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    Shower speaker and cup holder


    Price Point: $14.98 - $18.88

    Production Time: 5 Business Days

    Available Colors:
    White


    Perfect For: Employee Gifts/Client Gifts/Corporate Swag Store/Raffle Prizes/ Swag Store Real Estate/New Hire Giveaways/Desk Swag/Room Drop Presents/Speaker Gifts

    Its fun, it’s fancy, and GOOD GOLLY it brings the energy! The Durango Speaker takes tub time from a chore to a party and kicks off your very own personal shower concert!  The Durango Water Resistant Bluetooth Speaker AND Can Holder is a Bluetooth speaker that has 2 suction cups built into the speaker that allows it to stick to any non-porous surface. The top of the speaker is a can holder that will hold any can or bottle up to 17 ounces (This includes sippy cups for the kids.) With an IPX4 water proof rating, it can withstand any water it comes in contact with. Bring the jam and boost up your shower or bath with a beautifully branded speaker of your very own cause – “BABY YOU’RE A FIREWORK!!”

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    While most of us designers are currently stuck in the situation of working from home, there are ways to help ease the transition from our work station to our work from home station. Graphic design requires a great deal of organization, in the way your files are kept and stored, but also in the way that your work space is set up on your computer and in your physical space.  Having gone through the transition first hand, we have gathered a list of quick tips to help you with yours!


    1) Always have a wireless mouse and a keyboard on hand

    So much of design work has to do with detailed adjustments or selections, so having a mouse to be able to assist with this makes your work much more efficient and effective.  Graphic design is different from many others in this sense, as most people are able to get by with the touchpad on a laptop to complete their work, but with graphic design being a career that a lot of the time requires the formation of visual creations on a computer, it is important to be able to have an external mouse to give precision. 

    A keyboard is equally as important for being as efficient as can be while working from home.  Designers use a keyboard for more than just typing.  It can be used for shortcuts to open tools or windows, as well as helping with the precision aspect of design through the use of the arrow keys.  


    2) Use a second screen if possible

    Designers are quite often switching between windows and tabs.  Between always having at least one Adobe program open and constantly searching for information online or opening and replying to emails and accessing client or internal files, there is never a moment where all windows are closed.  And because of that, it can be found that compared to having to open and close tabs constantly, having more than one screen to work with makes working much more organized and efficient while at home! 


    3) Clear your workspace 

    It may seem like a minor thing, but having a clear workspace is a large factor in getting work done and staying focused and organized while at home.  Instead of sitting on the couch with clutter all around you, try setting up your workspace on a clear desk or table with only the essentials in sight.  With most of design work being done on the computer, all you will really need is your computer, screen(s), mouse, and notebook for sketching or taking notes when needed.  A clear workspace leads to a clear mind!


    4) Set aside time to take a break!

    Let’s face it, as designers we are constantly trying to come up with creative ideas and solutions to use in our work.  While working from home, you may be tempted to sit at your computer all day long drowning in creativity and creation without leaving the spot that you are at.  However, this will not last for long! It is important to take breaks throughout your day to clear your mind and allow for your brain to take a rest from the constant working.  Whether it’s going for a walk or solving a quick desktop puzzle to use your mind in a different way, taking breaks is an important part to maintaining a healthy and effective work from home life.



    Try out these quick tips while transitioning to a work from home life, and utilize NorthPoint to create the perfect work from home kits for your employees!

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    Board Games

    Price Point: $22.53 - $26.95

    Average Production Time:  5 Business Days

    Available Colors: 
    Natural/White

    Perfect For: Employee Gifts, Work From Home Kits, Client Gifts, Corporate Swag Stores, New Hire Giveaways, Tradeshow Giveaways, Internal SWAG, Room Drop Presents, Speaker Gifts

    HEY YOU THERE! Get away from the computer (yes, give yourself a break from the emails), turn off the TV, put down the phones and relax with your loved ones with a GAME NIGHT! Working from home brings together the ones you love so let’s take advantage of it. Gather your special people with some snacks and beverages (alcoholic if you wish) and enjoy this desktop game set. It includes a game board, pieces for checkers, chess, domino pieces, cribbage board and pegs, a standard deck of cards, and a dice set which all store in this game. Oh my gosh – the choices are endless - so if you get bored of one game, you have plenty of others to choose from. Send this to your clients, friends, family, and employees and remind them of the importance of fun with the family!
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    Designer or not, we have most likely all come across an instance where we have been provided with an image that is too dark, the colors are off, and the quality is low.  Instead of risking your brand image and reputation of quality, whether it’s on your social media, website, or other marketing materials, we are here to give you 3 simple steps on how to turn these dreadful photos into something much more exciting to share with your audience.  And the best part…good photos means more followers, more engagement, and more clients! It’s a win, win, win!


