have a way.. they seem to draw attention without even trying. What makes them so different? Certainly their style. But I also think they are especially creative and have an exceptional commitment to quality. Earlier this year, my Roland DG colleagues in Italy contributed to my theory about Italians.

Something Newsworthy for Everyone

16 May 2011 Patrick Kersey Engraving , Inspiration e-newsletters , email blasts , marketing , newsletters

How do you keep your customers and prospects informed about your business? Do you use blogs, email blasts or newsletters? If you’d like to keep abreast of newsworthy events here at Roland DGA, there are three opportunities you should know about.