Working with a vendor that’s easy to work with makes all the difference in the world. Getting your custom name badge, vinyl signs and banners, car magnets or other signage shouldn’t be painful. To make working with us as easy as possible, we’ve provided answers to some of the common questions that come up when working on a badge or sign project…
What is needed to start an order?
Do you accept purchase orders?
Can we get a proof?
Do you offer other products
besides name badges?
Do you charge a setup fee?
Do you offer bulk discounts?
Are your products locally made?
What size are the car magnets?
What should I avoid when designing
a name badge?
What makes
a good logo?
What is needed to start an order?
Call or email us so we can give you specific information. If you want to include a logo, send us the artwork, preferably in JPEG format.
Do you accept purchase orders?
Yes, we will include purchase order numbers on your invoice.
Can we get a proof?
Yes, we will send a PDF file of what will be printed for you to review.
Do you offer other products besides name badges?
We offer many different vinyl products. Not all products are listed on our website. If you don't see what you are looking for, give us a call.
Do you charge a setup fee?
Typically we do not charge a set up fee if
final artwork is provided in a usable format. However, if Portland
Badge is designing or revising artwork, fees may be charged.
Do you offer bulk discounts?
We offer discounts for large orders. Please call to find out how to qualify.
Are your products locally made?
Yes, our products are proudly made right here in Oregon.
What size are the car magnets?
The standard size for car magnets is 12"x24", however we can customize the size to fit your needs.
What should I avoid when designing a name badge?
At Portland Badge Co. we’ve rescued countless folks from name badges gone wrong. Here are seven tips on what to avoid* when it comes to your name badge…
Size
How many times has someone rudely squinted at your chest desperately trying
to make out those tiny letters? This is self defeating, embarrassing
and actually works to decrease your approachability. Not to mention it
makes the other person feel ridiculous! So, much like a retail price
tag, your nametag must be readable from ten feet away — both the font
and the nametag itself.
According to a nametag survey done by David Alder of Biz
Bash, 50% of a group of meeting planners claimed that “illegible font
size of nametags was a major problem.” And, consider the 75 million baby
boomers that have reached, or will reach their bifocal days, this is a
top priority. The recommended font size is 24 point - hopefully bigger
if possible. Also be certain to avoid cursive, script or other fancy letters.
Clutter
Avoid nametags with overly thick borders, unnecessary clutter or too much
text. Make it easy on the eyes. All of the information contained must be
readable and memorable in less than five seconds. For trade shows or other
venues with hundreds of people and limited time, be sure that your company
name, position and logo are positioned adequately from a networking/prospecting
standpoint. (Still readable from 10 feet away)
Other than that, make sure that any supplementary, less important text
is significantly smaller than the name itself. Remember, they call them
nametags because the name must be the focal point, whether it's
the name of the person or the name of the company, those are the two most
important pieces of information.
Color
The most effective background color for nametags is white. This allows
maximum visibility for your logo, name and position. Dark blue, green or
red backgrounds are used occasionally, but they have a tendency to “steal
the show” from the rest of your nametag.
Write the font in black or dark blue. Never use yellow, orange or any other
light color. Even if a dark color choice means an aesthetic digression,
fashion must be outweighed by your nametag’s approachability and visibility!
Finally, unless you work in banking/financial services or the restaurant
industry, avoid gold nametags.
Turnaround
A frustrating nametag problem that people face is “the nametag turnaround.”
No name. No logo. No company. Just the blank back of the badge! While lanyard
or necklace style nametags reduce clothing damage, no doubt these will
get accidentally turned around and tangled at some point!
Therefore it is vital to always write the exact same information on both
sides. And, if someone who doesn’t know your name sees the blank reverse
side of your nametag, they might shrug their shoulders, turn away and find
another person to talk to! (NOTE: If you write the information on both
sides also eliminates the possibility that some of us will purposely turn
our nametags around. “Lead us not into temptation…”)
Placement
The horizontal placement of your nametag is a function of the context in
which you wear it. For example, on the right, nametags will be easily visible
in the line of sight that correlates to your handshake. Most businesses
handbooks will instruct you to wear nametag in this manner. And, it is
a good visual aid for people who can’t remember names—which is everyone!
