Grafix Unlimited

2011 Holiday Schedule

Grafix Unlimited — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 18:04:12 +0000

It’s that time of year when I take some extra time off. Here’s the schedule for this holiday season:

November 2011
Office Closed: Monday, November 21st through Friday, November 25th
The office will reopen on Monday, November 28th

December 2011

Office Closed: Monday, December 19th through Friday, December 30th
The office will reopen on Monday, January 2nd

If you have any projects that need attention during those periods, get your requests in early so they can be done ahead of time.

It’s Trade Show Time!

Grafix Unlimited — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:55:18 +0000

Do you hesitate to participate in tradeshows and expos because you just don’t have the eye-catching displays and handouts that you feel are necessary because their cost is so scary? Grafix Unlimited to the rescue! We’ll keep those scary costs at bay by providing you lots of cost effective options for your displays and handouts. Because we are affiliated with numerous sources for your tradeshow products we can shop for the best prices on displays, banner printing and printed collateral.

You can have a retractable banner, professionally designed and printed in vivid, eye-catching full color for your next tradeshow for as low as $225. That’s hardware, design AND printing!

O’Daley’s Grill & Ale

Grafix Unlimited — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:06:56 +0000

When I first met with Randy Gross, owner of O’Daley’s Grill and Bar in Batesville, MS, I knew I had a live wire. This guy was bursting with so much personality! We discussed the new menu for his restaurant and immediately I saw an opportunity to make the menu as full of personality as it’s creator.

We decided to take some of the fun and make it the focal point of the menu with stamps, badges and a handbill type attitude.

Randy liked the design so much he decided to use it on his business cards and Lunch Loyalty cards.

If you are looking for something out-of-the-ordinary, with a personality that fits you and your business, give me a call!

Directories for your Organization

Grafix Unlimited — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:22:48 +0000

Do you promote your organization with a printed directory? If not, then you are missing out on an excellent way to get your membership information out to the public! Not only can your members promote themselves with a basic directory listing, you can sell ad space in the directory to your members to further promote their businesses AND give the organization some extra added income.

A professionally designed directory can showcase your organization and members to the public. This increases exposure for the organization, thus making it easier to recruit new members, while at the same time it lets your members advertising in a collective cost effective way.

I designed the latest update of the Germantown BNI Directory, with one major change this time. The organization allowed members to purchase ad space to promote their businesses. The directory is used by all the members and given to clients, friends and family as the definitive directory for reputable businesses that each member can personally recommend. Members with storefront or waiting rooms place the directory in their public are for the general public.

If you are looking for ways to promote your organization or give your members greater exposure, contact Grafix Unlimited today about making your directory a reality!

Click to launch the full edition in a new window.

Promote your Business or Non-Profit with a Magazine

Grafix Unlimited — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:31:14 +0000

Ed Horrell is a man with a misson.

Tired of the indifference that he was experiencing from businesses and communities, Ed founded The Kindness Revolution™ (http://www.thekindnessrevolution.net) whose mission is to revolutionize the culture in which we live, work, learn and play by eliminating indifference, selfishness, apathy & disregard and replacing them with core values such as dignity, respect, courtesy and kindness. Based on the best-selling book by Ed Horrell of the same name, The Kindness Revolution™ is a non-profit, member-based initiative.

The Kindness Revolution™ in an effort to reach a broader audience and spread the word of good works and deeds within the community, decided to publish The Spirit of Kindness Magazine. With stories of kindness and compelling deeds by business and individuals, the Spirit of Kindness Magazine is a “feel-good” publication that everyone can identify with. The magazine is both printed and available online.

Even though the magazine is ad supported, the focus is clearly the content.

Have a mission of your own? Then get the word out with a Magazine or booklet. Contact Grafix Unlimited to find out how we can help.

Grafix Unlimited is proud to be a member of the Kindness Revolution and to have helped in the launch of the new magazine providing art direction and layout. We invite you to become a part of The Kindness Revolution™ – you can join at www.thekindnessrevolution.net – and to enjoy the Spirit of Kindness Magazine online version.

Click to launch the 2nd edition in a new window.

Click to launch the 1st edition in a new window.

Freelance Client Relationships in Real Life, Everyday Situations

Grafix Unlimited — Sat, 30 May 2009 16:47:53 +0000

I found this video and laughed (and cried) through the entire thing! It hit so close to home for anyone who freelances and deals with clients. My clients, of course, are nothing like this!! I weed out all these types right up front. That way I can spend my time with clients who matter – YOU!

