by Sarah Izzo

Plan to Save

The reality of almost any business is bound by picking two of the three factors: time, quality and cost. If you need top quality fast, it’s going to cost more. If you need top quality affordably, it often will take longer.

START WITH A CONSULT

In your first steps of planning and design concept, it’s the right time to establish how the piece will produce—email, social media, direct-mail, etc. Work with the designers and production teams to discuss budget, guidelines and production time to avoid delays later.

by Diana L. Martin

There were a lot of visits to Michigan by the candidates during the past few months - especially in the last two weeks right before the election. Many of you may have taken part in the rallies. I think it’s only fitting that our topic for the November trivia is:

Presidential Trivia

by Kim Schroeder

The future of schools is a hot topic. As schools begin to open their doors to students and we move back to face-to-face instruction, conversations need to be had on how school spaces will, or should, function in the future.

One area of school design that is interesting to dive a bit deeper into is the makerspace. A makerspace is a collaborative workspace inside a school…for making, learning, exploring, and sharing…

by Diana L. Martin

In this age of Covid-19, janitorial/PPE products have become as precious as gold. Disinfectant sprays, cleaning wipes. paper towel and other associated products have been in extremely short supply since early March. Panic resulted in hoarding and manufacturers couldn’t keep up with the demand for these items.

Now, seven months later, some of these items are finally starting to reappear on store shelves, although they may not be the brands you’re used to purchasing. Clorox and Lysol both are still experiencing major production issues and their products are scarce in the marketplace.

by Sarah Izzo

What does the research say?

The studies keep piling up to reveal technology changes, but people remain the same—we are creatures of sensations and experiences. Screen displays, no matter the device and delivery, will never compare to the tactile experience of paper. Educators are rapidly concluding that children and adults focus better when reading is combined with our senses, especially touch.

What does this mean for direct mail? It’s not dead and neither are catalogs. Even the biggest online brands are turning out story-line catalogs to draw in buyers’ attentions or focus them on a targeted campaign.

by Diana L. Martin

As with all British royal family births, the world was abuzz in 2015 when Duchess Kate gave birth to Princess Charlotte, who, by the way, is one of the most adorable little girls I have ever seen. She is just so cute! She is not, however, the only Charlotte with a famous mom. Charlotte was actually a pretty popular name even before the princess was born. Let’s see how much you know about celebrity children.

Today’s topic is (as you’ve already guessed):

Famous Charlottes

by Valerie Glander

Your waiting room is the first impression your patients receive. This impression tells them about how your practice is run and what to expect. Not only that, but healthcare surveys show that many say their time in the waiting room is the most frustrating part of visiting a doctor. Lobbies and other transitional spaces offer a significant opportunity to improve patient experience and distinguish your practice from the competition.

Providing more choice and supporting a range of activities helps to make the wait time seem shorter. For families, offering lounge seating or a child-friendly corner to keep kids entertained can be important features. Offering quiet work space for busy professionals with tables or counters and easy access to power helps to alleviate stress and show you value your patients’ time.

by Diana L. Martin

Everybody knows that the big box office supply stores offer better pricing and better deals than an independent dealer, right? I’m not telling you something you don’t already know. Independent dealers are usually small, family owned businesses that simply can’t compete with the major chain stores and they have a small, local client base.

Wait…………..what?

by Sarah Izzo

Making Life Easier for Purchasing

The solution is here, and we have it for you free of charge. Welcome to OEX Print Online at https://print.oexusa.com. We are ready to help you set up your own online variable template - whether it is for the company business cards, name badges, apparel or a complete line of promotional/collateral materials. If you have a mostly consistent design template that you just need to order with on demand personalization—OEX Print Online has variable ability for your products!

by Diana L. Martin

Most of us probably haven’t gone anywhere during the pandemic, so today we’re going to do some virtual traveling. Tap into your history knowledge and see if you can answer today’s question. Our topic today is:

Where am I?

