Allstate Printing & Graphics

Challenges Facing the Plastic Card Printing Businesses

noreply@blogger.com (mariocesar) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 20:44:00 +0000

Just like many other businesses, the plastic card manufacturing faces several difficulties in its operations. The first problem encountered in plastic card printing is lack of finance. To achieve the most efficient production where the speed is prompt and wastage is reduced due to the use of the latest technology, the acquisition of the new or latest equipment finance is needed. Many plastic card printer lack the means to gain finance to upgrade their factories. The financing available to the plastic card printing firms is restrictive; it comes with harsh terms and conditions such as high interest rates and the demand for collaterals.

The next challenge faced by any plastic card printer is the high cost of materials. In some cases the plastic card printing materials have to be sourced from remote locations thus the transportation and taxation raises. The plastic card manufacturing materials are also double taxed or high taxation is burdened on them. The plastic card manufacturing materials also attract extra costs such as warehousing due to the need to buy in bulk to save through the economies of scale. The problem of the material problem is compounded by the lack of sound financial backing which could enable the plastic card printer to stock in bulk materials thus enjoy cost cuts that would then be reflected in the prices given to the customers.

The third challenge faced by the plastic card manufacturing businesses is lack of enough market for all the players. Many plastic card printing customers are still tied to the traditional paper printing which is fast becoming obsolete due to the efforts of conserving the environment through reduced deforestation. The entry of the digital and online printing has given the plastic card printing industry a great blow. Most of the plastic card printing customers who have online businesses source their printing from online publishers of soft copies thus the plastic card printer lose the opportunity to make money.

The plastic card printing industry is also challenged by the issue of security having in mind that they sometimes need to process some sensitive plastic card printing jobs such as the membership cards, access cards or card personalization. These types of products need extra security to safeguard them from illegal duplication or counterfeiting; if this happens, the proper usage of the plastic cards is compromised. The threat extends to the security of the customers’ personal information and the companies’ assets; the modern plastic card manufacturing equipment is in high demand across the globe making criminals steal them and export them to places that they are in demand and cannot be easily discovered.

There is also the lack of funding for research and development of newer technology, materials and skills.

Many governments have little interest in the plastic card printing save for the taxation. This makes very little of the revenues gained to be ploughed back to the industry.

ALLSTATE PRINTING’S INKJET CAPACITY OF 1.3 MILLION CARDS PER DAY

noreply@blogger.com (mariocesar) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 03:38:00 +0000

ALLSTATE PRINTING’S INKJET CAPACITY OF 1.3 MILLION CARDS PER DAY SETS THE BAR IN THE PREPAID CALLING INDUSTRY!

How does Allstate achieve such a high #? A combination of state of the art equipment & a production staff with a decade of experience.

Allstate’s equipment arsenal includes 5 Videojet PrintPro ink jetting machines with a 2” print area that utilize MEK fast drying inks to streamline production. Allstate also operates an HP head that can cover a 4” print area with superior print quality and pinpoint accuracy.

These machines provide Allstate with numerous competitive advantages:
• High speed that surpass other technologies

• Dry on any surface including UV coated materials, plastic, etc

• 256 Jets per print head which provides lifelike resolution

• Simple set up and flexibility to turn over jobs in minutes

Allstate’s quality and speed have gained the trusted business of the leaders in the prepaid calling card industry such as IDT, STI, and Locus. In addition Allstate handles Finish Line’s Winners Circle Membership cards which are all run on our VideoJet PrintPro machines.

Review Series / X/S PCS makes prepaid wireless easy and fun!

noreply@blogger.com (mariocesar) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 02:58:00 +0000

X/S PCS gives you the freedom to decide when, where and how much you use your X/S PCS phone. No hidden daily charges or daily fees- just a great rate - anytime, day or night!

