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Sturdy name badges that come with lanyards are a much better choice than hand-printing a name on a sticky badge and slapping in on the chest. Along with looking more professional, these types of badges provide the opportunity to let others know a little more about the person without asking questions. Here are some simple ways to enhance those traditional badges and make them more informative and interesting.

Size Really Does Matter

Start the enhancement process by considering different sizes. The goal is to choose name badges that are large enough that people don’t have to squint to read the name and other information on the badge front, but not so large that it’s a distraction.

For example, something that is around the size of an old-fashioned 5X7 card is a little larger than the standard badge, but it provides sufficient room to add some interesting details. It’s also small enough to not get crumpled or in the way as the wearer moves around the room or sits down for a chat with another attendee.

Choosing the Best Fonts

There are plenty of fonts to consider other than the standard block lettering. Feel free to go with something that’s a little out of the box, provided that the font choice does not make it hard for others to read the name or other information. A cursive font may look nice, but something too ornate will do more harm than good.

Using Logos on the Badge

The primary information for the name badge is always the wearer’s name. Depending on the type of event, the next most important bit of information may be a company name, a jot title, or a school affiliation. These elements must be the first things that people notice when they look at the badge.

Next in line is logos related to the person in some manner. Those logos could have to do with an association or club the individual belongs to, a cause the person supports, or an indicator of some award the person has received. Display those logos in a manner that’s subtle but still noticeable after others scan the primary and secondary information.

Choosing Colors

There’s no rule that says the background color of the name badge has to be white. Consider mixing things up a little by using some sort of light color. Think of how dark blue or black lettering would look against a pale yellow background. Maybe a bright orange with black lettering would stand out and encourage others to move in a little closer.

If you do prefer to stick with a white background, always use colors for the fonts and other elements that will stand out. Feel free to mix those colors for more effect. For example, using a brilliant red for the individual’s name followed by a deep blue for the company name and email address creates an attractive and legible presentation.

Double Sided Badges Are Great

Unless the name badges happen to be one of the types that pin to a lapel or clip to a shirt front, that means they will be attached to a lanyard. You can bet that as the day progresses, the badge will flip.  Instead of constantly having to adjust the badge so the front side is visible, print the same design on both sides. That little bit of ingenuity may be noticed by a potential customer and provide the perfect reason to strike up a conversation.

For more about name badges or to order your own, contact us at Avon Security Products today!

In years gone by, lanyards were ordinarily only used in the military or in the workplace, and what school lanyards existed were primarily blank, solid colors. Today, however, custom lanyards are much more widely used, much more affordable, and highly fashionable among university students.

To help you in planning a custom lanyard order for your freshman university class, we offer below some ideas on the usefulness of lanyards and the available variety:

Uses for Custom Lanyards

The primary reason to outfit your freshman class with their very own customized lanyards is to create a sense of identity with the school and a sense of togetherness among class mates. This can be done by using your school color(s), by color-coding lanyards to immediately show who is a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior, and by imprinting the lanyards with the university name and/or logo.

It is especially fitting to hand out custom lanyards during freshman orientation or on the first day of classes, but they could also be distributed at any major school event that freshman are required to attend.

Additional uses of lanyards include:

Carrying ID cards with each student’s name, chosen major, and other information. Student contact information could even be included on the ID card in case the lanyard gets lost.

Increasing visibility and, thus, security on university grounds.

Holding USB drives, dorm room and other keys, and even water bottles; and keeping hats and sun glasses secure. (Depending on the attachment devices.

Promoting the university in every place where the students wear their lanyards.

Types of Custom Lanyards

Besides the custom design you choose to put on your lanyards, there are many other features that you will need to consider. Some of the most important lanyard options to be aware of include the following:

1. Breakaway vs. non-breakaway lanyards.
Whether the lanyard is put on and taken off by means of attachment/detachment or by lifting it over your head is a matter of preference. You may want to survey your freshman to see which type they prefer, or you could order some of each kind but with the same design.

2. Polyester or nylon. Most lanyards are made of either polyester, the most popular and most affordable material, or nylon, which gives a smooth, silky sheen.

3. Flat, braided, or rope. Most flat lanyards range from 1/2 inch to 3/4 inches wide, while round (rope) type lanyards can be as thin as 1/8 inch. Braided lanyards add an extra element of style.

