DREAM IT. DESIGN IT. DO IT.

The heart, like the mind, has a memory. And in it are kept the most precious keepsakes. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Amy Carney has a passion for many things in life, but near the top of that list is family. Her desire to strengthen families moved her to create a brand focused on encouraging moms and dads throughout their parenting journeys. Part of her work involves providing resources for family use. As such, Amy came to CōDRA with a dream to create a keepsake book in which parents could store photos and mementos from the lives of their children. But her book design was especially unique, as there were very few products on the market with her specific construction. Wanting something more than a typical scrapbook, Amy desired to create something that would offer further flexibility. Her vision far surpassed a simple photo album, as well. She needed a custom solution, and CōDRA was the right partner to help her create it. We worked with Amy to create a 25 page accordion-style piece that stretches into a single sheet of paper. The design was beautiful, but production was tricky due to the need for high quality paper that would last for years to come. We worked with Amy to narrow down the paper choices to a high quality, wood free, acid free paper that would provide the right surface for customers to attach their family masterpieces. The cover was also an adventure. Amy obviously wanted tones and textures that complimented her brand, but she also wanted options that were friendly for the environment. These materials are more difficult to find, but CōDRA was able to provide eco-friendly polyurethane materials that met Amy’s high quality standards to match her brand. Finally, adding a gorgeous satin ribbon on the side for closure, debossing on the front cover, and a clamshell style box, Amy’s You Are Loved keepsake collection came together flawlessly, and has enabled her to provide a generational keepsake for her beloved customers. CōDRA is grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of building such a strong brand legacy and provide an incredible product for her clientele. Ready to create your next print product? Partner with CōDRA to design the right product to delight your customers and enhance your brand. Contact us here .

One of the biggest struggles nonprofit organizations face is how to inform people about their cause while inviting them to join in the mission. Digital media is very helpful in the process, but there are several advantages to quality print products, such as a well designed coffee table book. Here are a few perks coffee table books can offer. A Tangible Experience Opening a great book is an immersive experience—the beautiful imagery, the smell of the pages, the feel of the cover in your hands. Your reader engages all of their senses, helping them to connect more deeply to your story. Unlike reading on a phone or a laptop that is rife with opportunity for multiple interruptions and has become so commonplace, you have your reader's undivided attention in an increasingly uncommon way. With their senses fully engaged, what would you like to tell them? A New Audience While coffee table books certainly can include written story, they usually major on visual beauty and artistry. Compelling images can communicate even more clearly than words; the old adage is true—a picture is worth a thousand words. Visual storytelling will help you reach those potential donors and partners who may be less inclined to read your story but are drawn to gripping imagery. And when their neighbors and friends come to visit, your donors become not just supporters of your mission, but ambassadors who share your story with others you might never reach. A New (Old) Way to Educate Information is available at your fingertips—and your donors'—24/7. It's incredibly easy to simply ask Siri or Google or Alexa and allow your favorite smooth-voiced, British accented AI to educate you about whatever it is you need to know. We've grown accustomed to learning through social media posts and Google searches, moving further and further from older, traditional forms of learning. That gradual move has actually reignited a desire and a certain nostalgia in many to return to a more analog version of learning. Enter your beautiful, compelling coffee table book. When you focus on the beautiful storytelling elements of a coffee table book, you offer your donors and potential partners a chance to walk with you from start to finish through all the details of your brand's story. And you're creating an opportunity for lasting and future relationships, because the best coffee table books become a mainstay in family's homes. They can last generations and connect others to your mission for years to come. Partner with CōDRA to design and create the perfect coffee table book and connect your donors to your mission for the long haul. Contact us here .

