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Treadway Graphics - Serving the law enforcement market since 1991.
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I’m SADD….
By Jay Treadway
May 21st, 2010
Not really sad, sad; this is a different “sad.” This is SADD, or Students Against Destructive Decisions. Did you know that’s what it was now called? I didn’t. I still thought it was “Students Against Drunk Driving.” I guess I was out of touch!
Anyway, we just conpleted an RFP (Request For Proposal) for them. They are seeking a vendor to handle their SADD Store. This is a website store that offers products with the SADD logo for local chapters. I hope we get the call soon to at least be a finalist. It would fit well into what we are currently doing for police departments and schools across the country.
SADD has been around for nearly 30 years. It has become the nation’s leading peer-to-peer youth education, prevention and activism organization. There are thousands of chapters in middle schools, high schools and colleges. SADD now highlights prevention of destructive behaviors and atitudes that are harmful to young people.
The SADD network includes about 10,000 adult advisors working with 350,000 active youth participants in local chapters. If you want to know more about SADD, go to their website at sadd.org.
Here’s hoping that Treadway Graphics/Geiger is soon affiliated with SADD. If that happens I’m be SADDLY happy!
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What Are You Doing?
By Jay Treadway
May 7th, 2010
If you’re on Facebook you know that the place where you post a comment is called ”What’s On Your Mind?” If you’re on Twitter it’s “What’s Happening?” The question I have today for my customers is “What Are You Doing?”
If I asked this question of one of my police or school customers it would lead to a discussion of projects or programs that are being run in their communities. This then leads us to the question of what are they doing to support and reinforce those programs. That’s the place where I make suggestions about things they can give to the participants to reinforce the message. That’s what I do.
Lately I haven’t had many of these discussions with customers. Funding is an issue in schools and law enforcement, so just doing a program is often all that can be done. Giving away extra “stuff” is not possible a lot of the time. Bye-bye t-shirts, pencils, ruler and so on.
Maybe the question I should ask is “What Else are You Doing?” If your GREAT or DARE programs are not funded well enough to usegiveaways right now that’s one thing. But what about your local SADD, MADD, PTO, PTA or other such organizations? Do they need help with fundraising ideas, trade shows or other initiatives they are doing?
Would they like the expertise of a company that has been working with schools and police departments for 20+ years? I hope so. Sometimes it just takes somebody looking around at what else is going on in a community by asking the question “What’s Happening?”
So, what’s is happening? What’s on your mind? What else are you doing?
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Funding Problems
By Jay Treadway
April 27th, 2010
I just read this morning about how the federal funding for the Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program was cut from $25 million to $10 million last year. Next year’s funding is expected to be cut in half again. These are facts I already knew and felt daily.
This story is being repeated a lot these days. It’s the same in every community; in every state. Whether it’s the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education and Training) Program, Too Good For Drugs, or whatever program. Funding for prevention programs is an easy cut I’m sure. We need to get budgets in line so we look at everything. Makes sense.
The article also went on to say that a lot of communities that are cutting back on budgets are still teaching these programs. The difference is that they are not giving the kids t-shirts, pencils or rulers anymore. Or, at least not as much stuff. If I were in their shoes I’d be doing the same thing. After all, the most important thing is to continue to teach these lessons even if you need to fore go the “trinkets.”
And that’s a big concession coming from a “trinket” salesman!
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Drug Poster Too Real?
By Jay Treadway
March 23rd, 2010
We’ve tried a lot of new products through the years. We’ve been doing program merchandise for over 20 years now. Treadway Graphics has been a vendor for the Drug Abuse Resistance Education and Training Program (DARE) and the Gang Resistance Education and Training Program (GREAT). We usually put 20-40 new items out there each year. Some items go in the catalog and some items go out. It’s part of the process.
There was the real neon DARE sign. That was a great item but it broke almost every time in shipment. We did DARE road signs but every time I saw one I thought they were too small. How about the DARE bears? We had them in three sizes and we couldn’t keep them on the shelf! But, along came the official stuffed animal “Daren” and the bears were out. Bummer.
How about the welcome mats with the DARE logo on them? They were never approved; the DARE folks could only think about people wiping their feet on DARE. Ditto for the camo caps. It was deemed too close to violence; hunting and all that. Anyway, we had fun trying to innovate!
Last year we added an old product back in. It’s the “Self Destructive Use of Drugs” poster. Originally we had it in our DARE catalog. Back then it was on very heavy stock and had a tin strip top and bottom. It sold for $20 or so. We didn’t sell a lot of them and it was eventually dropped. Maybe it was the price?
The new poster we now have is the exact same poster, but has a new wrinkle. It now comes in a folded version that sells for only $1.95. The whole backside can also be customized with a sponsor or police department’s information. If somebody had a strong local anti-drug program (Plus a sponsor?) this probably would be a great fit. But maybe not. They still aren’t selling. Maybe it’s too cheap?
