BIG Images receives the coveted 2008 Best of San Luis Obispo Award in the Printers category by the prestigious and well-known U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA)

The U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA) was kind enough to inform BIG Images that it has been awarded the prestigious “2008 Best of San Luis Obispo Award in the Printers category.” Yeah! Go BIG Images!

Actually, the USLBA just wants to sell us a plaque for $79.94 that says we won an award. An award that they appear to have made up :) The fun thing about this is they allow anyone to customize the text that appears on the plaque. So, in celebration of BIG Images winning this best-of printers “award” I am giving you, the reader, a chance to use our access key to print your very own best-of award. Just go here and fill in the form. If they ask you for an award code just type in 9A27GKC. Then, on the next page, note the “corrections” you want to make to the plaque. In moments your very own “2008 Best Of…” award will be on its way to your doorstep! Hehe...have fun :)

Just for fun, here is the “official” press release announcing BIG Images award.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Big Images Receives 2008 Best of San Luis Obispo Award

U.S. Local Business Association’s Award Plaque Honors the Achievement

WASHINGTON D.C., November 20, 2008 -- Big Images has been selected for the 2008 Best of San Luis Obispo Award in the Printers category by the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA).

The USLBA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USLBA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2008 USLBA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USLBA and data provided by third parties.

About U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA)

U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA) is a Washington D.C. based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USLBA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.

The USLBA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.

SOURCE: U.S. Local Business Association

CONTACT:
U.S. Local Business Association
Email: PublicRelations@USLBA.net
URL: http://www.USLBA.net

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Tags: about us, business, newspaper, team

Ben Lawless is published in Screen Printing

If you pick up the latest issue of Screen Printing from ST Media Group, you’ll find an article by our very own Benjamin Lawless nestled on page 48. The article is actually a reprint of his “7 Steps to Effective Large-Format Graphics series” combined with his article, “Image Size and Resolution.”

Screen Printing is a monthly trade magazine that covers all types of screen printing technology, as well as related print methods such as wide-format digital printing, which just happens to be BIG Images’ specialty. Celebrating it’s 55th year in print, they’ve become a trusted source of information for the screen printing industry.

So, pick up the latest copy of Screen Printing today, and check out Mr. Lawless’s column. That would make his mom very proud.

Tags: ben lawless

The Think Plaid team, from Danbury, Connecticut stopped by while on their Plaid Nation Tour.

The Plaid Tour is a two-week road tour, where Plaid travels from market to market and visits brands, bloggers, fans and other agencies. The tour is meant to be a rolling demonstration of some of the latest social media tools and a celebration of creativity. In most markets, they schedule "tweet-ups," gathering together social media, marketing and internet workers from the area for a (real world) social gathering.

Today they stopped by, explained their use of media and the social internet, showed us their rig, and spent the afternoon soaking up the San Luis Obispo sun at Firestone Grill.

Tags: social

Those superstars of imagination over at iii design have moved in with us at 767 Francis Avenue, and it's a nonstop design and printing party!

BIG Images and iii design have worked on several projects before, so it was a natural fit for us to work in the same space. Much like Voltron, our combined force is unstoppable.

So if you walk into our shop and find yourself facing six more people than you were expecting, along with a bunch of plants and a Webby, don't be alarmed. We're just being totally awesome.

A BIG Images photo journal—2 weeks of madness…

Because of the convenience of the internet and next-day FedEx shipments many of our customers never get to see BIG Images’ offices and production facility. Many are even unaware of the work we have put into our new facility (which almost tripled our size!) So, for the curious, here is a photo journal of our remodel and move…
Read the full article...

Tags: about us

Planning a birthday? Create a personalized birthday banner!

Change things up by printing a personalized banner! BIG Images has just launched the newest version of its birthday banner designer, Banner Works.

Its easier than ever — choose from one of our pre-made templates (or start from scratch). Upload photos, choose art from our vast array of clip art, customize the message, and within minutes your banner will be printing at BIG Images.

Begin creating your own by visiting the birthday banner page and clicking the "Begin Browsing" button. There is no sign-up to try it out, only when you decide to purchase.

Tags: about us, birthday, delicious, ideas

BIG Images’ move is complete!

We are now located at 767 Francis Ave., San Luis Obispo Ca 93401.

Tags: about us

Looking at the big, global picture

We were recently asked by our local newspaper what obstacles we encounter doing business in San Luis Obispo and what are we doing to overcome them. Here is our answer to their question… Read the full article...