Taking your first step towards printing a new product can be a bit intimidating, especially if you're printing overseas. Uncertainty can cripple the process quickly, keeping you from developing products that can grow your business. Loveall Design Co. owner and founder Allison Loveall can relate to those struggles. Known for her beautifully hand painted artwork on Bibles, notebooks, and stationery products, Loveall had a desire to transition her production to overseas printing, but felt overwhelmed with all the details that go into making the switch. CōDRA was able to walk her through the process on the very first call, which gave her peace of mind to develop a partnership with CōDRA and create custom journals for her business. One of the biggest problems Allison faced was how to translate her signature hand painted floral designs into a cohesive format for mass printing. Allison's team, CōDRA, and our printing plant were able to work together to navigate the formatting issues and create print ready files. We also were able to collaborate on specifics of the design, including the color palette for head and tail bands for the journals. During the proofing process, CōDRA’s resourceful production team noticed the propensity for some of the darker colored journals to show scratches, whereas the lighter colors did not. As a solution, CōDRA recommended adding soft touch lamination to the covers to provide a layer of coating and protection against scratches and marks. Problem solved, and product improved and completed. Small problems are bound to arise in the world of manufacturing, and the chances for problems are certainly higher when you add overseas production and shipping to the mix. The best thing you can do is avoid panic and lean into your trusted partner—brainstorm solutions based on experience and best practice and communicate well. Throughout the printing process, CōDRA and Loveall Design Co. were able to collaborate on creative ways to tackle each challenge as it arose. In the end, Loveall Design Co. has created and manufactured a variety of cover designs and journal formats, which has left her customer’s pleased and excited for the next products. Ready to create your next print product? Partner with CōDRA to design the right product to delight your customers and enhance your brand. Contact us here .

Another pen with your logo on the side? The same old keychain? Don't do it. Donor appreciation gifts can not only be great ways to say "thank you" to trusted partners, but also opportunities to keep the mission in front of them and even allow them to become ambassadors on your behalf. So they should be well thought out, high quality products that represent your nonprofit well. Organizations often create gifts that tie into the mission but don't usually ask themselves whether or not their donors will actually need or utilize the products. The best gifts have the donor in mind and represent your understanding of who they are. Here are a few items that could appeal to different personas within your donor base. The Writer Your donors who love to write likely also highly value quality products that pertain to that practice. High quality stationary, customized journals, embossed or carved writing pens, or a well-designed storage bin for such items are excellent, useful items that they will treasure. On a smaller scale, consider products that compliment those types of items, like customized highlighters sets, stickers, washi tape, or stretchy bands to add to their favorite journals. Each of those items can be manufactured with quality and customized for your brand. The Traveler Among your donors, there are likely some who are always on the go. And the regular traveler is usually pretty particular about what they take along, so a little creativity and an eye on quality is key. However, the right product could become a traveling billboard for your brand all over the world. Branded phone chargers, phone cases, travel chargers, and other such travel accessories can be great gifts that are used on a regular (daily) basis. You can also step up your game and offer a custom multifunctional bag, backpack, or passport case. Just keep in mind that travelers can be quite picky, so don't overlook quality to ensure it's something they'll treasure and utilize. The Giver Your donors are all givers, but there are certainly some who simply love to give gifts. These types of donors might enjoy custom wrapping paper, gift bags, or even a pair of customized scissors. Well designed, beautiful paper will not only be a useful tool, but also a creative way for your donors to share about your mission with their loved ones. The Outdoorsman Your outdoors-ey donors are often traveling from destination to destination, as well. Some of the traveler ideas could be useful for them, as could a nice reusable branded water bottle (plastic, glass, or aluminum) or travel mug, a branded hammock, or some nice gloves or headband. You could also appeal to their athletic side, offering up a branded yoga mat, workout bands, ear pods (w/ branded charging box), or athletic bag. The Gamer The average knick knack may not be the best choice for your donors who love games, but you can have a lot of fun creating products they'll love. You can add your branding to existing games, like packs of cards. Or you can create your own puzzles, cards, or even a strategy games that align with your mission. Though it takes a little creativity on the front end, creating games can be a lot of fun for both you and your donors and are fairly inexpensive to print. The Chef For donors who enjoy spending time in the kitchen, offer a recipe box (cards in a custom tin box) to store their favorite family recipes to be passed down for generations. If your nonprofit is international, create a cookbook with recipes from all around the world. Or a nice set of branded measuring cups, a set of nice coffee mugs with a display tree, or a high quality oven mitt could do the trick. The Host Donors who love to host others in their home can be incredible ambassadors for your nonprofit, because other potential partners are in their home regularly. A couple of common products that remains wonderful ideas for in-home display are a beautifully constructed coffee table book or stunning prints to hang on the wall. Consider other things that might be used regularly by hosts or displayed in homes, like drinking glasses, high quality blankets, or hand towels. These are a few simple ideas that will hopefully spur creativity as you continue to nurture the relationship with the partners who are funding the mission. And, of course, we're here to help when it's time to create—we'll take the guesswork out of the process so you can stay focused on the mission. If you're ready to create brand-developing products that connect with your clientele and further your mission, CōDRA is the collaborative partner you need. Contact us here .

