Upcycling: To Everything There Is a Purpose
The term “recycling” has become rooted in our vernacular. But drop the word “upcycling” into conversation, and you may be met with a blank stare. Upcycling involves converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value. Though the word may be new, thrift is not a new concept.
Prior to the ’50s or so, upcycling was actually commonplace. Everything was used until it was in no way beneficial. Today’s upcyclers put just about anything they can find to good use. For example: tires and bike tubes are transformed into flip flops and belts; wooden pallets are fashioned into furniture and flooring; broken guitar strings evolve as jewelry; juice boxes get new life as handbags.
It’s unlikely you have the means to remanufacture your own stuff. But before discarding an unused item, try to think of another purpose for it. If you can’t, consider donating to thrift centers (such as Salvation Army or Goodwill) or even church rummage sales. Find a FreeCycle Network™ in your neighborhood where you can give unwanted goods to folks who may need them, reducing waste and keeping good stuff out of landfills.
A Game with Purpose
Welcome to our 2012 calendar trivia game! Continuing our “Simplicity” theme, join us as we challenge ourselves to find ways where we can make a difference by following the core principles of Forgotten Harvest: to repurpose. A little redirection of thought and actions can effect big changes.
Each page of our 2012 calendar features an environmental trivia question. That question is also shown here on our blog. Go to the column at the right to submit your answer. One winner per month will be selected at random from correct entries. The winner will be notified by contact information provided on the submission form.
Resolve to Reduce
You’re probably still recovering from overindulging at your holiday meals. If so, count your blessings! The number of people still struggling to put basics on their tables is staggering, and the need for emergency food relief services is growing.
As you formulate your meal plans and grocery lists this year, give some thought to making the most of your purchases. Seek out imaginative ways to reuse leftovers to minimize waste. Pack your lunch for work to use up remainders rather than dining out. Starting that weight loss program? Smaller portions may not only reduce your waistline, they may also cut back on food overruns. And you can always freeze surplus for a rainy day.
Don’t like reheats? Become a composting enthusiast. Save your citrus rinds, apple peels and other fruit skins/trimmings, dry them on a rack or food dehydrator and make homemade potpourri. If you can’t think of ideas on your own, there are numerous web sites and blogs devoted to the subject that can help. Repurposing possibilities are endless!
Happy Holidays!
Every New Year presents a fresh start; a time to search for new promises and opportunities to do things differently. This invaluable period of reflection allows us the chance to discover ways that we can not only become more efficient in the way that we operate in our own lives, but also how we can find new ways to reach out and assist others in our community. This notion is what pushes us to continually develop innovative avenues to connect with our clients and peers.
It is in this spirit that we are asking others to join us in helping out those who are in need this holiday season. Click on the spoon icon above and we’ll make a donation to Forgotten Harvest. It’s that simple!
Forgotten Harvest is an organization that redistributes surplus and perishable food to emergency food providers. An impressive fact: For every dollar raised, Forgotten Harvest provides 10 meals to those in need! Our goal is to donate enough to supply 10,000 meals for those who may need some help.
Why the wooden spoon?
The spoon is symbolic of Forgotten Harvest’s core principles – to repurpose. A spoon turns basic ingredients into a meal; repurposed surplus can become a banquet for those in need. A simple tool, a simple gesture.
To learn more about Forgotten Harvest, or if you would like to support its mission, please visit www.forgottenharvest.org.
Click here to request our 2012 calendar with simple repurposing ideas and insight. Available while supplies last!
Metromode article highlights PCG’s recent growth
Great news! PCG was featured today in Metromode, a leading resource for job growth and development news in Southeast Michigan. The article highlights our recent growth, through which we have seen a rise in startup companies such as SwaggerBids added to our clientbase.
Check out an excerpt below:
“Since (the economic downturn), the downtown Royal Oak-based PR firm has reinvented itself through its client base, taking on more and more start-ups. One of those new start-up clients is SwaggerBids, an online bidding firm based in Royal Oak. Premier Communications Group has worked to build the start-up’s brand and make it more of a household name.”
Click here to read the entire article.
October 6, 2011 at 1:05 PM Michael R. Fossano Leave a comment
PCG receives 11 Graphic Design USA Awards, Gold Ink recognition
When we learned last year that we were honored with eight 2010 American Graphic Design Awards from Graphic Design USA, we were thrilled. This year’s recognition has left us positively flattered. We recently received notice that Graphic Design USA has bestowed our team with 11 awards in its 2011 contest for our client work, which covers a variety of industry sectors including printable plastics, automotive, beverages, millwork and construction.
The American Graphic Design Awards, the flagship competition of Graphic Design USA magazine for nearly five decades, recognize outstanding graphic design and advertising work. The contest is open to the entire graphic arts community, including graphic design firms, advertising agencies, in-house corporate and institutional designers, publishers and other media. The judges reviewed more than 8,000 entries this year, selecting an exclusive 15 percent for awards.
