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A PVC ID Card is a wonderful thing – durable, adaptable and customizable, capable of keeping your business safe and secure in a cost-effective way, and doubling as a mode of reinforcing your company brand. Those businesses that use ID card printers, like the ones we at Avon Security Products offer, benefit from a simple, streamlined way of managing restrictions and access in the workplace, as well as a way to track the attendance of their employees. In short, there’s a whole lot that can be done with a simple ID card. But in order to get the most out of your ID cards, we recommend considering these security features: 

Holographic Overlay

Holographic varnish ribbons create an embedded hologram pattern on your cards, which, because of their uniqueness and rare technology, makes them virtually impervious to counterfeiting. It’s also very difficult to tamper with a holographic ID card; whereas with regular ID cards, a person might reasonably be able to cut out a picture or information from a real employee card, this is nearly impossible when there’s a holographic overlay. You can even customize the holographic image, which means that, in the unlikely event that someone who tries to replicate your card has access to holographic technology, they still won’t be able to replicate the card, because only you have the unique master image.

Magnetic Stripes

This technology dates back to 1969, when an enterprising IBM engineer got the idea from his wife to iron a magnetic strip onto a card for added security – the rest was history. That this feature is still widely used today is a testament to its quality and workability. This article, from How Stuff Works, does a serviceable job explaining how magstripes work. Essentially, when you make a magnetic stripe, you’re orienting the direction of a lot of small magnetic particles, giving it a unique ID that, when passed through a reader, is identified and accepted. To learn more about how to get magnetic stripe cards, or for more information about PVC cards check out our website. 

Smart Chips

Smart Chips are like the magnetic stripe’s cool younger cousin. They use cryptographic algorithms to store, use and distribute digital certificates and information. If that sounds complicated, it’s because it is! What you need to know is that chip-imbedded cards are very secure, and if your cards have sensitive information that absolutely needs protecting, this is the option for your. They also visually indicate protection, as chips are synonymous with security, so it’s less likely that the card will be stolen or tampered with.

Radio Frequency Identification

Who would think that there at the end of your badge reels would be a legitimate circuit picking up radio waves and sending radio wave pulses of its own? But that’s exactly what radio frequency identification cards (RFIDs for short) do, allowing you to manage access, track people and goods, collect contactless payments, as well as many other things. This is a versatile feature that’s used in a number of industries, from supermarkets, hospitals and airports.

ID cards, all by themselves, are wonderful tools and allow businesses of all sorts to stay secure with ease. Adding any of these features bolsters the effectiveness, capabilities and security of ID cards. If you want more information on all the available ID card features, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Your business deserves to be on the forefront of security, and by choosing any of these fine features, each unique and each effective in its own way, you absolutely will be.

There are numerous benefits to self expiring visitor badges, some of which are far more obvious than others. Security is always a concern, but it can also be both time consuming and costly. Self expiring visitor badges are a solution that can help you keep your business, organization, or facility secure without running the risks associated with many of the other types of security measures.

The following are the top five reasons why self expiring badges are likely the right solution for your security needs.

If you have ever had to deal with common types of visitor badges you know just how much time is typically associated with them. It is far too easy to simply walk out of the facility with one of these generic badges as well. It can end up costing your company a considerable sum as visitors forget to leave their badges.

Self expiring visitor badges make it so that visitors will be able to come and go as they need to without you having to remember to take the badge at the end of the visit. As long as there is a log available for signing in, they won’t need to spend a lot of time with the front desk taking care of paperwork. This makes it so your staff can focus on other tasks.

Set Expiration Periods

One of the neatest aspects of these badges is the fact that you can set a different time limit based on your needs. If you have a visitor coming in for a short demonstration, the badge can have a four-hour limit. If auditors are visiting for several days, the badge can be set to expire after a week. Since the badge tracks the time, you can feel safe that the people coming and going from the facility are better assigned to their tasks in the system. It is also a far more secure method of managing visitors that leaving it with front staffing or security guards since they may be away when visitors arrive or return.

Visual Security

Once you set the expiration period, the badge will look like a typical badge. As soon as the badge reaches the expiration time, red lines appear on both sides of the badge. This is an obvious visual clue that a badge is expired. If someone is walking around with an expired badge, it is very easy to see that person does not belong in the facility.

Easy, Affordable Tracking

Since technology is managing the duration of a visitor’s stay, the entire process is streamlined. While the initial costs may seem a bit high, it is because self expiring badges require very little work to maintain or manage. They require no special training and visitors are automatically tracked. This is a huge cost savings for staffing (in addition to freeing up your employees for other tasks that cannot be automated like a badge). You can also easily review your visitors from the logbooks associated with the badges.

