If anyone wants to learn about the real China I suggest 3 books
River Town by Peter Hessler
Oracle Bones by Peter Hessler
Factory Girls by Leslie Chang
I have read and re read anything I can find on China. Most of what I read, in the newspapers and in books is not the China I work in. These 3 books nail it!
Easy fun books to read.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Summer in China 2008 (Best year yet)
I do apologize to any that really reads my blogs or is waiting for the next one. Well here it is at long last
This year has been the busiest yet in the history of Planet Ink.
I have made 6 trips to China to do press Ok's We did another Concorso Italiano book which came out really well as usual.
We also produced all the photo albums for Adesso. www.Adessoalbums.com. These are wonderfully made photo albums that are greatl for weddings or any social event. The old albums were based on Polaroid photos but now the newer albums will work with your mobile phone and a very small digital printer. Check it out.
The best book we did all year was "Cities Gensler" for Gensler Publications. This book showcases some of the most beautiful buildings in the world. Most impressive are the buildings in Dubai. One standout is the newest building to be built in Shanghai. It will be the second tallest building in the world. Ground breaking is this month. The book is 9 x 12 hard cover 360 page 6 colors FM screening. WOW! If you want a book drop me a note and I will send one to you.
Check out www.Gensler.com
Another standout book this year was a book for the Mormon Church " Exploring the Lands" 960 page book. Very interesting read.
Being an avid gear head I had the opportunity to print a hard cover book " Weekends of Glory" by Martin Rudow. www.rspubs.com. Anyone interested in vintage sports cars, this is a must read. Fabulous original photography of the golden years of motor sports.
We produced a series of books "Todays Mama" This is a wonderful idea. One of those why didn't I think of that.
These books reference guides for mothers and families in the county that you live in.
www.bayareamama.com or www.utahmama.com.
Most of the printing we did this year was in Beijing. I spent close to 6 weeks doing press Ok's. I started to feel like a local.
The weather was very good for the most part, rain in the evening and as the Olympics got closer the weather seemed to get better. Last year it was hot and smoggy all summer. One questions the truth in cloud seeding. But as the Olympics got closer the crowds of people in and around Beijing got smaller.
Apple has opened its first store in China. I went to the opening in 90 degree heat only to witness a 2 hour wait to get in.
All this for a free t shirt. I found an open bar with cold beer instead.
This next year is looking good. Our trusted printers are all in place and doing well so we don't see any problems for 2009.
There are current problems with factories in South China. Over 100,000 will shutter by the end of Chinese New Year.
Over 67,000 have closed so far this year. Most of these are involved in toy and textile production. The printing companies we use are in northern China, Shanghai and Beijing and are doing well. Also we are printing books again in S Korea. Korea is becoming more competitive as the US dollar weakens and the Chinese RMB gets stronger.
We are paying a lot of attention to market movements and we will not get caught flat footed. Hopefully we can start printing more in Thailand again. 5 years ago we printed the bulk of our work in Thailand. Great food, great golf....nothing like doing press Ok's during the week and going to great beaches on the weekend. Everyday was a holiday so it seemed. Great printing as well.
China is very fluid at the moment but we see our suppliers as a very stable lot and I look forward to going back soon.
Van
This year has been the busiest yet in the history of Planet Ink.
I have made 6 trips to China to do press Ok's We did another Concorso Italiano book which came out really well as usual.
We also produced all the photo albums for Adesso. www.Adessoalbums.com. These are wonderfully made photo albums that are greatl for weddings or any social event. The old albums were based on Polaroid photos but now the newer albums will work with your mobile phone and a very small digital printer. Check it out.
The best book we did all year was "Cities Gensler" for Gensler Publications. This book showcases some of the most beautiful buildings in the world. Most impressive are the buildings in Dubai. One standout is the newest building to be built in Shanghai. It will be the second tallest building in the world. Ground breaking is this month. The book is 9 x 12 hard cover 360 page 6 colors FM screening. WOW! If you want a book drop me a note and I will send one to you.
Check out www.Gensler.com
Another standout book this year was a book for the Mormon Church " Exploring the Lands" 960 page book. Very interesting read.