Allstate Printing and Packaging services makes it so easy for us to quickly package our phone!. They are just amazing! All we do is send them the phones in bulk. They sort the phones, put them into numerical order based on ESN. They are packed into plastic clamshells and they even print the INSERTS for US!! Their services are awesome and turnaround time is spectacular. Highly recommend to anyone who has packaging needs. Their online printing services are also a great tool for fast processing of your orders!
Allstate printing also manufactures our recharge cards by ulitizing high quality 12pt paper and printing on their 5 color Komori Press! The cards are then coated with super gloss UV giving them that special professional presentation and offsetting them from the competition!

Case Study Series - The Finish Line loyalty program

noreply@blogger.com (mariocesar) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 05:30:00 +0000

“No matter what your game is or where the roads take you, Finish Line has the mall's best selection of athletic footwear for the entire family. Join the Finish Line Winner's Circle preferred customer program, and you will receive exclusive benefits:

Earn a $20 reward certificate every time you spend $200 at Finish Line in 12 months. *
Get special member discounts on the best footwear and apparel.
Get Finish Line magazine and other insider looks at the latest stuff.”

Behind the scenes look at how those special reward cards are actually manufactured and produced by Allstate Printing!!

The cards are produced with high quality 30mil PVC material with full 4 colors on the front side and one color on the reverse side. The sheets are glossy on both sides but we also use a special UV coating to make the front glossier! We print on large sheets and then we use a special die to cut all the cards. Imagine a giant cookie cutter! This cookie cutter has the small round hole on the side of the card for you to use your keyring to and also has a perforation to tear off the keycard from the credit card size part. You can use the key part for your keychain and also use the credit size part for your wallet!

After the cards are all cut, then we work on the data! We are provided data by FINISH LINE through our specialized and very secure servers and we format this data into human readable format and into barcodes. This data is then ink-jetted by utilizing our specialized process called DOD. The data is DOD inkjetted to both the card portion and on the key card.

After all cards are inkjetted with the barcodes, they go through our final Quality Control inspection. Then they are moved to packaging and distributed to over 700 Finish Line stores nation wide!
Over 10million of these cards have been exclusively manufactured by ALLSTATE PRINTING!!!

Online Printing made easy

noreply@blogger.com (mariocesar) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 20:44:00 +0000

Online Printing made easy

Our UV-Flexo Press Sets the Standard for Sophisticated

noreply@blogger.com (mariocesar) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 20:53:00 +0000

Allstate Phone Cards Printing Capabilities

noreply@blogger.com (mariocesar) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Special Shape Gift Cards

noreply@blogger.com (mariocesar) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 17:24:00 +0000

Everyone agreed that there are more choices in the way people can get gift cards and exchange them. There is no argument about the popularity of the gift card at every level of gifting, from small denomination cards of $10 and $20 to substantial denominations, such as $1,000. Gift cards were on the top of the wish list (59 percent), according to the 2010 Accenture Holiday Shopping Survey.

Social media has become an important channel for promoting and delivering gift cards, and for group gifting. With so many people congregating on Facebook and eBay, interactive websites are a natural place to facilitate gifting. A GroupGifts option launched by eBay allows various members of a family or group to share the cost of a gift to a Facebook user. Here is a link to get a quote on a special shape Gift Card from Allstate Printing and Graphics.

Plastic Card Personalization

noreply@blogger.com (mariocesar) — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 06:48:00 +0000

When designing plastic cards, businesses have the option of adding features that customize their company's plastic card. Personalization is one of these features that can be added. A company can use personalization on their plastic card to place individual's names, photographs, or other personal data (such as an identification number) onto the plastic cards. This feature allows for the business to have each of the plastic cards printed to contain different data.

Personal ID badges are the most common plastic card to utilize personalization. Personalization on these plastic cards provides the solution for an organization that needs the security of having their employees names and/or photographs displayed on their badge. Plastic membership or loyalty cards can benefit from personalization as well. If an organization has a list of all of their members, using personalization on the plastic card to display each members name on the plastic card offers a customized approach that leaves a lasting impression of value in the mind of the member.