Tags: newspaper, about us, business, ken pettit, jon beebe

We’re expanding…

A few days ago we signed the lease on a new building! We’re so excited about the news and have been so busy making preparations that this months’ BIG Images Newsletter has been postponed. Have no fear, though — we’ll return next month with some choice words about all this craziness we call “enriching the lives of our readers.” But, for now, let’s talk about the new shop!


Our new home is at 767 Francis Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. For those of you who don’t know where that is, it’s only three blocks south from our current shop. Above is a screenshot of Google Maps showing our old location compared to the new one. Click here to view this map on Google Maps.


We’re growing into a building roughly 2.5 times larger than our current building. That means we can finally hire more people and get that equipment we’ve had on our wishlist all these months.

All this craziness should be done and we’ll be completely moved in by October 1, 2007. Don’t worry: there will be no interruption to our regular workflow. See you there!

Tags: about us

What do you get when you mix Apple iPods, Origami, and BIG Images Christmas cheer?

You get employee Christmas presents comprised of 2nd Generation iPod Shuffles wrapped in Origami boxes made of $100 bills.

The holiday season is a time for family, a time for warm cups of peppermint hot chocolate, and even more a time for jolly good cheer to your fellow man. We at BIG Images also believe it’s a time for rocking out in a BIG way. And so, in an effort to turn our employees from unproductive drones slaving away in the corporate mines to ecstatically overjoyed productive drones, we gave each of them a shiny new 2nd Gen iPod Shuffle wrapped in $200 origami boxes (we just had to one-up Santa Steve).

Edit: We have had an overwhelming request for the instructions to make this box — download them as a PDF here. Thanks for the diggs!

Tags: jon beebe

Ken Pettit, a founding partner in BIG Images, has been elected as Vice President of SLOCAMA for the third year in a row. In addition he has been invited to join the San Luis Obispo Symphony’s Marketing Committee.

In 2004 Ken co-founded SLOCAMA, the San Luis Obispo Creative and Marketing Alliance. It is a group of creative and marketing professionals and students in San Luis Obispo County. The goals of SLOCAMA are:

• Inspiration: To raise the bar and inspire each other
• Collaboration: To bring creative professionals together
• Education: To educate our community about marketing

This year Ken continues to bolster the Marketing community by helping to lead SLOCAMA into 2007. Ken has also helped lead BIG Images’ efforts in supporting the San Luis Obispo Symphony for three years running (read more here). Ken’s continued local involvement has been an invaluable asset to the marketing community & the musical arts of San Luis Obispo.

Tags: about us, ken pettit

Ben Lawless, our intrepid man of miracles (the one who takes all our good stuff and makes it look a whole-heck-of-alot better), has just completed the logo for Banner-Works. What do you think? Like it? Then trust us when we say you will enjoy the experience at Banner-Works even more. Check out all our designs (including a slew from Ben himself). Treat yourself by customizing and personalizing your very own vinyl banner and then have the banner you just designed printed right here at BIG Images.

Tags: ben lawless, bannerworks, technology, software, design

In sync with the vision and energy that originally founded BIG Images the company has once again turned heads with its revolutionary online design technology–Banner-Works. In an effort to serve its customers that may not have the tools, time, or expertise to create large-format artwork BIG Images is releasing its design software to its customers for free.

You're free to use it, play with it, save your artwork and return at anytime to continue editing it. When you are ready, click print, and your file is sent to BIG Images automatically.

Banner-Works gives BIG Images customers professional design tools, personal control, creative inspiration, real-time price quotes, and, most importantly, a fun and hassle free experience when working with the large-format world.

Tags: bannerworks

BIG Images, in an effort to serve its customers above and beyond what is the industry norm, spells out its guarantees to you.

On Time Guarantee*	If your job is not ready by the promised date it’s free.
Satisfaction Guarantee**	If for any reason you are not 100% satisfied with your job simply return it and we will either replace it or give you a refund.

* Promised date is the date/time at which a job is ready to be shipped/picked up from BIG Images. Promised date will be provided once artwork is received and approved for printing by BIG Images, and starts only after BIG Images recieves print-ready artwork. Promised date will be e-mailed with a job confirmation.

** Satisfaction Guarantee applies to the workmanship and quality of the print(s) as can be affected by BIG Images. This guarantee does not include damage due to errors in the digital artwork (including design flaws and spelling errors), events that are beyond reasonable control of BIG Images, or that occur after the image is no longer in possession of BIG Images. BIG Images can opt to not guarantee images if they do not meet the guaranteeable file requirements.

Tags: about us