Oldest Surviving European Book Preserved with Digitization
The 7th Century St. Cuthbert Gospel
In recent news, the British Library reported the successful acquisition of the oldest European book known to exist completely intact. The St. Cuthbert Gospel was purchased for the staggering price of $14 million. This 7th century book is regarded as one of the most important books in the world. It has survived over 1300years. The task of maintaining the book’s near perfect condition will now be carefully undertaken by the British Library.
The historic book will be carefully displayed for a time but is, of course, far too delicate and valuable to be entered into public circulation. Interested parties need not be dismayed, however. In addition to preserving the manuscript, the St. Cuthbert Gospel has been digitized by the British Library and made publicly available online.
Thanks to bound book scanning technology numerous fragile or highly valuable manuscripts and paper documents have been safely digitized for historic preservation, archiving, and safekeeping. In digital form, the images and knowledge contained within such papers can be kept indefinitely and replicated as needed. As with the St. Cuthbert Gospel, books and documents may be made accessible to the public worldwide without any harm coming to irreplaceable original copies.
The technology supporting the digitization of rare and fragile papers and books is a process that leaves the original unharmed. Bound book scanning is a safe and rewarding asset to book preservation. Scanning technology can safely replicate delicate originals and is often used to make valuable collections of papers, business documents, books, and aging library archives sustainable and shareable with others.
Digitized books transform the potential for distributing knowledge. Digital files may be formatted for viewing on the internet or downloaded for use on any of the various e-readers on the market. Additionally, printed replicas of the original may be produced from the digitized format without any further manipulation or risk of damage. Bound book scanning and print technology are essential to preserve the accumulated knowledge of the human record stored in books.
Optimizing Access to Print Marketing Services
As a national provider of print marketing services, we at Joseph Merritt are constantly working to improve access and customer service for our valued clients. These efforts go hand in hand with advancements in technology. Staying current and adapting to the changing dynamics of business communications and printing technology have enabled our business to flourish for over a century. Our latest evolutionary step is the development of a mobile website for better communications with our customers.
Developing our mobile website for printing services was a tremendous learning experience. Based upon extensive research, it became evident that this was a necessary effort to improve access to our comprehensive print marketing solutions. The advent of smart phone technology has been rapid and well received. Customers have embraced cell phones and mobile devices to source information and conduct business communications and transactions.
The wealth of information available on our standard website is important, but the setup for a traditional browser and level of detail can be very cumbersome for mobile devices. With this in mind, we’ve taken action to make the necessary adjustments, and the first phase of our mobile website is live. Information is now available in user-friendly format with interactive access for mobile devices.
Our scanning division will follow the graphics division among the printing services available on the newly developed mobile site. These two departments are highly visual and a natural transitional step towards optimizing the full range of printing services we offer our clients. Our mobile website has already yielded improved lead generation and resulting sales.
Embracing technology has kept our printing capabilities state-of-the-art. Now, more than ever, technological advancement empowers us to maintain our high standards for customer service and communications as well. We haven’t abandoned the tried and true methods of communication along the way; we’ve simply added and improved channels. We can always be reached by phone, email, fax, or a visit in person, but it’s important to note the support and response generated through creating a mobile website – even at this first stage – has been tremendous.
High Volume Printing and Copying
Instead of costly investments in printing hardware and maintenance, save money and time. Merritt Graphics can meet your high-speed quality copy demands. On demand printing and copy services enable you to forgo large expenditures on print machinery and materials that may become outdated or be cumbersome to store. You may instead opt to order black and white printed materials you require as the need is evidenced. Short turnaround times for high digital quality prints and copies make this possible.
High-output black and white copying services are a vital component of business printing. Merritt’s high volume copying is relied upon by businesses looking to save money over producing copied materials in house. Companies end up with professional quality copies and save both money and time. They can eliminate the cost of renting or purchasing the equipment, ink, toner, paper, service, and work hours required to keep in house copying operational.