Scratch card design and Print Services

noreply@blogger.com (mariocesar) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:31:00 +0000

Besides the internet, another important tool to boost one’s business is through scratch cards. The scratch cards are used extensively for gaming purposes, lottery, marketing campaigns, fund raising events, store opening etc. The excitement that is generated after having scratched the scratch card, surpass all the other means of campaigning.

This small rectangular bundle of surprise is popular among the young and old alike.
The low cost of the scratch cards is one of the major reasons for its popularity.
The consumers demand for scratch cards can be increased with a little effort.

There are different types of scratch cards available to suit any campaign. Whether it’s used as marketing tool or as a gaming tool, scratch card is everybody’s popular choice. The scratch cards are called by different names for different purposes.

The second chance sweepstakes can increase the demand of scratch cards. This also reduces the problem of littering.
The scratch and win cards have a film of latex which covers the vital information and has to be scratched to find the prize.
The break-opens are the scratch cards that are used in the bingo halls as bingo cards.
These have concealed information which the buyer has to break so as to find the winning combination.
The scratch cards are mostly available in a regular size of 100mmX 50mm. But one can customize the size also.
The super scratch cards are the bigger ones of 135mm X 97mm size.
One can have scratch cards which have different colors on them or the ones which are monochromes.
You can also customize the scratch cards with different color combinations on the front and back.
Though scratch cards are the fun addiction and irresistible means of advertisement, they are also used by
telecommunication companies for providing top up credit. This proves that the scratch cards fully adhere to all the security standards.

Clamshell Blister Packaging Service

noreply@blogger.com (mariocesar) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:42:00 +0000

Blister packs have been a popular choice in packaging for many years, providing a cost-effective means of effectively displaying a product line. Besides providing custom blister packaging and sealing solutions, Allstate also offers gang runs and stock blisters for a great looking product at a reduced cost. We use a variety of blister types, including face seal, trap, mock, interactive and slide. Our solutions are also available with multiple blister sealing options like SBS, E flute, Tyvek, Foil and Nature Lock, which provide you with a cost-effective and great-looking product.

A blister package is made up of two separate elements: a transparent plastic cavity shaped to the product and its blister board backing. These two elements are then joined together with a heat sealing process, which allows product to be hung or displayed.

Gift Card Auctions, Bane or Boon for Card Providers?

noreply@blogger.com (mariocesar) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 05:53:00 +0000

One sure sign that a product has reached critical mass is when secondary markets start to emerge. If the rash of new sites offering gift card auctions is any indication, gift cards have reached that critical mass.

Gift card companies and independent e-commerce entrepreneurs are developing online auction sites that allow consumers to buy and sell gift cards, just like any other commodity. And, the action on these sites is heating up. Buying goods through Internet auction bidding has grown at a phenomenal pace, partly because the bidding process is fun for the customer and more exciting than receiving discounts in email.

On any given day, thousands of gift cards are offered on eBay, and consumers are finding that they can save up to 50% through the popular online auction site. Legitimate sellers are able to cash out unwanted cards.

Is this evolving secondary market beneficial to gift card providers, or should they discourage them? The answer is not yet clear, so let’s take a closer look at some of the gift card auction sites.

NY Times Video on Prepaid Debit Cards

noreply@blogger.com (mariocesar) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:53:00 +0000

Prepaid Cards the Less Expensive Alternative

noreply@blogger.com (mariocesar) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:39:00 +0000

According to an economic study just released, consumers who opt to use a network branded prepaid card could pay as much as 35-70% less in fees compared to low balance checking and debit accounts, making prepaid cards a far more cost-effective, valuable financial tool for many.

