Dallas Digital and Offset Printing Blog

YETI Coolers, Brilliant

travisodee — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 17:47:59 +0000

Whether you own one of their Yeti coolers or just sport the Yeti hat, you are aware of the brand. Many marketers strive to grasp the same amount of fanfare that Yeti has cornered. 1st off, it helps to have the best product in the industry. Secondly, it helps to have a brilliant marketing team.

If you are searching for strategic marketing tactics, lock in with these guys. Go to:
Yeti’s Facebook page
Yeti’s YouTube page

A favorite of ours here @ Odee is the Yeti Buff video:

Yeti Coolers has a stellar marketing team that many are trying to follow…including us:

Get a Yeti.

Travis Stein
Principal Partner
The Odee Company; est. 1923
travis@odeecompany.com

Explore Austin vs Bamboo

travisodee — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:01:24 +0000

Bamboo has been my dad’s nemesis for the past 10 years. Circa 2001, “neighbors won’t take care of their yard, so I planted some bamboo”. Circa 2011, “this darn bamboo won’t stop growing. Don’t ever plant this, boy. You can’t get rid of it. I wish I knew who planted this. Always make good decisions boy”. Yeah, for some reason, no matter what the conversation is, it’ll end with “always make good decisions boy”. So my point here is; bamboo is a beast that can grow up to 39″ per day without maintenance, and you should always make good decisions. As the title above states, Bamboo has some competition in the speedy growth category and it’s Explore Austin.

Let’s begin with some name dropping. It’s allowed when you’re proud of them. Jamie Matthews, Todd Hanna, Rusty Stein…I’ll stop there but just know Explore Austin is loaded with tremendous leaders, mentors, educators, and young kids who are breaking old habits and becoming leaders amongst their own peers. Instead of going into the history of Explore Austin, I’ll let you research on your own by visiting their site. But before you do, just know that unlike bamboo, Explore Austin requires a major amount of maintenance to grow at the rate it is growing. The latest Explore Austin video below details all of their adventures, their amount of growth, and will inspire you to contribute to a program that is changing lives for the better.

Make good decisions…

Travis Stein
Principal Partner
The Odee Company; est. 1923
travis@odeecompany.com

Mailers addressed at 22,000 pieces/ hr

travisodee — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:04:59 +0000

As the title states, 22,000 mailers addressed per hour is fast. Corporate clients like the word “fast”. “Fast” means our clients get their mailers in their client’s hands quicker. Quicker in hands, means quicker turn in purchasing what our client is selling. Quicker purchase means money in our client’s pocket at a quicker rate. In today’s economy, this is a must for many.

One recent client contacted me and needed 50,000 postcards for a GNC product, printed in our Dallas office, addressed and mailed the very next day. We accomplished this by running the cards as a work and turn on a 28×40 sheet via our 5 color 40″ Heidelberg Speedmaster with inline Aqueous coater.

That's a lot of cards

Below is a video that shows just how fast our Buskro runs and what makes The Odee Company a desired Dallas mailhouse:

Travis Stein
Principal Partner
The Odee Company; est. 1923
travis@odeecompany.com

Dallas Printer supporting the Troops

travisodee — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:53:30 +0000

Click the link below to see how this Dallas Printer is supporting the Troops:

Supporting the Troops Video

Travis Stein
Principal Partner
The Odee Company; est. 1923
travis@odeecompany.com

“I ordered newsletters, not a seizure”

travisodee — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 19:49:15 +0000

**If you don’t have time, or don’t enjoy reading, scroll to bottom for summary

One of The Odee Company’s long time print clients put it best by sending me the below text message after the Labor Day weekend:

“I ordered newsletters, not a seizure“
He then followed with:
“I am confident you will come out the other side somehow better for this experience as painful and gut-wrenching as it probably is right now…I simply wouldn’t expect anything less from you”.

