personal identification - Influencing Identity

Introducing: Contemporary Name Plates

Most people think of name plates as simple plastic or metal pieces with their name and maybe title on it that are displayed on a desk or a door for others to see.

Whether it’s name tags, name plates or any other personal identification, here at Coller Industries we are always trying to keep up to date on our customer’s needs and possibly want lists. Part of this process is to also keep up with the trends in the personalized identification business. And, any corporate branding initiative should begin within your own office.

New products are always an exciting time here in our office!

This new name plate style incorporates the identification into a new, updated and sleek look while still providing a professional feel.

Our new contemporary name plates are the perfect solution for desks, walls, doors, cubicles, counters and reception areas. They are a highly effective way to present room names, department titles or employees names. Use on front counters, waiting rooms and reception areas to provide instructions and directions. Hang on a wall or display on a desk for employee identification.

Each name plate is made from quality, eco-friendly materials and they are a cost-effective solution to your personal identification needs. The shatterproof polycarbonate components make for a long-lasting and reusable solution. The plates are easy to customize to match any setting. Simply print on a paper insert using an inkjet or laser printer and easily assemble the professional name plate. All of the parts snap together in seconds, with no tools required. Create your own design with any color, logo and font you want; if it prints, it fits.

The contemporary name plates are available in three convenient sizes. Interchangeable attachments are available allowing these plates to be set on desks, hung on walls or doors, and cubicle partitions for easy display on cubicle walls. When there is a change in a position or adding a new employee, the name plates can be quickly replaced by printing a new insert.

Our new contemporary name plates are designed to reduce time and expense for offices and stores while providing an updated look for brand awareness and consistency.

Name Tag: The Inside Story

At some point in everyone’s life, they end up wearing a name tag.

Most of the time people wear a name tag for employment or during a convention or conference. However, most people never take into consideration what is put into making personal identification.

An excerpt from a Coller Industries employee:

Going on six years at Coller Industries, I have learned so much. The very first thing that was probably learned is how much goes into making personal identification products. From the starting point in customer service, right down to the last step of shipping the product out to the customers, I never realized the attention and detail that has to go into making a quality name tag. So much dedication and work has to go into each product. While many things and processes have changed over the years, the end result has always been the same: quality products at a fair price.

Starting with the training in customer service, it takes months to learn all of the things that a representative needs to know. With all the different products that Coller Industries manufactures and sells, there is not easy path to learn what is needed. Even though it has been six years, I still don’t know everything and have to ask questions frequently. The customer service team all leans on each other to get answers; if someone doesn’t know, someone else probably will.

badge ribbons name badges name tag personal identification

Then there is design. All of the artwork, name lists and other specs have to go through the design team. They have to place the logo and the names on the tags precisely, so that nothing will go wrong during production. They have to have any answers customer service may need, when they want to know if something is or is not possible.

After design comes production, oh yeah! This is where it all comes together. No matter what process is used for a name tag or ribbon, the production team is always working hard to get all orders out in a timely manner. It is high pressure work, but they pull through every time. They strive to make the best quality name tag available.

After they come out of production, our shipping department works just as hard to get the products shipped out on time. They check for flaws and make sure that all name tags match the provided name list, assemble the product with the appropriate fasteners, package them and finally invoice them. They then go through a quality check one final time and then the package is sealed and shipped out.

We have a great team company wide, and together, we all make that happen. I am proud to be a part of it. Bigger and better things await this company. No matter what department anyone is working in, we all strive to do the best job we know how to do. The thing that will always remain the same is the never ending aim to improve on the things that we are doing, no matter what those things might be.

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.

Personal Branding vs. Corporate Branding

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a brand as “a class of goods identified by name as the product of a single firm or manufacturer.” It is the overall perception and experience that customers associate with a particular company, product or service. They also define branding as “promoting a product or service by identifying it with a particular brand.”

what is corporate branding and what is personal branding using name tags lanyards signs name badges

Process

Personal branding is the process of an individual marketing or advertising themselves or their career as a unique image or idea. It is the ongoing practice of building up an image or uniqueness about themselves to others around them. A personal brand often involves using someone’s name on various marketing products.

Corporate branding is the process of promoting a company’s logo and name for marketing and advertising purposes. A corporate brand’s range is typically extensive and is often used to express the company’s ideals and goals.