4. Woven lanyards. For less detailed designs, woven lanyards can be an attracting alternative to imprinting.

5. Silkscreen printed lanyards. With both nylon and polyester, you can print texts and logos onto the lanyard’s surface by means of silkscreen printing. This is the same printing method used with coffee mugs and T-shirts, and it is capable of handling very intricate designs.

6. Dye sublimated lanyards. If you want multi-color printing on both sides of the lanyard and insist on the highest quality results, dye sublimation is your optimal printing method. Dye sublimation is generally done on a white polyester base, using heat and pressure to apply each color and pattern to the lanyard. The dye does not simply stay on the surface, but seep deep into the material, which helps the lanyard to be significantly more durable.

Where to Order Custom Lanyards

For high-quality, custom-printed lanyards, a convenient online source is Avon Security Products.

Nobody likes losing their badge. Replacing one takes time, effort and distracts you from doing your job. Anything that can prevent you from misplacing your badge is a worthwhile investment. We think that a retractable badge holder an ideal solution to keeping your badge at your side where you need it. Don’t believe us? Here are 4 reasons why you should consider getting a retractable badge holder that will ensure you never have problems with your badge again.

You Have Quick and Easy Access

When you need to present or swipe your badge, speed matters. That’s why a retractable badge holder is so ideal. You can grab it from your side and present swipe it immediately. Badge holders also have a large range and are very flexible, meaning you can reach in any direction with complete ease. You get the benefits of having your badge secured without any of the limitations.

It’s Not an Eyesore

If you have a badge on your chest or elsewhere on your uniform, it can be an eyesore. It clashes with outfits that are supposed to make you look like a professional. Fortunately, retractable badge holders are an ideal solution to this fashion faux pas. It dangles discreetly from your side, ready for when you need it. You can also choose a colour and style to suit your particular fashion sense.

Your Badge Remains Securely Fastened at All Times

Pockets, wallets and other unsecured badge storage solutions create the opportunity for risk. Even one that is clipped to your shirt has the potential to fall off, leaving you without your badge. Worrying about your badge lessens your peace of mind and distracts you from getting the job done. By investing in a retractable badge holder, you can rest assured that your badge is safe and secure at all times.

You Don’t Have to Worry About Pulling it in and Out of Your Pocket

If you keep your badge stored in your pockets, it can be a big pain. It can be cumbersome to have to reach in and out of your pocket every time you need to swipe or show your badge. With a retractable badge holder, your card rests at your side at all times, making it easy to access at any time you need to.

Avon Security Products has an amazing selection of retractable badge holders to suit your need. They come in a variety of lengths, colours and styles so you are sure to find something you’ll love. Browse our selection online today!

If you are wondering which colours of backdrops for photography work best, you aren’t alone. Photographers have all sorts of opinions on the subject. A quick internet search will return a lot of differing advice, making it even harder to know which colour is best for you. Fortunately, we have put a list together for you to help. Although a lot of comes down to your clients’ needs and personal taste, there are some key differences. Here’s a list of most common backdrops for photography and what each can deliver.

Choose Between Paper and Muslin

Before you select a colour, it’s important to choose between paper and muslin when looking at backdrops for photography; each has its distinct advantages. Muslin backdrops are most often solid in colour and ideal for shooting serious portraits, like for photo ID badges. Paper backdrops are normally used only once, are cheaper and come in almost any colour or texture.

Go with Green for Photo Editing

Green is one of the most popular backdrops for photography and for good reason. If you use photo editing software, a green screen allows you to add in whatever background you like during editing. So by buying a green backdrop, you’ll get whatever background your heart desires.

White Works for Almost Anything

A white seamless paper background is a great option if you are on a tight budget. They are inexpensive, versatile and help make your photos look professional. White also goes with any other colour, meaning it will match whatever uniform or clothing your subject is wearing. It can also reduce the cost of printing your photos.

Same Goes for Black

Much like white, black is an inexpensive and versatile background option that is popular among photographers who need a simple background. It also helps brighten colours to make your subject really stand out. Like white, it can go with just about any colour combination.

Enjoy Versatility with Blue

Blue is also a popular backdrop colour for photographers and is known for inferring intellect and technical knowledge. But if your subject isn’t wearing colours well suited to a blue backdrop, it will negatively impact the quality of your photos.