But now I think reality is setting in. After some pretty good promotion to the right audience for almost a year, they still sit aren’t selling. Maybe the ugly reality of drugs is just not marketable? Denial, that’s it! Everyone must be in denial.
SROPosterDrug
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Skeletons
By Jay Treadway
February 26th, 2010
Wow! When I blogged about Tiger Woods in July and August last year I never expected what would happen a short 6 months later! How the mightly have fallen.
It makes me reflect on what I was trying to say back then. I was feeling a little sheepish about comparing our company to Tiger. Wanting to be the ”Best of the Best” still is true for Treadway Graphics and for Tiger Woods. Tiger’s wandering “off course” when he was “off the course” is where I think we part ways.
The second blog was about how companies react when things don’t go right. The true test of the characrter a company lies in how they react when things go wrong; how they fix the problem. It’s not when things are running smoothly. I think our company has a great track record the past 25 years when things are going right and when things are going wrong. This appears to be Tiger’s first real “character” test. I wish him well. He has a lot of repair work to do. And the whole world is watching.
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Smart Choices
By Jay Treadway
February 24th, 2010
When we designed the Smart choices program 7 years ago we really didn’t know where it would take us. We had just lost our license for the D.A.R.E. Program (Drug Abuse Resistance Education and Training) that we had held for 11 years. It wasn’t our fault, it was simply something that happens to you in business. It was traumatic nonetheless.
We thought we would design our own program with products and logos to “compete” with the D.A.R.E. Program. Our message was centered around three primary designs that had a resist drugs and violence theme. We came up with a Smart Choices design, a “HERO” design and an UP2ME design. The HERO design was an acronym for “Helping Everyone Realize Options.” The most popular by far has been the UP2ME design shown below. We have many products available on our website store with all these designs.
But the most interesting part has been where it has taken us. Yes, we do sell some of these products to D.A.R.E. officers. However, most of our sales have come from officers doing other programs conducted locally in their schools. We have incorporated some of our Smart Choices designs into products for programs like S.T.A.R.S. in Arizona, R.O.A.R. in New Jersey and Too Good ForDrugs in Illinios, among others.
The basic message of the Up2ME design can be used for a lot of applications. Indeed, it has been used in many applications the past 7 years by our customers. We still call these designs our “Smart Choices” designs, but in fact UP2Me has been the clear winner. Funny how it works out. Designing the UP2ME logo was a Smart Choice in the end!
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New Products
By Jay Treadway
February 11th, 2010
When you get new stuff in life it’s usually fun. Except times like when you get socks for Christmas from your Aunt Laura! Or that stupid bunny suit Ralphie got from his aunt in the movie “Christmas Story.” The same applies to business, most of the time. This week Treadway Graphics is publishing and mailing our new 2010 GREAT (Gang Resistance Education and Training) catalog.
I don’t think we have any “socks” in our new catalog, but my customers will be the ultimate judge of that. Here’s a brief recap of the new stuff we’re putting out there for 2010:
20 Oz. Neon Bottles: Here’s a great bottle at a great price point! This bottles sells for only $ .99 for 500 or more!
Nylon Backpack: We’ve brought back our popular nylon drawstring backpack! This 13 x 16.5 backpack sells for less than $2.00 in quantities of 400 or more.
Sports Backpack: A low cost substitute for the traditional backpack. This 14.5 x 17 backpack sells for $4.00 in quantities of 100 or more.
Ruled Notebook: We’ve taken the ruled notebook from our best selling school kit and we’re offering it as a separate item.
Vienna Pens & Sets: A great looking pen with a laser-engraved logo and gift box selling for under $2.00! The pen and pencil set sells for under $4.00!
Scented Highlighters: The same scented highlighters we’ve been selling you for years! Now they are available in our catalog.
Frosted Stick Pens: A great stick pen selling for under $ .30 and available in five assorted colors.
Neon Ballpoint Pens: Here’s a fun item selling for under $ .50! It’s a retractable pen in five neon colors.
Neon Erasers: We’ve found a great value with this 1.5 x 1.25 eraser in four neon colors. These erasers sells for less than $ .25 each!
Dog Tags: We’ve finally added this poopular item to our cataog. It’s laser-engraved aluminum and comes in four colors.
LED Flashing Light: Here’s a great safety item that attaches easily to a bag or clothing with the clip on the back.
Retro Clock: Here’s a fun teacher or appreciation gift. Gift boxed and selling for under $4.00!
USB Flash Drive: This flash drive is a whopping 2GB size! And it sells for under $14.00; under $12.00 for quantites over 50!
Awareness Bracelets: Now we’re offering one of our most popular items in a new color: teal and black swirl! Very distinctive design!
