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Tex Visions Blog |
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Posted by mwhite on May 1, 2013
The ongoing series “Meet the Team,” where we profile the people who drive the success of Tex Visions, continues.
Today we meet Andrew Welsh, Multimedia Graphic Designer. Andrew has been with the company for over 2 ½ years. He conceptualizes and executes animations for e-mail blasts and web banner ads while performing other graphic design duties with print and web mediums. He believes the key to success is learning to pick yourself up, even when it’s difficult. There are and always will be people trying to knock you down. He thinks this quote from Batman Begins sums it up the best: “And why do we fall, Bruce? So we can learn to pick ourselves up.” (Thomas Wayne)
 What’s your favorite Tex Visions product?
I really do like the Roll Up Plus because it’s so much fun to animate. It’s also simplistic and very clean looking.
What do you like to do when not at work?
I really enjoy being active outdoors whether it’s hiking, cycling, canoeing, tubing, swimming, or paintball. I also enjoy hanging with friends, listening to music, sampling beers, and driving in the country.
Are you a coffee or tea person?
I enjoy both, but in order to start my day I need a strong cup of coffee.
Would you rather cook or go to a great restaurant?
I love to cook, but I would much rather have a professional whip up something awesome. The no mess/clean up thing really takes the cake.
Do you have or want a pet?
I have a fat cat named Fark, who thinks he’s a dog. I also have a black cat named Wenzday, who I think has a split personality. I’d like to get a dog someday, maybe a labrador or a pit bull?
SUV or convertible?
I would enjoy both, but at least with an SUV I have the option of running things over…
Mountains or Beach?
I really enjoy both, but since I have mountains in my backyard I’ll take the beach in a heartbeat.
If you could have lunch with anyone, who would you choose and what would you ask?
I would have lunch with Rob Dyrdek and ask him where he gets his insane amount of drive and creativity from. I’d also ask him if I could do a backflip into his foam pit. 
What’s the last book/movie that you read/watched?
Probably The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Don’t waste your time with the movie, remember to always pack a towel, and whatever you do, DON’T PANIC. (If you don’t get it, read the book!)
Check back regularly to meet the rest of the team at Tex Visions as we explore the wonders of printing. Feel free to send us your questions so we can incorporate them into the next interview. What do you want to know?
Categories: Meet the Team
|  Tags: advertising display, graphic designer, interview, marketing, multimedia, tex visions
|  No comments
Posted by mwhite on April 25, 2013
This week we continue the ongoing series “The Question,” where we search our social media posts, web comments, and e-mails for burning questions from resellers and devote precious blogspace to giving you answers.
Q: My client is on a tight budget. How can I make sure their trade show booth is effective and budget-friendly?
 Budget is one of the most important things to consider when building a trade show booth. If your client is on a tight budget, be sure they know they don’t have to break the bank to create an effective trade show booth. There are many different ways to make a trade show booth more cost-effective. Here are just a few ideas to get your client started:
Reuse
The easiest way to make a trade show booth cost-effective is to design it for reuse, allowing your client to save money by getting the most use out of it. Additionally, your client can get even more use out of a single display by using products such as the Pop Up Basic or Display Cube that have prints that can easily be removed and changed.
Hardware
Another easy way to make a trade show booth more cost-effective is to use displays that have a lightweight construction. Hardware that is lightweight reduces the energy required to ship it. Because the display is easier to ship, it cuts down on your client’s shipping costs.
Economy displays
Finally, investing in budget-friendly versions of popular displays is a great way to create a more budget-friendly trade show booth. Several of our most popular products, including the Roll Up and X-Display, come in economy versions. Versatile displays such as the Bowflag® Basic, which features five flag shapes that use the same hardware and mounts onto a variety of bases, are another perfect way to make your client’s trade show booth more cost-effective.
What questions do you have about our displays or about the printing industry in general? Tex Visions is here to bring you the answers.
Categories: Problem Solving
| Tags: cost effective, economy displays, hardware, reuse, tex visions, trade show
| No comments
Posted by mwhite on April 2, 2013
Classic banner stands are traditional display options that can be found almost anywhere. However, non-traditional display hardware, highlighted by a recent article in Digital Output magazine, is a new emerging trend quickly replacing traditional displays.
Non-traditional displays evolved out of the changing needs of customers. Displays needed to do more than simply catch the eye of an audience; they had to be portable, durable, user-friendly, and customizable. Digital Output argues that non-traditional displays helped banner stands become more versatile, growing from use at only trade shows to use anywhere it might capture an audience’s attention such as restaurants and department stores.