Examples of personal branding:
Rachel Ray, Michael Jordan, Oprah, Scott Ginsberg, Tony Robbins

Personal Branding perzonalized identification name tags rachael ray michael jordan oprah scott ginsberg tony robbins

Examples of corporate branding:
Apple; Hershey’s; NIKE;
Warner Bros.; M&M’s

Corporate Branding personalized identification logos hershey apple warner bros nike m&m mars

Benefits

Branding helps a business or person show how their products or services differ from competitors. A strong brand with a clear name, logo and visuals helps consumers know and remember what that brand sells or provides. It also makes people trust them more. When someone decides what their brand stands for and why it is unique, they can make themselves stand out and affect what customers pick. A strong brand shows that this particular product or service is trustworthy, high in quality and dependable.

Name Tags and Branding

By wearing personal identification products, (e.g., name tags, name badges, etc.), anyone can make themselves more visible to others. This also opens the door to better experiences at large events. They can promote their personal brand by wearing a name tag with their name (first and last). By wearing a name tag, they identify themselves as an individual and stand out in a crowd. Most often, people see this type of marketing at large corporate meetings or conventions where it is important to distinguish individuals from each other.

Corporate branding utilizes the same items as personal branding, such as lanyards and name tags, but they often use them differently. Many companies choose to add their logo, an essential part of their brand, to the name tags. This is so that their employees are easily identifiable to their consumers. These items are then turned into a way of advertising their company rather than the individual. People often see this type of branding at conferences where many companies that manufacture or sell the same ideas or items might mingle. Businesses will use lanyards, name tags and signs to distinguish everyone attending the conference.

Whether personal or corporate, a brand is essential to anyone seeking to be differentiated from those around them.

ORDER LOGO NAME TAGS

Learn more about using your logo on The Learning Center:

Contrast Matters: Your Logo and Identification

Photo IDs Aren’t Just For People

In a touching story from a few years ago, we all learn that it doesn’t matter your position in life, everyone can wear photo IDs!

Ralf: The Therapy Dog who wears Photo ID

To be easily identified in the hospital wards, Ralf, a Giant Schnauzer, must wear a Photo ID on his collar. Ralf has been working miracles by getting kids back on their feet after their operations. He sits with them during treatments or takes them on walks around The Royal Children’s Hospital.

Photo ID Badges quickly identify every employee with their image next to their name and title. These badges are perfect for heightening security and making sure employees feel like they belong. With pictures, names and titles, they are great for schools, high security establishments (like hospitals) and, for that matter, practically any business concerned with safety.

More about Ralf and his Photo ID

therapy hospital dog wearing photo id name tag name badge

An excerpt from Ralf, by Anne Crawford

“It was late March 2012 when Caroline Lovick discovered that the family pet, Ralf, a Giant Schnauzer, had become famous. Ralf was a ‘therapy dog’ at The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, padding the wards every week with Caroline, visiting young patients who were ill and injured, helping in their recovery in often remarkable ways. A daily newspaper published a story on 20 March about the ‘miracle’ pooch and the effect he was having on children and adolescents, with a photo of a toddler, Zeke Harrison, who had a rare genetic disease, walking the corridors of the hospital next to the huge black dog. The article and picture of the chubby-legged infant wearing a nasal-gastric tube went from Melbourne to Sydney to newspapers in the United Kingdom and the US, and then spread on the internet. The story took off in Europe. Spain. Turkey. India. Chile. A German radio station sent a crew to Australia to record a show on Ralf. Dawn French, the British comedienne, posted Ralf on her Facebook page. A woman called Karla from Donegal sent him a gift of engraved dog tags on behalf of the people of Ireland. Caroline had always known that there was something special about the dog that looks you directly in the eyes from beneath his shaggy forelock and bushy brows with kind brown eyes. But she wasn’t prepared for this. Ralf had gone global.”

Photo IDs and Other Name Tags

custom name tags name badges used as pet tags

All pets can have their own Photo IDs or name tags. Design your own, or choose from a variety of stock name tags. No matter what you need, we’re sure to have something that will work for your pet.

From dogs to cats, we have even have custom shapes that will suit man’s best friends. Choose from different colors, font choices and make the most out of your new name tags and photo IDs.