Choose Gray for a Neutral Hue

Gray provides a neutral colour that draws attention to the subject rather than the backdrop. It works well when you need to lighten the background and can go with almost any colour your subject might wear. If you need backdrops for photography, Avon Securities has got them. Check out our selection online and get the perfect backdrop to suit your needs. 

Tired of having a slow and cumbersome manual sign-in process that distracts you from more important parts of your job? A barcode card scanner is the perfect way to speed up your badge scanning and sign in process, simplify data collection on who comes in and out, and make sure that only people with authorized access are allowed in. It works by reading the information on an ID card and sending it to a nearby computer. A software then takes care of the processing and analysis based on whatever parameters you have set. All this information is then stored in a database where it can be accessed at any time. Wondering how to implement this system at your organization? Follow this guide and get yourself the best technology in access control.

Purchase a Barcode Scanner

The first thing you need to do is decide which barcode card scanner is right you and purchase it. You might think all barcodes are the same, but many offer different features that can be very useful in certain situations. For example, the Metrologic 9520 offers a variety of innovative features like data editing and flash ROM. The best scanners also have a slot reader machine for barcodes, which delivers great speed and reliability, so you might want to consider investing in one that comes with this feature. But regardless, a scanner should be easy to operate so anyone can use it. We recommend you read online reviews before making any decisions as consumer feedback can be a good indication of effectiveness.

Connect to Your Computer Systems

Once you have decided on your barcode card scanner, next you will need to connect it to your computer system. Most come with cord that you simply have to plug directly into the machine or connect via your Wi-Fi network. It’s important to make sure you plug it into the right port. Some connect through a serial port or keyboard port while others use an interface device known as a wedge.

 Install the Right Software

Because a barcode card scanner simply reads the data on a card and sends it to a computer, you need to have the right software that can process, analyze and store this data; there are lots of options available and some are even for free. Regardless, the most important thing you need to do is to ensure that it is compatible with the scanner you are purchasing – otherwise, your new system won’t work like it should.

Convinced a barcode card scanner is the right way to go for your signing in system? Avon Securities has a wide selection designed to meet your needs. Browse our selection online today!

When you’re creating a marketing scheme for your business, you’re likely thinking of big picture tactics to bring you immediate and long term success; from social campaigns to print strategy and more. But, some of the most successful marketing campaigns simply begin with having people on the ground, handing out samples and branded merchandise that your target market can take back home or to work with them. Personalized lanyards are a fantastic way to invest a small amount of money into a product that can bring long term success.

Benefits of Personalized Lanyards

Utility

One of the key benefits of personalized lanyards is simply how helpful they are as an item with day to day use. Lanyards are the perfect item to attach home, work or even car keys to ensure that they’re not lost; they also work well to carry passes or scan cards to get into the office. Given that lanyards are so heavily relied on, it means that your branded lanyard will be seen and interacted with on a daily basis, making your company a namesake for the person using it.

Brand Visibility

When your personalized lanyard is in the hands of your consumers, your brand becomes visible to not only the owner but to anyone who interacts with the owner. Depending on how you choose to brand your lanyard, your logo may be visible from many feet away, making others recognize your company. These personalized lanyards are a simple way to get your name out to the public, both from the person who keeps the lanyard and those around them that see it in use.

Expense

>Compared to almost every other marketing tactic, personalized lanyards are an inexpensive way to get your name out there in the public. When you buy branded lanyards in bulk, you save significant amounts of costs for custom printing and for product fees in general. Additionally, hiring a small promotional marketing team to hand lanyards out at sporting events, concerts, or at large public centers will be a small expense in comparison to the sheer amount of interactions your brand will have with consumers.

Personalized lanyards are an excellent tactic in your marketing scheme to spend a small amount of money and get a large result. To learn more about getting your own branded lanyards for your business, contact us at Avon Security Products today!

Magnetic swipe cards are everywhere these days, whether it’s a debit card, credit card, gift card or even control access cards. These cards get their name from the magnetic material on the back. This allows them to store data by altering the magnetism of tiny particles made of iron on the magnet strip. This magnetic strip can be read by physical contact with a magnetic reading head, which passes along whatever relevant data is stored there.