At Merritt Graphics, we maintain a fleet of advanced printers and copiers capable of producing quality pages at speed. Any job from very small to millions of pages is within the capabilities of our technicians. Customers rely on our automated folding, booklet making, and page trimming services for professional results in a timely manner.
Of course, we offer quality digital color copying and printing services, but our black and white capabilities are very much in demand to save our client’s time and money. Our digital black and white printing capabilities have only improved since the advent of on demand printing. Our customers enjoy easy to use web to print portals to order only the print materials they need at a particular time.
Merritt’s fast turn around times and professional quality results save our clients time and money. Top quality copy and digital printing services give our customers professional results every time. Our web to print and on demand printing capabilities place expert Merritt Graphics technicians at your disposal 24/7.
Promotional Banners for Trade Shows, Marketing Signage, and Exhibits
Banners work, because getting noticed is the first step in effective marketing. Once you have someone’s attention, you can push a call to action and follow up with your sales or promotional strategy. Promotional banners are a great way to get noticed because they incorporate visual elements to relay a message. Whether you are trying to generate attention for a cause, an event, a product, service, or company branding, printed banners are a great vehicle to attract your audience.
Banner graphics vary widely due to their broad array of uses. Vivid, full-color banner printing capabilities include the know how to produce banners of various sizes from trade show booths and storefront signage to large arena banners. Banner graphics cover everything from basic lettering to replicating the details of fine works of art.
The CT Science Center recently used banners promoting an upcoming dinosaur exhibit to adorn their parade float while participating in their local St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The banner graphics incorporated branding elements for the museum with promotional information and imagery for the dinosaur exhibit. Following the parade, the banners were transferred from the float to be hung at the Science Center.
The Connecticut Science Center’s use of banners for one of their exhibits provides a great example of repurposing banners. As you can see, banner printing creates portable and reusable signage for promotional purposes. For example, trade show banners can be used at numerous events over a large time span.
Banners provide flexible and affordable platforms to gain broad audience exposure for marketing and advertising. Banner graphics and printing are capable of big color displays and fine detail. Banners can be designed for indoor or outdoor use in many sizes. Custom design options make advertising banners, decorative banners, and sign banners ideal platforms for visual marketing.
PURLs and Cross-Media Marketing Success
Cross-media marketing combines direct mail and print advertising with interactive online media to track and improve the return on investment (ROI) of marketing campaigns. Interactive marketing strategies employ ethical information gathering to personalize sales communications for improved success. Personalized URLs (PURLs) are a valuable tool in capturing contacts’ information and steering them to tailored sales materials. Cross-media marketing has become a vital strategy for companies looking to expand business, with the growing popularity of online media applications.
The success of cross-media marketing begins with reaching out to capture the attention of your target audience. A great way to accomplish this is with personalized URLs. PURLs are unique web pages developed for each contact. Recipients are greeted by their name and information focused on their industry and particular needs. Further information is gathered with surveys and how contacts interact with the PURL to sharpen the focus of ongoing sales communications.
PURLs develop each responding contact’s information and specific goals and needs. A print mailing can steer recipient response via PURL to generate email and phone contact information for decision makers within a firm. Survey response and online behavior empowers your sales force to provide the right products and services to the right people at the right time. Based on gathered information, salespeople can follow up with print marketing and brochures targeted to the customer’s interests and current needs. With this strategy, contacts become customers and customers become loyal, because interactive marketing with PURLs enables responsive customer service and sales.
Cross-media marketing harnesses the power of personalization to build relationships with customers and boosts ROI. Print marketing becomes even more effective as part of a multi-channel marketing approach to interact with contacts. This interaction gathers information targeting each individual recipient’s interests and needs. Communications are then focused to address these identified fields. Personalized sales communications result in higher response rates which in turn yield higher sales conversions with the individualized specificity of sales communications generated through interactive marketing.
Joseph Merritt Company works with our clients to create and manage successful cross-media marketing campaigns. We combine industry leading print marketing capabilities with advanced multi-channel campaigns to generate dynamic response. Our interactive marketing strategies transform contact lists into customer contacts.
