For the Friend Who Has Everything - A Consumable Gift

As the holiday seasons approach, most of us switch into gift-giving mode, and start looking for that perfect item for each of our friends and family members. And we all have one or two individuals on the list who are incredibly hard to shop for, not because they don't have interests, but because they already have absolutely everything they could want or need. The newest DVDs? Got 'em. A great cashmere sweater? Closets full of them. The best kitchen gadgets? The top golf or skiing accessories? Tickets to the latest shows? Got 'em, got 'em, got 'em!

So what do you do? You spy, and snoop, and search, until you find out their favorite guilty pleasures - food- and beverage-wise, that is. Maybe they have a yen for the best Swiss chocolates, or the wines of a particular province in France. Or perhaps their gastronomic tastes run to the nostalgic, and the candies and other favorites of their childhood - imported plum pudding, perhaps, or a selection of their favorite, hard to find, childhood candies or cookies.

One nifty thing about consumables is that when you give them as gifts, if you've done your homework properly, the recipients consume them - which means you get to buy the same gift next year.

Another approach is to invite a friend or family member to his or her favorite restaurant, an enjoyable outing during which you also give the gift of your love and attention. This event could actually become a yearly tradition, a ritual anticipated and cherished by you both.

Of course, consumables don't have to be food or beverages. There are many, many magazines and newspapers published in the world, on every possible topic. Imagine a European or Asian immigrant getting a subscription to a newspaper from his or her homeland, in the appropriate native language; or a quilting enthusiast receiving the most popular quilting magazine - from England. Even your loved ones "who have everything" are not likely to have combed the world for the more exotic periodicals.

A doting grandparent would welcome a box of photographs, taken throughout the previous year, of her or his grandkids, along with scrapbooking materials, and perhaps a few instant cameras and prepaid mailing envelopes so they can take even more pictures of the kids.

So for friends and family who have everything, start thinking in terms of consumables when you make out your holiday gift list. You may be amazed at the possibilities that come to mind.

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About Aldene Fredenburg

Aldene Fredenburg is a freelance writer living in southwestern New Hampshire and frequently contributes to Tips and Topics. She has published numerous articles in local and regional publications on a wide range of topics, including business, education, the arts, and local events. Her feature articles include an interview with independent documentary filmmaker Ken Burns and a feature on prisoners at the New Hampshire State Prison in Concord. She may be reached at amfredenburg@yahoo.com.

articles@tipsandtopics.com


And here is another random article you might be interested in...

Lamination Of Signs

I suspect that everyone has an idea of what lamination is even if you have only seen it in passing. Restaurant menus are a common example. A plastic finish is placed over the menu to protect it from food and stains. But did you know that you can laminate just about anything that is flat? If it needs to be protected and reused, it is something to consider for lamination. The laminate also makes the original material stronger and more durable. All of our signs can be laminated, but the reasons are varied and not all signs should be laminated.

A number of our customers have fondly taken to our dry erase laminate. They can have engineering plans, tables, or other diagrams printed on almost any of our substrates (for example, PVC or aluminum). Once we cover them with the dry erase laminate, it allows the users to mark up the signs with dry erase ink which can easily be wiped off. It is wonderful for talks and demonstrations.

But our primary use for laminates is to protect signs and give them longer life expectancy. For example, our UV inks used in digital printing have a life time of about 3 years before they begin to fade without lamination. But a laminate can give them an additional 2 to 3 years without fading.

We like to encourage our customers to laminate the magnetic car signs we produce, because it protects the inks from abrasions - the roads constantly kick up dirt and dust which strike the signs. You should also consider laminates for signs that are frequently taken down and put back up. Real estate signs are a perfect example. They can come easily scratched without lamination. The user can also roll the sign up after meetings and reuse it without fear of the sign becoming warn.

And finally, we like to use laminates because they give the sign a nice professional finish. There are two basic types of finishes that can be achieved from laminate: matte and gloss. Matte finishes look a bit granular and are not reflective, but they tend to make colors on the sign more striking and vivid. In contrast, gloss finishes are reflective and tend to make bright colors radiate with strong definition.

There are two basic types of laminates: hot and cold. Hot laminates are placed on signs at approximately 220 to 300 degrees F. The process is a little more expensive than cold laminates, but the laminate lasts a bit longer. Unfortunately, some inks used in digital printing will melt under the hot conditions. You also cannot use hot laminates on heat sensitive papers.

Under these conditions, cold laminators are required. They use pressure sensitive adhesives to secure the lamination film. We also use a spray laminate (cold) to protect signs when cost is an issue. Spray laminates protect the sign but do not give a gloss finish or make the material more rigid.

Tony Nagy
http://designasign.biz/banners.html