49 posts tagged “moo”
If there's one thing we like at MOO it's good ideas. And it's been a little while since our last post sharing ideas from our creative community - so we thought now would be a good time for a catchup. So, sit back and take in some of the cool ideas we've spotted recently.
Peta Love is an author, and founder of Biliopet, an indie publisher of gift books for pets. Her most recent tome, Beef Casserole for the Dog's Soul is 'a treasury of stories that your dog will love'.
Sadly, as most of you know, it's the owners - not the dogs - with all the money, so Peta has created these fantastic MiniCard tags as a promotional tool to catch the owner's eye.
Using the simple Text-o-matic tool for the front of the cards, each card has an area to fill in with doggy details on the back, and a little ring to attach the card to a dog's collar. Just like Jack Hooker's Business Cards, Peta rounded the MiniCard corners with a corner cutter.
We love the idea of creating multiple cards for people to personalise - it's a great value-for-money marketing tool, as you can get so many cards from one pack. We mentioned these last Christmas, but the idea still makes us smile:
These are personalised playdate cards, created by photographer Robyn Pollman. Originally designed as a Christmas gift, they work as both a client 'thank you' and a referral card. (And if you're looking for more inspiration for referral cards, we covered some cool ideas here.)
Readers of the MOOsletter might've spotted these super-cute magnets already. (If you'd like to sign up to the our MOO newsletter, there's a sign up box on the homepage at www.moo.com). Made with magnetic tape and MiniCards these feature fashion fucsia's own illustrations, and are for sale on Etsy:
What better way to promote your artwork and get your work into potential clients hands, than creating beautiful (saleable!) products?
These stylish MOO Postcards are also for sale on Etsy, created by artist and designer, Dee Adams.
And this display was created to accompany an exhibition of work by Natasha Newton. Also a MOO Designer, Natasha tells us not only did her exhibition go well, but her postcards 'sold like hotcakes!'.
Are your MOO Cards more than just Business Cards? Let us know what you're up to - we love to hear about innovative uses of our products, and featuring the brains behind them.
We wanted to share one of the first entries made in to MOO's MOOvie Mania Competition because it really spoke to us. It's entitled: Life as a Graphic Designer by Marina. Given we have a few graphic designers on the team and a few of us have worked in agencies in the past, we particularly related to this tell-it-like-it-is account of a day in the life of a graphic designer. You'll note the nod to MOO's MiniCards at about 2 min 24sec in. The logo created by the client is worth highlighting. Don't you agree, it's just brilliant?
If you are submitting a MOOvie, don't forget to include the tags "moovie mania" and "business cards" when you post your video to either YouTube, Flickr or Dailymotion. That'll help us group them together later on. If you need them, all the rules (written in plain English) can be found here.
Adding Music to Your MOOvie
As we all know movies can be 100x better with music and sound effects. Think of Jaws without the famous Na-Na. Na-Na. Na-Na. But, where do you find all those great effects and music? We have few suggestions that might come in handy. If you have more, please leave in the comments.
Our friends at iStockphoto have an entire library of royalty-free music and every sort of sound effect submitted by their contributors. They are an inexpensive source and have offered any MOOvie Maker a 15% discount on 26 credits or more until the end of July. Just include the the code MOOvie on checkout for your discount.
There’s also lots of great music available with a Creative Commons license that won't get you in trouble for copyright infringement. If you do use background music, per CC licensing requirements, you'll need to attribute the music you use by mentioning and linking to the artist, or the CC page you found it on.
Here are some online resources (thanks to ccmixter
Or an original piece is always nice. Happy Composing!
We have no idea how you figured it out, but yes, our 'new product announcement' yesterday was just for April Fool's day. I must admit, we had far too much fun planning and making it - and that was doubled by reading all your comments.
Just incase you didn't know, we do sell real Eco Friendly Business Cards, which we think are quite super. We just don't WRITE THE NAME IN CAPITAL LETTERS and they actually do come 'ready assembled', with both the words and the pictures attached:
The stock is 100% recycled and 100% recyclable - and the free holder is 100% recycled pulp board and recyclable too. For anyone in the USA worried about the airmiles, you'll be glad to know that soon we'll be printing and shipping in the USA, and so not only will your cards arrive much quicker, but they'll have less distance to travel too.