If the magnet strip on the back of magnet swipe cards is damaged in any way, the card won’t work. So maintaining the magnetic strip should be a top priority for keeping your card working. Here are five ways you can prevent damage.

Keep Magnets Away

This is an obvious one but it is by far the most important. A magnet will erase all information you have stored on your strip, rendering the magnetic swipe card useless. Worse, it’s hard to protect your cards from magnets if there are any nearby, even if your card is in a sleeve or wallet. So the only thing that works to avoid magnets altogether. The most common sources of exposure to magnets are wallet and purse clasps as well as security tag de-activators.

Don’t Keep Your Card Loose

Keeping your card loose in your pants or purse is a sure way to cause problems with your magnetic swipe card. Your keys, dirt, coins and grit can cause scratches. Enough scratches and your magnetic strip will no longer work.

Don’t Let Two Credit Cards Rub Together

When storing your magnet swipe cards in your wallet, it is essential to keep them all facing the same direction. Don’t store them back to back alongside a card that also has a magnetic swipe. This will demagnetize them both, making the damage twofold.

Get a Card Protection Sleeve

A card protection sleeve is a great way to store your cards in a safe, dry place. It prevents dirt, grime, scratches and other cards from causing damage. You can order a card protection sleeve from Avon security here. These sleeves also have the added protection of protecting credit cards from credit card frauds by preventing your card from being scanned.

Buy A Hi-Coercivity Card

Sometimes, quality matters. When you choose higher quality magnetic swipe cards, known as HiCo, they are strong enough to resist most magnetic damage you will come into contact to. They are also much harder to erase.

Avon Security Products has a great selection of magnetic swipe card, pre-encoded magnetic swipe cards and accessories like id card holder and card protection sleeves. Shop online from us today and see why we are Canada’s largest photo ID warehouse.

If you have a broken printer ribbon, you aren’t alone. This is a common problem that people who operate ID card printers have. Fortunately, repairing a broken printer ribbon does not require advanced technical know-how or any other kind of special skillset. It is something anyone can do. See our steps below.

Step 1: Getting To The Broken Printer Ribbon

If your printer ribbon has broken, first you need to pause the current print job immediately if jobs are pending in your printer queue. Deleting them is not necessary. Next, turn off your printer, open it up and unlatch the print head.

Step 2: Removing It

Next you need to remove the ribbon cartridge or supply on the right side and then on the left side you need to take-up spools. When taking out the spools, it is crucial you know which spool is which. Then you should take the ribbon out from the platen roller. If the ribbon is stuck onto the card, you need to take the extra ribbon out the card path’s way. At this point, there should no longer be any cards or ribbon in the printer’s card path.

Step 3: Repairing

For our third step, find a flat surface for your cartridge. Make sure it is clean first. Then, find the two ends for the take-up and supply spools. You also want to make sure the two ends are straight as possible, so it’s best to cut away any excess ribbon.

Now you are ready to start the repairs. Pull the tape at each until they overlap. Then all you need to do is tape them together with scotch tape. It really is that simple! If you find that there is a bit of used ribbon on the take-up, taping directly over the used ribbon won’t cause any problems.

Step 4: Restarting Your Job

It’s finally time for you to get back to your print job. Put your printer ribbon back inside the printer and don’t worry about the colour position. The printer can automatically put the ribbon in the right position after you have inserted it. Then, close the printer properly by latching the printhead down and shutting the cover. Turn the printer back on and everything should be good to go. Your job should restart automatically.

If your printer ribbon continues to break, you might have an issue with the printer itself or the cards rather than just the ribbon. Here are the common steps you can take to fix it:

Restore Driver Settings
Sometimes if the default settings have been changed, the ribbon can get too hot and this can lead to them breaking. Restoring the print driver to its original settings can do the trick.

Examine Blank Cards for any Kind of Debris
Sometimes, when pre-punching your cards before you print them, debris can enter the punch whole and tear the ribbon. In general, it’s best to print over your cards and then punch them.

Don’t Print Too Close to the Card’s Edge
If you print on the edge of your card with a direct-to-card printer, the ribbon can snap. The way to avoid this is to modify the unprinted border on your ID card software.

Clean Your Printer

Using a cleaning set designed for your model, you can clean your printer to help prevent printer ribbons from breaking. You also need to recalibrate the ribbon sensor afterwards.

