GCU Forum - Be a Local Looney Bird

Tom_133317 Gold Member artist Posts: 2169	Re: Be a Local Looney Bird Reply #45 - Oct 19^th, 2009, 3:35pm Question ... would it be smart to have more envelope color choices besides white available? I know I almost never go with the white envelope when I buy a retail card. Here's some good style options and prices on A7s: http://www.paper-papers.com/a7-envelopes.html
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Kathy_131728

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Re: Be a Local Looney Bird
Reply #46 - Oct 19^th, 2009, 3:47pm

Tom,
I am watching with interest your postings. I think your cards would look good with the brown bag envelopes IMO. This would really set your cards apart from the average card. Also, I don't know if you have any of these general store type places up there, but your product would do well in those I think. We have farm and ranch type general stores here that also have some nice products for people to buy. I can so easily see your cards in a place like that and people would love them. Good luck to you and keep us posted on your adventures.
Kathy

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DENISE_132110

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Re: Be a Local Looney Bird
Reply #47 - Oct 19^th, 2009, 5:14pm

i agree with kathy go with the brown paper ones.. some of those designs belong in a plain brown wrapper... Wink

if you catch my drift.... Roll Eyes

same company has these French Paper - DUROTONE - Packing Brown Wrap - A7 Envelopes - 250 PK
for around 35.00- a little cheaper than the others. don't know about shipping though. i think they are recycled and seem to be very nice envelopes

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Tom_133317

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Re: Be a Local Looney Bird
Reply #48 - Oct 20^th, 2009, 2:05am

Wow ... great ideas ladies, thanks. The paper bag idea is a gem! Turns out the clear bags place is the cheapest for these at $27 for 250, but all these places want $10 for shipping. I likely will wait till I land a local account before I put some money into inventory building. I'll also see if I can get some of these locally. I'll keep you posted ...

What are you other Looney Birds doing? Anything ??? I don't want to be the only one utilizing his bird brain.

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Tom_133317 Gold Member artist Posts: 2169	Re: Be a Local Looney Bird Reply #49 - Oct 21^st, 2009, 3:47pm Got the new printer and paper today, and printed my first complete card. I'll post about this in the other thread ...
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Tom_133317 Gold Member artist Posts: 2169	Re: Be a Local Looney Bird Reply #50 - Oct 22^nd, 2009, 3:18am Anyone have experience with obtaining and using a UPC barcode? Since GCU doesn't provide one, I'm looking to obtain one and order a roll of UPC labels for the back of the cards.
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Damyon_138209

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Re: Be a Local Looney Bird
Reply #51 - Oct 22^nd, 2009, 4:20am

I think you need to apply for a upc code. Part of the code is your business id followed by the prod id. No two upcs are the same. Then the store selling your prod must enter your unfo into their sys ans keep up to date on your prices. You will need to investigate further. upcs can be printed on you printer with the right software.

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Tom_133317 Gold Member artist Posts: 2169	Re: Be a Local Looney Bird Reply #52 - Oct 22^nd, 2009, 4:40am Thanks. I'm leaning towards this service after scoping out several: http://www.nationwidebarcode.com/ It would just be nice to have someone chime in here that has added a barcode to their cards.
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Jeff_135713

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Re: Be a Local Looney Bird
Reply #53 - Oct 22^nd, 2009, 4:56am

Tom,

There are several ways to go about this.

1. get a REAL UPC under your company ID. Expensive initially but you can create lots of UPCS for different card sets.

2. get a real UPC under different company's ID. There are several groups such as the one you found that sell UPC's under their umbrella. Much cheaper way to start.

3. Create a bar code that can be read by the retailer but is not in the national UPC bank. If the sales are local only the UPC is not magic, merely a unique code that the merchant ties to description and cost. You can create any number of these and have very little chance of tripping over another code the merchant uses.

I have set up all three for clients but the one I use most for them and myself for local sales is number 3.

-Whisper-

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Tom_133317 Gold Member artist Posts: 2169	Re: Be a Local Looney Bird Reply #54 - Oct 23^rd, 2009, 1:33am Thanks Jeff. I ordered (1) UPC, it came, and now I'm all set. They email you a TIFF and an EPS. There are a few rules on scaling, but pretty straight forward. For homemade cards:
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Jeff_135713 Gold Member artist Posts: 620	Re: Be a Local Looney Bird Reply #55 - Oct 23^rd, 2009, 1:39am Looks professional and ready to go. Great! I wish you great sales and a bunch of fun. -W-
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Tom_133317

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Re: Be a Local Looney Bird
Reply #56 - Oct 25^th, 2009, 4:10pm

Displays.

I don't know if any of you have been scouting out card displays, spinners and such, well they are suprisingly pricey - like $5/pocket delivered. It took me a long time to find a "starter" alternative using professional cardboard stands, like below for 5x7 cards.

This one is $13.40 + shipping and can hold 10 sets of cards, plus there is room above for a logo/sign.

Other types are available by the same company as well.
http://www.cardboarddisplays.com/new_12_inch_five_tier_counter_display.htm

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Pamela_135500 Gold Member artist Posts: 1945	Re: Be a Local Looney Bird Reply #57 - Oct 25^th, 2009, 4:28pm Now that's a good find And wouldn't take up a lot of counter space. Pamela
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Tom_133317 Gold Member artist Posts: 2169	Re: Be a Local Looney Bird Reply #58 - Oct 25^th, 2009, 9:54pm UK artists probably already know about the stand-store, right? Lots of good ones there too. http://www.stand-store.co.uk/acatalog/Cardboard_Stands_.html Vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSkKBjtrfDk
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Catherine_132173

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Re: Be a Local Looney Bird
Reply #59 - Oct 27^th, 2009, 11:29am

This is an excellent topic, Tom. Thanks for creating the thread.

I'm considering the card party idea too. Until I can afford to have catalogs created, I will probably create one showcase book of cards using a regular three-ring decorated notebook. This can be passed around and shared at parties, while also used to hold up and talk about my shop or GCU.

I'll be following this topic. Best Wishes to all of you!

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