Being an avid gear head I had the opportunity to print a hard cover book " Weekends of Glory" by Martin Rudow. www.rspubs.com. Anyone interested in vintage sports cars, this is a must read. Fabulous original photography of the golden years of motor sports.
We produced a series of books "Todays Mama" This is a wonderful idea. One of those why didn't I think of that.
These books reference guides for mothers and families in the county that you live in.
www.bayareamama.com or www.utahmama.com.
Most of the printing we did this year was in Beijing. I spent close to 6 weeks doing press Ok's. I started to feel like a local.
The weather was very good for the most part, rain in the evening and as the Olympics got closer the weather seemed to get better. Last year it was hot and smoggy all summer. One questions the truth in cloud seeding. But as the Olympics got closer the crowds of people in and around Beijing got smaller.
Apple has opened its first store in China. I went to the opening in 90 degree heat only to witness a 2 hour wait to get in.
All this for a free t shirt. I found an open bar with cold beer instead.
This next year is looking good. Our trusted printers are all in place and doing well so we don't see any problems for 2009.
There are current problems with factories in South China. Over 100,000 will shutter by the end of Chinese New Year.
Over 67,000 have closed so far this year. Most of these are involved in toy and textile production. The printing companies we use are in northern China, Shanghai and Beijing and are doing well. Also we are printing books again in S Korea. Korea is becoming more competitive as the US dollar weakens and the Chinese RMB gets stronger.
We are paying a lot of attention to market movements and we will not get caught flat footed. Hopefully we can start printing more in Thailand again. 5 years ago we printed the bulk of our work in Thailand. Great food, great golf....nothing like doing press Ok's during the week and going to great beaches on the weekend. Everyday was a holiday so it seemed. Great printing as well.
China is very fluid at the moment but we see our suppliers as a very stable lot and I look forward to going back soon.
Van
Monday, February 18, 2008
Press checks
For 26 years I have been doing press checks. After doing this for so long I have gotten to be very good at it.
I know what to look for and how to get the job looking better than it ever intended to be
Now I am offering to do press checks in asia for customers that do not want to travel or deal with factories in a
strange country.
My fees are $500 per day plus airfare (coach)
offshorepresscheck.com (working on a website)
I know what to look for and how to get the job looking better than it ever intended to be
Now I am offering to do press checks in asia for customers that do not want to travel or deal with factories in a
strange country.
My fees are $500 per day plus airfare (coach)
offshorepresscheck.com (working on a website)
Friday, February 8, 2008
winter in China
I have not been keeping up on my blog and I apologize, many have asked me to keep it up so I will try and do so.
Since the last August blog I have been back and forth to China 4 times. This includes Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Shanghai.
All for printing and my favorite project which is called the VRC. (Virtual Racing Chassis). This is a racing seat on an adjustable frame that allows the user to play racing video games. This is the most real experience, closest to real racing as you can get. And a whole lot cheaper. bobearlracing.com Check it out
Just last week in Shanghai doing final QC on the VRC, getting the container loaded was one of the coldest winters I have encountered. What most, well those who have not been to China in the winter, understand is the lack of heat.
In the factories there is not a lick of warm air. At 30 degrees (F) the windows and doors remain open. Know one every complains. Even in the local restaurants you can see your breath while you drink tea or warm beer, poking at a fish that no one seems to know what it is only that it is local. As you look at the polluted rivers and streams, well you just can't give it much thought.
The other day we had to find a quick way to photo copy 85 additional shipping labels. We drove from Pudong (factory site) to downtown Shanghai to met up with a source of label stock that we could use for photocopies. In Shanghai if you want to buy a musical instrument you always go to the area that sells muscial intruments, might be blocks and blocks, all different merchants. Same with nuts and bolts etc. This time we were in an area that only sold office supplies. Our friend was waiting for us when we drove up, she jumped into our car with a ream of paper. Off we went to the office supply section. Not far away we parked and went into this small store where the sell pens, note books the usual stuff. In the corner they had a small copying machine. The interesting part of this story is outside at now 6pm it must be below freezing. A little snow on the ground piled up on the crubs, enough that when you opened the door in our VW Jetta it would hit the snow bank.