We offer a wide range of non-traditional displays to fit any need your client may have. Here are just a few of our most popular non-traditional display options:
Bowflag® Premium
Our Bowflag® Premium models put a twist on our extensive Bowflag® product line. It features four unique shapes, including the Scoop, Shield, Arrow, and Surfer. Instead of depending on the wind for readability, these shapes use it to bring more attention to the eye-catching look. They can show off fabric prints with custom graphics or stock colors if desired. All Bowflag® Premium models have a construction of mainly aviation-grade fiberglass poles, can be assembled without the use of tools, and are highly portable with the included economy bag or optional carrying case.
Q-Frame® Tex
The Q-Frame® Tex is a simple yet versatile custom frame system. It uses aluminum profiles and custom prints finished with keder to create a frameless appearance. Six profiles are available and range in both width and functionality, such as the Q-Frame® Tex50 that uses two prints facing the same direction to create a 3D effect or the Q-Frame® Tex120 that creates a lightbox. The Q-Frame® Tex can be hung from the ceiling or wall, mounted to a wall, or used free-standing with the semicircular, angled, or side base.
Foam Displays
Finally, our Foam Displays are great way to get noticed! Available in a cube and cylinder shape, these displays feature a core of thick, high-compact foam wrapped in a custom printed fabric. They are lightweight enough for stacking yet dense enough for sitting at the same time. These displays are highly portable, user-friendly, and reusable. Your client can use our versatile foam displays anywhere as an advertising wall, advertising column, seating, or simply a stand-alone advertisement.
Categories: Industry Trends
| Tags: banner stands, bowflag, classic, Display Cube, Display Cylinder, displays, non-traditional hardware, Q-Frame Tex, trends
| No comments
Posted by mwhite on March 26, 2013
The ongoing series “Meet the Team,” where we profile the people who drive the success of Tex Visions, continues.
Today we meet Vicky Meckley, Accounts Receivable Clerk. Vicky has been with the company for 3 years. She started as an Accounting Assistant. The department has grown and she is now the Accounts Receivable Clerk, responsible for invoicing clients and collecting their payments. She thinks being adaptable and having a good attitude and sense of humor are the keys to success. It is important to be able to grow and change to meet the needs of the business and maintaining a positive attitude will make work easier for everyone.
 What’s your favorite Tex Visions product?
I can’t choose just one. The Snap Frame LED Lightbox is fun and I really like the new Bowflag® Premium shapes — especially the arrow and the shield. These products really attract attention and are a great way to showcase your message!
What do you like to do when not at work?
I like to travel. When I’m not traveling, I enjoy reading, gardening, playing video games, and spending time with friends and family.
Are you a coffee or tea person?
Neither, really. I usually start my day with a glass of chocolate milk and move to soda in the afternoon. If you see me drinking hot tea with honey, it means I am really sick and you should probably just avoid me.
Would you rather cook or go to a great restaurant?
Either — depends upon my mood at the time.
Do you have or want a pet?
I love animals and would love to have another pet. Through my childhood we had dogs, cats, rabbits, parakeets, fish, and sometimes turtles or salamanders that wandered into our yard (my mom always made us set the wild animals free after a brief visit at our house). Most recently I had a loveable and mischievous dog named Oreo. Even at 84lbs, she thought she was a lap dog. She passed away in 2011 and I still miss her a lot.
SUV or convertible?
I prefer a small sedan or even a pickup truck — but I might go for a nice sports car someday.
Mountains or Beach?
Mountains — I like to go hiking.
If you could have lunch with anyone, who would you choose and what would you ask?
My father died when I was a baby, so it would be great to get to talk to him. I have no idea what I would ask, but just having a chance to get to know him would be amazing.
What’s the last book/movie that you read/watched?
The most recent movie that I actually enjoyed was “Skyfall.” As for books, I read a lot and usually have multiple books going at once, so I am not really sure which one I finished most recently. However, one that I highly recommend to people and have read several times is “Left to Tell” by Immaculee Ilibagiza. It is about her experiences surviving the Rwandan Holocaust and how her faith helped her to not only survive, but to be able to forgive the people responsible. It really is an inspirational book and helps me to put my own problems into perspective.
Check back regularly to meet the rest of the team at Tex Visions as we explore the wonders of printing. Feel free to send us your questions so we can incorporate them into the next interview. What do you want to know?
Categories: Meet the Team
| Tags: accounting, advertising display, clerk, interview, tex visions
| No comments
Posted by Ashley Werner on March 21, 2013
Do you think homelessness is an issue in your area? According to Carlisle C.A.R.E.S. (Combined Area Resources for Emergency Shelter), a non-profit homeless shelter here in Carlisle, PA, it’s a bigger issue in this area than most people realize. Continuing its local community service efforts, Tex Visions employees spent yesterday volunteering at the Carlisle C.A.R.E.S. Resource Center.