    1)  Use “Curves” In Photoshop to fix lighting issues

    The brightness of a photo can be adjusted in a few ways, but the “curves” panel is a great place to start.  To access curves, go to Image>> >>Adjustments>>Curves, and the panel will pop up.  To brighten your photo, drag the curve up (Tip: to increase highlights, drag the top most point up; to increase mid tones, drag the middle of the line up; to increase shadows, drag the lower most point of the line up), and to decrease the brightness… you got it! Drag the curve down from the top to decrease highlights, the middle to decrease mid tones, and the bottom to decrease shadows.  Take a look at this photo below before and after the curves were adjusted:




    2) Adjust the Brightness

    Similar but different to the curve tool, adjusting the brightness of an image will simply adjust the overall brightness of a photo, rather than focusing on the mid, low, and high tones.  Some may say that this is the easiest solution to a photo that is too dark.  In Photoshop, go to Image>>Adjustments>>Brightness/Contrast to open the brightness panel, and then drag the slider to the right to reach your desired amount of brightness (You can also adjust the contrast if need be in this panel!). Below is a simple example of a photo before and after the brightness was adjusted.




    3) Fix the colors!

    Depending on what your light source is when taking your photo, the color of your image may appear unnatural.  For instance, images taken inside or in artificial light tend to have a warmer tone to them, leaving the photo looking worn out.  In contrast, photos taken outside on a dreary day or in the late afternoon tend to have a cooler tone, resulting from the light source that was apparent at the time.  The simplest way to correct these color issues is to use the color balance adjustment tool in Photoshop.  Go to Image>>Adjustments>>Color Balance to open the panel, and drag the sliders as needed to increase or decrease the warm and cool tones!




    Try out these 3 tips in your next project, on social media, or on your website to avoid any photo ops gone wrong! 




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    Chaos Desk Kit


    Price Point: $14.98 - $18.88

    Average Production Time:  4 Days

    Available Colors: 
    Gray

    Perfect For: Employee Gifts, Work From Home Kits, Client Gifts, Corporate Swag Stores, New Hire Giveaways, Tradeshow Giveaways, Internal SWAG

    The aptly named Chaos Desk Kit is here just in time for you to set up your perfect "Home Office." It'll keep your workspace clean and organized, and your phone battery fully charged. Complete with a wireless charging pad, paper clips, paper flags and sticky notes, it's got everything you need for your new corner (of the living room) office! 
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    Screen printing, also referred to as silk screening, is a popular printing method when it comes to apparel. In its most basic form, the process involves transferring a stencil design onto a flat surface using a mesh screen, ink, and a squeegee.  

    Blank mesh screens

    Something unique with this method that differs to other kinds of printing is that each color in the artwork’s design needs its own screen that will allow just one ink color at a time to be applied. So, the more colors in the design, the more time intensive it will be. But the benefit is that once a screen is created it can be used over and over again. Here’s how the process works:

    Each color gets its own screen to allow that one color to pass through


    1. Your artwork is separated by color, and each color is printed out onto a single transparent acetate film. These will be used to create the stencil.

    2. A mesh screen is prepped with a layer of light-reactive emulsion.

    3. Placing one of the acetate films onto the screen, it is then exposed to very bright light. The light hardens the emulsion so the parts of the screen which are covered by the design remain in liquid form.

    4. After the screen has been exposed, the unhardened areas are rinsed away, leaving an area in the mesh for ink to pass through.

    5. Now, ink is mixed together to create the desired hue and is Pantone matched for accuracy. 


    6. The item or garment is laid on a print board underneath the screen, pressed against each other.

    7. The ink is added on top of the screen and a squeegee is used to pull the ink along the length of the screen. The ink passes through the open areas of the stencil and transferred onto the item.

    The squeegee process can be done by hand or by machine, involving multiple passes

    8. If multiple items are being printed, the printer can lift up the screen and replace the completed item with a new blank to keep repeating this process for that color. If different color is needed, the garment is moved to the next station where the next color’s screen will be used and new ink is applied on top.



    9. Once all colors have been applied, the imprinted item goes through a drying process to cure the ink for a lasting finish.

    Bonus: If your garment is darker than white or a pastel color, an underbase of white is applied first and colors are then applied on top to make keep the pigment looking vibrant!

    Custom screen-printed t-shirts are a favorite in the promotional world. Utilize NorthPoint’s core services to create your next shirt! Or refer to our previous imprinting blog topics to learn more about alternative imprinting methods such as Dye Sublimation and Heat Transfer.


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    March Madness

    Price Point: Varies by product

    Average Production Time: Varies by product

    Available Colors: 
    Varies by product

    Perfect For: March Madness, Employee Gifts, Client Gifts, Corporate Swag Stores, New Hire Giveaways, Tradeshow Giveaways, Internal SWAG, Kits, Speaker Gifts, Room Drop Presents, Sporting Events, Wellness Programs