Different Types

All facilities and organizations are different, so the approach that is right for a school is not likely to work for a pharmaceutical company. Self expiring visitor badges offer a number of ways to fill and track visitor information.

• Manual badges display the visitor’s handwritten information.
• Printed badges are relatively common and display the same information printed on a common inkjet or laser printer.
• Thermal prints are done with a thermal printer, but contain similar details as the other badges.

Ultimately, the preference is in how the visitors’ details will be displayed. Thermal prints have a bit of additional security. Looking to learn more? Contact us at Avon Security Products! 

ID Cards are utilized by many business and organizations, across a number of different industries, helping restrict access, track information, in addition to a score of other capabilities. The only problem is – and it’s not so much a problem as it is a fact of life – because they’re attached to people, sometimes they get lost or damaged. But there are accessories we offer that can help you mitigate that issue, and if you’re looking to buy an ID card printer for your business, you might consider looking into different badge accessories as well. Here’s a short guide to the different accessories we at Avon Security Products offer.

Badge accessories fall into two rough categories: the ones that keep your badge connected, and the ones that keep your badge protected (there’s a rhyme in there somewhere!). First up, we have the accessories that keep your badge connected to you; this also can be broken down into two categories: lanyards and badge reels. Lanyards are the ones you wear around your neck, and have the added advantage of being highly visible, which is good if you want to put your business’ branding on the lanyard; at Avon Security Products, we’re Canada’s leading source for custom lanyards and can help you get exactly what you want. With your company’s branding emblazoned on the lanyard (and the card), wearers become a sort of mobile form of advertising.

Then there are the other “connector accessories”, badge reels. Badge reels more contained than a lanyard, which is ideal if you work around machinery that a lanyard might caught in – badge reels are certainly the safer option. They’re also easier to access, which is ideal if you tap or slide your card for entrance at work – a simple pull of the card from the spool is much easier than bending down to try and use the card around your neck. Finally, it’s less likely you’ll lose a card that’s affixed to a badge reel, as it’s clipped on your pocket or a belt buckle, as opposed to a lanyard, which freely swings. 

So, those are the accessories that connect your badge. As for the badge protector, there’s really one great option: the badge holder. These holders, usually made of plastic or vinyl, act as a guard against scratches, scuffs and the general wear-and-tear that a card might otherwise be exposed to. They look professional, and help you protect your investment. If you wear a nice suit to work, or you’re just the kind of person who doesn’t want to harm your clothing at all by attaching a clip, consider the magnetic badge holder, which forms around your pants- or shirt pocket, attaching itself with a magnet.

What most people think about when they consider implementing an ID card system is the printer – and justifiably so. The printers we offer, like our Polaroid, Magicard and Zebra ID card printers are awesome machines, mixing cutting-edge technology with ease and practicality. But implementing ID cards at your organization means also understanding the accessory options available. These are a few of the most popular accessories (we didn’t even touch on bead chains and luggage tags!) and should get you started off on the right foot. Try ordering a few different things – badge reels and lanyards, for example – to give your staff the option. Different people like to wear their badges different ways and far be it from us to deny them that! In the end, what matters is that your business is safe and secure, and your investment has been protected.

If you’re involved in any capacity with taking ID photos of your colleagues at work, chances are you’ve had people who were… well, a little disappointed. After all, this isn’t just any picture. This is a picture that you’ll carry around with you for quite a while, one that you’ll wear out in front of your workmates and perhaps even in public. It’s bad enough having an unflattering passport photo, and you only show that every once and a while! You owe it to your colleagues to put a little time and effort into your photo setup, that way they can wear their photo proudly.

First up, you’ll want a stable photo, adjusted to just the right angle for both consistency and framing. The best (read: only) way to do this well is by setting up a tripod; Avon Security Products has years of experience learning how to create the best ID card, which is why we offer both a miniature tripod, for use on a desk or stool, and the Optex Pro OPT155 tripod, which is durable and widely adjustable. The former is great if your business is portable, and you move locations a lot, as the mini tripod can be easily packed, carried and reset as needed. The latter is your all-around amazing tripod, with precise height adjustments and three-way pan capability, so you can track down the perfect angle for each colleague without sacrificing consistency.