Exacting Standards for Exhibit Graphics
Museum exhibits, corporate branding packages, trade show booths, and other marketing installations must be managed with an eye for detail. Precise guidelines must be in place to manage the production of art pieces and items that contribute to corporate identities. Colors must match exact specifications, and installation elements must be constructed to precise measurements. Large graphic exhibits require each piece be printed and installed to a constant standard throughout the display. Without such attention to detail, concepts lose impact.
The expertise and professionalism required to coordinate each step of creating exhibit graphics and custom displays are beyond the capabilities of many fly-by-night printing companies that will populate a basic Google search. Businesses, museums, and organizations that require top quality professional exhibits know that graphics for large audiences require a greater level of service than printing companies focused on speed over quality can provide. Custom and exhibit graphics for trade shows and public venues require an attention to detail and quality from concept development through installation.
Joseph Merritt Company has provided clients with top quality design and printing for over a century. We surpass our competitors with superior customer service, creativity, diversification of services, and production quality. We strive to exceed our clients’ expectations from initial consultation to delivery or installation, because the success of their projects is a reflection of our reputation. Joseph Merritt Company has outlived competitors through creative innovation and focus on quality. Our solid record of working with clients from concept development through installation of print materials adds value to our printing services.
Joseph Merritt Company knows the importance of delivering top quality custom and exhibit graphics on time at a reasonable price. We’ve dedicated more than one hundred years to perfecting our craft for the benefit of our clients. As a result, we deliver custom and exhibit graphics which meet exacting standards.
Variable Data Printing Improves ROI on Mass Mailings with Focus
Variable Data Printing technologies give companies the strategic advantage of personalized print communications with clients. Customers are far more likely to respond to a mailer with their name on it than a generic piece of correspondence, and instead of sending a single postcard to every member on a mailing list, each member of the list may be sent a postcard customized with relevant details. Businesses benefit from a higher ROI using variable data marketing with text, graphics, and information tailored to individual recipients.
Increased direct mail response generates sales leads and revenue for businesses using variable data marketing. Variable data printing is successful for providing the ability to address individual client’s needs with marketing messages. Generic mailers and form letter marketing are often considered junk mail and are round filed without much consideration. The intended audience is typically too diverse to target with one message and alienated by a lack of personalization.
Variable data printing empowers companies to reach out to these otherwise alienated demographics and adapt print marketing correspondence to demonstrate attention to detail. The static elements of the mailer will carry the basic marketing message, but the variable fields permit customization for relevance. To show industry savvy pertinent to each recipient, images, graphics and information are adjustable. Response rates increase, because variable data printing narrows the scope on mass mailings.
Technological advances permit variable data printing at high speeds with excellent print quality to hit a targeted demographic with print marketing materials that are personalized to individuals and customized to industry with relevant products and services. The customized print marketing materials stand a much better chance of not only being delivered to the intended recipients but also delivering a marketing message. Customized direct mail campaigns reach their target when marketing messages are communicated and a response is initiated.
Environmentally Responsible Printing Services
Many companies like to advertise themselves as going green, but at Merritt Graphics, we are doing more. We are growing green. As a leader in print services, we’ve implemented ongoing strategies to minimize our carbon footprint.
State of the art printing processes reduce harmful emissions and reduce waste. Merritt Graphics was the first printer in the Northeast to use an alternative to ammonia based blueprints. This is significant as we’ve been printing construction documents since opening for business in 1908. Through strategic partnerships and recycling programs, our printing services recycle paper waste and utilize recycled materials. For example, in every month, around 900 end caps for paper rolls are collected to save manufacturing energy and money.
Merritt Graphics document scanning and information management services have enabled clients to reduce paper consumption and waste with digital storage and distribution capabilities. Other tremendous paper saving printing services available to our clients include print-on-demand technology and the proprietary @MerrittWeb2print Portals. Web to Print technology empowers clients to print what they need when they need it and reduce the accumulation of out-dated stores of print materials.