    It's mayhem...it's chaos.....it's MARCH MADNESS (well, almost!)!!! NorthPoint has everything you need to make the buzzer beater winning shot from half court at your next special event or promotional giveaway!* (*and the crowd goes wild!!!!) With products like the Customized Team Jersey Powerbank to ensure you never miss a moment of the game, a Basketball Designed Drawstring to carry all of your important belongings or equipment, Basketball Themed Koozies (even ones that float), and an Office Hoop and Ball Game to host a friendly competition against your coworkers (placin' bets and taking names). You can even start your own team with some of these Basketball Jerseys and Pennies in case you feel like repping your squads colors! Last but not least, we've got custom Hand Sanitizer to match your event or theme because, let's face it, germs just won't play by the rules!  
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    One of the hottest trends in business right now is creating branded kits, whether it’s a subscription box, an onboarding kit, or even just a custom kit to hand out as an employee or client gift. The simple act of giving a kit is almost like giving a gift to your clients or employees, which creates an experience that is both memorable and share-worthy. It is this experience that can set your brand apart from others and allow you to be able to engage with your audience in a more exciting way.  Now while the idea of  creating a kit sounds great, it may come as a struggle to some to kickstart the project and decide what you want to do for it.  In an attempt to lessen the stress of this process, we have come up with a guide to help you in planning out your next kitting project.


    1) Choose products to include in your kit

    It is best to do this step first so that you can go on to choose the box style and size that fits its contents.  Depending on your budget and purpose for your kit, choose one or a variety of items to include inside.  A new hire kit like the one below might include a notebook, pen, mug, tumbler, t-shirt, water bottle, or wireless charger. 



    2) Choose your box style and material

    While this may seem like a simple step in your kitting process, it is quite an important one that can add even more value to the experience that your audience receives.  Just a few box options to choose from include the most popularly used display mailers, along with top open gift mailers, carry-handles boxes, and more.  


    The material of your box is just as important in leaving a lasting impression.  It influences the look and feel of your packaging and makes a memorable impact on the receiver. While the material options of your box provider may vary, some common examples are corrugated board (or cardboard), kraft, standard white corrugated, or a premium white corrugated with a glossy finish.  Depending on your brand aesthetic or the goal that you are trying to achieve, the material used for your box makes a big difference. For example, a glossy material is a great option to elevate the look and feel of your box, which would be a perfect material to use when sending executive gifts.  

    3) Design your box

    The most important part! Having a design that wows your audience from the second they receive it is what can make or break the experience.  First impressions are everything, and that 100% applies to kitting experiences as well! Not only will a good design impress your audience, but it will also encourage social sharing, something that will increase your brand awareness and reach in the long run.  


    4) Consider additional packaging extras to add in or on your box

    When sending out your kits, potential damage to the contents of the box is always a huge concern.  Will the box be destroyed in the process? Will my products be broken from moving around in the box? These are valid and important questions, which is why considering additional packaging options is important depending on your budget and how fragile your products are.  Void fill such as crinkle paper, bubble wrap, or custom foam inserts are great additions to enhance product protection of your contents, as well as to add to your brand representation in general. Labels are another great option to add to your box, as they can help add security and can also enhance the outside appearance of your box! And lastly, adding printed material like a postcard to your kit is a great opportunity to write a message or include descriptions of what is in the kit in a fun and creative way. 

    5) Send out your kits!

    Depending on if you’re shipping out your kits or hand delivering them, it is important to factor in shipping speed when planning out your kits.  Plan in advance so that you have plenty of time between when you order your kits and when you want them to be received.  Many providers have the option of rush shipping for additional costs in instances of last-minute requests, but it is always best to have your order go out with more than enough time to spare.

    6) Share on social media

    Last and most definitely not least, share your kits on social media! If your kit is going to be a gift, you may not want to spoil the surprise, but if you are sending out subscription or reward kits, sharing on social media can increase the excitement and anticipation of receiving your kit.  If you don’t want to give away what the contents of your box are, perhaps you could just give a sneak peak of the outside of your box, so that your audience can’t help but sign up to receive your kit and find out what’s inside! In today’s world, social media plays a huge role in marketing, so putting your kit out into the world of social media can definitely help to increase the awareness and value of your brand.




    If you’re interested in or planning on creating a marketing campaign that includes kitting, let us help! At NorthPoint, we work with you to make the process as smooth as can be.  We are the one-stop shop for kitting projects, from finding the perfect promotional products to include in your kit, to creating a completely custom designed box.  Combine that with NorthPoint’s unique ability to Pick, Pack, and Ship everything out for you, as well as our opportunity to hold your extra kits in our inventory warehouse until you need them next, and you will be good to go for a successful marketing campaign! 


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    Multi colored stickers on the back of a laptop.

    Price Point: $0.29 - $2.17

    Average Production Time: 4 Days 

    Available Colors: 
    Completely Custom 

    Perfect For: Employee Gifts, Client Gifts, Corporate Swag Stores, New Hire Giveaways, Tradeshow Giveaways, Internal SWAG, Kits, Laptop Stickers

    Hello out there alien friends and astronaut homies! NorthPoint comes with peace, blessings, and another out of this world promotional item! Allow your company to land on the planet of creativity and design with these custom holographic stickers. The holographic vinyl has an eye-catching rainbow effect which changes with light and perspective. Not to mention - for an added touch the vinyl on the stickers protects from scratches, water, and sunlight allowing your custom design to stand true. (WOWZER!) Take your company branding to another galaxy with these otherworldly stickers! 
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