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Up until now it has been difficult to know what the trends are with brand values within the FTSE 100. For the first time we share our research.
epitype is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more
I remember when I used to wait for a train on the London Underground as a student back in the Nineties. As with today, the announcer would inform the commuters of the lines that had disruptions on them within the Network. The District line was suspended or their was an electrical fault on the Central line. The information was crucial to journey planning. Then one day the messages changed. As well as being kept informed of the ‘problems’ on the line, the announcer started to tell us what was right with the Network. Announcements proclaiming that there was a good service on the Underground Network would punctuate the air. Someone, somewhere within the organisation realised that ALL the messages up to that point had been negative.
Whilst these negative messages were accurate and appreciated (especially if the line you planned to travel on was not affected) they didn’t instill much confidence. After all, if all you hear about something is that it doesn’t work, you begin to think it’s a bit crap. It did however instill a sense of trust. It meant that you could rely on the objectivity of the information even though you may have felt the network was crumbling before you.
Since then, London Transport has done even more to be transparent about their service. Drivers now keep us informed of the signaling issues whilst we wait between stations.
The original lesson learned by London Transport and subsequently by other brand managers is sometimes the driving force behind declaring the good aspects of ones organisation. It is important to instill confidence in what we do. That is, however, only part of the picture.
The lesson that must be remembered is that you can also instill trust by having the systems in place to alert your staff or customers of what is wrong. Not enough brand communications managers tell of what is wrong first. There are ’sandwich’ techniques for this where you place the negative message in between two positive ones.
I believe that to be a truly transparent brand you have to explain what is wrong sometimes even before you tell of what is right. That’s the kind of culture that will strive to be more customer focussed. That’s the kind of culture where trust is earned and confidence is built. That’s the kind of brand that can, on a good day, say ‘there is a good service on all lines’ and the message will be believed.
epitype is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more
My previous blog, How to design a winning reusable bag gave an overview of the planning and design process, now I am going to discuss how best to supply artwork when creating a branded reusable bag.
The process below can apply to screen printed non-woven, rPET and cotton bags or full colour laminated non-woven and woven reusable bags.
The following tips will save you time and money and will ultimately lead to creating an attractive and effective bag.
1. FONTS
If you have have text or a strap line that you would like printed in a specific font onto your bags, make sure you supply the font name and outline details when submitting artwork. Even if you provide the fonts electronically in a file it might need to be recreated, having the exact details will make it easier for the design layout team.
2. PANTONE COLOURS
If you have specific Pantone (PMS) colours used for your logo or brand image the style guidelines and pantone numbers /details need to be given. This way an exact match can be made for the ink printing colours. The Pantone colours can usually be derived from artwork files supplied but having the specific pantone codes will ensure an exact match.
3. HIGH RESOLUTION FILES
Artwork should be provided as high-resolution PDF or JPG files. 300 dpi is ideal and images should be no less than 180 dpi.
4. TYPE OF FILES
High resolution PDF or JPG does work, but ideally artwork should be saved as a Original Vector Art file (EPS) format in Illustrator, Corel Draw, Photoshop or Freehand format. Files should be originals created in these formats. The print quality will be related to quality of the art files used to create the printing template.
5. COLOUR PRINTING
CMYK: refers to the four inks used in some color printing: cyan, magenta, yellow, and key black. With regards to CMYK and creating printing plates for your reusable bags, it means artwork can be made up of CMYK plus 1 PMS color and white in total. Or up to 5 PMS colors plus white.
Full Colour Artwork: When making the printing plates the colour data is analyzed by a professional computer and then the samples made. Colours appearing visually on a normal computer screen are not a 100% indication of what the physical sample will look like. This is because each computer has different colour settings & resolutions.
The colours on the physical sample are made with the colour data on the artwork. To ensure an exact match, each spot colour pantone should be outlined. Each different colour should be on a separate layer where possible, this enables grips, bleeds and cutting lines to be added.
6. ATTACHING FILES FOR EMAIL
Files can be sent by email or FTP (File Transfer Protocol). When sending files save a version in PDF format as well as any other format you are sending it in.
6. WHAT NEXT
Once the correct files have been accepted a designer will create a layout of what the bag will look like with the submitted artwork. The layout will be sent to you in PDF format. This gives you an opportunity to make amendments to layout before it goes into physical production. Generally one or two minor changes are permitted but if many artwork layouts are required a charge may be incurred for time and labour.
Besides increasing your costs it could extend the process and risk missing deadlines.
By making sure your files are in the right format as described above and by providing adequate instructions your ecobags will turn out exactly as you want.