Of course, the other thing you’ll see in an ID photo – other than your colleague’s lovely face, that is – is the background. You want something that won’t cast distracting shadows, something simple, complimentary and matte. At Avon Security Products, we offer a portable photo backdrop stand that comes in a number of different colours. Ask yourself, what colour are the printed cards going to be, and what colour are the badge reels going be? You want to choose a complimentary colour for your backdrop, or go with a simple white/off white – what you’re looking to avoid would be, for example, a purple backdrop, red card and yellow badge reel, which would look too busy. We also sell cloth backdrop cloth that you can drape behind the subject, if you’re looking for something even more portable than the stand. 

Next, you’ll turn your attention to lighting. This photographer’s guide to a DIY passport photo contains a good section on lighting. If possible, use natural light that’s been softened by a drape or curtain. What you’re looking to avoid is “hard lighting”, that kind of direct, bright light you get from overhead bulbs that casts unsightly shadows over a face.  If you have access to lighting equipment, you can use the classic three-point lighting, with a backlight, key light and fill light. 

Now, you’re ready to snap the shot and print the card. Make sure you have a good quality web camera, like our Credential Camera Pro, or Credential Camera AutoPro, with Auto Focus, both of which take superior, high-resolution photos. When you print the card, choose a printer, like the smart id card printer we offer, that prints a high amount of dots per inch (dpi); the Smart 50D, for example, boasts an impressive 300dpi with edge-to-edge printing. You’ve gone through the trouble of taking a beautiful photo – don’t that hard work get washed out by a grainy printing job.

You’d be surprised the kinds of small things that can boost morale in the workplace. Having a good-looking ID card photo can make a person more confident and happy to be a part of the team. With these simple tips and tools, you can make your ID card less of a mug shot and more of a beauty shot.

Safety in schools is incredibly important, especially in the wake of terrible tragedies, but Canadian parents understandably want to balance safety with atmosphere, meaning that perhaps having an armed guard and metal detector greeting a student each day isn’t the most inviting learning environment. Most agree, however, that something needs to be done, some precautionary measure needs to be in place to prevent violence and encourage a safer space.

ID badges fill that requirement handily, and as an added bonus they offer a school the opportunity to streamline a few of its processes and services. Whether it’s a small high school of a couple hundred, or a middle school stretching its students into the thousands, ID card systems like the ones we offer at Avon Security Products can be easy to use and implement, with some training on our part, and some simple printing on yours.

Let’s talk about the million-dollar feature first: security. Being able to identify students at a glance, as well as identify intruders, is a subtle yet effective way to enact a school security policy – it doesn’t have the militaristic undertones of a security guard, but it makes sure everyone is accounted for. No stranger, really, needs to be in the school without first reporting to the office, and the badge system ensures that someone can’t just walk off the street and cause a student harm or distress. To avoid lost or misplaced badges, encourage students to use badge holders or cases, which a student may decorate (because, let’s face it, you give a student a blank slate, like a locker or binder, and they will draw on it!).

Since the ID card system has other functions, it doesn’t seem to students like it’s purely a security measure. For instance, the ID card can be used to minimize absenteeism. With Canadian provinces rolling out tougher attendance policies in order to counteract the rise of absenteeism in schools, the debate forges on about how best to effect that change, and ID cards are becoming increasingly popular. Being able to account for the students present through their cards streamlines the attendance process, making it easier for teachers and administrators to pinpoint those Ferris Bueller types. 

Another useful function of the ID card is restricted access. Lab equipment and musical instruments, for example, are both quite expensive (and sometimes in short supply), so it’s important to restrict access to them. Theft of property is an unfortunate aspect of school life, but that doesn’t mean those students who earnestly want to practice music or learn science need to be shut out as well; an ID card allows administrators to give only certain students (or only faculty) access to those kinds of rooms.

And those are just the capabilities that benefit staff. ID cards can also be used as payment, for school lunches, field trips, etc., and as a library card. For students, having one handy card that can get them books, food and access means they don’t have to juggle cash, library cards and keys. It also brings them closer to the school, gives them a little physical of the community of which they’re a part. Some of our younger staff still have their high school IDs as keepsakes, a memento of their old stomping grounds!

If your school is looking to enforce a less transparent form of a security, or if you just want an efficient way to track attendance, control room access, dispense library books and offer school lunches, contact us anytime here at Avon Security Products and we’ll be happy to discuss options. As Canada’s #1 distributor of ID printers, we’ll make the process easy, quick and effortlessly understandable.

It’s a competitive world out there, to say the least – businesses vie for consumers’ attention in every which way they possibly can, looking to create a foundation of positive experience and, eventually, brand loyalty. It’s not enough to get a customer in the door anymore. You have to cultivate an atmosphere of mutual respect and benefit, the end goal being that, when it comes time for them to once again choose a door, they choose yours.