Before and After

Grafix Unlimited — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 21:45:58 +0000

I received a request for prices on printing a 4 X 6 two sided card from from Dance Smiths, Inc. They provided me with the layout for the piece, well, and I just couldn’t leave well enough alone.

All the information was there but the flyer could be better.

Before

The “before” layout that had been provided was a typical word processor version of what a flyer/certificate should look like. It was bland, boring and was in need of a make over.

There were several items that needed to be addressed:

Too many large sized and bolded items made nothing really important .
Too many fonts used on the piece and the fonts used were not appropriate for the content
The black and white just didn’t work – at least not in the context presented.

I went to work on correcting the problems.

After

First, I determined the order of importance of the various elements. This is common mistake made when laying out a flyer. Many DIY designers think that the first thing on the page MUST be the company name or logo when really that’s NOT the important thing. Getting the viewers attention, letting them know what they have in their hands and making them want to read further is the goal.

We wanted them to know that they had a Gift Certificate and what that certificate entitled them too. Then we told them who was going to provide these things to them and lastly where and how they could take advantage of the offer.

Next, I selected some period appropriate fonts that also complimented the logo font. Then using different font weights, sizes, spacing and color, rather than different fonts, I set-up a hierarchy for the elements as determined in the first step. I chose some classic 40′s typefaces that “never go out of style”. Using a third color for the phone number and the location marker made these items stand out even more, prompting the certificate holder to call or stop by.

Lastly, I introduced some blocks of color, with inspiration provided by the color version of the logo and used various color areas to group elements of the text in a meaningful way.

The result, a classy piece that provides an easy to understand and follow layout, highlights the important elements of the flyer and provides all the needed information. Just a few tweaks here and there were all that were needed to make an average flyer outstanding.

If you have a marketing piece that just isn’t doing what you want it to do, contact me and we can discuss ways I can help to make it better!

Holiday e-Mail Marketing

Grafix Unlimited — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 17:43:02 +0000

Reaching out to your customers with special sale infomration is always important for both online and brick and mortar retailers. During the holiday season it’s even more important to entice customers to make their holiday purchases with you.

The Latex Store came to me looking to boost their e-mail marketing look to reflect the high-end products they sell. Previously they had relied on standard e-mail composition with random pictures inserted. This format did not give them the look they wanted. The criteria was that the flyer needed to be sophisticated, yet sexy. I created this e-flyer for them to use in conjunction with their upcoming holiday sale.

If you are looking for a print or e-advertising piece that reaches your target audience Grafix Unlimited can help!

Tooting my own horn!

Grafix Unlimited — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:09:07 +0000

Sometimes you just have to brag. :-) This is one of those…

Last week I submitted my Grafix Unlimited business card’s design to FaveUp (http://www.faveup.com) which, in their own words, ”is a simple gallery of inspirational design. Everybody gets designer’s block sometimes so it’s nice to have somewhere to go to get your creative juices flowing again. Faveup also gives credit where credit is due, rewarding great design with the respect and linkage it deserves.” Less than a week after submitting my business card design, it is, as of today, the number 9 top rated business card design!

Want to have your say about the design? Go to my design on FaveUp and rate it yourself.

UPDATE: Fame is SO fleeting! I have disappeared from the top 100 only to be replaced by other great designs and designers. It was great while it lasted!

EZ Online Filing: Taking the Headaches out of Business Formations

Grafix Unlimited — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:22:41 +0000

You’ve decided to take the plunge and start your own business. Don’t think that was the hard part! Now comes all the state and federal applications, forms and general bureaucracy that comes with starting a business.

EZ Online Filing, LLC to the rescue! Let qualified legal professionals handle all the paperwork for you.

With this launch of Phase 1 of the website, EZ Online Filing can help you understand what you need to start your business with their Business Start-up Checklist, help you decide which business is best for you and give you the cost of creating your business. You can contact EZ Online Filing to help you form you business. Their friendly customer service representatives will collect all the information required for your particular filing and personally handle and track your business formation process from start to finish.

In addition, if you already have a business and need help with those annual governmental filings, EZ Online Filing can help with that too!

The project included a Content Management System so that content updates could be handles quickly and efficiently as the legal landscape changes and government fees change. Phase 2 will include an online application and payment process.

Whether you are looking to Incorporate, Form an LLC, need a DBA or EIN (Or just need know what all those initials mean!) check out EZ Online Filing.