Coller Industries - Ribbon Impressions

Donation Spotlight: The Durham-Orange Genealogical Society

Coller Industries Incorporated has many wonderful customers. We work hard to make sure everyone gets quality name tags and personalized ribbons. Sometimes, we are able to take the time to especially recognize one of these wonderful customers by making a donation to their personal identification needs. We love donating time, products and ideas to these companies and organizations. This month we were able to provide a donation to The Durham-Orange Genealogical Society (D-OGS).

According to Holt Anderson, D-OGS Charter Member, D-OGS is “an active genealogical community dedicated to the research and preservation of family history of Durham and Orange counties in North Carolina. We provide research assistance and educational opportunities to our members and the public through outreach programs, monthly meetings, newsletters and forums. We meet once a month to hear speakers on topics about general research techniques, North Carolina maps, Indian Trading Paths, cemetery records, advances in technology, DNA results and so much more.”

The Durham-Orange Genealogical Society primarily focuses on family history research. They hold meetings on the first Wednesday of each month and these meetings are free and open to the public.

Badge ribbons were made with the “distinctive D-OGS logo,” said Anderson, “so that members who are attending large, and sometimes statewide or national, meetings can be identified (quickly).”

Anderson’s hope is that by wearing these name badge ribbons, “It will help to foster fellowship and promote the organization to prospective members.”

Name badges are an important part of any large meeting. They help to identify the wearer to everyone around them. By adding a badge ribbon, such as a Full Color Horizontal Badge Ribbon, one can be identified with more than just a name or a title. Badge ribbons can be used as awards, recognition for an achievement, or in a fun way with a silly title or message.

Donation Spotlight: M.A.D. Riders Youth Trail Riding Association

Once again, we’d like to say thank you to all of our customers by highlighting our most recent donation activities. We were contacted by Michele Strotman of M.A.D. Riders Youth Trail Riding Association. Strotman is a Trail Guide at M.A.D. Riders YTRA. Here are some amazing details about the organization and how we were able to help!

M.A.D. Riders Youth Trail Riding Association is the first and only equine organization devoted entirely to youth trail riders. “Our organization keeps youth focused by offering two seasons per calendar year and also awarding them with mid season awards,” said Strotman.

The mission of M.A.D. Riders YTRA is to promote character development with direct familial involvement through trail riding, community service and non equine related activities. Strotman describes M.A.D. Riders YTRA as a fresh, inspiring and restorative association.

A National Association, M.A.D. Riders promotes character development through a variety of activities both on and off the trail with group and individual participation. Our program is designed to enable each M.A.D. Rider with honesty, loyalty, responsibility, respect and compassion by providing them with a set of rules and code of conduct to follow.

Each member will have the support of a Trail Guide Group in their community, with a Trail Guide to help mentor them, plan activities, host group trail rides, plan group community service projects, and so much more. M.A.D. Riders are required to participate in both Trail Guide Group activities and rides as well as perform a certain amount of community service.

Coller Industries Incorporated provided a generous donation of rosette award ribbons to M.A.D. Riders YTRA. The requested ribbons were the Single Streamer, Star Rosette Ribbons.

First, second and third place ribbons will be used at the event.

Strotman stated, “This donation allows us to recognize the hard work of (each of) our youth riders. Thank you so much for the generous ribbon donations. They are impressively beautiful. The kids are going to flip with excitement!”

Avoiding Boring Badge Ribbons – Part 2

The boring badge ribbon has proven functional at many professional gatherings. Keep this in mind when choosing badge ribbons as they are meant to improve the effectiveness of a name badge. The five previous tips were aimed to help decide which type of badge ribbon was the best for each ribbon project. Here are five more tips to help with the overall design of any badge ribbon.

TIP #6 Avoiding Boring Ribbons: Choose a distinctive font.

The easiest way to drastically improve how your ribbon looks, and to keep it from being boring, is by using a nice font. There are many fonts available that will meet most any need. Keep in mind that most fonts will require a metal die.

Badge ribbon printing requires the use of dies, which are made to imprint onto the ribbons. A die is basically like a stamp as it presses a printing foil down on to the badge ribbon. Wherever the stamp touches the foil to the ribbon, the foil will stay printed, or dyed, onto the badge ribbon.

Many badge ribbons may be printed using a polymer die. Polymer dies are faster and less expensive, but they do have a few drawbacks. They are made from a softer material than metal dies; they also wear out quickly, so they can’t be used for large runs of the same ribbon; and they don’t hold detail well, so only thick, plain letters and shapes can be used. Small holes in the design, like the inside of a letter “a” or “e” may fill in because the die can’t press hard enough to ensure a clean impression.