The comparative economic analysis was conducted by economist Michael Flores of Bretton Woods, Inc, an expert on financial institutions. The study analyzed a range of payments options available to consumers, and their relative costs and benefits. It also looked at various kinds of prepaid cards, including analyzing the cost and benefits of both general purpose reloadable cards (the kind consumers buy for themselves) as well as prepaid cards tied to direct deposit (these are most often used by state governments to deliver benefits, by companies for payroll, etc.). While smaller studies have been done in the past, this is the first, comprehensive study that compares the costs of prepaid cards in the context of alternative financial tools.

Customized Gift Cards Take Off

noreply@blogger.com (mariocesar) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:07:00 +0000

Thousands of companies from restaurants to hardware stores offer personalized cards. With that influx have come diversified business models – such as virtual cards – that increase potential for revenue and customer retention. How has this personalization affected the gift card market? .

When Starbucks launched its customizable gift card program in 2007, it forever changed the prepaid giving market. The coffee company’s cards weren’t the first from a brick-and-mortar business that consumers could design and personalize with inscriptions on the Internet, but the program did set off enormous demand among other retailers. Now thousands of companies from restaurants to hardware stores offer personalized cards. With that influx have come diversified business models – such as virtual cards – that increase potential for revenue and customer retention.

Free Gift Cards Bring in More Than They Give Away

noreply@blogger.com (mariocesar) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 02:42:00 +0000

If you’ve ever booked a trip with Expedia.com, you’ve probably received an email at some point this summer offering a free $50 gift card in exchange for booking a trip, renting a car or reserving a hotel room.

Expedia is one of dozens of major retailers, both physical stores and ecommerce sites, that are using giveaway gift cards to spur sales at a time when retail numbers are dismally low. Analysts say these gift cards – some of which have hefty value – are helping retailers by drawing in more customers at a cheaper rate than traditional ad campaigns. For gift card suppliers, giveaway cards may become a stable source of revenue from retailer clients.

The success of giveaway card programs hinges on the two concepts that the cards will first draw in a larger number of customers and then that consumers will spend more than the initial value of the card. Thus far, studies show that consumers spend more than the value of a gift card, whether it was given as a gift or as a retail incentive.

Safety & Security!

noreply@blogger.com (mariocesar) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:14:00 +0000

Allstate is a preferred card vendor in North America and is authorized to manufacture card products for reputed merchants. Allstate follows a systematic card vendor approval procedure which involves qualification to criteria such as:

1. Credit Review
2. Security Inspection
3. Insurance Policy
4. Quality Process and more.

Employees / Visitors / Agents

Allstate follows strict screening procedures during pre-employment, employment and post-employment period of Full-time, Part-time, Temporary employees, Consultants, Security Guards.
The employee background information is verified from reputed verification agencies and these employee records are maintained in employee files for security reviews.
All new employees undergo an orientation and training program involving roles and responsibility, company product lines, internal security policy, employee behavior etc.
Every employee and security guard is issued an ID badge and access card to be used in certified facility.
All visitors are seated in a separate reception area. Their access to this area is through an electronically operated door controlled via a security system.
Visitors are not allowed into the company premises with photo or video cameras, tape recorders etc. They are issued Visitor badges and access cards into certified facility.
A Visitor log book is maintained at the reception area which has daily visitor records.
Agents/ third party personnel allowed in company premises have to follow all the above procedures and an activity log is maintained with Agent details.

Manufacturer Qualifications

noreply@blogger.com (mariocesar) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:25:00 +0000

The U.S. gift card market has proven to be highly profitable for printers, plastics decorators and card manufacturers that supply the gift card manufacturing niche. The capital investment needed to enter the market for manufacturing gift cards are relatively modest, especially for businesses that already have some of the printing equipment and/or finishing equipment used in gift card manufacture.Understanding this market requires knowledge of the equipment and tooling involved in gift card manufacturing, and the ability to meet market demand for design flexibility.A decade ago, in the U.S., gift cards were a rarity and commonly perceived as a second rate gift card choice. By the time the 2005 holiday season was over, this dynamic had changed, and 76% of adults had purchased one or more gift cards.