Any retail business knows this; from grocery stores to clothing stores, those businesses that make their bread and butter selling goods understand that they have to set themselves apart, and the best way to do that is by implementing a brand loyalty program, complete with a physical card that the customer can carry with them. At Avon Security Products we’ve seen businesses in the retail sector boom, seemingly overnight, upon putting to use customer loyalty cards, and we do our part to help facilitate the process, making it easy, reliable and understandable.

But before we get ahead of ourselves: what is it about customer loyalty cards that make them so adept at increasing profits? According to the Harvard Business Review, it costs between five and 25 times more to acquire a new customer than it does to retain an existing one, meaning that if you rely on unique customers for most of your sales you’re going to be spending an excessive amount on advertising, marketing and outreach. It’s sort of a silly though experiment, but think about it in personal terms: how much more difficult is it making a new friendship than maintaining an existing one? Not that you shouldn’t be making new friends, but you should reserve a healthy amount of energy ensuring mutual loyalty with existing friends. This is where customer loyalty cards come in so handy.

Customer loyalty cards are all about rewarding the customer for their continued loyalty, in the form of deals, sales and loyalty points, to be used as tender against further purchases. And the cards themselves act as little reminders, nestled in the customer’s wallet or purse, of your business. Aside from being the leading distributer of ID card printers in Canada, we at Avon Security can also offer supplementary software that can help you manage your customer loyalty system, as we as free training on how to use both the software and printer. If you wanted the system tomorrow, we’d find a way to make that happen. 

You might be wondering, however, whether the promotions you offer will be rewarded with higher sales and a good return on investment, and the answer, at least for most businesses studied, is a resounding “yes”. Existing customers spend 67% more than returning customers, meaning that it’s definitely in your best interest to incentivize their repeat business. If you run a grocery store, you want your customers to treat your business like a one-stop shop, not like a one-off shop where they pick up a few small things missing from their pantry. If they know that, for instance, they can have a card handy that rewards them monetarily for shopping at your store, of course they’ll choose you over the competition.

With a printer, some training, and maybe some pvc id card printing software (in case you’re a Mac user!), you’re all set to start reaping the benefits of a customer loyalty card. We at Avon Security Products are more than happy to field any questions you might have about customer loyalty card systems. There are precious few win-win situations in the world of retail, but customer loyalty cars are most certainly one of them!

Whether you’re managing a gym, country club, golf course, spa or any other business that offers services through membership, you want to show members that they belong, and there’s no better way of accomplishing that than by giving them membership ID cards.

Not only does it have the potential to cement loyalty, but it also serves a few other important functions – namely, that it acts as free advertising, it offers helpful data, and it allows you to implement tiered membership easier by restricting certain areas. And for all it offers, it’s fairly straightforward and simple to put into effect – a quick perusal of Avonsecurityproducts.com can lead you to a professional ID card system in the time it takes for you to sign yet another customer in manually. But a little more about what they do:

Given the plethora of options available, customer loyalty is of paramount importance to a business. Giving customers a physical indication of their membership reminds them of your business every time they open up their purse or wallet, and helps them feel a sense of belonging. The “Exclusivity Principle”, referred to sometimes as “Velvet Rope Marketing” is the principle that making customers feel as though they’re “on the inside”, or “part of an exclusive club” is an enticing incentive to continue patronage. Plus – in the interest of total honesty – people probably like to scan cards and enter buildings because it makes you feel like you’re a government agent in a movie!

Membership cards also allow you to restrict certain areas. By customizing the cards, you can allow different access to different people. For instance, if you run a gym that has a basic membership and a premium membership, and say that the premium membership offers entrance to more amenities, like a spa, you’ll want membership ID cards to manage access. In the long run, it’s way cheaper than having someone physically man each door.

A lovely by-product of the ID Card system is that you now have your hands on a lot of useful data. What time of day, what day of the week do your customers come most often? When do they come the least? Add to that the fact that you can access their membership information as well, and you start to get a very good picture of the way your business functions. From there you can try to persuade people to come at less busy times by offering certain incentives, to manage the flow of people. It also helps immensely with staffing and scheduling, knowing when peak hours are in a week.

 Finally, yes, membership ID cards are pretty good advertisements. Every time one of your members opens their wallet or purse in public, like for instance when grabbing a credit card to pay for a meal, they inadvertently flash your business’ card – name, logo and all – for anyone to see. It’s not the most effective marketing strategy out there, and it certainly shouldn’t be your only marketing strategy, but it’s effective enough to bear mentioning. Whether you’re looking to modernize your business, or you just want to wow your customers, look into getting membership ID cards.