Our Products - Influencing Identity

Customer Donations: Operation of Hope

Providing customer donations is part of who we are.

From name tags to ribbons, Coller Industries is your go-to specialist for personal identification needs. While we do pride ourselves on our service and professionalism in producing these fantastic products, our main focus is to help you, our customers! And part of this is to donate what we can, whenever we can. This month we were able to help out a wonderful cause.

Operation of Hope provides free, life-changing surgery and health care for children in desperate need and creates a self-sustaining program of hope through education. They are building a growing network of medical professionals that serve patients in desperate needs, so that every child has the hope of a normal life.

Operation of Hope has been a functioning organization since 1989 and performs free surgeries for children all over the world. They are currently celebrating one of their recent surgeries that was performed for Blessing Makwera.

When Blessing was 14 years old, he found a landmine detonator in a field where he lived in Zimbabwe, Africa. Blessing thought the metal object was a small electric motor. He inserted the detonator between his teeth to free his hands so he could work. In 2009, two years after the accident, the Operation of Hope Team was donating a facial reconstructive surgical mission in Zimbabwe to help those afflicted with birth defects such as cleft-lips and palates. After hearing about Operation of Hope on Zimbabwe’s only radio station, Blessing took a 6-hour bus ride by himself into the capital city of Harare so he could meet this team of volunteer surgeons.

Operation of Hope received plastic laser engraved name tags. “These name tags are for the local Zimbabwean Operating Room Staff that we partner with in Harare, Zimbabwe. These are especially helpful as we usually use paper name tags and they do not last as long nor do they look as wonderful and as professional as these do!” exclaimed Jennifer Trubenbach, CEO & Mission Director at Operation of Hope.

We are grateful for organizations such as Operation of Hope. And these donations are truly something that helps us stand out from our competition.

operation of hope coller industries customer donations

Conversations About A Lanyard

While most people know what a lanyard is, here is a quick guide to help you muddle through the wide world of lanyards.

What is a lanyard?
A lanyard is a piece of cord or ribbon that is formed into a loop and typically worn around the neck or belt exclusively to hold something, such as a name tag or name badge. Lanyards can also come as a chain or be retractable.

What are the different types of lanyards?
Lanyards come in a variety of fabric types and styles. Each fabric type has a unique look and most of the fabrics can be imprinted with text and/or logos so they can be personalized. Each lanyard also has different fastener choices to use with name badges.

Who uses lanyards?
As lanyards are an easy way to display a name badge or other personal identification, they are used every day by a variety of people. College students, teachers, employees in retail stores, some office workers and even government officials all wear lanyards to show ID or for security reasons.

Where are lanyards used, and when would I ever use one?
Lanyards are used everywhere! Schools, offices, businesses, stores and so many more places use lanyards frequently if not every day. Lanyards are also commonly used during conferences and conventions. Most of the time you would use one when either working at one of these places or helping to promote an event. Custom lanyards printed with text and logos are a great way of getting brands out to the general public.

Why would I ever need a lanyard?
Because most lanyards can be customized using text and/or logos, lanyards are extremely versatile. The text can be a phrase, a date or the name of an event or business. You would typically need to wear a lanyard if you need to have ID or credentials available to show to others or for security proof that you can be in a building or other typically private place.

How do I choose a lanyard to purchase?
No matter your need, we have a lanyard to meet it. Choose from our large variety of lanyards be selecting the type and features you want. Most choices can be customized with text and/or logos to promote your event, meeting or brand.

Donations: Cornerstone Assembly

Giving donations is part of who we are.

Coller Industries enjoys giving back to our surrounding communities, and part of this process is providing donations to companies and organizations that need personal identification products for their business or other needs. The most recent of these donations was given to Cornerstone Assembly of God in Flowery Branch, Georgia.

“Here at Cornerstone we feel God has called us to help people become fully committed followers of Jesus Christ. It doesn’t matter what your background is, what you struggle with or what hand life has dealt you; God has a plan for your life,” said Pastor Steve, Lead Pastor at Cornerstone Assembly.

“We encourage our congregation to not confine their God experience to the church building, but rather to experience God in the real world,” Shaun Hughes, Creative Arts Pastor at Cornerstone Assembly of God stated.

Cornerstone Assembly’s mission statement is “Empowering people to experience God in the real world.” Their aim is to impact their community with the gospel and love of Christ through their words and their actions. Their core values are joy, transparency and generosity and they accomplish this by being “real, relevant and rational.”