FSC Certification Years of waste created by the development of products has moved people in many industries to search out effective ways to create their products with minimal impact to the environment. That includes the printing industry, whose participants may choose to take part in a process to become FSC certified. Here’s a quick look at what FSC is and how it impacts your product. FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council , whose stated mission it is " to promote environmentally sound, socially beneficial and economically prosperous management of the world's forests" and has a vision to "meet our current needs for forest products without compromising the health of the world’s forests for future generations." Essentially, the council is a group of experts who study different industries to understand the impact that they may have on the environment and devise standards for practice to limit that impact on our forests. They have devised a set of 10 principles and 57 Criteria that apply to FSC-certified forests around the world, and FSC certification denotes that the products you source derive from responsibly managed forests. Within the printing world, an FSC certified printer completes an inspection and ensures processes that meet with the standards associated with the certification throughout. Why FSC Printing? FSC printing can be valuable for you when considering a new product for your customers. Whereas FSC printing is not more expensive in and of itself, FSC certified paper can be more expensive than non-certified options, but it can be very important when communicating your company's values and priorities. Use of FSC certified products sets a standard for your company that may match other quality and production decisions you have made as it pertains to waste reduction, energy efficiency, or other such environmental factors. The FSC logo in the corner of your product communicates volumes to your customers and may be the deciding factor in their purchase of your products over a competitor. CōDRA has worked with FSC certified materials for years and understands the importance of not only caring for the environment, but also addressing the needs of the brands who value a mindful production process. If you are going to utilize FSC certified products, you need to plan for them from the beginning as they can affect design, budget, and, of course, paper choice. Ready to build a relationship with a collaborative partner to create amazing, mindful products to please your customers and enhance your brand? Contact us here , and let's create something great together.

Despite all of the digital tools available to plan out our lives, planners are still an ever growing market ( print is not dead! ). Planners come in all shapes and sizes with additional features to make them stand out. But not all planners are created equal, so it begs the question, “What does my planner actually need ?” Let's explore that question together. A Great Cover Despite all of the directives not to do it, people definitely judge books by their covers. So be thoughtful with how you design it and put your best foot forward. There are a few options for the cover material—paper, fabric, or leather—and what you choose depends on what you want on the cover. Want beautiful custom artwork? Paper is the way to go. Want a texture and feel? Fabric is your best option and still leaves you with the option to utilize foil stamping and add your custom branding touch to it. Want luxury? Leather is your answer, and embossing or debossing text or logo will personalize it. Binding Most planners on the market feature a twin ring or coil binding. These types of binding offer the user flexibility to easily flip back and forth through pages, all while having an easy to write lay-flat surface. If you'd prefer a more sophisticated or custom look, case bound binding works very well with fabric and leather planners. The text pages are enclosed or bound to a greyboard material and wrapped in the desired material. You can learn more about binding types here . Text Pages The importance of text pages is often underestimated. A planner could contain the most wonderful artwork and beautiful features, but if the paper does not work with ink well, your customer will be sorely disappointed. The best material for absorbing ink well is woodfree paper. It's not as smooth as matte art paper, but the material will quickly take in and hold color. If you desire more of a “buttery” feel to the text pages, matte art paper may be best. But please keep in mind that, because the surface area is smoother, the ink could smear on the page, depending on what pens or markers are used. Learn more about paper types here . End Sheets These are the pages