Point-of-Purchase or POP displays are a great example to demonstrate how green initiatives have been seamlessly incorporated into our printing services from set up to delivery. Lower emissions printers are able to print on recycled and non-PVC materials, and UV curable laminates add durability to print collateral with a smaller carbon footprint. The AdStand is an example of a POP display made of recycled materials. The AdStand is biodegradable, cost-effective, and perfect for trade shows, product promotions, and special events.
Merritt Graphics delivers printing services expertise that comes with over a century in the field. We maintain company wide sustainable energy practices and recycling programs, and we use environmentally responsible materials and processing. As a result, our clients receive superior quality products and services that are better for the environment without exorbitant costs.
Bound Book Scanning Digitizes the Human Record
Digital scanning technology enables people to save money, time, and space. This technology can also lead to the preservation and duplication of print materials that may be aging, delicate, or rare. Protecting vulnerable print assets and providing space saving accessibility are key factors of the digital scanning technologies that have created bound book scanning abilities. Bound book scanning can transform a library full of books into digital format readily accessed by a computer or an e-reader such as a Kindle™ or iPad.
The transformation of a bound book to digital format requires specialized scanning technology to view page contents in a non-destructive manner and take photo-realistic copies of each page. Automating this process has made book bound scanning much more affordable and efficient in recent years. The demand for digital information continues to rise with the release of each new version of popular e-readers and tablets.
Digitizing a paper book can make it available to people all over the world simultaneously. People are typically given very limited access to rare and delicate books for reasons of preservation. Bound book scanning can safely transform such books into digital formats. Consequently, a single rare book may reach thousands or even millions of people. The original is unharmed and able to be safely archived while the digital version can be made available to the public.
Information dissemination in the digital age has been revolutionized with technologies such as book bound scanning. Individuals can build personal digital libraries of thousands of volumes that require less space than a single book bag. Vulnerable copies of books can be returned safely to storage with their contents preserved by digital scanning and duplication.
Public and private libraries around the globe are charged with safeguarding various documents and books to preserve the record of humankind’s accumulated knowledge. This system gives the general public very limited access to these valuable assets. Book bound scanning and digital scanning technologies are capable of condensing this enormous and scattered source of information. Digital representations of these print materials can be made available to people regardless of geographical location.
Print Marketing: Nike Missteps with St. Patrick’s Day Blunder
When you plan your next print marketing campaign, take efforts to develop a strategy that gets noticed without being offensive while maintaining enough built in charge to get people’s attention. Nike recently made a huge marketing gaffe when it announced a new product. The name of the shoes offended people internationally. This incident should get the attention of business marketing professionals. It serves as a lesson on the importance of doing proper research and the power of public perception in the age of social media.
In an attempt to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the release of a new product, Nike managed to offend the nation of Ireland and many people of Irish descent worldwide. The release of the Nike SB Black and Tan Quickstrike, caused an uproar. Nike claims the name was unofficial and in reference to the popular beverage mixing Guinness Stout and Harp Ale, but Irish are reminded of the paramilitary Black and Tans from the struggle for Irish independence. Either way, Irish leaders are crying foul. According to Brian Boyd of the Irish Times, Nike’s mistake brings up an already touchy subject:
“It’s how the Americans view Saint Patrick’s Day and view Irish culture and history. And it’s the very fact that some people are saying that these are beer-themed sneakers, that the only way to celebrate a national holiday of a country with a very rich culture and a very rich history and literature, et cetera, is to pour massive amounts of alcohol down your body.”
Obviously, Nike did not execute a well thought out marketing strategy. An outside marketing company can work with businesses to avoid such mistakes. From concept development to market research to printing services and campaign implementation, a competent cross media marketing business will coordinate and tailor your company’s media strategies to hit their target audience with favorable messages that pack punch.
While the old adage there’s no such thing as bad publicity may be at play as Nike receives a lot of exposure, the personally offended demographics in this case may become more embittered as the publicity gains furor. Personally offending your intended client base is not going to help sales. Reports indicate this tremendous error in judgment could have been avoided if marketing personnel had conducted a simple Google search. The uproar evident on Facebook and Twitter are a clear sign that Nike isn’t gaining fans in this debacle.
