Variety of Packaging

You may not realize how important packaging is to your company. Let me explain. Your company has designed a brilliant product and has the potential to explode. Now you need to get this item to the masses. How do you go about this?

Learning the ins and outs of packaging is vital. There are many things a great packing company can offer you.

If you are thinking of doing your own packaging, it would still be beneficial to at least meet with a packaging firm. With their experience and marketing knowledge, they can steer you in the right direction and make sure that you have the most economical set up for your business.

First, what are the best materials to use for your packaging needs? There is such a variety of materials out there that it can be over whelming. You have bubble wrap, foam, peanuts, wrapping paper, newsprint, cardboard cutouts, etc.

What kind of box are you going to need? Just like with the material, there are many choices out there. Any box dimensions that you can think of, cardboard or paperboard with a variety of thicknesses depending on the amount of money you are willing to invest and how sturdy of a box you need to protect your merchandise.

Are you going to want to finish of the packaging with a shrink wrap finish? A packaging company can also help in designing the outside package as well as a custom display for in stores. You want something to make your product stand out.

And remember, whatever you choose as your packaging material, you will need ample room to store it. And I suggest you look for local supply houses. That way you will not need to take up precious space to hold a box.  If you’re running low, you just need to place a phone call to restock within hours.

Caring for Coins

There are some rigid rules that were put in place regarding how we care for the coins in our collection. There are a lot of things that can be done wrong, or that can go wrong, so I guess it only makes sense. There are some people who guard their coin collections with their life, and will not let a soul touch them, let alone get near them. They barely get to enjoy their coins. Ok, I’ll give them that if they are really, really old its fine. There are those others who have just average coins and won’t let you touch them.
When you have a coin collection, you want to be able to enjoy it. You want to be able to touch your coins, run your fingers over the ridges and in a way; these are your toys to play with. Caring for coins sometimes means you wear gloves, that you should be in such and such controlled environment, and that you wear a mask and loads of other things that in a way take the fun out of your coin collecting hobby.
I am not suggesting that you go and break out all your coins in protest, no. I am saying that once in a while, enjoy your coins. Share your collection; teach someone something about coins using yours as an example. Let them feel the coins. You never know, you just might convince someone to pick up coin collecting,
More seriously though, how you handle your coins will also teach you what not to do, and what to do. It’s all about learning new things about your coins.

The Rise and Rise of the Artists Signature – Artists Signatures Make Fraser’s Rarities Index

Fraser’s Rarities Index, listing the 100 most sought after autograph’s, counts Picasso, Dali, Warhol and Chagall amongst their number.

 Artists such as Andy Warhol have seen as much as a 1014% increase over the decade with the Rarities Index as a whole enjoying an average compound increase of 12.9%.

 Over the past decade, the Rarities Index has outperformed both the FTSE 100 TRI and UK House Price Index. The cumulative increase of nearly 280% proves that there is almost as high a demand for the signature as for the artwork itself.

Mike Hall, Chief Executive of the stamp and autograph specialist Stanley Gibbons, said, ‘Evidence proves that the movement in the prices of rare stamps and autographs are uncorrelated with equity and property markets. Rare signatures represent good value at this time due to the fact that it’s still a relatively immature market. Last year my investment in rare stamps and signatures was the only asset I own that went up in value.’

An undedicated signed photo by Picasso would have set you back just ?1250 back in 1997, now anyone wishing to acquire a similar item would have to find nearly ?4000 – that’s an increase of 216% over the decade.

Its not just artists that made the list either- illustrators’ signatures such as those of Walt Disney, Charles Shulz and Hanna Barbera are enjoying similar increases in value:

 In 1997 an undedicated signed photo by Walt Disney would have set you back just ?395, it is now worth ?3950; an increase of 900%.

‘In some cases, I consider the prices remarkably cheap when considering the rarity and historical importance of some of these items. For that reason, autographs perhaps provide the best opportunity for exceptional returns’ said Mike Hall.

History of English Toby Jugs – 1761

My family tree has been traced back to the early Kings of England from the 7th. Century AD. This gives me an interest in English History which is great fun to research. As I am a direct descendent of Sir Christopher Wren and have many ancestors from London who were members of various Livery companies and other Icons so I have created this article about Toby Jugs an English Icon.

A Toby Jug – also sometimes known as a Fillpot (or Phillpot) – is a pottery jug in the form of a seated person, or the head of a recognizable person (often an English king). Typically the seated figure is a heavily-set, jovial man holding a mug of beer in one hand and a pipe of tobacco in the other and wearing 18th century attire: a long coat and a tricorn hat. The tricorn hat forms a pouring spout, often with a removable lid, and a handle is attached at the rear. Jugs depicting just the head and shoulders of a figure are also referred to as Toby Jugs, although these should strictly be called “Character Jugs”.