that are glued to the inside of the front and back covers, and are usually the “thicker” pieces of paper that you'll have before the pages switch to text pages. End sheets provide an opportunity for you to add design work (if desired), or to subconsciously say, “keep going” on to the text pages if you opt to leave them plain. Both formats work well as long as it is in sync with your overall design concept. Learn more about end sheet types here . Pocket An easy way to upgrade your planner is by adding a space to keep important documents or momentos, such as tickets, bills, invitations, etc. You can either build this pocket page into the inside front and back covers, or you can form a pocket out of end sheet paper and include it in the front or back of the text pages (meaning the pocket would form its own “page” in the order of your text pages). Either way, it's a simple addition that we believe should be standard in your planner design. Ribbon or Bookmark Though not a necessity, offering your user the ability to mark their spot without having to find a loose piece of paper or fold a page corner, a grosgrain or satin ribbon or a small bookmark may be helpful. Ribbons are helpful tools and can be added to any type of binding. Bookmarks can be used as an extra branding piece and/or another useful tool for the planner (like a ruler). Stickers Each year, more and more stickers are being added to planners. Stickers provide an additional tool for branding and showcasing your designs, as well as adding helpful tools for the client. With numerous options including color and cut, you can create custom options just for your planner that help it stand out from the crowd. Countless items can be added into a planner, depending on your brand and the needs of your customer base. Perforated recipe cards, verse cards, quote stickers—the options go on and on. There is flexibility when creating a planner, so don’t be afraid to dream big! If you're ready to create brand-developing products that connect with your customers and enhance your brand, CōDRA is the collaborative partner you need. Contact us here .

You've done it before—admit it. You've judged a book by its cover. You're not alone. You've picked up a beautifully designed book and taken it home expecting an equally masterful read only to find that the substance between the covers didn't match their aesthetic brilliance. It's disappointing, right? You likely decided then and there that you really want to avoid such an experience for your customers when they pick up your products. The cover of your journal is the first thing they'll see, so you need to do it well. But the most important experience they will have will be the one that happens each time they open it to document their most important thoughts. If the experience with the pages themselves is poor, repeat customers are likely not in the cards for your brand, or at least for that product. Given that paper plays such an important role in the user experience, take the time to make sure you give them the one that's right for your journal. Here are the main types of paper used in journals along with the ways they are most useful. Woodfree Woodfree paper is most suitable for a lot of writing. Although the surface is not as smooth as some other paper options, the material absorbs color very well and can hold ink without smearing, a huge plus for your customer when it comes to writing. If your journal is meant mainly for writing, this paper is the right choice, and your customers will thank you. Matte Matte paper offers the smoother finish some customers look for when writing. But because the paper is coated, sometimes the ink does not stay on the page as easily as it would on woodfree paper. There is more opportunity for smearing, so it's something to keep in mind as you design and lay out your pages. Glossy Glossy paper is similar to matte paper in that it is coated, but the finish is shiny and creates an incredibly smooth surface. This type of paper is not good for writing because it will definitely smear the ink, but it is a great material for images that you might use within the journal. C2S C2S means “coated 2 sides” and refers to a thick piece of card stock with a smooth finish on both sides of the paper. Again, this type of paper is not meant for writing, but it can work great for a marketing piece, such as a belly band, information card, or fact sheet. The smooth touch adds a luxurious quality to the paper, and the marketing pieces using C2S can be a great way to convey brand information that won’t otherwise fit in the journal. If you're ready to create the perfect print product to please your customers and enhance your brand, contact us here , and let's create something great together.