If you have any questions about providing artwork for branded reusable bags, do leave a comment or contact leanne@smartbags.co.uk
Smart Bags is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more
We’ve recently launched an affiliate scheme, where you can earn some cash for referring sales through to our website www.elementsforlife.co.uk
It’s free to join and each time you refer a sale to us, we’ll give you 10% of the value of the sale to say thanks. The more people you refer and the more purchases they make, the more you can earn.
You can find out more about the benefits of Raw Chocolate on our blog
More details and sign up at http://www.elementsforlife.co.uk/affiliates
Lightbeing Creations is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more
Do you have a service or product that is ethical? Then you may need to talk to us.
At epitype we create advertising campaigns that stimulate interest from people with big hearts, enquiring minds and ethical standards.
Because we are an integrated agency, we also do the media buying which means that we can find the people you need to talk to about your product.
Whether you work within the environment, alternative products or professional services if your offering is ethical we can help you communicate that.
Contact Martin for more details
Telephone 0845 3456 051
m.roach@epitype.co.uk
epitype is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more
I was contacted a few days ago by a PhD student who was researching marketing and brand practices within the third sector. During our telephone exchange we discussed different strategies and brand models that could be adopted by organisations. As our conversation drew to a close I was asked the one question that divides marketing and brand managers within the third sector: should third sector organisations market themselves in the same way that commercial organisations do? I answered with a hesitant yes. My answer wasn’t wrong but it’s not exactly right either.
epitype is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more
The inaugural People and Environment Achievement Awards (PEA awards) have extended the
date for completed nominations to 14 January 2011 due to increased interest from all sectors
of the green and environmental arena.
As the awards gather pace, the organizers have also just announced that they will be planting a
tree for every entry received with charity partner Project Green Hands, as well as signing up
new partner Green & Blacks, whose co-founder Josephine Fairley is one of the judges.
With the nomination date extended to take account of the Christmas period and renewed
interest in the New Year, the awards event on 2nd March 2011 will see all ten category winners
rewarded with an individual prize each including a £5,000 watch, organic wine hampers and a
luxury treatment package.
Launched to celebrate practical, engaging initiatives taking place in response to sustainability
challenges, the PEA Awards are open to individuals or groups who have made a difference in
the community, or shown inspiration, innovation and perseverance in their various sectors.
The PEA Awards are being launched by the publishers of the quarterly publication GREEN, in
conjunction with Evergreen Events and are also sponsored by World Energy Research, Isklar,
Kyocera and Aquados Simply, Birds Eye and Gigaset.
PEA Award judges include GREEN’s Editor and Chair of the judging panel, Tony Juniper along
with Josephine Fairley, co-founder of Green and Blacks; Richard Hammond, founder of
greentraveller.co.uk; Rebecca Hill, international marketing director of National Geographic; Leo
Johnson, co-Founder of Sustainable Finance and organic entrepreneur Jo Wood.
Enter online or download a form from www.peaawards.com
Other supporters and partners include: Luscombe, Arjowiggins, Gina Conway, Book of Green,
Eco Connect, daisygreenmagazine.co.uk, Ethical Junction and Eurydice PR, Cad & The Dandy
and the Soil Association.
This line jumped out the page of Chris Nichols’ (of Ashridge Consulting) article How to Look Deeper from Ashridge Business School. What I could feel from this question was the lovely uncertainty of letting go. How does it feel in business to let something happen naturally? It feels risky but if you trust and there is dialogue you can usually gain a huge amount. In my opinion this is an approach that can make the challenge of sustainable business ever more exciting and translates into a new relationship with the natural world.
Chris’ quote about the raspberries needs to be contextualised at this stage. The participant group on the short course at Schumacher College Purpose and Profit: How holistic thinking can remake business went on a journey. Chris Nichols and Chris Seeley, Ashridge Consultants, worked with Schumacher College and Ashridge faculty as well as other visiting teachers and facilitators to support this quite exceptional journey. Within this they spent time with Martin Crawford at the Agroforestry Research Trust in Dartington.
From How to Look Deeper: ‘Martin spoke about how his raspberries have migrated several metres southwards since planting. Traditional gardening would weed out the new growth, keeping the plants in their set place. But this would stress the plants and they would need feeding and replacing. The freshly migrating plants are vigorous and healthy. How much organisational effort goes into keeping the appearance of order, and what is lost as we do it? How would business be if we let the raspberries head south?’
So there we have it: An earthy challenge to the business world to be taken however it is useful to each of us. I choose to take it that if you let nature and natural process influence what you do in business, everything can work a lot better. And by everything I mean the people working with you are happier, you sell things more effectively, and what you sell is less destructive and more productive.
The challenge is how to do this. Much of the course Purpose and Profit engages people in the process of exploring a different way of doing businesses. Through creative and free-ways we can explore our own ideas and our relationships with what we do and other people. Martin’s describes his garden as “partially managed wildness”. That is the course in a nutshell too. Say it out loud as a potential motto for your work today: ‘Partially managed wildness.’