Cornerstone Assembly received donations of full color name tags with a dome finish and magnetic fasteners. Full color name tags are available as a digitally printed plastic tag. The thermal transfer printing process captures logos and images in crisp, bright full colors. The printing can also extend off the edge (bleed) and all text can be printed in any color.

“I can’t describe how much one simple little thing like name badges has really impacted our people. The volunteers LOVE them; the look, the feel, the ease of use. It has been a physical symbol of the unity they feel working together as a team greeting our guests and congregation members each and every week,” said Hughes.

“Our pastor commented that it was the most professional looking item we’ve ever ordered!” Hughes exclaimed. “These (name) tags will help identify our greeters and hospitality team to our first time guests. They will lend a polished, professional look to our hospitality team. The domed plastic ensures that the name tags will endure long term and still look fantastic.”

Where are Custom Lanyards Frequently Used?

Custom lanyards are everywhere, and they have so many uses.

From the simple and traditional of displaying a name badge to the more creative portable shower caddie, lanyards are definitely universal. So, where are custom lanyards most traditionally used?

Businesses and Organizations

Commonly used for displaying badge holders, name tags and other personal identification, lanyards are utilized in everyday situations around the workplace. Custom lanyards can be printed with a slogan, motto or company logo to promote brand recognition and identify not only the wearer, but the company as well. Often, these lanyards are a requirement for access into a building or meeting and can be used this way as advertising.

Conventions and Conferences

Trade shows and conventions are a great marketing terrain for customized lanyards and trade show organizers. They can be helpful in using and displaying schedules, passes and other event credentials. Lanyards can be used to secure items that are important and that the user does not want to lose. Handing out lanyards to newly arriving guests is also a great way to show them your appreciation. Custom lanyards with logos for conferences make the event unforgettable.

Schools

Students and teachers all use lanyards on a daily basis and for a variety of purposes. Custom lanyards are perfect for showing school spirit; just add a name and logo and match the imprinting and lanyard colors to the school. Teachers often wear lanyards with photo identification badges for security reasons. And, students wear lanyards to keep keys and other items close at hand.

Parties, Receptions and Reunions

Custom lanyards are perfect during these family and friend events for keepsakes and to bring people together. Lanyards come in many color choices and will meet any need. Make them especially memorable by having the event or family name, year or location imprinted in a bright color. These keepsakes are sure to create their own memories.

Things To Consider: Name Tags

Does anyone ever really consider what it takes to produce that name tag they are wearing?

When considering a name tag the first thing that usually comes to mind is typically the name that appears on it. However, there is so much more to consider when looking at name tags.

An excerpt from a Coller Industries employee:

Name Tag, Inc. opened my eyes to what really goes into producing a name tag. When wearing a name tag one never really thinks about all the work, the people involved or machines used to make it. When first looking at a name tag the color, the person’s name and title, and the logo are what really stand out. Not much else is really considered.

As part of customer service, my view has definitely changed on what goes into making a name tag and the process behind the scenes. A lot goes into setting up orders, sending out proofs and working with design worksheets. There are so many colors and materials and different ways to put a name tag together. This may sound weird, but I feel like I help make name tag dreams come true.

Orders start with an internet order or a phone call. Once the specifics are laid out by the customer, the design team goes to work. Sometimes a customer has an image from the online design tool which provides a more visual picture of the “dream,” and sometimes only simple instructions like size, color and logo placement are included as instructions. Whatever the case, all customers end up with a PDF proof showing them what the name tags will look like.

consider using classy name tag frames - small, medium and large

consider adding an epoxy dome to name tags both plastic and metal

Once a proof is seen, all the extras and smaller details begin to take shape. Many customers have questions at this point, such as the tag size, the option of an epoxy dome, or adding a name tag frame. All these options come highly recommended, and while they do add a minor cost to the name tag purchase, the end results are worth it.

Once the proof has been approved by the customer, the order is sent to a quality checker to make sure that all the order information is correct and consistent. Then, when the order passes this check, the production team takes over. There are various machines that make different name tags. Laser engravers are used on both plastic and metal materials to cut and engrave names, titles and logos. There is also a full color print machine that prints in vibrant colors. Each name tag is carefully completed according to the specifications that were check and rechecked in customer service.

Part of production is assembly of the product. Fasteners, such as magnets, are affixed to the name tag. Before any name tag is shipped, two more quality control people review the order again. Once this is complete, the package is sealed and given to a trusty UPS driver who then gets them delivered directly to the customer.

Now that’s a lot to think about and consider when looking at a name tag! So, the next time you see a name tag, I hope that you can take a moment to reflect about all the hands and time (and care) that went into its production.