Every business wants to grow—sales, knowledge base, product development, customer base— we all want to expand our territory and sphere of influence. If your company is a product based company, sooner or later you'll like need to address whether or not to sell on Amazon. Here are a few things to consider to help you decide. Built-In Audience Millions of people use Amazon around the world, and they maintain better than a 90% customer retention rate . Amazon shoppers tend to stick with Amazon, giving you the opportunity to tap into existing customers and expand your own loyal base. It can also expose your products to potentially millions of new customers your traditional marketing content has yet to reach, Stateside and/or international. Keep in mind, as well, that Prime members are offered free 2 day shipping, which is another way Amazon builds loyalty. Prime shipping can be a deal breaker between clicking “complete order” or “save for later.” If prime members become a persona for your products, you may move one step closer to converting them to customers-for-life because they feel as though you are taking care of them and giving them a deal. Built-In Shipping One of the biggest bottlenecks in a company’s productivity can be the shipping process, especially these days. There are delays in supply chains and transport, so the Amazon delivery system can be a huge help. Once Amazon has your product in their warehouse, they take care of shipping everything to your customer. This alone can save you hours—or tens or hundreds, depending on how much product you move—of time. However, you still have to ship your items to Amazon’s warehouse, and they have a strict protocol for how they receive packages. If their guidelines are not met, you risk chargebacks or orders not being processed. So make sure you understand the process—be sure it works for you and your company. Built-In Fees While Amazon gives you access to a wider audience, it's certainly not for free. Roughly $1 is taken from every sale if you are an individual seller. The terms change if you have a professional account, but the principle remains the same. There are also referral, fulfillment, storage, and shipping channel fees. The best thing you can do is to fully understand your overhead and break even point to accurately assess if selling on Amazon will actually put more money in your pocket versus taking money out. Built-In Competition The beauty is that anyone willing to abide by their rules can sell on Amazon. The downside is that anyone willing to abide by their rules can sell on Amazon. While your consumer base may expand, so do your competitors. So you may have to be a bit more creative with your offering to stay competitive. If you can be flexible with your pricing, Amazon is ideal for you. But if your margins are tight, it may prove more trouble than it is worth. Another item impacting competition is reviews. Reviews will make or break your business on any platform. If you have a loyal customer base that is proud to champion your brand, you may have a great shot at making it on Amazon. But if you're still working out the kinks in your production process or the product itself, you may want to go ahead and iron out the details before jumping headlong into the fierce Amazon marketplace. Bad reviews are difficult to overcome. These are only a few of the factors that can impact your decision to dive into the world of Amazon, but they can act as a springboard for research to determine whether or not Amazon is the right fit for your brand. If you're ready to create brand-developing products that connect with your customers and enhance your brand, CōDRA is the collaborative partner you need. Contact us here .

I love a good book, so I have way too many. I'm constantly looking for new places to stow them in my home and office. But I'm one who likes to use my books, not just keep them on my shelves. My nemesis? Bad binding. After a little use, pages start coming loose, the binding cracks or tears, or it just doesn't hold up well to bending and use. The world of printing offers many choices for binding for books, journals, planners, calendars, magazines, etc. To ensure your product doesn't fall into the "bad binding category," you'll need to pinpoint the right one for your product. Here is a quick guide on the benefits of each binding style: ↣ Perfect Binding This is a binding style in which all of the pages are glued to the outside cover, creating a “perfect” and seamless look. It is highly recommended for projects like children’s books, magazines, and coloring books. One can still use it for a regular book or journal, but you'll need to note that perfect binding does not offer the lay-flat feature that most look for in journals. ↣ Case Bound / Smythe Sewn Binding This binding style encloses the book in a thick outside cover (greyboard, generally 1mm-2.5mm thick). The text pages are grouped and folded in half to create twice as many pages (8 sheets folded in half creates 16 pages, for instance). The creases of these pages (called “signatures”) are stacked, sewn to the spine, and attached with head and tail bands. This offers a classic, sophisticated look for any book, journal, or notebook. It is also highly recommended if you are looking to add a fabric or leather cover material. Case binding is great for hardcover books and journals because it allows the book to lay flat when opened. ↣ Saddle Stitch Binding This style is similar to the smythe-sewn, but it can be used for soft cover journals or notebooks. The sheets