Partly this is about having brave discussions – ‘Why does a business need to grow?’ ‘What are the real costs of our business?’ And about how to practice better and more enjoyable ways of working. But is also about ‘being’ present and open to the situation you are in. ‘I cannot speak too highly of the importance of slow patient and generous conversation.’ Say Chris. We can’t know the answers to all the questions, and we might not arrive at those we can quickly but we can give the time and space to these essential explorations into what (re)makes sustainable business, for the planet but also for us in the making.
Anna Lodge, Schumacher College
If you are interested in participating in the next great adventure that is Purpose and Profit: How holistic thinking can remake business then click here.
Schumacher College, Dartington is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more
The first ever People and Environment Achievement Awards (PEA awards), due to take place in March 2011, announce today new media partner The Evening Standard, along with new sponsors Birds Eye and Gigaset.
NOMINATIONS are still invited for the inaugural PEA Awards which will identify the country’s green heroes.
Launched to celebrate practical, engaging initiatives taking place in response to sustainability challenges, the PEA Awards are open to individuals or groups who have made a difference in the community, or shown inspiration, innovation and perseverance in their various sectors.
“We are delighted to welcome our new partner and sponsors on board, as the nominations process gathers pace,” says Evergreen Events organiser Minaxi Mistry. The nominations close on 31st December 2010.
The PEA Awards are being launched by the publishers of the quarterly publication National Geographic Green, in conjunction with Evergreen Events and are also sponsored by World Energy Research, Isklar, Kyocera and Aquados Simply.
PEA Award judges include National Geographic Green’s Editor and Chair of the judging panel, Tony Juniper along with Josephine Fairley, co-founder of Green and Blacks; Richard Hammond, founder of greentraveller.co.uk; Rebecca Hill, international marketing director of National Geographic; Leo Johnson, co-Founder of Sustainable Finance and organic entrepreneur Jo Wood.
The PEA awards will be hosted by television presenter Liz Bonnin on 2nd March 2011 at the stunning National Geographic store in London’s Regent Street.
The PEA Awards recognise excellence in 10 categories :
Arts & Music
Best Energy Saving Idea
Best Earth Saving Idea
Business Person of the Year
Community Award
Campaigner of the Year
Entrepreneur of the Year
Public Sector Award
Sustainability in Sport
Responsible Travel
Nominations close on Friday, December 31.
Enter online or download a form from www.peaawards.com
Our supporters and partners include: Luscombe, Arjowiggins, Gina Conway, Book of Green, Eco Connect, daisygreenmagazine.co.uk, Ethical Junction and Eurydice PR.
Prize winners will each receive a unique prize at the Awards. The prizes include a £5,000 Lacroix watch, £5k holiday, Bonterra Ethical wine cases, organic food hampers and a Gina Conway luxury treatment package.
Why use Recycled paper?
What is FSC?
OK,
It offers a certification and accreditation to ensure that wood and paper derives from a sustainable source so that consumers can be confident they are not contributing to deforestation. Please see http://www.fsc-uk.org/
The main thing to know about FSC is that in regards to the paper industry they also offer accreditation to recycled papers – you can get FSC 100% recycled paper for example.
I think what you really want to know is why go for recycled when you can go for an FSC certified product that is made from virgin fibre – so the real question is why use recycled stock?
Well…
Most print companies use FSC and claim to be ‘green’ as a result
Using recycled stock
Evidence…
Please find a conclusion from an ethical print information site :
‘WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) has commissioned the most exhaustive life cycle analysis ever undertaken, to inform this debate.
Energy: The report identified an average of 50% less energy consumption when recycling instead of incinerating paper and cardboard over the entire life-cycle. In other words, on average, virgin fibre production followed by incineration with energy recovery, consumed twice as much energy as recycling.
Carbon: As one of the most commonly raised impact categories, and of increasing importance, the report identified a clear carbon saving for recycled paper versus virgin paper.’
So… less carbon is used and less energy meaning that using a recycled paper (FSC or not) is more environmentally friendly than just an FSC virgin paper.
Our Papers
We use the following papers:
100% recycled paper
100% recycled card
80% recycled gloss
75% recycled satin
100% recycled silk
For full colour litho printing we use vegetable based inks which reduces the use of harmful chemicals and does not use a finite resource such as petroleum based oil inks.
Our digital printer uses inks derived from organic based as opposed to chemical based polymers
At Eco Print we are proud to be offering a truly ‘green’ alternative for all your printing needs.
For more information contact 01722 340350
http://www.ecoprintuk.com
Eco Print is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more