 In addition to donating kitchen supplies and first aid supplies for the guests, Tex Visions employees spent the day doing basic maintenance like cleaning and painting as well as sorting through and organizing miscellaneous donations at the Resource Center. Everyone shared the same feelings of graciousness and hope: graciousness that there is a place where the homeless can go to get help and hope for each and every guest to find their way with the programs in place at the shelter. Check out some pictures of us hard at work on our Facebook page.
While The Salvation Army and Safe Harbour are located nearby, they are usually at full capacity. This spurred some local congregations and social service providers into action. In 2004, Carlisle C.A.R.E.S. began operating out of 3-4 churches in the area with 4-6 men per night. The non-profit now has 14 churches open year round with the highest count in one night reaching 54 men, women, and children.
 Programs Manager, Clint Green, is new to the Resource Center but is doing everything in his power to enhance the experience. Clint and the staff are working to make the center a place where the homeless have an opportunity to share in the bare essentials most people have every day, while also having the chance to attend classes for education such as self-defense, financial planning, and how to build a résumé. We wish Clint and his staff much success in their continued work to help those in need.
Categories: Company News
| Tags: Carlisle C.A.R.E.S., community service, homeless shelter, local, tex visions, volunteering
| No comments
Posted by Ashley Werner on March 13, 2013
Last week, Project SHARE (Survival Help And Recipient Education), a local non-profit organization that provides food, clothing, and nutritional education to surrounding communities, participated in an annual competition called Canstruction at the Harrisburg Home and Garden Show. For this competition, volunteers created teams to design and construct large structures made entirely of canned goods. All canned goods used to create these structures were then donated to local food banks after the competition.
Tex Visions was happy to assist Project SHARE in participating in this event. We donated two Roll Up Plus 31” as well as a table runner and worked with them to create custom designs for each display to help their booth stand out. Thank you to Project SHARE for lettings us be a part of this wonderful event!
Canstruction, the most unique food charity in the world, was started in 1992 in New York City as a way of uniting the design and construction community in a competition that assisted the underprivileged at the same time. It has since become one of the world’s largest contributors to food banks with competitions in 140 cities and over 15 million pounds of donated canned goods. Check out Canstruction’s photo gallery to get a taste of what the completed structures look like.
Categories: Company News
| Tags: Canstruction, custom displays, donate, Project SHARE, Roll Up Plus, Tablecloth, tex visions
| 2 comments
Posted by mwhite on March 5, 2013
Banners are a classic way to get an audience’s attention. With numerous material, finishing, layout, and format options, they are also a highly customizable form of advertising. Because of the various finishing options, however, it is important to consider exactly how and where your client will use their banner. This article from Sign & Digital Graphics presents a good overview of some of the most popular banner finishes. Here are some of the finishing options Tex Visions offers:
Simple Sides
For a clean and simple look, your client can choose to have their banner finished with cut or hemmed sides. Other finishing options such as grommets may be added to this if desired, but they aren’t necessary for display.
 Pole Sleeve
Your client’s banner can also be finished with pole sleeves, which are used to accommodate hanging components like a wooden dowel and polyester cord. This option is ideal for a hanging banner that can be moved or taken down quickly and easily with no tools required. Pole sleeves can be made to any desired size, depending on the hanging component chosen. The size of the sleeve is measured by the size it is when laid flat. Pole sleeves are usually hemmed, whether fabric or vinyl material is used. Vinyl can also be welded upon request.
Grommets
Grommets are one of the most common finishing options for banners. They are versatile and provide your client with a wide range of mounting options. We offer grommets in brass and nickel. They come in one standard size and can be used with plastic disc reinforcements, depending on the fabric’s structure.
Aluminum Profiles
For a more attractive look, choose one of our aluminum profiles. We offer a snap profile constructed of an aluminum spring loaded snap closure at the top and bottom of the print. Our keder profile is constructed of an aluminum frame that attaches to the print using the keder sewn into the print’s pole sleeves. The snap profile features a banner with cut sides so it lays flat and secures well in the profile. It can be hung with suctions cups or any other wall hanging component. The keder profile comes in three different diameters and uses hooks for hanging.
Outdoor Finishes
Is your client using their banner outdoors? We offer finishing options specifically for outdoor settings. Your client can have the sides of their fabric banner backed with header tape for extra strength and use multiple grommets, D-rings, snap hooks, loops, or polyester cord for mounting. Although vinyl banners can be used outdoors, we recommend fabric because it allows wind to pass through, will not crack, and doesn’t need to be double-sided to see an image on both sides.
For more finishing options, check out our catalog or consult one of our sales representatives. What do you think is the most popular banner finish? Are there any we missed? We want to hear what you think.
Categories: Insider Knowledge
| Tags: aluminum profiles, banners, finishing, grommets, hemming, pole sleeves, prints
| No comments
Posted by mwhite on February 22, 2013
The ongoing series “Meet the Team,” where we profile the people who drive the success of Tex Visions, continues.