To learn more about how to repair a broken printer ribbon, contact us at Avon Security Products today!

If you’re looking into printing ID cards for your business, school or other organization, you may consider simply outsourcing the work to a third party supplier and forgetting about it. Though the one time use of an ID card printing service may seem beneficial, you’ll surely be printing ID cards more than once, and you need to take that into consideration. Let us help you weigh the options between a one-time ID card printing service, and investing in the supplies to print your own ID cards at any time.

Third Party ID Card Printing Service

There are many benefits of outsourcing the work of printing ID cards, there is no denying that. So long as you’ve correctly gathered the information you need to be printed on the cards, such as name, title, and photograph, many businesses can simply print these cards on your behalf. These companies may offer discounts on cards depending on quantity as well, meaning you can get a large amount of cards printed for a seemingly low price.

Keeping this work out of sight and mind for your employees means someone else may seem like a fantastic choice, however remember the implications that come when someone takes on the responsibility of printing these cards for you. Should there be a mistake printed on one of the cards, you’ll need to spend more time waiting to have it reprinted; there may also be a fee for reprinting, even though the mistake was not your fault. Likewise, if you were given misinformation, a poor quality picture, or need to have the card reprinted for any number of other reasons, there will be a delay in cost and time.

In-House Printing Services

Investing in your own supplies for ID card printing may seem like a significant investment, but this choice almost immediately pays for itself. Not only does having a personal ID card printer allow you to print cards at any time, without any delay, but it allows you to immediately fix the card if there is a change in personal information. Printing your own cards also gives you the option to change their appearance at any time, whether your company colours change, address changes, or new additions you’d like to the cards.

In addition, the cost of purchasing an ID card printer and supplies would immediately make itself up in the cost savings of not purchasing cards elsewhere. When investing in your own printer and card supplies, you’re paying the same amount for these items as the third party printing business is. This means there’s no markup on card prices, shipping and handling, and other fees that will be attached to the price of your outsourced cards. By the time you print more than one round of ID cards yourself, you’ll already be seeing savings.

If you’re considering whether or not to hire an ID card printing service or to do it yourself, the security experts at Avon Security Products can set you up with the printer and supplies you need to immediately save money. For more information on our products, contact us today!

There are a number of reasons why your organization should choose to print membership cards on site instead of relying on a third party printer. Today there are many easy to use and cost friendly ID card printers on the market that you can easily integrate into your current membership enrollment process.

No Delays

The biggest reason you should bring your membership card printing in house is to remove the delay between members signing up and getting their cards in the mail. Since most companies wait until they have a large batch of cards to be printed before they send them off to the printer, this can further extend the problem. Depending on which third party printer you use, it could take three to six weeks for ID cards to be returned, meaning that you will have to rely on temporary badges in the interim. This creates a weak point in your member tracking abilities that is completely avoidable.

Cost

While the investment into a small printer to keep on your site may seem like a big investment at first, it will actually reduce your membership card printing expenses overall. You will be able to print cards in small batches as members sign up without waiting, and your members will immediately have access to their card. You won’t be paying a marked up rate for the printing service and shipping costs.

Data Security

Not only does the delay in getting cards from a third party printer cause a lapse in security, sending data out to another company can also be seen as a weakness in your data control. Even if your membership cards only have names, pictures and birth dates listed, there is enough valuable information there to raise concerns in a world where data breaches are happening regularly.

Accuracy and Control

Of course there is always a chance for human errors during the data entry process during member enrollment. One problem that companies face with third party membership card printing is that it takes weeks to realize that there was an error in the first place, and then correcting it takes another three to six weeks. This is inconvenient not just for the member, but also for your own staff who is forced to double check the member information for accuracy. By printing on site you will have the ability to make corrections immediately. You also have complete control and oversight of the printing process to ensure that it is being done well without unnecessary waste. Plus, you have the option to design your card design and experiment on your own instead of relying on someone else to make design choices based on preset templates.

Ultimately, bringing your membership card printing on site and handling all of the details yourself will improve the overall flow of member enrollment, and reduce lost time and money. You will have more options for handling member IDs and can make corrections before they become a problem down the line. Members will appreciate having access to their cards immediately and not having to worry about the safety of their personal information being sent off to a third party.

To learn more about this or to get matched with the perfect products, contact us at Avon Security Products today!