As usual we always find it difficult to keep a secret. So you may already have heard that MOO is going to open an office in the US later this year.
"Why?" you ask. Well, ever since MOO launched in September 2006, we've had orders from customers around the world. After a little investigation, we've found that over 50% of you are in the USA. By opening an office there too, we'll be able to ship your orders so much faster! (We think that deserves a *Yay!*, even if we do say so ourselves.)
"When?" you want to know. Well, we haven't opened our doors just yet as we still looking for some great people to join the MOO Crew in the USA. In particular, we are looking for a new customer service team and an operations manager. If you love MOO and you (want to) live in Providence, Rhode Island, please stay tuned for job descriptions.
**UPDATE** - please see below for details of the Operations Manager role.
As for everyone wondering when we will start printing in the US, you'll have to wait just a little longer. We can't tell you an exact date, but we promise you it will happen before June. So, stay tuned. We'll announce here on the blog and in our newsletter when we officially launch.
What? You're not signed up to the newsletter? Well. Hurry, sign up now and you won't miss out on the MOO news (and special newsletter promotions). There's a sign up box just there, to your right.
moo.com is looking for an Operations Manager for our new US location!
The Operations Manager will manage a stand-alone dispatch and customer service operation, and will directly impact MOO's success by ensuring quality, productivity, efficiency and customer satisfaction. This position would suit a candidate with significant operational management experience, ideally with a background in a print, mail-order fulfillment, customer contact or service environment.
Responsibilities:
•Overall responsibility for all aspects of your operation including: Production, Quality, Customer Service, Facilities, Systems, Logistics, Materials, Health & Safety and Employment
•Direct, plan and organize all activities for a small dispatch team including: prep, quality checking, order packing and shipping to ensure accurate and timely fulfillment of customer orders
•Oversee a small customer service team and assist with high level case escalations
•Hire and train full-time (non-exempt) and contract employees
Candidate Requirements:
•5-7 years experience managing teams in a production, assembly or other direct labor environment
•Experience with commercial printing a big plus
•Direct experience with process management, inventory control, and quality assurance in a production environment
•Demonstrated ability to work independently and autonomously
•Proven ability to lead and mentor a team
•Experience dealing directly with customers and vendors
•Solid problem solving skills
•Excellent written and oral communications skills
•Experience setting up and troubleshooting basic PC hardware/software
•Excellent skills with internet, email, Microsoft Office and other applications
•Ability to lift 50 pounds
•Must have valid drivers license
Education
•College degree strongly preferred
About the Company:
MOO is an award-winning online stationers based in London, England. We launched in 2006, with one product, the MiniCard. About half the size of a regular business card, MiniCards are made using variable print technology, meaning every card in the set can be different. MOO has subsequently expanded its product line to include Business Cards, Stickers, Postcards, Greeting Cards and Note Cards.
MOO has grown rapidly, enjoying a global demand for its products from day one, and continues to work with some of the web's fastest growing online communities, including Flickr, Facebook, iStockphoto, Etsy and Live Journal to name a few. Today, a team of 35 people develop and operate MOO's services from two London locations. Their mission is simple - deliver remarkable products which delight customers.
MOO ships its products worldwide from the United Kingdom, but plans to launch a second fulfillment and customer service operation in the USA by mid 2009.
MOO is a investor backed startup, with funding from the Accelerator Group, Atlas Venture and Index Ventures.
As we're always showing you beautiful packs of Business Cards made with artwork or photography, we thought for once we'd show you something different. It's not always appropriate or possible to use images on your cards; maybe you're a writer, marketer or software developer, or perhaps you're promoting an application - so what do you do then?
To start, we've seen some really nice designs made with Text-o-matic MiniCards, like these for example, by Kiwi Pinch Designs:
And if it's words you're after, we've spotted some lovely Wordle cards out there - used for everything from Weddings, to Business cards. Wordle makes beautiful tag clouds from your own text, and allows you to choose colours and fonts according to your personal style. These, Cards were made by Annie Mole, using Wordle, and promote her blog:
Some small businesses who have a logo (rather than freelancers, who often don't) really make the most of it by printing in a variety of colours. This works really well when you take them out of your pocket to hand them over. It's a great talking point as people pause to choose their favourite colour, and has just a bit more impact than a bunch of traditional white cards, which all look the same. These lovely cards by Gimme look good enough to eat:
Recently we've spotted two examples of companies or individuals using a form of customer endorsement or review on their cards. The first is a set of Business Cards from Mike Coulter, based on the Tweets of friends and colleagues. Why try to convince people of your brilliance when others can do it for you?
