Envision this. You are at a social gathering. People are mingling, chatting, and exchanging cordial pleasantries. Suddenly you overhear two people talking. One says to the other:

“Hello, nice to meet you. Please scan my QR Code.”

What?! Scan my QR Code? Really?

Yes, really. What you overheard could in fact happen. QR Codes are no longer a “what’s next” innovation from Popular Science. QR Codes are reality. As we discussed in one of our earlier blog posts, “Twitter, RSS Feeds, Facebook, oh my! Is Printing Getting Run Off The Press?” the offline world continues to seek stronger communion with the online world. QR Codes are a manifestation of this communion. The surge of online innovation has spurred a resurgence of offline innovation. And this is only the beginning.

Take Facebook for example … recently TechCrunch reported early rumors that this behemoth of a social network was experimenting with the integration of personalized QR Codes with online profiles. Print the code on practically anything and all your friends will be able to take a picture of it and instantly view your Facebook profile in all its glory.

Microsoft is taking the concept of QR Codes to a new level. Clearly understanding the power of integrating offline with online, this technology powerhouse has created a technology called Microsoft Tag; even recently launching an Android app awarded best of March 2010. While similar, Microsoft Tag and QR Codes are quite different. How are they different? Read through this dialogue.

QR Codes are even appearing on large billboards. Take a picture of the QR Code below with your mobile phone and instantly navigate to a dedicated website with a wealth of additional information; significantly more than what is spatially possible on the billboard itself.

So if you are still wondering what a QR Code is, think of it as the mobile version of the barcode. Wikipedia also gives a nice definition:

“A QR Code is a matrix code (or two-dimensional bar code) created by Japanese corporation Denso-Wave in 1994. The “QR” is derived from “Quick Response”, as the creator intended the code to allow its contents to be decoded at high speed.” Read More

One reason we get excited about QR Codes is because of its ease of implementation and dissemination. Most smart phones nowadays are already equipped with the technology to decipher unique QR Codes. This makes sharing your contact information, contest rules, quotes or websites, fun and easy.

Some people even experiment with QR Codes as temporary tattoos, as seen below.

Or, if you are really brave, and maybe even a little eccentric, you could permanently tattoo your personal QR Code.  If you go this route we hope your QR Code redirect is something very special.

Because we see the value in innovation and printing, we are always trying to think of unique ways to use QR Codes creatively for our clients. Here are just a few of our favorite ideas:

• At trade shows for name badges
• Backdrops at events
• Temporary Tattoos
• T-shirts
• Business cards
• Coffee mugs
• Any promotional product that you want information shared

For purposes of this blog post, we created a QR Code of our own. Go ahead. Scan it! To be able to scan and read a QR Code, you will need to download a QR Code reader. Visit this link and select one of the many options.

The future is exciting. As the Internet continues to innovate, so will printing. If you want to get innovative with your brand and explore the potential of printed QR Codes, give us a call 800-786-7411, email us info@bannersonaroll.com, or live chat with us from our home page. We’d be happy to help blend your online and offline worlds.

Who doesn’t love March? The NCAA basketball tournament kicked off yesterday and everyone is checking their tournament brackets wondering who is going to be the next Cinderella story.

Arguably the month of March generates the most exciting, dare we say, “maddening,” moments in all of college sports. The passion, affinity and excitement you feel throughout the season, and especially over the next few weeks, are why we at Banners on a Roll® enjoy working with colleges and universities around the country promoting events all year long. It’s really quite infectious.

Scroll down to see the types of products that help make March Madness come to life!

Image source: eBay

For years I told my family how, as a child, I would often ski at Buck Hill, a metropolitan ski area in Minneapolis.  I used to laugh and tell them I would ski down the hill and practically end up on Interstate 35.  It’s really metropolitan!

During the Olympics, I was surprised to find out that Lindsey Vonn learned to ski at the same place.  Being the older “sister”, my experience was many years ago, she followed in my ski-tracks.  Recently, I broke my finger and I’m now sporting a full hand/arm cast.  What a coincidence that Lindsey broke her pinky finger just the other day at the Olympics.  She just has to be like “big sister” Susan!

I wish Lindsey continued success and a speedy recovery.

Get well soon!

At Banners on a Roll® we love clever promotion and advertising and after scouring the Internet, and compiling what we like, we wanted to share with you some of our most favorite advertisements we have ever seen.  These are just fun to look at.  Take a gander and let your creative juices flow ….

Don’t drink and drive

Mini Cooper Subway entrance and exit

McDonald Giant Napkin Dispenser – spill something?

Life’s too short for the wrong job

Papa John’s Pizza – I want one!

The Sopranos – an authentic advertisement

Vitae Shelters send a strong message

Hoover Vacuum Cleaners – Don’t you want to touch?

Drink Up! Plastic Surgery

Source: uaddit.com

Powerful Red Cross Advertisements

Source: sawse.com

]]> http://bannersonaroll.com/some-of-the-most-clever-advertisements-of-all-time/feed 0 http://bannersonaroll.com/2010-vancouver-winter-olympics-marketing-signage-and-products-not-only-the-biggest-stage-for-athletes-but-also-for-printing http://bannersonaroll.com/2010-vancouver-winter-olympics-marketing-signage-and-products-not-only-the-biggest-stage-for-athletes-but-also-for-printing#comments Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:28:35 +0000 Brad http://bannersonaroll.com/?p=286

The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada are in full swing. The worlds-best athletes have been training for years just for this moment. While it is the biggest stage for sports stars across the globe, it is also the biggest stage for marketing signage and promotional products. On every athlete, behind every news conference, around every competition, are print products. Marketing teams from around the world are blanketing the city of Vancouver with print. Take a look at these photos to really get an idea of how much printing is actually used at the Olympic Games. There truly is no bigger stage.

All photos courtesy of Vancouver2010.com

At Banners on a Roll® we are always looking for creative ways to visually communicate a brand’s message or to promote products. With the help of some talented artists, a few trucks in Europe seemed to have figured it out.

It’s amazing how vivid such artistry can be … making it look as if the bottle is protruding out of the truck.

Don’t be fooled by this enormous looking canvas tote bag. It’s still a truck.

Those Pepsi bottles must be magnetic hanging from the ceiling like that. I wonder how the drink tastes ….

This guy looks like he’s about to play a mean game of “Semi-Truck Tug-of-War”.

That is one big mobile aquarium. Hopefully somebody fed the fish today.

A giant’s book collection. Try hefting one of those books. Now that’s a tough read!

Those Pringles look toxic considering the state of the inside of that semi. Burnt to a crisp.

In the pursuit of similarly thinking of creative ways to visually communicate a brand’s message or to promote products, we created a video. You can watch it here.

When seen in real life, Banners on a Roll® truly make your brand pop and grab the attention of others. Watch this video to see our clients in action.

We’ve been in business since 1986 serving your marketing and advertising needs and not once have we been on video. Well, it’s a new year and we can’t wait to tell you our story … on video.