Back in the fall of ’97 I started my college football career with the Mighty Fightin’ Kangaroos of Austin College in Sherman, TX. Being a QB, at what many claim to be “Quarterback U of North Central Texas DIII Schools” meant I wouldn’t see the field for sometime. But what that didn’t keep me from, was the practice field and playing scout team QB. For those not familiar with scout team, the Defensive Coordinator tells your scout team what play to run and what count to snap the ball on…in front of his starting defense. Here’s where the concussions come into play. I suffered 2 during the scout team days and 4-5 more from High School and remaining college years. Never thought much of them, just that it was a miserable experience for 4-5 days. If you said something or it was noticeable you would sit that week and couldn’t play. So only 2 were brought to the trainer’s attention and the school did the right thing in sitting me. I was no different than my teammates. If you ask a former football player if he has ever had a concussion, he would surely hesitate while formulating his total.

Glory Days 2000

Moving on, Father’s Day of ’09 I spent the weekend with Brother Russ and my Pops playing golf at a resort in Central Texas. Our ladies were on vacation in Ireland which allowed us the freedom to take our time in golfing and enjoying the weekend. Our last day at the resort was a hot one, so hot that the other 2 turned it in after the front 9 and I continued on. They drove back to Austin and I finished the back 9.

Not Central Texas

That afternoon I returned to Dallas. Sitting on my couch I began to have an aura like spell. I had suffered from these auras 2-3 times a year maybe…starting back around my Junior year at Austin College. How I best describe the auras; imagine recalling a dream you had from either the night before or several nights ago. You focus on it and it becomes more vivid and soon you begin to question if it really took place, or if you’re just imagining things. I would suddenly get nauseous and would have to sit down. It almost felt as if I was levitating and looking down onto my body. I can’t describe how sick and helpless I would feel. That night, I woke up around midnight in excruciating pain. I passed out from the shoulder pain and woke up again @ 2am, then 4am. I had shattered my scapula in 4 places.

Ouch

I mentioned the aura spell with my shoulder specialist. He shared with me that he had authored 4 text books on the scapula and that “shattering your scapula in 4 places, doesn’t happen in your sleep“. So I either had a tumor, or a seizure. At this point I was a wreck since I didn’t have a seizure. Numerous tests turned out that I was cancer free. So why the shattered scapula? Again, didn’t even fathom I could of had a seizure.

2 incident free years had passed and along came Labor Day weekend of 2011. Our final night at The Homestead in Hot Springs, VA. The day consisted of fly fishing the Orvis sponsored stream. An active pool session catapulting the wife from one side of the pool to the other. An afternoon nap before the Labor Day picnic and fireworks from the lawn. An aura when I woke from my nap. A shower. Shampoo in the hair, another aura…that’s all I remember.

Home of my last seizure

I can only recall a few images when I regained sensible consciousness. 6-8 people in the bathroom with me and for some reason I was outside of the shower on the floor between the toilet and bathtub. Still seems like a dream. Bath County Hospital was only a minute away. I have an image of the head EMT. Apparently a doctor was staying next door to our room and rushed in to handle the situation. My wife protected my head after I had banged it on the tile floor numerous times. Fortunately for me, family was there and I was safe.

Now a week after the drama, I’m medicated and diagnosed as having a tiny scar on my brain from one of my numerous concussions which causes the short circuit. The auras I have experienced are mini seizures as well. Not fun. Keppra is the drug of choice and is said to combat my migraines as well…win, win. After mentioning to my Neuro how I feel as if I played a full game yesterday, she responded by saying I exerted the same amount of energy as running a marathon, but in only 2 minutes.

Why am I blogging about this?
1) I want you to know that the exceptional customer service you’ve received in the past, will not change.
2) I cannot drive for 6 months, this just means you will see me and another Odee employee of your choosing. We’re versatile and like to hit the road.
3) Getting this off my chest and behind me feels good and hopefully I can assist at least 1 other individual out there who is going through a similar scenario.
4) It’s been painful, but we all know “Pain” is just weakness leaving the body.
5) Lastly, don’t worry about me. I’m medicated.

Lost a week but now I’m back at it, better than before. See you soon.

-Trav

Travis Stein
Principal Partner
The Odee Company; est. 1923
travis@odeecompany.com

Print Videos

travisodee — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 19:19:57 +0000

You’re obviously here because you’re in search of The Odee Company’s latest print videos. Well, we now have them all in one place.

