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Posted on by Regan Dickinson Posted in Case Studies & Profiles, News & Trends
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Windows, Walls & Doors with Latex: Countdown to First Place

Window Graphics Cottrell Printing

The results are in from LexJet’s first annual Windows, Walls and Doors Contest, and we’re counting them down from third place to first place. To be eligible for the competition, the winning projects had to be printed on either HP or LexJet media with the HP Latex Printer.

First up is our third-place winner, Cottrell Printing in Centennial, Colo. Cottrell will receive $1,000 of in-store credit at LexJet for this beautiful beach scene printed on LexJet Simple Perforated Window Vinyl (60/40).

Window Graphics by Cottrell PrintingThe window graphics were produced for MI Sports in Denver, highlighting the brands the store carries. The graphics were applied in five panels: three 1′ x 6′ horizontal panels for the logos (top and bottom for the window on the left) and two 50″ x 6′ panels for the beach scenes. Cottrell’s large format manager, Brett Hillbrand, says the larger beach scene panels were applied from top to bottom vertically.

Since the store’s windows face south, the graphics have the added benefit of providing relief from the sun in the summertime.

“From inside, it allows the perfect amount of light to come through. I drove past it the other day and it still looks great. The client was quite happy with the end result and the quality we were able to deliver with the printer and the perforated window vinyl. And they ordered some more large-format work from us, like retractable banner stands,” says Hillbrand.

Stay tuned for the unveiling of the second- and first-place winners in the coming days…

Posted on by Regan Dickinson Posted in Case Studies & Profiles
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Printing for a Cure

Printing for charity with window graphicsWhen Rick Hillbrand’s neighbors set up a non-profit to find a cure for Fanconi anemia (FA), the owners of Cottrell Printing in Centennial, Colo., pitched in with pro bono printing, which the company has been doing since the Kendall and Taylor Atkinson Foundation (KATA) was created about seven years ago.

The Atkinson’s lost two children, Kendall and Taylor, to the rare bone marrow disease and have dedicated much of their lives to eradicating it and helping others who have been diagnosed with FA.

“They’ve raised over $1 million and the money goes directly to research. The money they’ve raised has also benefitted cancer research since there are similarities in the treatments,” explains Hillbrand, one of Cottrell’s owners. “It’s not just cash donations that help worthy non-profits like KATA; print shops like ours can really help defray their advertising costs and get the word out.”

Cottrell Printing’s latest project for KATA was at a local McDonald’s, which is donating proceeds from its food sales on Dec. 15 to KATA. Cottrell Printing created two window graphics for either side of the McDonald’s, and printed about 20,000 flyers, to encourage the neighborhood to participate in the drive on Dec. 15.

Cottrell Printing used LexJet Simple Perforated Window Vinyl (60/40), which was printed with the company’s HP Designjet L25500 and then applied to the outside of the windows. “The printing went well and the installation was easy with two people. There were no complications at all, particularly since they were installed at street level,” says Hillbrand.

They also added a QR code to each print: “We’re using QR codes on our prints more often now; it’s a good way to get people to go to a site and find out more about it. A lot of people will scan it just because it’s there if they have that app on their phone. They don’t have to remember a website; it’s just snap and go,” adds Hillbrand.

For more information about KATA and how you can help, go to www.katafoundation.org.

Posted on by Regan Dickinson Posted in Case Studies & Profiles
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Making Window Graphics Easy with FaceMount Perforated Window Grip

Installing window graphics on the inside of the windowIf you’re looking for an easier way to install one-way window graphics (where you can’t see inside through the graphic, but you can see out from the inside of the window), LexJet FaceMount Perforated Window Grip with a 60/40 perforated pattern is great alternative.

Case in point is a project that Cottrell Printing in Centennial, Colo., recently completed for Antoine du Chez, a high-end salon in the Cherry Creek area of Denver. The window graphics installation was on the second floor, which was reason enough to use an interior-application solution, as opposed to applying graphics to the exterior.

Window graphics for advertising“The weather is always consistent inside,” says Rick Hillibrand, CEO of Cottrell Printing. “And in this instance, everything is on the second floor, so we would have had to hire a lift or figure out something like that for an exterior application.”

Hillibrand adds that this installation went much smoother than a similar application on the south side of the building. For one, they had to work around a bar in the middle of the window. Plus, since it faces south, the window was a bit hot. This recent application was on one long window with no obstacles to work around and the northern exposure kept the temperature down.

“Mounting against gravity, like we did the first time – having to work from the bottom up on the top panel so we could line it up with the bottom panel – is more difficult. Plus, we’ve gotten better and faster at installing it,” adds Hillibrand.

The graphics were printed by Ultimax Incorporated, Denver, on its Epson Stylus Pro GS6000 low-solvent inkjet printer. You actually print to the low-tack grip adhesive that has an ink-receptive coating. The polyester liner helps ensure a smooth application since it prevents the film from tunneling and curling during installation.

Posted on by Regan Dickinson Posted in Case Studies & Profiles
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Inform, Educate and Impress: Cottrell Printing Highlights its New Capabilities

Printing window graphics with a large format printer

One of the best ways to let customers know what you can do for them is to hold an open house. A client who’s used to buying a certain product from you may not know the full breadth and depth of your product offering.

Cottrell Printing recently held an open house at its facility in Centennial, Colo., to do just that. The timing was perfect since the company had just acquired a new large format printer from LexJet, the HP L25500 latex printer, and it happens to be the company’s 40th anniversary.

Printing graphics for an open house“The large format latex printer is impressive to see in person; it’s eye catching,” says Cottrell Printing CEO Rick Hillbrand. “Our marketing of the printer has been focused on the environmentally-friendly aspects of the latex inks. However, the quality of the printer’s output has been selling it the most.”

The open house gave Cottrell Printing’s customers a first look at the printer and opened their eyes to the company’s expanded capabilities. Cottrell Printing’s roots are in commercial printing, so the bulk of its work before the acquisition of the HP L255000 was small format.

“This wasn’t a prospecting open house; it was for our existing customers to give them a fun event to come to and see if we can expand on what we’re already doing for them,” explains Hillbrand.

Printing large format graphics for an open houseThe open house was decorated with a variety of applications to showcase the large format versatility of the printer, starting at the front window, which was printed with the HP L25500 on LexJet Simple Perforated Window Vinyl (60/40).

Cottrell Printing came up with a consistent design and theme built around its 40-year involvement in the community. The result was a tasteful, professional presentation highlighting all of the company’s printing capabilities, from the large welcome sign in the lobby to retractable banners printed on HP Heavy Textile Banner material.

Using pre made stretcher bars for canvas wrapsTo draw more interest to the event and reward customers who attended, Cottrell Printing had a scan-and-win drawing for two canvas wraps using LexJet Sunset HD Pro Stretcher Bars and an HP desktop printer. The canvas wraps shown in the photo were samples. Winning customers would get a brand new canvas wrap with an image of their choice.

“It’s possible we’ll turn this into a more regular event and go after different markets as more of a prospecting event in the community,” adds Hillbrand.