News, Views & How-To's

Inspiration

Roland customers are some of the most imaginative and creative people we've ever met. To support your creativity and need for inspiration,we have created a selection of blog entries to help you get inspired and excited about creating your next vehicle wrap, sign, custom graphic or prototype. The following content ranges from fun articles and infographics to customer interviews and print news.

Summer Camp

2011년 7월 20일 Rick Scrimger Inspiration

Every summer we head to Japan for what we affectionately call, Summer Camp. The similarity it has with most summer camps is that it's typically very hot & humid in Japan at this time of the year, about 85 degrees and 85% humidity!

You Need More Than One Cow

2011년 7월 6일 Dana Curtis Inspiration inkjet , labeling , rapid package prototyping

In a recent article in the Harvard Business Review, Barnes & Noble was commended for their innovation and risk taking in their attempts to revive the struggling book business. They are fearlessly expanding their offering and moving away from selling printed books. The author equates this strategy to that of the dairy farmer who acquires a second cow instead of trying to get more milk out of his single cow. Its the same in durable graphics inkjet printing: if the only products in your catalog are PVC banners and stickers, printing them faster and cheaper won't expand your profits. You'll simply spend more of your time figuring out how to milk the same cow harder and faster while your business (and your profit) shrinks. Simply put, you need more cows.

Send in the Clowns

2011년 7월 1일 Patrick Kersey Inspiration

It was announced recently in the news that McDonald's had received a letter in the form of full-page ads signed by 550 health professionals and organizations demanding that they stop marketing to kids and retire Ronald McDonald. My overall impression is that we've given up on moms and dads taking responsibility for what their children eat.

Survey says… Positive Outlook!

2011년 6월 21일 Rick Scrimger Inspiration 2011 outlook , isa , isa expo 2011 , survey results

Attached is a survey that ISA recently distributed that I think you’ll find interesting, and a very positive outlook for the sign business going forward. It was compiled after ISA spoke to 200+ CEO’s or shop managers at the recent 2011 ISA show.

Using a Roland the Italian Way

2011년 5월 26일 Dede Sabey Inspiration custom chocolates , experience day , golashes , inspiration , italy , mid europe , rainboots , roland dme

What is it about the Italians that makes them so cool? The romantic language? The fast cars? The creamy gelato? The Italians certainly have a way.. they seem to draw attention without even trying. What makes them so different? Certainly their style. But I also think they are especially creative and have an exceptional commitment to quality. Earlier this year, my Roland colleagues in Italy contributed to my theory about Italians.

Something Newsworthy for Everyone

2011년 5월 16일 Patrick Kersey Engraving , Inspiration e-newsletters , email blasts , marketing , newsletters

How do you keep your customers and prospects informed about your business? Do you use blogs, email blasts or newsletters? If you’d like to keep abreast of newsworthy events here at Roland DGA, there are three opportunities you should know about.

ISA 2011: New booth, new products & a great show!

2011년 5월 3일 Rick Scrimger Inspiration isa , versastudio , versauv lef-12 , versauv lej-640

ISA (International Sign Association) is always a big show for us and this year was no different. Pre-show numbers coming out of the association showed registration significantly up from previous years, with more exhibitors and booth space. We took more space ourselves with a 40x60ft booth and a whole new booth structure that looked fantastic thanks to our awesome marketing department. In addition, we had three exciting new products to talk about: the VersaUV LEJ-640, Roland's first roll-to-roll hybrid flatbed; the LEF-12 UV small flatbed, and our new 20" print/cut device called VersaStudio.

Less Taxing Times Ahead

2011년 4월 5일 Patrick Kersey Inspiration charlie sheen , taxes , tsunami

As everyone would agree, this time of year can be especially taxing (pun intended). This year, however, we have the added worries of war in the mid-east and leaking radiation in Japan. Meanwhile, governments everywhere are wrestling with how to pay for their growing debt.

ABC: Always Be Closing

2011년 3월 31일 Rick Scrimger Inspiration 100 ways to print & profit with a roland , @gerrylayo , @rolanddga , @skipgrant , glengarry glen ross , inc. magazine , isa expo 2011 , sales training

Glengarry Glen Ross, the 1992 movie, featured an all-star cast: Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Alec Baldwin, Alan Arkin, Ed Harris, Kevin Spacey and Jonathan Pryce. During a memorable scene, Alec Balwin says the famous phrase: “ABC. Always Be Closing.”

You Printed What?

2011년 3월 18일 Patrick Kersey Inspiration aj-1000 , creative center , fabric , fp-740 , heatsoft , inkjet , interior design , lec , textile , versauv

Wide-format inkjet printers are now producing some amazing things with fabric. You have probably seen many examples of sublimation, like these sublimated jerseys produced on a Roland FP-740. I especially enjoy the printed fabric wings on the replica of an 1895 Lillienthal glider that hangs in our lobby and were printed on a Roland AJ-1000.