What is Vector Art?

What is Vector Art?

There is often confusion around Art files and what types we can accept.  Terms like Vector Art, Camera Ready, etc... get thrown around.  Most people, unless they are graphic artists, do not understand the differences. So, what is vector art and why does my logo or artwork need to be vector?  Vector art is created using vector illustration software programs, such as Adobe Illustrator, Freehand, and Corel Draw, among others.  The art created with these programs can be blown up in size infinitely without any loss of quality.  (Think of zooming into a picture and it becomes blurry.)

Raster Graphics, such as photographs, and graphics files created in Adobe Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, and other Raster editing programs, in most cases cannot be used.  Notice how in the example picture that the edges of the art become blurry rigid and not smooth?  With Vector Art you can blow up the image to any size with no loss of quality.

How Can I tell if what I have is Vector?

Vector art is usually created in Adobe Illustrator, and is commonly saved as a particular file type: .ai   Vector art can be saved in other file formats (such as .eps, .svg, or .pdf). But, it is important to remember that just because a file is saved in one of these formats, that does not mean that it is truly vector art. Only art originally created in a vector editing program, such as Adobe Illustrator, is truly vector art.

Also, you can identify vector art by process of elimination. There are some file formats that can only be Raster art, and therefore cannot be Vector art. The most common examples are .jpeg, .png, .bmp, .gif, .psd, .tif. These files cannot be vector art.

Art Charges

There are art charges that are incurred on some orders if Vector art is not able to be provided.  In this case, we must send the provided art off to a designer that can re-create your artwork in a Vector-based program.  If you see an art charge on your bill, this is most likely what has happened.

There are also art charges, sometimes, for layouts and formatting even if you already have the vector file.  For Example:  If you have your logo in Vector format but you want to add specific text under it for a promotion.  The text needs to be added in a Vector Based Program and sized appropriately for the item that it will be imprinted on.  This would incur an art charge too.

Ask your Designer

Keep in mind that if a professional design created your art for you, chances are they may have your artwork saved as vector art, even if they have not sent that file to you. Some designers do not provide their clients with vector art, as they assume that the client will not be able to open the file. So, if you had a professional logo designed for you, but all you have is a JPEG, or something similar, contact your artist, and ask them for vector art.

Warning...Production Times Might Not Be What They Appear!

We get one particular question all the time when it comes to promo.  "How long will it take for me to get my (fill in the blank)?"  It's a great question.  It's one that you should ask...and it's tough to answer.  So many times, the answer is "It depends."

Not what you (or any customer) wants to hear.  But let's discuss why that is...and what you can do to improve it.

The first reason this is tough to answer is that each supplier is different.  Some specialize in low prices.  Some specialize in speedy delivery.  Some specialize in meticulous detail.  That's all good.  But as I have said many times in sales calls, "You can have them:

1) right
2) fast or
3) cheap.

You get to pick 2 out of 3!

So we feel it's the distributor's job to guide the customer to a supplier that can best meet their needs.  That's good for everyone!

The other reason production times can be confusing is the simple understanding of what "production time" really means.  Most of the time, "production time" means how long it will take to produce the item.  This sounds simple enough.  But the actual production does not start until:

1)  The supplier has "good" art.
2)  The proof has been approved.

Often these steps take the longest.  So if it takes 2 weeks to get these steps complete, then a 10 day production time starts.  So the order will take a month.

The final caveat in the delivery of goods has to do with shipping.  Most of the time there will be shipping involved in the delivery of your promotional products.  So where are the good shipping from?  That's a huge factor in cost and in delivery.

So what can you do to help improve delivery?  Simple.

1)  Provide good clean "vector" art.  Most people don't.
2)  Approve your proofs quickly.
3)  Be smart and order early!

That removes the stress from everyone!  Good luck!

Answering Questions about Promo

At Hasseman Marketing, we want to be your resource for Promotional Products...of course.  But we also want to help you become a better, more efficient and smarter buyer of promo.  We want you to better understand the "in's and out's" of our industry.  We think that will allow you to create better promotions that have better results. 

So with that in mind, please give us your questions.  What questions do you have about purchasing promotional products?  We will do our best to answer them!  Let us know!  In order to start us off, we will address questions that we get sometimes.

Here we go:

I ordered 250 mugs at $1 per mug.  How come my order came to $350?

Great question!  No one likes surprises on an invoice.  For those that are new to purchasing promotional products, there are some "additional" charges that you should be aware of with many (but not all) products.  You will want to be aware of these charges and know to ask about them before the purchase so there are no surprises!

Setup Charges:  Often this is fee in addition to the "per piece" price of an item.  This is the charge that it costs to set the run up.  This can run anywhere from $20 to $145 just depending on the item.  There is not always a setup fee, but most of the time there is.  So be sure and understand that!