by Valerie Glander

In Part 2 of our new product introductions, we’ll take a look at some of our design team’s favorite new products. Soft curves and even softer color palettes continue to dominate new product innovation and we’re loving the shift. As the future of office environments remains uncertain, I am confident in one thing – our ability to innovate and adapt. Office design has seen significant change over the last decade and we will continually be challenged to find new ways of accommodating a younger, more flexible workforce.

by Diana L. Martin

You spend 8 hours a day (at least) in your office, most likely sitting at a desk. Right now, that may be a home office. Either way, it can be tiresome. So why not liven up your space and make it feel more comfortable or more energetic? Incorporate your style into your workspace - are you traditional, contemporary or somewhere in between? Are you a fun person? If so, show it!

Giving your workspace a personal touch can improve your creativity and productivity as well as creating positive energy. Let’s think about a few of the ways you can accomplish this.

by Diana L. Martin

To say the pandemic has thrown a wrench into business operations would be the understatement of the century, but one thing the slowdown has done is give us the opportunity to assess, revise and reorganize. When you’re looking for ways to improve efficiency in the office, one of the most basic processes to consider is your filing system.

Options in filing products are overwhelming and this article would be very, very long if we discussed them all, so I’m going to concentrate on just a couple aspects today.

by Sarah Izzo

The experience is often everything in promotions - and life for that matter. It is surely one of the main reasons why brick-and-mortar businesses still thrive in an increasingly online world. Why else would you go out when the need is not immediate and everything can be ordered and delivered the next day for us for the right price?

Supporting small business could be a reason (and a great one) everyone should get behind with every dollar they spend. However, people still go to the stores because they want the experience - to see it, touch it and decide to buy.

by Diana L. Martin

OEX is a Michigan-based company. I was born and raised in Michigan and have lived my entire life here, so you would think I know a lot about Michigan. I’ve read a few articles on Michigan Trivia lately and was surprised at what I didn’t know so I decided to make today’s topic:

Michigan Trivia

by Valerie Glander

Typically, summer is a busy time for the OEX design team. Not only is this a busy time of year for construction projects and furniture orders, but Chicago’s NeoCon design fair— in June— is also when we get to review the newest products releases. Of course, 2020 has thrown us quite the curveball. The NeoCon event may have been cancelled, but the fresh new product and inspiration has not slowed down.

NeoCon 2020 product launches feature lighter scale furniture and softer color palettes. Gentle curvature in lounge furniture has been a huge hit and creates a comfortable tension to the high-tech productivity solutions we are seeing in the office.

by Diana L. Martin

Yes, you read that correctly - if you haven’t already done so, it’s time to order your 2021 calendars!

But it’s only August, you say? You’re right, but this is what I always tell my customers: the calendar industry works like the clothing industry. Go into any apparel store in July and look for a swimsuit - you won’t find one in the regular racks. Anything they have will be on clearance and there won’t be much there to choose from. What you will find is winter coats and sweaters galore. Similarly, if you go into an apparel store in December looking for a winter coat, you’ll find swimsuits and cruisewear.

by Sarah Izzo

It defines our world, yet it is our own perception

Understanding Color

It might seem like a political statement, but this is not that article—color is just a combination of biological science and psychological perception. It is the brain’s translation of light hitting our eyes and how it makes us feel, an oversimplification to be sure but true all the same.

by Diana L. Martin

I love musicals. The singing, the dancing, the sets - it’s all glorious! Let’s get your feet tapping today and everybody humming their favorite musical number while you work. Today’s topic is:

Broadway Musicals

by Kim Schroeder

Prior to Covid-19 offices saw a shift toward open, collaborative spaces. The trend was for low panels, benching systems, wellness rooms, and large open collaborative areas. Our main focus was centered on improving the place where we spent most of our time, the office. We opened up spaces, added natural and biophilic elements; we all thought the more open the better. While this concept lent itself to beautifully imagined spaces, people had mixed feelings regarding privacy. Fast forward to today and we are now having to reimagine those spaces to make them safer in our new COVID-19 world.