Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Golfdotz

What the heck are Golfdotz?

Golfdotz are Tour Grade Ball Markers!  No more arguing whose ball is whose!  Mark them.

AND ... we are an authorized reseller.  We've been given the opportunity to give you a better deal than ordering them on the web and you'll save more since there is no shipping charge (unless you are not in the Crystal Lake area - we will ship to you).

Here's a pic


You are welcome to check out all the options on their website and then call us or come in to order your tournament sets from us:
http://www.golfdotz.com/

Our prices ...
Tournament Packs

Qty               Cost                Retail Value            Vendor Website Cost
 50                 $225                 $299.50                     $259.50
 72                 $306                 $431.28                     $334
144                $575                 $862.56                     $584.56


Monday, January 11, 2016

Hit a Hole in One, January 2016 Newsletter


"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other." 
- Abraham Lincoln

In this month's newsletter: Golf season is nearly upon us and with EmbroidMe as your marketing partner you will be uniquely branded on the golf course! Check out our flyer for our January product of the month to keep your clubs clean this golfing season. Not a golfer? These ColorFusion™  towels are a great promotion for any sport, race, or team towel needs! And, learn how you can be successful when only 10% of New Years' resolutions are kept!

Let EmbroidMe add style and function to your next golf event!


Golf outings are in the planning stages and what better way to market your brand than an absorbent velour Turkish combed cotton blended towel. With ColorFusion™ towels they can be domestically printed edge-to-edge with designs in vibrant colors! We can offer you an unlimited number of spot colors or flawless reproduction of a full color photograph. They can come as is with a sewn in loop for easy hanging or an additional grommet and hook may be added.


Top 10 Ways to ensure New Year's Resolution Success

By Amy Ahlers
Did you know that fewer than 10% of people who set New Years' Resolutions actually achieve them? How can you ensure YOUR success? Try using the Top 10 Tips below.
Read More



Product Special
     
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Sunday, January 10, 2016

EmbroidMe CL versus Vistaprint

If you read our comparison to Custom Ink, you should have a sense of some respect as a reasonable alternative in some individual cases.  That is not our feeling about Vistaprint.  This article will compare on several of the same attributes as we did for Custom Ink which will (hopefully) show you why we don't have the same mutual respect for Vistaprint as others.

One thing that we do know Vistaprint seems to do way better than us on advertising and getting their marketing messages out there.  We could learn a few things from their marketing.

Pricing - Most of the time we are better priced.  While we haven't compared every single item, we have better pricing on the basics for their regular pricing.  Vistaprint does frequently have sales (promotion codes) that will save you money.  However, we're still usually a few dollars less expensive than Vistaprint's sale prices as well.

Delivery / Turnaround time - Our standard turnaround time on business cards is about a week (5 business days) with no extra charge.  Vistaprint standard turnaround is also 5 business days but includes an additional $13.99 shipping charge.  Their economy turnaround (8 business days) still has a shipping charge of $6.99.  We also have a few sets of cards that will complete faster for 1000 card order for no extra charge.

Shipping - If you pick up at our location in Crystal Lake, we do not charge shipping.  We only charge shipping if you want the cards shipped to you at your location.   We use UPS and the charge is based on normal UPS shipping charges.  Their minimum shipping charge is $6.99 and can be $24.99.

Paper Stock available -  We have some of the same stock and some different stock.  Normally we have plenty of options for you to choose from.  We do have a book with most of the paper types so that you can touch and feel them if that is needed.

Design tool -  This is another area that Vistprint has a theoretical advantage over us.  Their tool allows you to design your own card, banner, or other item.  We have you sketch out your card and then work in the tool.  However, this is also a point of failure if the images you include are not crisp and clear, they print them anyway.  We review the images and make sure that the provided art will create the desired result.  The number of banners and other large print items that are way too pixalated is one of our huge reasons to be sad when we hear that someone used Vistaprint.

EmbroidMe CL versus Custom Ink

While we (EmbroidMe of Crystal Lake) would love to say we are way better than Custom Ink, we can't.  However, we can say, we can compete.  We can say, we have some pros over their cons.  And, they have a few pros over our cons.

Pricing - we're competitive.  We can be less than Custom Ink.  We can be more than Custom Ink.  And, periodically we match Custom Ink.   NOTE:  For a full color photo type design, we do have a direct to garment printer that allows for a cost effective option.  And, in this case, we're always less expensive than Custom Ink for 2 shirts or more (their single shirt is less than our single shirt on white, we are less on a light colored shirt for a single shirt).

Delivery / Turnaround time - standard is same for both, 2 weeks.  Custom Ink rush options are less than our rush charges.  However, you need to consider if our overall price was lower and add in our rush fees, could the total cost of ownership still be in EmbroidMe's favor (and it can)?

Shipping - Custom Ink includes free shipping.  We assume you'll pick up your items in our store.  And, we sometimes need to include a shipping charge for small orders to get blank goods (however, this is rarely the case for T-shirts).

Shirts available -  We have the same brands.

Minimums - Custom Ink is 1.  We prefer 36.  We can do 12.  We prefer you do less than 12 as a direct to garment print.  AND -- we will do a 1 shirt screen print if you want to pay for it.

Ink Matching - I know Custom Ink has had complaints about ink colors seen on screen versus actual printed on shirt.  They do have humans reviewing the art but there are times that you picked maroon and really wanted red and they would have no way to tell.  We try to have you always specify PMS/Pantone colors so that we can match better the color you want.  Exact matches may have an upcharge and it depends on the shirt color it is going on.  Since we have a bit more interaction up front, there is usually less of a possibility of ink color issues.

Repeat Orders -  In this area, we have a huge advantage over Custom Ink.  Custom Ink uses screen printing locations across the US.  It would be unusual for your repeat order to actually process in the same location every time.  While they have standards, running the same shirts in a different location creates a greater risk of ink color discrepancy.  Once we run your shirts, we use the same screen print equipment.  While their could be an operator error (it's happened), it is less likely to have any ink discrepancies.