On the other hand, for mobile and populated events such as trade shows,
expos and conventions, it is more effective to wear your nametag on your
left side. This allows people who approach in your opposite direction to
see your nametag with significant ease, since we traditionally walk on
the right side of the road/aisle/hallway.
Presence
Although horizontal placement of your nametag is an important consideration,
vertical placement is the most important visibility characteristic. A nametag
in the middle of your chest is likely to get covered by your arms, papers
or some other obstruction. Furthermore, central placement of your nametag
will make you unavailable to people outside of your conversation, thus
limits your ability to meet more valuable people.
So, your nametag is pointless if it’s worn below your breastbone. The most
effective location is two to three inches below your collar bone on whichever
side most appropriate for your function. This allows maximum eye contact.
Furthermore, high vertical placement of your nametag eliminates the possibility
that it will be covered by something. For example, if your nametag hangs
too low, it will be impossible for other people to read it when you: sit
down, cross your arms, wear a jacket, write down information or use gestures
while you talk.
Maximization
Have you ever seen a five inch nametag with tiny letters the size of sunflower
seeds? What a waste! Use any and all blank space provided by your nametag.
Make it huge! Don’t worry if you look silly, because everyone looks silly!
And, although font size must be large anyway, don’t hesitate to increase
the font commensurate with the size of the nametag itself. Imagine your
nametag is a personal advertisement. Maximize your space efficiently. Think
about this: you will never see a billboard on the highway that only uses
half the space provided!
The next time you go to a meeting, convention, seminar or trade show, remember
that your nametag is your best friend. In other words, think of your nametag
as your “front porch.” It invites people. It makes them feel comfortable.
And, it initiates conversations that transform strangers into valuable
connections. But, like any good front porch, it’s important to create and
wear nametags that are visible, accessible, and efficient so you will maximize
your approachability.
One of the most important marketing tools is an effective logo. It provides an easily recognizable identity for your business or organization. It not only communicates who you are but what you are. Therefore, every business or organization contemplating adopting a logo should know the criteria that make for an effective logo.
- The first characteristic of an effective logo is that it has immediate impact. Your logo should catch the viewer’s eye and hold the viewer’s attention. Consider the logo of Apple Computers; the graphic apple with a stylized bite taken out of it has immediate product and corporate identification with consumers. An effective logo “grabs” attention.
- In addition to impact, a good logo must be good to look at. An effective logo should have the look and feel of “art”, if a logo is not appealing to the eye it will defeat its purpose - attracting attention and providing effective identification.
- A good logo must also copy well. In any business or organization, the use of a logo becomes ubiquitous - it is ever-present on buildings, letterhead, signs, products, promotional items, etc. A good logo will be as effective on a business card as it is on a billboard - small scale and large scale uses. Will the logo still be recognizable printed on the barrel of a ballpoint pen?
- This brings us to the next characteristic of an effective logo the logo must create or evoke a positive image. “Branding” is a common marketing principle based on product identification growing out of identifying a product with a positive image and a sense of goodwill.
- Another characteristic of a good logo is that it accurately represents the organization or business. If a company or organization wants to project a serious, professional image, the logo must look professional. A humorous or whimsical logo would be counterproductive to projecting professionalism.
- The best logos are the most memorable logos. The Apple Computer “Apple” logo and the McDonald’s Hamburgers “golden arches” are great logos because they are memorable to the point of being iconic.
- A logo identifies a business or organization so it would be counterproductive to change it because it did not wear well over time. Do you remember what we said about “branding” earlier in this article? Companies that have invested vast amounts of money, time, and effort to establish their “brand” do not change it frequently for a reason. Make sure your logo will be “timeless” for the same reason.