Bits and Pieces: Bull Market For Proforma
We may have to redefine the leisurely pursuits of printing business owners. Instead of horses, sailing or international big-game hunting, one Proforma franchise owner from Corona, CA, has invested in a different type of passion: bucking bulls.
Linda Martinelli, who heads Proforma Graphic Printsource, is using her bovine affinity to compete for a possible berth in the Champions Tour Finale in Las Vegas that features a $500,000 purse. Well, Martinelli will compete in the form of her prized bull, named Proforma, which first must excel in the two-year-old champions class at the Champions Tour 1 in Orchard, TX (the event took place just as this issue was going to press).
A longtime bucking bull enthusiast, Martinelli decided to become an owner in 2013, and she quickly assembled a stable of nine bulls. In the process, she has cultivated relationships within the bull riding industry that has enabled her to provide a range of promotional products, including apparel for trainers and fans, plus branded dinnerware and dining supplies for industry events.
"I'm so fortunate to own a business that allows me to be able to pursue my passions," Martinelli said. "That is why I decided to name my newest bull Proforma. He represents the freedom I have to pursue my dreams and the things I truly enjoy in life."
If you want to keep tabs on how Proforma the bull is faring on the competitive circuit, steer on over to www.facebook.com/ProformaGraphicPrintSource for more information.
SOLUTIONS FOR A SAD REALITY: Armor systems manufacturer Hardwire LLC has been in the business of providing product lines for the government and military that include armor for vehicles, boats, aircraft, personnel and infrastructure. Necessity has caused the company to expand into different markets, and one of the unfortunate incidents behind expansion was the Sandy Hook elementary school shootings.
Hardwire has now developed bulletproof whiteboards, backpack inserts, clipboards and point-of-purchase shields for customers ranging from schools, office buildings and business travelers to health clubs, retail and convenience stores. The company turned to EFI for its VUTEk QS2 Pro UV inkjet printer to apply durable, UV inkjet printed graphics during the actual armor manufacturing process. Previously, Hardwire had an issue with the colors in the graphics running due to the amount of pressure that is applied to the polyethylene fiber used in the armor.
According to Hardwire CEO George Tunis, the graphics now last longer during use and its decorated products have a cleaner, high-quality look that enables them to blend in to the environment without looking like military-type objects.
POUND FOR POUND: Yes, even the United Kingdom is not immune from the scourge of counterfeiting. In this case, as with many, the forgers used sophisticated printing devices to pass off genuine-looking quid.
Early in January, the brother tandem of Amrit and Prem Karra were each sentenced to seven years in prison for counterfeiting money between September 2011 and February 2012, the BBC News reported. Two employees, Rajiv Kumar and Yash Mahey, were given four years apiece for their roles in the crime.
The Karra brothers used their printing business in Hockley, Birmingham—Karra Design and Print—to produce more than £1.3 million worth of counterfeit £10 bills. According to the BBC, £1.27 million in fake notes have been recovered by the authorities.
During the trial, the defense revealed that Karra Design and Print was in financial trouble and turned to counterfeiting as a solution. The men printed the phony bills during the night to avoid detection.
The fake bills, some of which had their own bogus serial numbers, are still being found in circulation.
SUPER KIT: Anyone who watched the Red Hot Chili Peppers (RHCP) light up the stage during the Pepsi Super Bowl XLVIII halftime show saw some of the handiwork produced by Brand Imaging Group. The Nashville, TN-based company was tabbed by Pearl Drums to custom wrap the kit used by RHCP drummer Chad Smith.
The drum kit was actually two sets in one, representing all of the AFC and NFC teams with logos. The clear Plexiglas drum set included the wrap by Brand Imaging Group and a lighting package provided by Drumlite.
The eye-catching kit was broken into two sets following the show and auctioned off, with proceeds benefiting the Make-A-Wish organization, which grants wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions. PI
