Celebrating International Print Day #IPD18

We could not think of a better time to celebrate International Print Day! In the midst of trade show season, we’ve definitely embraced this year’s #IPD18 theme: Collaboration.

HP Optimal Gloss Air GRP

You’ll find plenty of collaboration in our SGIA Expo booth #1185 in Las Vegas. We partnered with HP, Epson and Canon to bring you the latest printer technology, as well as new media options like the new line of HP Adhesive Vinyl and Laminates, award-winning HP Recycled Satin Canvas, LexJet Flex Tek, ChromaLuxe EXT, EnduraFab and more. Plus, we collaborated with Big Picture magazine to create an augmented reality ad in their latest issue. We’re also creating some awesome AR experiences in the booth. Don’t miss it!

We also just launched a super cool social media contest with our partners at Fredrix, the world-renowned canvas maker, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. Fredrix is giving away $4,000 in canvas rolls, so be sure you get in on the action, too. Contest is open until Oct. 31, 2018. Read more here.

When you get back from SGIA, sign up for the HP Latex Academy webinar, during which we partner with HP printer expert, John Stevens. It’s a one-hour session on Tuesday, Oct. 23, at 11 a.m. EST that will be sure to help you decide on your next printer purchase. Sign up here.

Package printing displayed at Labelexpo

We couldn’t let a blog about collaboration go by without mentioning our sister company, S-OneLP, which just had an awesome time at Labelexpo. The team collaborated with some artisan food brands as well as some label/packaging print service providers to create a marketplace theme in their booth, showcasing all new, enhanced packaging printing. Check out the show wrap-up here.

What have been some of your best collaborations this year? Tell us in the comments below or on social media using the hashtag #IPD18!

Stand Out in the Décor Printing Field

These days, it seems like every wide-format print shop is trying to elbow into the décor market. That shouldn’t discourage you from finding your niche in this ever-expanding segment. We’ve compiled four key tips to help you find your place … and then stand out from the crowd.

State your case. Be sure the world knows that you’re offering new services. You can do that with a new tagline after your business name on your printed materials, business cards and website. Don’t forget to update your bio on social media accounts to include your offerings, too. Check out Full Color’s Twitter bio, for instance. You never know where potential customers will look to discover more information about your business before they ever pick up the phone or stop by.

Show off your work. In the décor market, nothing sells printing services better than printed samples. If you’ve got room in your shop, cover a wall with the new customizable wallcovering you’re offering. If you don’t have a free wall, consider stretching printed wallcovering over stretcher bars (like GOframe), to provide a nice-looking work sample. When working on a project for a client, pull out your phone and take before and after photos for your portfolio. If your client is willing, be sure to post them on social media with all the appropriate hashtags (#beforeandafter #decorprinting #interiordesign, etc.). If you’re not into posting your projects, give us a call at 941-256-7915, and we’ll happily feature you on the LexJet blog!

Get specialized. You can truly set yourself apart by offering something unusual in the market. LexJet has long-been known as a provider of specialty products, and we can help fine tune your services. We’ve seen some genius ideas from our customers. Check out our blog on Bumblejax, featuring the face-mounted photo displays utilizing LexJet Sunset Photo Metallic PaperCrystalClear Permanent Adhesive and various widths of acrylic. We were also inspired by the bar stools and bar tops that Jamie Birch crafted using LexJet Print-N-Stick Fabric and LexJet Crystal Low Tack. And who could forget Michael Macone’s lamp shades printed on LexJet Sunset Textured Fine Art Paper 310g? If you’re creative with what you can do with print, you can develop a one-of-a-kind business.

Build demand. Sometimes being able to sell a new idea is simply letting people know it can be done. Consider visiting business networking groups or interior design associations to let them know what you can do. Bring samples and fresh ideas. Be willing to write for their blogs or give a mini demonstration.

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Get Social with LexJet!

Are you on social media? We are, too! We share the latest industry news and inspiring customer creations on a variety of social media outlets, like Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. We also jump in on group conversations on LinkedIn and join weekly chats on Twitter. There’s a lot going on in the world of wide-format media, and we love being part of the conversation.

If you’re on any of these social channels, we hope you’ll follow us, too! Click on any of the icons below to go to our pages:

youtube icon twitter icon insta icon linkedin icon facebook icon Pinterest-icon

We’re always looking for new customer stories to tell, like this one from Red River Photo Services and new tips and tricks we can offer you. If you have a story to share or a question for our experts, please email shellie.benson@lexjet.com.