These are some customer shots of our Eco Friendly Business Cards:
Colourful photos, by Laura A
Antiqued images showing the beautiful jewellery of >kotomigd
And technobiosphere took a shot of the free holder - the wraps are recycled, and removeable, so you can use the subtly branded case to carry your cards safely in your bag.
We also know from experience, that you need somewhere to keep the cards people give you - so the holder comes with two little index cards, ready to help you store other people's cards, without getting them mixed up with your own - you can see then here in another nice shot from technobiosphere. One says 'mine' - and the other, 'theirs'.
As you can see, we like to have some fun (all be it practical fun) with our non-April-fool's packaging too. Why not? Getting your own Business Cards should be exciting and special - and to be honest, the plastic boxes we received our business cards in before we started MOO were neither exciting, nor special. We hope this packaging might be something you want to keep, re-use and make the most of.
Anyway.
Time to get cracking on the USA launch now, thanks for dropping by and joining in yesterday's fun!
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
As you may know, we like to listen to your feedback. Hearing your thoughts on our products and the way they're made helps us to improve things not only for you as an individual, but for everyone. As you may also know, we've added tweaks here and there to our Business Card process in the past, and this week - due to popular demand - we've added a 'preview'.
What does this mean? It means that you can preview the front and back of your cards together, as you make them.
The first place you'll spot it, is the page where you add your details - click the 'Check preview' link in the bottom left hand corner. If you've uploaded more than one image, you can view each one in turn, next to the details side of the card.
You can also use the preview at later stages in the process too, which is *perfect* for checking your text for last minute errors. Made cards before and spelt something wrong? You're not alone! Now you can double (and triple) check. Opened your cards with glee only to realise you forgot your url or your phone number? Use the new preview to check!
(Remember, it's Little MOO that deals with your order and while he's lovely, spelling isn't his forte. He's not allowed to touch your text at all, and so what's printed is exactly what you send us).
We're really excited to have this live - thanks for all your feedback, and of course try it and let us know how you get on.
On this New Year's Eve Eve, we figured some of you might be going a little stir crazy at home (too much of a good thing) or perhaps you're one of the minority who's working today and need a distraction. We definitely did. That is why what's left of the MOO crew have been trying out some end-of-year quizzes.
However, before you get stuck in to some of these quizzes, we have a few questions for you about MOO. It should only take 5 minutes and we really do appreciate the answers. It's the same survey that was in our Boxing Day newsletter. If you did complete that, you can skip this part and get right to the end-of-year brainteasers.
Here are a speckling of quizzes we found on the interweb. If you have others that are worth sharing, please add to the comments.
- A world news quiz from the BBC. Crackers! Our average was only 4.5 out of 10. What was your score?
- This one is a world business quiz. It has a slight Canuck angle as it's from the Globe & Mail (Canadian newspaper)
- Now for the slightly more scientific quiz from the New Scientist.
- Metro (one of the free papers in London) had a quiz that was surprisingly not that easy. Hmmm.
- This quiz was rather funny as it was all about Tom Cruise in 2008. Sadly, I can't find where the answers are published. If you find them online, please comment.
- An arts and entertainment quiz by the Times.
- Finally, here is a technology quiz from the Guardian.
Enjoy, but don't forget our survey.
Have a Happy New Year from all of us at MOO. See you in 2009.
New Year Design by:Frieda Bird Here are a few more new year designs just in case you want to send out some new year cards.
Cheers!
Many of MOO's designers undertake their own personal projects, creating artwork for themselves, friends and clients around the world. In this digital age, a lot of this work is created on screen - but we still get a huge buzz out of seeing original works created the old fashioned way; on paper, using real pens or pencils.
Andrea Joseph is one such illustrator. Working from her overcrowded desk (shown above) she's just finished over 300 hours worth of drawings, filling an entire Moleskine sketchbook. A total of 53 pieces, there's a huge mix of work, from beautiful buttons...
to service station classics..