are folded in half and stitched with thread to the spine of the soft cover material. This style of binding is commonly used on cahier journals, small handy-sized journals with rounded edges. ↣ Spiral / Twin Ring Binding Twin rings and spirals offer the most flexibility of any binding style. To create this binding, either square or circular holes are punched through the interior text pages, allowing a coil to slide through, syncing all of the pages together. Twin rings are mostly available in the colors of gold and silver, but other colors like rose gold, copper, black, or white may be available upon request. Spiral or twin ring binding can create a very aesthetically pleasing product, especially when paired with gold foil text or metal gold corners on the front and back covers. ↣ Coptic This binding style has grown increasingly popular in recent years. Coptic binding is created when all of the signatures are stitched together, but no fabric, paper, or other covering is placed over the glue. Instead, the spine is left exposed, allowing you to see the binding. The covers are then attached to the first and last signature pages. It creates an organic look and an earthy feel. Users can run their fingers along the spine and feel the ridges of each signature. Coptic binding can also be finished with glue or other coating to help hold the pieces together. You can learn a bit more about binding styles and see images on our site here . Don't overlook the binding in your design. It can drive both aesthetics and functionality and help create a lasting product to please your customers. If you're ready to create the perfect print product to please your customers and enhance your brand, contact us here , and let's create something great together.

Johannes Gutenberg...That guy changed the world around 1436. He enabled the dissemination of information beyond the ruling elite to the common folk, as it were, empowering others and putting information once reserved for the select few in the hands of every day people looking to learn. Charles Babbage, maybe unknowingly, furthered the regular availability of information when he first imagined and designed a computer in 1822. Konrad Zuse, Alan Turing, Francois Gernelle, military scientists, IBM, Epson, Steve Jobs, and Apple all added their $.02, ultimately leading to the proliferation of computers in homes all around the world. Nikola Tesla, J.C.R. Licklider, Robert Kahn and Vinton Cerf, and Tim-Berners Lee (and Al Gore, of course) paved the way for us to surf the web, connect to one another via electronic mail, and, eventually, share our entire lives through social media and cookies and such. With the conglomeration of technological advances, information dissemination changed, as digital communication took over the world, or so it seemed. While digital forms of communication have certainly become the norm and handwritten letters have taken a back seat, print products have not gone the way of the dinosaur, though that was certainly predicted and expected. It turns out there are a lot of things people really like, even prefer, about print communications over digital. And, in some case, there are physiological reasons. Here are a few reasons print products are simply not dead and could (should) be a huge part of your product line and communications efforts. Connects with Your Brain Writing an item by hand actually logs it into the part of your brain that holds memory (that's one of those physiological reasons mentioned above). This means that writing things down can actually imprint them in your memory better than simply clicking buttons on your laptop or tapping the screen of your phone a few times, leaving you with have a higher chance of remembering an important date or piece of information. There is a strong mind/body connection when we write things down, so printed items like calendars, journals, and cards can increase efficiency and productivity in ways that an app can’t beat. Creativity and Personal Ownership There is something powerful about holding a pen in your hand and staring at a blank journal page to draw something beautiful or translate an important thought from the day. Not only does writing or drawing help your mind relax, it offers an element that digital products cannot. Notebooks, planners, and greeting cards forge personal ownership because your signature is placed on each page with your very own hand—a simple touch that just about anyone can appreciate. Branding Opportunity In the last several years, following the advent of digital media, marketing, and communication, business owners and companies the world over have been talking again about how to make their brands tangible. It's an ongoing problem to be solved, and, in many cases, a return to print products can provide the answer. There is a reason that mass mailings are making a return and coffee table books remain a huge product for so many brands. Having something in your customers' hands, in their homes, on their coffee tables, and in the middle of conversations they have with their friends and families helps to keep your brand front-of-mind and tangible. You're a part of their every day. These are just a few examples of the benefits of having printed products as a part of your product lines and communications. Don't miss the opportunity to have your products in the homes of your clients and keep your brand front-and-center, tangibly in their lives. If you're ready to create the perfect print product to please your customers and enhance your brand, contact us here .