Shipping:  In addition, you need to get the items to you.  Most of the time your distributor is not printing all of these items in house.  There is no way they could.  There are nearly 1 Million promotional products, so it's tough to stock all of them!  So that being said, there will be freight to get the items to your place of business.  As you know, there are tons of factors on shipping (enough for another blog actually), but just make sure you consider this cost when making your budget. 

Tax:  Yep...we will have to pay Uncle Sam. 

Running charges:  Sometimes additional colors in your logo will incur additional charges.  Hopefully, your promotional partner shares these up front.  But if not, they can really change the cost of your order!

Okay...these are just a few!  Hopefully this helps you understand the cost of your order...and some questions to ask on your next purchase!

Stop Saying Busy

It is easy to be busy.  As a matter of fact, I have found the "b" word the most overused in the current English language.  When you ask--literally anyone--how they are doing, the answer comes back, "I'm busy."  The ironic thing is, that answer has become the lazy response.  We say it whether we are or we are not, actually busy.  It's like it excuses us from things we don't want to do.  "Sorry, I'm really busy." 

I am guilty of it too.

In our business (and I am sure in yours) it is EASY to be busy.  We hurriedly head from meeting to meeting or from office to office and get to the end of the day and say "Wow, I was busy all day today." 

Great.  But what did you accomplish?

What I have found is that "busy" is an awful measurement for our day and our life.  It means totally different things to different people.  And it doesn't actually measure the accomplishment of anything. 

So two thoughts for the day:

1)  Stop telling people you're busy.  No one cares.  We are all "busy." 

2)  Start judging your day by asking yourself "What did I sell, create, achieve?" 

That's way more important...and probably more interesting too.

Finding Perspective

I always say that I know when I need a "vacation" because little things start to really bug me.  You probably know what I mean.  The things that normally just roll of your back start to suddenly really make you angry.  Silly stuff.

For example, last weekend I went through McDonald's Drive Thru to get my family a surprise breakfast.  It seems everyone had the same idea.  That long line in the drive thru was fine until the person two cars in front of me spent 10 minutes trying to order.  I could hear her saying "I was 5 hashbrowns...no, wait...6 hashbrowns...no wait...4."

I wanted to scream, "It's McDonalds!  If you have waited in a long line and don't know what you want, you are actually trying to be annoying!"

I know that it's silly to get annoyed or angry about that.  And when those things start to mount up, I tell my wife that I need a "vacation."

The fact is, I think it's more about just finding some perspective.  Vacation really just represents the idea of re-charging and re-gaining goals, drive and perspective.  The good news is, I don't really have to go anywhere to do that.  (Though if someone wants to take me to Hawaii I will go!).

We can find that perspective where ever we are.  We just have to take the time to breath in, breath out, and look for it.

3 Steps To A Better Frame of Mind

Though I am a positive person, not every day starts with a a smile.  Some days you wake up with a foul dream in your head, a bad taste in your mouth and a harsh thought in your brain.

Some days you feel like you are not going to hit the mark.  Everyone feels like that sometimes.  But there are lots of things that you can (pro-actively) do to get you on the right track.  Here are just three.

1.  Read something that inspires you.  When I wake up in the wrong frame of mind, I make sure I don't wallow in the negativity that surrounds us.  I actively seek out some things to read to get me going.

2.  Do some exercise.  Just 20 to 30 minutes of some exercise can and will improve your brain function and your mood.

3.  Keep swinging.  Nothing helps you get in the right frame of mind like taking action.  Sitting and doing nothing will help keep the negativity going.  Figure out the next right step...do that.  Repeat.

Good luck peeps.  Let's make this day a great one!

The Give First Economy

We have entered into a new phase of business.  It is just the beginning of this phase.  It is what I called the "Give First Economy." 

This is good news if you are the customer.  We know this because we have lived through the "Automation Economy."  This stage was (and in some cases still is) when companies do everything they can to automate everything from the phone systems, to customer service and everything in between.  This phase left the customer frustrated and annoyed much of the time.

This is also good news if you are a company that has always focused on service.  You want to provide a great customer experience all the way through.  This is great news for you because you are already ahead of the curve.

This is bad news for "the automators."  The large companies that are clearly more focused on the customer's dollar than the customer will struggle.  These companies are not only not concerned with the customer's experience, they seem annoyed the customer has an opinion about it at all!

This is happening because of the shift to the "Give First Economy."  Social Media has truly given power back to the Customer.  And it has just begun.  Customers have more information than ever before at their fingertips.  They have more options.  And because of that third group, customers have more cynicism. 

So as a business, we need to (you guessed it) Give First.  We need to provide value to the customer.  We need to show integrity, credibility, honesty, personality. 

Here's the funny thing: this has been brought about by newer technology but this is old fashioned business.  Get back to shaking a customer's hand and looking them in the eye.  Provide THEM a referral before you ask for one.  Share an article that helps them.  Send a thank you or a birthday card.  Be sincere.

Give First.  You will be thrilled with what happens next.