The original Toby Jug was produced by Ralph Wood in about 1761. Many other Toby Jug’s were produced with a brown salt glaze, which was developed and popularised by the various members of the Wood Family and other Staffordshire potters in the 1770s. Similar designs were also produced by other potteries around England and eventually in other countries from around the 1800’s.

The typical toby is a comic depiction of a short fat fellow, comfortably seated, with a jug on his knee and wearing a three-cornered hat . Sometimes he has a pipe as well as a jug, and sometimes his faithful dog is crouched at his feet. Ralph Wood Toby Jugs were of this sort, but he also produced his “Thin Man,” “Gin Woman,” “King Hal,” and the “Hearty Good Fellow,” the latter a smiling urbane figure with jug and pipe. Ralph’s cousin, Enoch Wood, also made toby jugs, such as “Night Watchman,” and a standing representation of Benjamin Franklin taking a pinch of snuff.

The Toby Jug was named after a notorious 18th century Yorkshire drinker, Henry Elwes, who was known as “Toby Fillpot” (or Phillpot). It was inspired by an old English drinking song, “The Brown Jug”, which paid tribute to Toby Fillpot; the popular verses were first published in 1761.

Toby Jugs have many collectors Worldwide. They were brought back by Royal Doulton in the 19th century, who developed the idea into a range of character jugs. Today, their popularity shows no signs of declining and they have held their value at auction sales. Their appeal is wide reaching because Royal Doulton jugs are quite different both in their craftsmanship and their subject matter.

Royal Doulton have made Toby jugs in the traditional manner since 1815 but in the 1920’s Harry Simeon added colour. This inspired Charles Noke, a Royal Doulton artist to rethink the Toby jug tradition. He pictured a more colorful and stylish jug based on the head and shoulders of a character rather than the full figure. He had in mind characters from English song, literature, history and legend, made to appeal to future generations. It took him almost ten years to be satisfied with the standards of design and production, but in 1934 the first character jug was launched. He chose as his subject John Barleycorn, a figure symbolizing whisky. John Barleycorn became such an instant success that Old Charley, the Night Watchman, Sairey Gamp, Parson Brown and Dick Turpin was added to the jug making. Two years later the first character jug modeled on a real person was made with Herry Fenton’s John Peel, a trend which has continued to the present day.

In peacetime we English played and invented many Iconic Sports which we gave the world including Football, Rugby, Tennis, Cricket etc. I have a website where I have listed the many sports and games invented by us British with links to the relevant web page.

Please visit my Funny Animal Art Prints Collection @ http://www.fabprints.com

My other website is called Directory of British Icons: http://fabprints.webs.com

The Chinese call England “The Island of Hero’s” which I think sums up what we English are all about.

Copyright © 2010 Paul Hussey. All Rights Reserved.

Nothing New Under the Sun

Many times throughout the day one will hear of some new or improved product. If you have had something for more than a few months, it is outdated. It is time to toss it out and get the new version. If you’ve had a computer, a video game system, or cell phone for more than six months, then it is antiquated.

Knives are no exception to this phenomenon. Almost on a continuous basis, knife manufacturers are producing new knives that are a cut above the rest. The old ones just don’t compare to the new ones. Whether it be a new metal, a new gadget, or a new design, these new knives are just so much better than the old ones.

There are two old sayings that we, in our rush to get the newest and best, all tend to forget. One says, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Another, from the Bible, says, “There is no new thing under the sun.” How true are these sayings?

How new are the new video games really? Without a doubt, the speed, graphics, interactivity, and such are far more advanced than those that my generation played with as kids, but have you noticed that the video games as a whole haven’t really changed at all? Some of the most popular games being sold today such as: Mario Bro. (and all their spin-offs), NFL Football, NBA Basketball, MLB Baseball, The Legend of Zelda, Tetris, and many more have been around for more than 20 years. In fact, the second highest grossing video game of all times (Super Mario Bros.) which has sold more then 40 million copies, has been around since 1985.

I find that knives tend to follow the same trend. There is no question, with all the advances in technology, that the knives of today are much better than those of yesterday. But another trend I find is that when people purchase a knife, they look for something that not only is good quality, but also has a look that makes everyone say “wow” when they see it. There are some great quality knives available today by such makers as Case, Kershaw, Gerber, Victorinox, and many more, but the designs I find sell the best are those that would be classified as fantasy daggers or medieval weapons such as the Iron Reaver Claw, the King Arthur Dagger, the Dragon Fantasy Dagger, the Medieval Flail, the Sword of Sparta, and others. The interesting thing about these knives is that they are based on designs that are centuries old. So truly, there really is nothing new under the sun.