Today we meet Tali Range, Accounting Manager. Tali has been with the company for 4½ years. She serves as manager of the accounting department, which streamlines, monitors, and records all financial transactions and turns them into useful information for other departments. When she first started at Tex Visions, she was a clerk. From there she moved to Accounting Manager.
Tali feels there are two major factors to success. First, no one can succeed unless they are given the opportunity to do so. You need an employer and a team that are willing to give you a chance to demonstrate your abilities. Second, you have to be willing to take responsibility and work hard. All the opportunities in the world are useless if your aren’t willing and able to meet them.
What’s your favorite Tex Visions product?
The Street Banner. More than any other display we offer, I see these used by communities and neighborhoods to showcase local projects or achievements. Helping individuals and small businesses identify with their neighbors and demonstrate pride in who they are is a powerful thing, and I love that we can be part of that.
What do you like to do when not at work?
Video games! I love a good RPG (Role Playing Game) or FPS (First Person Shooter), and can generally convince my husband that buying a new game is cheaper in the long run than going out to a dinner or a movie.
Are you a coffee or tea person?
Coffee, specifically mochaccino’s.
Would you rather cook or go to a great restaurant?
Cook. I live for those occasions when I can make a recipe better than the restaurant does – not that they happen very often
Do you have or want a pet?
I have a cat, Ali, who is diligently working to help me understand my place in the universe as her personal servant 
SUV or convertible?
Jeep. Would that be both?
Mountains or Beach?
Mountains. A warm quilt, a campfire, and a brisk morning in the mountains.
If you could have lunch with anyone, who would you choose and what would you ask?
C.S. Lewis. He’s very astute (and brutally honest) about the heart and its motivations. I would love to get his thoughts on our culture – how we live and what we prioritize. Technology has changed us in so many ways, I can’t help but wonder how we would look to an outsider.
What’s the last book/movie that you read/watched?
Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. It’s one of those rare movies you can watch and re-watch and enjoy it just as much.
Check back regularly to meet the rest of the team at Tex Visions as we explore the wonders of printing. Feel free to send us your questions so we can incorporate them into the next interview. What do you want to know?
Categories: Meet the Team
| Tags: accounting, advertising display, interview, manager, tex visions
| No comments
Posted by mwhite on February 18, 2013
In a previous blog post, we outlined some of the benefits of using fabric for custom graphics over other materials. Fabrics are lightweight for easy transport, aesthetically pleasing, and eco-friendly. It is easy to see why fabric graphics are growing in popularity.
An article in Fabric Graphics Magazine argues that even clients who don’t understand all of these benefits will almost always choose fabric over substrates such as vinyl or paper. When given the option between a graphic on fabric and a graphic on vinyl, your client will probably not only like the fabric graphic better, but will also touch the fabric.
Why does this happen? People have a subconscious personal and emotional connection to fabric that they simply don’t have with other substrates. Because it used for everything from clothing to furniture, fabric plays a vital role in our lives. We associate fabric with warmth and comfort, so we are naturally drawn to it.
Most of Tex Visions’ products are constructed of polyester fabric. In addition to the benefits of fabric, polyester is highly resistant to mold and mildew and durable with the ability to last longer without tearing. A complete list of all fabrics and substrates we offer can be found in our catalog.
Next time your client is choosing a material for their graphic, point this out to them. By selecting fabric, your client’s customers will not only be drawn to their display on instinct, but they will have a subconscious personal connection to it before the message is even read.
Categories: Client Connection
| Tags: display, fabric, graphics, polyester, substrates
| No comments
Posted by mwhite on February 15, 2013
Banner stands are easily the most common type of point-of-purchase (POP) display. They can be found everywhere from trade shows to department stores. However, as these displays grow in popularity, they lose some of their unique qualities and become more cookie-cutter designs.
 To stand out from the crowd, displays need to be innovative in addition to being versatile and effective. According to a Sign Media Canada article, banner stands and display systems are becoming more customized to prevent this issue. Here are just a couple of examples:
To promote its products in independent stores, Absolut used a stand-alone wall mural with two podiums with an area for showcasing a sample of the product. The simplicity of the wall mural allowed it to be produced in different sizes without changing the graphic. The podiums were also versatile enough for reuse in future product promotions.
Ralph Lauren used a combination of several POP displays to promote its signature fragrance, Polo. A large straight wall banner stand was placed in the center of the environment with two product showcases on either side and two banners hung from the ceiling above the showcases. This created a high-impact visual display to fit with the atmosphere of the store and draw in customers.
Tex Visions offers a number of highly customizable display systems like our Q-Frame® Tex to ensure your client’s display stands out. What do you think about this new trend? We want to know if your clients prefer more customized displays or tried-and-true banner stands.
Categories: Industry Trends
| Tags: banner stands, displays, point-of-purchase, POP display
| No comments
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