New Interactive Catalog and Your Chance for a $500 LexJet Gift Card

Digital Product Reference Guide

Go to www.lexjet.com/catalog for the latest LexJet Product Reference Guide, and click the Facebook Like or Share icons by Friday, May 2 for a chance to win a $500 LexJet Gift Card*.

LexJet’s new digital catalog is an excellent clickable source for everything you need for printing, with details on hundreds of products, including fine art materials, photo papers, fabrics, canvas, films, vinyl, banner materials, adhesive-backed materials, wallcoverings, specialty media, laminates, adhesives, printers, inks and more.

The new digital catalog provides interactive tools to make navigation and product sourcing simple:

  • When you go to www.lexjet.com/catalog, click on the catalog and it will open in your browser, starting at the cover page
  • Simply click on the right arrow to browse page by page, or use the tool at the bottom of the page (up arrow) for a thumbnail view
  • You can also click directly to the product page you’re interest in on the Table of Contents page, which you can access from anywhere within the catalog by clicking on the bullet-point icon located at the top of the page on the far right
  • The home icon at the top of the page on the far left takes you back to the cover

The comprehensive guide includes specifications, application ideas and pricing on the following:

  • LexJet, LexJet Sunset, Hahnemuhle and EPSON aqueous media
  • Sunset Stretcher Bars, Sunset Pro Photo Albums and Sunset and ClearStar coatings
  • Fredrix Print Canvas
  • LexJet, General Formulations and HP solvent, latex and UV-curable media
  • Specialty films and fabrics
  • LexJet laminates, adhesives and backers
  • Canon, EPSON and HP inks
  • Canon, EPSON and HP printers

If you have questions or need help with anything, contact a LexJet customer specialist at 800-453-9538.

*$500 Gift Card for products purchased through LexJet.

Inkjet Printed Wall Mural + Social Media = Immediate Sales

Printing custom wall murals for businesses and homes

Samples sell. It’s that simple. Illustrate what you can do in your studio, lobby or showroom and the application sells itself.

At least that’s what Andy Wredberg, owner of AW Artworks in Sun Prairie, Wis., has found by decorating his studio with various inkjet media applications from photo paper to canvas.

Apply wall murals on textured surfaces
A closeup of the textured surface to which AW Artworks applied Photo Tex for its studio wall mural.

Wredberg’s most recent studio sample was a large 80″ x 72″ wall mural, pictured here, that he applied using Photo Tex Repositionable Fabric from LexJet. Wredberg posted the project on Facebook and almost immediately received four inquiries. Two of those have already led to sales and Wredberg is meeting with the other two next week.

“What I posted on my Facebook page is that this type of wall mural is perfect for doing something as permanent or temporary as you want for a home or business. If you live in a rental, for instance, and you want to do something that you can easily take down, this is an excellent way to do it instead of using wallpaper,” explains Wredberg. “The walls in my shop are heavily textured, yet I was able to apply it, and it looks great. I used the 42-inch wide version and overlapped it by two inches to fill up one wall and show people who walk in that it will go over just about any wall surface.”

WPPI Announces Speaker Lineup for WPPI U

Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) announced today its speaker and instructor line-up for WPPI U, taking place Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9 at WPPI 2013 in Las Vegas. This university-style, two-day workshop provides the fundamentals of photography to help today’s up-and-coming photographers strengthen their shooting skills and learn how to be successful in their business and marketing practices, according to WPPI.

Educational seminars for professional photographersScheduled to teach at WPPI U are renowned professional photographers Jerry Ghionis, Kevin Kubota,  Henk Van Kooten, Doug Gordon, Moshe Zusman, Lindsey Adler, JP Elario, Jared Platt, Tim Meyer and many more.

All WPPI 2013 classes, events and trade show will take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas from March 7-14.

WPPI U classes will include topics such as:

  • Lighting and Posing
  • Business and Branding
  • Marketing
  • Postproduction (Lightroom and Photoshop)
  • Social Media
  • Weddings, Portraits, and Seniors

Each class is two hours and a Portfolio Review and Reception for participants will be hosted at the conclusion of the first day. Attendees will receive a certificate of completion from WPPI and a WPPI U T-shirt. The advance-purchase price for WPPI U is $125 for the two-day program if purchased online by March 6. The onsite price is $150. WPPI U sponsors include: Graphistudio, Bay Photo, Sigma, Millers, Adobe and more.

Registration (Http://registration3.experientevent.com/ShowWPP131/?flowcode=ATT) for WPPI 2013 and is open now. Registration rates are $275 for WPPI members and $399 for non-members. These rates include one free guest, all Platform classes, special events and a three-day pass to WPPI.

For more information about WPPI 2013 and all of its workshops and events, go to: www.wppionline.com/wppi-show.shtml