Hours: 15-20 hrs per week
Pay: Negotiable
Location: 14 N. Lowry Ave., Ste D, Spfld, 45504
Description: Must be familiar with Adobe programs – PhotoShop, Illustrator etc.  Will work on-site, 4 days per week.  Working primarily in a production graphic design position working with template files to setup customizable items such as business cards, fliers, brochures and other items for production.  Will be doing specific tasks such as adding bleeds to full bleed print files, setting type etc.  Other projects may come up as necessary.

If interested, e-mail cover letter and resume to Landon Wade at landon.wade@theceriumgroup.com.

Over the last few years, we’ve noticed a change in the products our customers want. We’ve noticed a lot of you are trying to make “greener” business decisions. Whether your business is already green or you’re trying to get there, we can help you become more environmentally conscious by helping you select products that are better for Earth.

Not too long ago, we wrote a blog on eco-friendly printing products. In addition to printing products, there are hundreds of eco-friendly promotional products available for you to choose from. Most products are made with organic, recycled or other natural materials that benefit the environment. By selecting eco-friendly products, you tell customers you care about the environment in a functional way while reminding them your business rocks.

Check out these green promotional items:

• Reusable tote bags: Reusable lightweight totes cut down on the plastic bags you see at many trade shows. They are designed to be use again at the grocery store or the library. The bags come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes.

• USB drives: USB drives cut down on CD waste and often hold more information than traditional CDs. These can be reused over and over.

• Coffee tumblers: Coffee tumblers help eliminate additional paper waste. By using the same tumbler everyday, you help save thousands of pounds of paper from ending up in our nation’s landfills.

• Logowear Options: We carry logowear products like American Apparel, which is produced in the United States in an eco-friendly building. They recycle fabric scraps and use organic cotton in their manufacturing processes. Anvil Organic shirts are made with 100 percent organic cotton. Alternative Apparel makes eco-friendly shirts of all varieties too.

If you’re interested in integrating eco-friendly promotional products into your business, contact us and we will help you choose the right items.

About ten years ago, one of my clients received a call from an upset customer complaining the lid on his branded tumbler leaked coffee onto his tie. Then, I received a call from the client that distributed the tumbler demanding I get him replacement lids.

I immediately arranged to get him lids. A week later, when I stopped in to ensure I still had a customer, he asked if I had any new ideas for promotional products.

The first item I recommended was the travel tumbler. He thought I was joking, but I wasn’t!

I explained he had made a great promotional item choice for his clients – the $1.98 he spent on that tumbler had bought him an entire year of exposure to that customer. In addition, his customer cared so much to continue using the tumbler that he requested a new tumbler or lid (which he got, by the way).

That tumbler accomplished its mission. Can you name another advertising vehicle from which you can get that kind of exposure, for that long, for $1.98?

In case you’re wondering, my client didn’t buy more tumblers, but he did select two different items to give to customers and planned on using the
 tumbler again at a later time.

We counsel our clients on promotional product selection and our recommendations are not often unusual or unique. Our goal is to help you get your name in front of existing or prospective customers by using common sense to select items. You want your clients and prospects to use what you give them regularly. If they use your item up, break it, or wear it out- pat yourself on the back — YOU WIN.

In addition to the promotional products we sell, printing is another segment of our business that many of our customers can benefit in more ways than one. As a print broker, The Cerium Group offers a variety of print materials for all of your business needs, that sometimes, other printing companies can’t offer.

The printing industry has changed over the last decade. There is more of a presence with larger printing companies that are well-capitalized and have good equipment, and can produce high-volume print jobs. It’s a benefit for the consumer because now you have more options, more competition which makes price more competitive and as a result, over time because of this phenomenon, print jobs have reduced significantly in cost.

As a print broker, we have increased access to the best pricing for printed items. When using a traditional printer, sometimes they can’t offer specific products or services, or they have to outsource them which increases the cost for you, the customer. The Cerium Group can get you the best price on envelopes with one company, but that company might not have the best pricing in business cards. We will look to find another company that offers the best pricing for business cards. Our ability to use multiple printers saves you money because we do the comparison shopping. Our overhead is low, so we keep staffing costs down, which helps make prices lower. With a broker, we also cut out the work for businesses by eliminating the need to request dozens of price quotes for an item that needs printed. At the click of a button or through a simple phone call, we take care of this for you. As the customer, you save time and money because we will work to make sure you get the best price with the least amount of hassle.

When using a broker the turnaround time, or the time in which is needed to produce a printed item from start to finish, isn’t that of a “quick print” place.  Normally, there needs to be some lead time to plan, especially when a printed proof, or example of the printed copy, needs approved. Planning for lead time is important when using a broker. However, some print jobs can be rushed, but that can drive up the cost for the customer. By giving the broker lead time, you help keep your costs down. As with most printers or brokers, if you want paper samples, specific inks or other specified items and want samples, there can be a time constraint as well.

Environmental concern and impact on business is on the forefront of many business owners’ minds. When it comes to implementing “green” practices in an organization, one of the easiest ways to get started is by using eco-friendly printing options for everyday business needs.

Eco-friendly printing involves the use of alternative inks, including soy-based inks in lieu of petroleum-based inks, and replacing traditional chlorine-bleached paper with recycled paper. Many recycled papers are now available in similar varieties to their chlorine-bleached counterpart.