A metal die, which is much stronger than the polymer die, can hold much more detail and will ensure a much cleaner imprint. Using a metal die no longer limits the choice of font; text may be made smaller or even add a logo or other image. Metal dies give much more freedom in the design of a badge ribbon and are well worth the additional cost. They can also be saved to use again and again.

TIP #7 Avoiding Boring Ribbons: Have fun with your text.

Text doesn’t have to be boring like straight side-to-side or up-and-down. Depending on the badge ribbon chosen, the text can be set at an angle or even on a curve. This is a great trick to get longer words to fit on a narrower ribbon and doesn’t always require a metal die.

TIP #8 Avoiding Boring Ribbons: Don’t limit yourself to one color.

For a better looking badge ribbon, use a combination of colors. A plain badge ribbon suddenly seems less boring when changes to a few elements are made. If the badge ribbon really needs to make an impression, try a Full Color Custom Ribbon. This badge ribbon will be printed in full color and has no limits to fonts or number of colors and no metal dies. You can even get a photograph printed on these badge ribbons.

TIP #9 Avoiding Boring Ribbons: Plan the shape and size of your ribbon.

Each ribbon should take content and function into account when adjusting the length or shape. If there is extra empty space, make the ribbon smaller or request options for making the text fill it better. Each badge ribbon should fit the text comfortably and not be crowded or empty. Make the badge ribbon unique by replacing the pinked ends with a fishtail.

TIP #10 Avoiding Boring Ribbons: Add a company logo.

Nothing spices up a badge ribbon like an image. Use a company logo or find a basic image that will set off the design on the ribbon; it will instantly increase the ribbon’s appeal. Remember, a metal die will be required.

So the next time you find yourself in need of a ribbon for that upcoming event, keep these 10 tips in mind and the planning stages should be a bit easier and more enjoyable.

*Tips and graphics provided by guest author Melanie Bunch, Graphic Artist at Coller Industries.*

Coller Industries: 20 Years and Counting

After starting from humble beginnings, Coller Industries Incorporated is proud to announce 20 years of being in personal identification business.

Coller Industries Incorporated started as a part-time retirement business in the Coller’s basement and quickly turned into a nationally recognized brand for personal identification products. From name tags and name plates to ribbons, lanyards and signs, Coller Industries is a one-stop-shop for all needs pertaining to these personalized products. With 20 years now in the industry, Coller Industries provides their customers with outstanding customer service and guaranteed products.

Find all of your identification needs:

~ Name tags for employees, volunteers or party goers

~ Reusable badges for high turn-over positions or one-time use needs

~ POP signs for restaurants and other venues

~ Custom ribbons for product wrapping, labeling or prizes

~ Custom ribbon rolls for decorations or wrapping (e.g. napkin wraps, centerpieces or )

~ Lanyards for recognition or as a name tag/badge holder

Coller Industries Incorporated is a five time winner of the MWCN (Mountain West Capital Network) Utah 100. They are also a BBB (Better Business Bureau) Accredited Business and are part of the ARA (Awards and Recognition Association). Coller Industries Incorporated has been providing outstanding customer service since 1995.

Coller Industries works hard at making sure our customers and employees are happy with our services and products. Coller Industries has somewhere around a 99.4% success rate; meaning that our error rate is less than one percent. Coller Industries strives for this quality, and then shows that top quality really is attainable. Not many other companies can take pride in such a high quality rate.

A few words from our employees:

Vance, Design Manager, “I’ve worked here for 5 years and I’ve enjoyed how close everyone is able to get because of how small the company is.”

Aimee, Customer Service Manager, “I’m not exactly sure how long I have been here, it’s around 13 years. I have enjoyed working with the Coller’s and watching the company grow. I am really proud to be a part of the history of Coller Industries. I enjoy the work that I do and I also enjoy being a part of making decisions that help us grow and expand our staff and our product lines.”

Lydia, Receptionist, “I have worked here for 7 years. I’ve enjoyed watching the company grow over the years and I’m glad I can be a part of a wonderful company.”

Rod, Programmer, “I have worked here for the last 4 ½ years. What I have enjoyed most is the challenge the work has been and the people I have had the opportunity to work with. It is rare to have a company that values it employees, and customers, as much as Coller Industries does. The owners and managers of the company regularly meet with the employees seeking their input on the issues and challenges we face. It is good to know that the work we do is noticed and valued.”

William, Machine Operator, “I’ve been here for almost 9 years and the aspect I enjoy the most about my job is working with a team that helps and supports each other.”