The office supply store has all of its windows and large front door wide open. Open for business, just like in the summer.
All the stores are this way. It is so cold I could see the white vapor from my nose! All the shop people are dressed in layers of wool, but I had never seen a copying maching put out steam. From the heat of the bulbs enough steam rose to fill our little corner of the shop. I honestly think it was colder inside than out. We quickly made our copies, said our thanks and jumped into the warmth of the VW. Meanwhile outside the din of traffic, street food, bikes goes on.
Life in the winter in Shanghai. Just think what it is like in the northern cities.
More later
van
Since the last August blog I have been back and forth to China 4 times. This includes Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Shanghai.
All for printing and my favorite project which is called the VRC. (Virtual Racing Chassis). This is a racing seat on an adjustable frame that allows the user to play racing video games. This is the most real experience, closest to real racing as you can get. And a whole lot cheaper. bobearlracing.com Check it out
Just last week in Shanghai doing final QC on the VRC, getting the container loaded was one of the coldest winters I have encountered. What most, well those who have not been to China in the winter, understand is the lack of heat.
In the factories there is not a lick of warm air. At 30 degrees (F) the windows and doors remain open. Know one every complains. Even in the local restaurants you can see your breath while you drink tea or warm beer, poking at a fish that no one seems to know what it is only that it is local. As you look at the polluted rivers and streams, well you just can't give it much thought.
The other day we had to find a quick way to photo copy 85 additional shipping labels. We drove from Pudong (factory site) to downtown Shanghai to met up with a source of label stock that we could use for photocopies. In Shanghai if you want to buy a musical instrument you always go to the area that sells muscial intruments, might be blocks and blocks, all different merchants. Same with nuts and bolts etc. This time we were in an area that only sold office supplies. Our friend was waiting for us when we drove up, she jumped into our car with a ream of paper. Off we went to the office supply section. Not far away we parked and went into this small store where the sell pens, note books the usual stuff. In the corner they had a small copying machine. The interesting part of this story is outside at now 6pm it must be below freezing. A little snow on the ground piled up on the crubs, enough that when you opened the door in our VW Jetta it would hit the snow bank.
The office supply store has all of its windows and large front door wide open. Open for business, just like in the summer.
All the stores are this way. It is so cold I could see the white vapor from my nose! All the shop people are dressed in layers of wool, but I had never seen a copying maching put out steam. From the heat of the bulbs enough steam rose to fill our little corner of the shop. I honestly think it was colder inside than out. We quickly made our copies, said our thanks and jumped into the warmth of the VW. Meanwhile outside the din of traffic, street food, bikes goes on.
Life in the winter in Shanghai. Just think what it is like in the northern cities.
More later
van
Monday, August 20, 2007
2007 Concorso was wonderful
Each year Planet ink produces the program for the Concoso Italiano.
This could be the largest gathering of exciting cars in one place in the world.
It happens on a Friday at Black Horse Golf Course in beautiful Monterey California.
This one weekend in Monterey is car lovers heaven. There are multiple events including the equally famous Pebble Beach
Concours d' Elegance. They call this weekend "Extravaganza of Excellence"
From historic racing at Laguna Seca with some of the worlds most famous drivers and cars to all weekend long auctions.
For the past 6 years we have produced the Concorso Italiano program, which is a 176 page book with a gatefold cover.
This book is a challenge because of the timing.
We don't get the art work until late June. We proof and print and put the book on the water by mid July. The book is shipped by boat to LA then delivered to Monterey about a week prior to the event. Nothing can go wrong. If we miss the delivery date by one day.....well, its only a one day event! You can guess.
As an extra service to the orgainizers of the event, we make sure that everyone that attends gets their copy.
We staff a booth at the event where we meet and greet the attendees. Personally, we wouldn't miss this event for the world.
The weather was wonderful and we meet the nicest people. If you love cars, or just like good food and watching people this event is tops.
We have a few books left over, if you would like one drop us a line
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
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