Attracting the Olympic Games to a city involves efforts from government, business and industry officials, including printers, designers and print production companies. httprint Inc., a San Francisco-based e-commerce provider to the printing industry, is a leader in the campaign to bring the 2012 Summer Games to San Francisco.
In its bid for the Games, San Francisco is rolling out the red carpet for the Olympic committee. The Bay area is ensuring that existing or planned facilities will meet the needs of Olympians, spectators and media. That means prototypes of printed materials for the Games must be of high quality.
The Bay area faces stiff competition from New York as they vie to become the United States' bid location for the Games. In July 2005, the International Olympic Committee will select the host site from five finalists (either San Francisco or New York, plus four international cities).
Coordinating a Poster Program
httprint is donating all of the services and staffing to execute the San Francisco Poster Program, which includes paper and management sourcing, as well as print production of 12 unique posters designed by different graphic artists in northern California. The firm, which specializes in managed printing solutions, oversees all aspects of the project. This entails coordinating production of 500 each of the 12 poster designs (6,000 total) in a vertical, collectible large-format size; 2,000 each of the same 12 designs in a smaller format; and 2,000 each as post cards.
"We have several objectives in undertaking this project," says Jack Walklet, httprint's senior vice president of managed services. "One is the opportunity to network within the design community, to expand our base within northern California. We only knew a few of the top 10 designers. This project enables us to expand our relationships with these top designers."
End users often make decisions on print
solutions early in the creative process. Strong relationships with
designers--who often are involved earlier than printing pros--can help httprint
be among the early choices for print management, Walklet says. "Many of these
companies don't have production sources in house," he says. "Designers know if
they come to us with their print solutions needs, we'll look to them if we have
a situation where need design help."
Another objective of httprint is
enhancing its relationships with printers and others in the industry, giving the
firm more exposure outside of northern California. "We were intrigued about the
Olympics," Walklet says. "It's a sexy, fun project. It's not every day you can
do these types of designs. We felt this was a great opportunity."
Effort Now, Pedestal Later
When Bay area organizers approached
httprint about the project, they didn't have any printers, paper suppliers or
designers. httprint needed to pull together these resources. Some companies
declined to join the project; others agreed to donate their supplies and
services. "We don't own printing facilities," Walklet says. "What we know is
outsourcing."
httprint also knows it won't receive
payment for its Olympic effort--it's providing the service gratis. The firm
counts on receiving "payment" in future work. "Everybody in our company agreed
that the exposure would be worth the commitment," Walklet says. "Our name is on
every poster. We're on the donor wall at every press conference. We're building
brand recognition even though the price is dear. It's a big commitment."
Companies that accepted httprint's offer
to donate services to the Bay area effort also receive important exposure,
Walklet says. They have the chance to work with httprint and its network of
printing industry companies, which Walklet expects will produce future benefits
for them.
Know Difference Between Security,
Privacy
Some printing pros mistakenly use "security" and "privacy" interchangeably. The words' meanings overlap, but they aren't synonymous. E-commerce security measures prevent hackers from intercepting credit card and bank account numbers. People concerned about online privacy worry their personal information will be collected and sold. Displaying security measures and privacy policies clearly on your site can assuage fears potential customers may have about online transactions.
Make Search-Engine Keywords Specific
When submitting your site to search engines, tailor you keywords to the site's content. They should be placed in top areas (such as titles) on your pages. Visit Dogpile (www.dogpile.com), which queries through most major search engines and directories simultaneously, so you can check quickly where your site is positioned relative to competitors'.
Use a Tool to Track Traffic
Xetex Business Systems Inc., a Reading,
Pa.-based supplier of distributor operations and e-commerce software, released
Xetex Xebra 2003. The fully integrated e-commerce package offers real-time
functionality, the firm's Smart Template Technology™ for custom stationery and
an online office products catalog. Users can email documents directly from the
Xebra system. The software now includes features for selling promotional
products, such as discount codes and the ability to handle complex wearable
jobs. Call (800) 356-2772 or send email to xetex@xebra.com. Visit
www.xebra.com.
Forms Management Data Systems (FMDS), a Reno, Nev.-based software provider, established an interface with Minneapolis-based e-commerce supplier Four51 Inc. that combines Quantum 2000's integrated back-room and inventory capabilities and Four51's template and company-store features. Also, PrintXcelSM, an Englewood, Colo.-based manufacturer, announced it will implement Four51's technology platform at little or no cost. Call FMDS at (800) 328-7804 or visit www.quantum2000.net. Call Four51 at (952) 294-0451 or visit www.four51.com. Call PrintXcel at (800) 767-3743 or visit www.printxcel.com.
Appligent, a Lansdowne, Pa.-based software supplier, released SecurSign 2.0. The software offers security-intensive organizations the ability to secure Portable Document Format (PDF) files. SecurSign 2.0 is compatible with Adobe® Acrobat 4.0 and higher. Call Tim Cifelli at (610) 642-8253 or email him at tim@gregoryfca.com.
ImageX Inc., a Kirkland, Wash.-based provider of online solutions, filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington against Santa Clara, Calif.-based e-commerce firm iPrint Technologies Inc. for infringement of U.S. Patent number 6,429,947. The patent covers technology that automates the prepress process. iPrint has denied wrongdoing.
httprint, a e-commerce supplier based in San Francisco, secured an additional $4 million in financing from a group led by Cornerstone Ventures, an investment firm with offices in Broomfield, Colo., and McLean, Va. The new capital, which is in addition to the $12 million investment the company announced in June, will be used to continue the firm's expansion and fund enhanced services.