The second example are these beautiful cards from TrakAx. They've been designed to feature different quotes from customers and publications, and not only have the 'wow' factor when you take them out of your pocket, but are really good conversation starters, around the product:
So, what about you? If you're in the same situation, promoting something that can't or wont be photographed, what do you put on your cards? If you got any images, add the links in the comments - we'd love to compile a gallery of the best, for our Business Cards Ideas Pages
From time to time, we at MOO like to down tools, tear ourselves away from our laptops and get out into the big wide world to meet you all in person.
We find the best way to do this is by going to the events you are are interested in, and we wanted to tell you about the next few events coming up, that we'll be at.
We'd love you to come by, say hi, show us your MOO products and charm us to get discounts and insider gossip!
As a special treat, we also offer free shipping (and sometimes other product discounts) on any orders you place, to pick-up from us at the event. Consider this an extra-special hand delivery service.
So, if you're off to any of the events we're headed to, check below for more details on where we'll be, what the discounts are, and how to pick-up your products.
Event: Focus on Imaging
Website: http://www.focus-on-imaging.co.uk/index.htm
Location: Birmingham, UK
Dates: 22nd - 25th February 2009
MOO location: MOO Stand - B53
Special offer: Free delivery to event
Promocode: focusmoo
Expiry: 15/2/09
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Event: Social Media Influence
Website: http://www.screenevents.co.uk/smi_09/visitor_info.html
Location: London, UK
Dates: 3rd March 2009
MOO location: MOO table near main event registration
Special offer: 15% off a pack of Business Cards or MiniCards + free delivery to event
Promocode: SMImoo09
Expiry: 25/2/09
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Event: Photoshop World
Website: http://www.photoshopworld.com/
Location: Boston, USA
Dates: 25th - 27th March 2009
MOO location: MOO stand - 622
Special offer: 25% off entire order + free delivery to event
Promocode: pswmoo
Expiry: 13/3/09
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Make sure you use the promocodes attached to the right event, and only if you're going to the event, as all these codes will hold back your orders in our warehouse to be delivered at each event, in person.
(If you don't make it to pick up your cards, get in touch after the event (http://www.moo.com/service/), and we'll let you know how to pay for shipping and get your order delivered to you.)
See you there!
We've seen a lot of videos made of MOO products, and they always make us smile. From the unboxing, to the unusual, to the unbelievably informative.
For those who have been wondering what the Mosaic Frames for MiniCards are really like, Andy Piper has the answers. He bought several frames to give as Christmas Gifts, and documented creation process in this video:
We love seeing things like this - and they really help other users to see what the products are like. If you've made videos of your own, do let us know.
Depending on where you are the world, you may or may not know that London, home of both MOO and most of it's employees, has been overcome by snow. We don't do 'weather' well in this country, really - whatever weather we get, it always comes as a bit of a shock, and so buses, trains, tubes etc are still working out if they can run or not. At time of writing, most are favouring 'not'.
Consequently, many of the MOO Crew are working from home - and judging from the Twitters we've seen, many of you are too. Once you've come in from playing in the snow - sorry, working in the snow - you'll be needing to take a break. This is where the lovely Jo Carter has come to your aid.
Like many of you, she's a Facebook user, and a Packrat fan. Not only that, but she has a MOO API key and knows how to use it!
Jo's built a fantastic little application that lets you make a StickerBook from the Packrat graphics. You can get 90 different stickers in a StickerBook, and you can choose from over 1000 different images! There's everything from monkeys, to ninjas, seahorses to stilettos.
There's some things fluffy...
And even a few things MOO...
So, take a look at Packrat - in the interests of social media research - and then, make yourself some stickers! The graphics are fantastic - Packrat player or not. They'd be perfect for yourself, or the content would make a great present for children (of all ages).