The following 11 Premier Communications Group projects were named winners:
General Motors Chevrolet Volt Launch Kit USB Interface
General Motors 2011 Sierra/Silverado HD Pickups USB Interface
General Motors Buick Communications Stationery Package
September 23, 2011 at 10:26 AM Michael R. Fossano Leave a comment
Google aims to change social media game for businesses
It may have taken them a bit longer than most had expected, but it appears as though Google is ready to dive into the social media sphere. The company launched the +1 feature in search results in March, which parallels Facebook’s “like” as a way of denoting social recommendations in a Google search. The +1 button does carry a few more interesting features however, including the notion that pages that you +1 will show up in the Google search results of people within your Google network. Organic search results are essentially replaced with the recommendations of your peers, which is a core function of social media.
Naturally, this implementation has important ramifications for businesses that depend on their online presence to generate sales.
According to the Business Insider’s Chart of the Day (above), nearly 40% or the 418 U.S. consumers surveyed responded that Google was the first site they turned to when making an online purchase, while only 1% said that they asked their friends on Facebook.
Furthermore, Google is poised to meet the Facebook behemoth head-on with the recent advent of the Google+ social network service. Currently optimized for consumer usage, the company will be admitting a select group of businesses into a Google+ pilot test to gauge how users interact with commercial brand Profiles through the platform’s various services.
Google+ offers users the chance to dictate the distance between them and their followers by placing them into groups, or Circles, and Hangouts, a video conferencing app.
It will be interesting to see how users interact with businesses through these services from Google+, Facebook and other social networks, many of which offer new levels of access and closeness to commercial brands.
For more information on Google+, check out the video below.
July 20, 2011 at 11:34 AM Michael R. Fossano Leave a comment
Paper Options Help Us Cover All Angles
By Sue Severini
A recent meeting with spec and packaging reps from Neenah Paper and Millcraft demonstrated how Neenah continues to pave new ground in establishing itself as a premier paper resource with comprehensive solutions. 
Achieving just about every eco certification possible, the mill is a leader in environmentalism, taking seriously the sustainability concerns of its clients.
A highlight was the introduction of the first 100% post consumer, single-ply folding board. While a natural fit for retailers and confectioners requiring green packaging, the performance characteristics are also ideal for pocket folders, portfolios and sales kits, providing a perfect surface for print, embossing, foil stamping and more. Other paper lines have heavyweight stocks or even the same 18 pt. gauge. But none has the recycle content or the environmental qualifications as Neenah folding board. It’s smooth, with a 92 brightness and shows far less “fleck” (evidence of post consumer fiber) than the competition.
This new addition allows us to offer our clients with sustainability interests a fully eco-friendly option for marketing materials that require dimensional stability.
Neenah has also increased its digital offerings to accommodate the smaller print runs ensuing from the slower economy. Not only are the paper mills modifying brands, but our printers are following suit by upgrading equipment to be able to offer a broader range of capabilities. Some techniques that previously could be done only in litho printing can now be accomplished on digital presses.
Again, these developments allow us to create more impactful design and while still accommodating your budget. Sounds like a package deal.
April 18, 2011 at 3:17 PM Michael R. Fossano Leave a comment
MagnaMan Visits the 2011 Chicago Auto Show
Our magnetic little friend is well on his way to becoming a true gearhead. After making an appearance at the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit a few weeks ago, MagnaMan was spotted taking in the sights and sounds at today’s Chicago Auto Show media preview. This year’s event was packed with exciting news from several automakers, including the unveiling of the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, Dodge Charger SRT8 and Volkswagen Jetta GLI.
Stay tuned to find out where MagnaMan’s travels will take him next!
Starbucks unveils a new logo
Starbucks, which turns 40 later this month, recently unveiled a new logo, omitting the words “Starbucks” and “coffee” from its iconic siren image. While the new look isn’t a huge departure from the current insignia, it is no doubt a large-scale effort given its presence in urban cores, rural off-ramps and grocery stores. The upscale coffee shop chain, once the prototype for fast food underdogs, has since seen both its stock and marketshare slip significantly in recent years. This is due in part to overexposure and the offerings of its resurgent competitors, such as McDonald’s popular McCafé menu items.
We can look back through history and find that market cycles such as this are hardly scarce: Coke vs. Pepsi, 7up vs. Sprite, McDonald’s vs. Burger King vs. Wendy’s; the list goes on. Another commonality to these tussles: knee-jerk rebranding campaigns. Undoubtedly, they are applicable in some cases—but certainly not all. Company officials have said that part of the logic is that the switch allows the continued evolution of the brand from coffee-based beverages to other products, retail outlets and other countries.
An expansion of this magnitude is no small feat, but logic would dictate that a pared-down logo would better prepare them for such an undertaking. After all, slapping “Starbucks Coffee” on a bottle of wine seems about as relevant as opening a new store in a non-English speaking country under the same brand.
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March 10, 2011 at 4:29 PM premiercg 1 comment