All of these items can be viewed on our website store anytime.
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2010 Is Offically Here
By Jay Treadway
February 10th, 2010
It’s always a “GREAT” feeling when a new catalog is done! Our 2010 GREAT (Gang Resistance Education and Training) catalog is being printed and mailed this week. It’s exciting to offer many new items and then sit back and see who “salutes.” Some are busts and some are successes. Always a fun time.
Reductions in budgets by police departments and schools the past few years have hurt our business. But, we keep our chins up and continue to be aggressive! Unlike some of our competition, we stock a lot of merchandise 365 days a year. That costs money but we feel it’s the best way to serve all of the GREAT community. Some customers want to buy things right off the shelf in quantites of one or more; some want things customized with their department or school name. We appreciate all of this business.
Our competition that just wants the bigger orders is not truly serving the GREAT officer or the GREAT Program. I don’t think they are being responsible licensed vendors. But that’s just my opinion.
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Postage Stamps
By Jay Treadway
October 6th, 2009
I’m a sucker for the positive mental attitude stuff. Napoleon Hill, Zig Zigler, W. Clement Stone; all the old guys. They had a lot to teach us then and they still do today. I saw this one today in an email I get from Jeffrey Gitomer each week. I like his stuff as well. Here’s what he had in his weekly email newsletter that came originally from Napoleon Hill (Think and Grow Rich):
The most interesting thing about a postage stamp is the persistence with which it sticks to its job.
The tiny, insignificant postage stamp is a good example of what it is possible to achieve if you stick with the job until it is finished. Inconspicuously stuck on the corner of the envelope, it provides the impetus to keep moving until the entire packet reaches its ultimate destination. The influence you may have upon your company, your church, your family, or any organization is incalculable if you have the persistence to pursue your goal until you achieve it. It is an absolute certainty that you will encounter obstacles in any worthwhile endeavor. When you do, remember the inconsequential little postage stamp and stick with the job until it is finished.
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Product Safety: The Focus is on Children
By Jay Treadway
September 24th, 2009
Being part of a larger organization has it’s advatanges. Since 2006 Treadway Graphics has been associated with Geiger, a company that is headquartered in Maine. Geiger has hundreds of sales reps around the country and publishes the Farmers’ Almanac.
Wayne Greenberg is a Geiger rep in Florida and he has become an expert in the product safety issues that are concerning a lot of people in our industry. Last week Wayne updated all of us with the following:
I have been watching the issue of product safety, the directives of the Consumer Products Safety Information Act (CPSIA), and the actions of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). What a challenging minefield? I want to share what I have observed, what many of our suppliers are doing, and what problems this creates for us.
The critical issue revolves around our products and their relationship to children. Basically, special safety regs kick in when promotional products and kids are put in the same sentence. These requirements include testing, special labeling and higher standards regarding how the products are made (e.g. lead content).
The rules come into play when:
1. A product is likely to be used by a child 12 and under, or
2. A product is specifically designed for use by a child 12 and under, and/or
3. A product is decorated with a logo that makes it intended for a child.
Taken individually, these elements are confusing enough. Taken together, they encompass perhaps 2/3 of the products in our industry. And the CPSC has moved the target several times over the past 6 months, with each move making it more difficult for us to interpret.
You might think that a supplier could avoid expensive testing and legal liability by labeling their products as “not primarily designed for Children 12 and under” or “not for use by a child 12 and under.” Even though some companies might do this, they still need to consider the following 4 “pillars” in determining if a given product falls under the child safety regs:
1. A statement by a manufacturer about the intended use of such product, including a label on such product if such statement is reasonable.
2. Whether the product is represented in its packaging, display, promotion, or advertising as appropriate for use by children 12 years of age or younger.
3. Whether the product is commonly recognized by consumers as being intended for use by a child 12 years of age or younger.
Commentary: This brings a little common sense to a determination. A product like a coffee mug or inexpensive watch that might be used by people of all ages does not necessarily become a regulated child’s product.
4. The Age Determination Guidelines issued by the CPSC staff in September 2002 and any successor to such guidelines.
Commentary: The CPSC can and does “age grade” a product. If using the guidelines an expert determines a product “grades out” to be for 6 to 10 year olds, it is a child’s product.
A product liability issue pulls in every one in the supply chain, including our customers. It is up to us to know who the product recipient will be and who beyond that will ultimately use the product.
Thanks to Wayne and others in the Geiger organization we are doing a lot to make sure the products we sell do not cause issues for our customers. As you can see by the product safety page on the Geiger website we are determined to make sure the products we sell our customers are safe.
I feel a little better knowing there are people in my company dedicated to making sure the products we sell are safe for children. Most of my customers deal directly with kids; and many of those kids are under 12. I want my customers to know that we are working diligently behind the scenes to insure they receive only safe products for their kids.