Printing on recycled paper and using alternative inks reduces the overall impact on the environment. It reduces the impact on our nation’s forestry resources, and reduces air and water pollution.  According to the United Nations, industrialized nations, including the U.S., make up roughly 20 percent of the world’s population, yet we consume 87 percent of the world’s printing and writing papers.

Moving your business in a “greener” printing direction doesn’t have to be expensive. Many business owners avoid eco-friendly printing options because they think it can be more expensive than traditional print methods. Depending on a variety of factors, like the type of print project and quantity, it can be cheaper in some instances.

When looking for ways to “green” your next print job, consider the following:

1) Paper: Ask about post-consumer recycled paper or tree-free alternatives. Look for bleach-free or chlorine-free paper.
2) Inks: Ask about soy-based inks or vegetable inks. These are easier to remove when recycling paper. They also use less energy to produce.
3) Design: Maximize the use of space on your print job design. You don’t want it to be cluttered, but you also want to get the most information on the least amount of paper and ink as possible.

To learn more about eco-friendly print practices, contact The Cerium Group.

The Cerium Group teamed up with the Springfield in Full Bloom initiative by creating and donating a custom Kiosk system for the committee’s logowear needs. “Springfield in Full Bloom” is the local branded name for the nationwide 2010 America in Bloom competition program in which Springfield, Ohio is participating.

Springfield in Full Bloom’s goal is to build and foster community pride, as the area in which people live reflects upon the individuals, businesses and organizations of that community. America in Bloom is a nationwide competition that concentrates on community efforts toward tidiness, environment, heritage preservation and community involvement. The program promotes nationwide beautification through education and community involvement by encouraging the use of flowers, plants, trees and other environmental and lifestyle enhancements in cities across the U.S.

As a business, The Cerium Group is committed to its ongoing efforts in supporting local initiatives that help make Springfield a great place to live, work, play and visit. Helping Springfield move forward is important to The Cerium Group, because it’s not only where we do business, but it’s where our families and many customers live. There are many anticipated developments occurring in the Greater Springfield area over the next five years, and the Springfield in Full Bloom initiative is one of the first opportunities in a series of many that will are going to be occurring in the area. The completion of Greater Springfield Regional Medical Center, groundbreaking of the Hollenbeck-Bayley Creative Arts and Conference Center at the Clark State Performing Arts Center,  and the development of greenspace areas in the downtown area are creating exciting changes in Springfield, and as a local business, we’re excited to be a part of the changes.

Paper weights tend to be a confusing topic for people who are not in the printing business. Paper weight is not how much the piece of paper actually weighs, but rather the thickness or sturdiness of the paper. The weight is measured in U.S. pounds, often abbreviates as lb. or lbs. 500 sheets of a given type of paper determines the number in weight.  The basic size of the paper determines its category type.

The different types are classified in multiple ways:

• Bond paper = 20 lb.  bond (ex. office copy paper)

• Translucent bond paper = 29 lb. bond (ex. basic envelopes)

• Writing paper = 24 lb. bond (ex. stationery)

• Text paper = 50 -120 lb. text (ex. brochure or flyer)

• Cover paper = 50 – 130 lb. cover (ex. business or greeting card)

When choosing the weight of paper necessary for a specific product, the amount of ink that will be used is something to keep in mind. The paper weight has virtually little to no effect on the quality of the image, but a project with a heavier amount of ink would require a heavier type of paper. Different projects require different weights. It’s best to consult with a professional, like a Cerium Group staff member, to see what would be the most economical, efficient and quality paper solution dependent upon your needs.

Due to weather ….. we did not participate Sat. Feb 6th but look forward to Sat Feb 13  working with Fellowship Christian Church leader, Karen Flaugher @ the Upper Valley Mall providing free T-shirts for every $20 donated to rebuild the “House of Hope Orphanage” in Haiti. We believe the T-Shirts, “Kids helping Kids” sends a valuable message of “thanks” to the young people in our community – reaching out to the young people in Haiti. They will have a Free Concert performed by kids 6 – 17 years old …. Thanks for letting us be a part of this community concert.  Tracy and Lynette will be volunteering … come by to see them !

The Cerium Group is looking forward to working with Karen Flaugher Sat Feb 6 @ the Upper Valley Mall providing a free T-shirt for every $20 donated to rebuild the “House of Hope Orphanage” in Haiti. We believe the T-Shirts, “Kids helping Kids” sends a valuable message of “thanks” to the young people in our community – reaching out to the young people in Haiti. Thanks for letting us be a part of this free community concert to watch local children perform.  Tracy Dunsdon and Lynette Amato will be volunteering … come by to see them !

This has been a really cool year for us, in addition to being nominated for the Wittenberg Entrepeneurial Business Award we have also been nominated for the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year for 2010!

We have some awesome competition, including Littleton & Rue Funeral Home, Springboard Group and Gillam Lawncare & Landscaping.

The Small Business of the Year award will be presented at the Chamber’s Annual Meeting on February 25th, along with awards for Business of the Year and Minority Owned Business of the Year.

Thanks again to all of our customers and vendors as this recognition would not be possible without all of you!