Click on the image below for the Best Print Videos around:

The Odee Company's Videos

***The Odee Company is a commercial printing company and promotional product distributor that has been printing in Dallas since 1923. The first printer in Dallas to be dually certified as both FSC and SFI. Dallas mailhouse, fulfillment house, and full inhouse bindery completes the all around service The Odee Company offers.

Travis Stein
Principal Partner
The Odee Company; est. 1923
travis@odeecompany.com

Padgett Printing’s Final Washup

travisodee — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:18:00 +0000

The news hit many Dallas Printers hard last week. Sadly the tight-knit industry knew it was coming.

Padgett Printing has been a family owned Commercial Printer here in Dallas for over 100 years. Since working in the Printing Industry for 10+ years, Padgett has always been my biggest competitor. Competitors in my book, are those with equal talents and which you highly respect. That was Padgett. From several of their employees I have met, to their general reputation in our industry, they were one we have tried to model The Odee Company after. We’re coming up on 100 years ourselves and know in order to stay debt free, we must adapt to whatever economy we face. Joe Polanco of PIA MidAmerica details it best in his recent blog Cup-A-Joe. In the post, Joe touches on changes printers need to make, situations printers obviously need to avoid, and ultimately/ sadly how success has driven many printers out of business. It’s a solid read.

I can assure you The Odee Company will be here. We haven’t been immune to the economy. We’ve had to make tough decisions recently like everyone else. But we’re debt free and still fighting to earn your business.

Padgett, the competition was fun while it lasted. Best of luck to all of you who I’m sure will strike up success wherever you may land. You’ve all been groomed by one of the best.

Travis Stein
Principal Partner
The Odee Company; est. 1923
travis@odeecompany.com

How are notepads made?

travisodee — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 13:17:29 +0000

It’s always fun providing tours for clients or friends and witnessing their reaction to the many tedious as well as fascinating steps in printing. One of those being notepads. As long as I’ve been here (10 years) we’ve seemed to win every notepad job we’ve bid here in Dallas. Notepads seem to fit our plant much like Augusta fits Tiger and bad music fits Kenny Chesney or Toby Keith (country? no.).

Moving on to better things, Odee. We are highly skilled at producing notepads in Dallas since every step of the notepad making process is in-house. You’ve seen from past videos the printing stage, now take a look at the print bindery stage. Also, if you can guess who the character is at the end…bonus points. The Bandera Waltz is the only song that fit…so either “you’re welcome” or, “I’m sorry”:

I hope this helps clear up how notepads are made. Don’t hesitate in contacting me should you have any questions.

Travis Stein
Principal Partner
The Odee Company; est. 1923
travis@odeecompany.com

70 pictures in 54 seconds presents “OD” T’s

travisodee — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 21:19:29 +0000

The latest request out of Hollywood was hand delivered last week.

“Stein, I need new shirts from The Odee Company. And I’m not talking about the shirts from 1923 when Odee was established. I’m talking about the new ones that all the kids like Bieber and Gomez are wearing. The shirts that have that wicked cool “OD” emblem on the front. That’s what I want. By the way, put it in film since all of your other videos have been of Hollywood quality.”

So, shirts arrived and I decided let’s get this to film. Sarah Holland came up with the concept while Jennifer Fitzgerald provided her talents behind the FlipHD camera; thanks Flip.

Enjoy.

Travis Stein
Principal Partner
The Odee Company; est. 1923
travis@odeecompany.com

What are the “OD” oval stickers??

travisodee — Sat, 21 May 2011 15:30:49 +0000

One of the most popular Google searches this past month has been “what are the OD oval stickers?”. A picture of the OD oval sticker is below for reference:

The Odee Company is a commercial printer in Dallas, TX as well as a promotional product distributor. Our new Odee Company shirts explain it best:

Summer is right around the corner and I would imagine you have some trips planned. Contact me for some shirts and stickers and send us the pics of where OD decided to travel.

Travis Stein
Principal Partner
The Odee Company; est. 1923
travis@odeecompany.com