The very final page of the masterpiece even contains 9 little MiniCards, featuring Andrea's own work.
If you'd like to take advantage of her talent, and fill up your own book (in less than 300 hours), you can print a mix of her artwork with MOO. (I can never decide if I like the buttons or the tapes best, they make really cute Stickers)
In other 'finishing news', yesterday we said our tearful goodbyes to Iain, our suspiciously cheerful project manager. After two years he's heading off to pastures new - miles away, in an agency near London Bridge.
Ever calm and cheerful, even in the face of looming deadlines, stressed developers and the design team (usually me) refusing any possible request he might make, he was a ray of sunshine around the MOO office. It's fitting then, that he loves us and leaves us, as he rides off into the sunset...
Good luck, fella. You'll be missed.
Hello, it's Stef here, MOO's CTO. At BarCampLondon5, I gave a session on the beta MOO API. The slides are here. We also held a little competition - the best API hack over the weekend would win a Flip Video Ultra
The entries were as follows:
They're all a little rough and ready (knocked together in hours, in
true barcamp spirit), but they do demonstrate the range of things one
can do quite nicely.
- Make MOO postcards via MMS, with a nice little shortcode authentication method too.
by Sam Machin. - Make MOO Postcards from Flickr Sunsets
by Nathan O'Hanlon - Make MOO minicards from Amazon book covers.
by Simon Willison - Generate minicards with your Wii codes on them for sharing
by Dominic Hodgson (and (unnamed) girlfriend) - Ten Word Review Moo cards
which takes reviews from , The Ten Word Review and renders them into cards.
by Neil Crosby
and the winner is...
It was tricky. I like them all, and all demonstrate API superpowers in different ways, but the grand prize goes to...
Well done, Neil.
I think we'll be having some more competitions soon. I enjoyed that. Thanks to all who entered.
Because I'm into API fun, (and just like showing off) I wanted you to see a beautiful use of MiniCards the lovely chaps at People's Music Store made up to thank their beta testers.
You all know how much we love people-powered here at Moo, whether it's making personalised gift tags or postcards from your actual holiday instead of boring Scarborough seaside collages (well, maybe I should go on better holidays, but anyway). So what do you get when you put MOO and the People's Music Store together?
At the People's Music Store you add exactly the music you want to your store (they've got lots), start telling people about it and when they buy from it, you get points to spend on more music for yourself. Perfect. Now I'm going to be a bit cheeky, and ask you to check out my own People Powered store and help me save up for the uber-awesome Magnetic Fields release I really really really need ;-)
So, the point, I get to it: imagine my delight after I had been helping beta test the site for them for a while, and in the post one morning was a totally gorgeous package of Moo MiniCards with my store name and link on the back, and my store picture on the front! Also included: a beautiful screen print, stickers and - my favourite bit - a packet of sweets.
Run by six guys over in Soho, who all have impeccable musical pedigrees, throw brilliant parties, and of course all have excellent taste in music, I showed it to Denise, Paul and Alex, the art & design geeks here at Moo, and they all fell in love with it too, especially the personalised letter and screen print by Kate Gibb (in keeping with the musical theme, you may recognise her work from some Chemical Brothers cover art).
The cards were printed using the MOO API, with different text on the back each time (you can do that when you're programming with the API) - with the newest wrapper, Ruminant. Ruminant is written in Ruby by James Darling, and at first it only supported lovely but lonely MiniCards for his People's Music Store project. But then he put his code up on GitHub, the social sourcecode website. He says, "Github's sort of like a code orgy" - uh-huh, and it must be sexy, because before long Tom Armitage found it, extended it, and now it works for stickers too.
I'm told there are other exciting but currently super-secret ideas hatching at People's Music Store and with Ruminant - I don't know what's going to happen, but I hope it involves more sweets.
Ooh - almost forgot! A few of us from MOO will be heading to the Photography Book Now event put on by Blurb on Friday, October 10th in London. It's a celebration of the winners and all entrants behind their People Powered photography book competition (we talked about the competition here). If you're interested, why not join us? Sign up over here: http://pbnmeetupuk.eventbrite.com/?ce=moo
