What to do with a laminator
 

I have a 25 inch wide medium-duty laminator. It can use up to 10 mil thick film.

I also have a computer, a rotary paper cutter, a color inkjet printer and a photo printer.

Is there a business that I can start that will use this laminator?

Thanks

Re: What to do with a laminator
 

There are many "Hotsheet" business models where Lamination has increased the Value of a piece of paper. :)

Here's just one Success story which Gordon Mr. Hotsheets and others have mentioned many times...

Lots more examples out there...

In fact, the drawings in that link looks very similar to Gordon's Square one workshops if you search through the old SowPub archives. ;)

http://www.barcharts.com/
http://www.barcharts.com/default.asp?page=about

Phil

Re: What to do with a laminator
 

I knew there was something, just couldn't put my finger on it. :)
Thanks

Here's what one lady did with her laminator...
 

She made signs.

From her basement "shop", she would make the weekly special signs used by Finley Fine Jewelry, who at that time had the jewelry kiosk in O'Neils (today a May Co.).

Many of the "departments" in a department store are leased, and sometimes they use the store's sign shop, or they opt to get signs done cheaper on their own.

These laminated signs slide into sign holders that sit on the counters, or next to the shoes, or what have you.

Visit the nearest mall or plaza and ask store managers who makes their signs. Do a little investigation, a little research, check Yellow Pages, and the Unique part of her business was that she COULD make signs quickly in case of an "emergency" and if you've been in retail, then you know there is always an emergency.

So, check out being a Sign Maker...and one of these days, I'll have the Square One Workshops laminated too...

IF you'd like to receive a few HOTSHEETS to play with, send me an email at [email protected] and I'll send you a few of my more popular ones that people have actually PAID for...just to give you some more laminating ideas.

Gordon Jay Alexander

PS. These HOTSHEETS are in pdf files, so you could just print them out, and I use different color paper, I think laminated, they would be awesome.

Here's what I've done....
 

I've used my "12 inch Laminator" on 3 Programs;

Hotel/Motel Program
1) I take 150 sheets of index stock, 8 1/2 by 11, run them thru my inkjet printer twice....printing on BOTH sides.

2) I then run these sheets thru my "12 inch" Laminator, using 10 mil stock.

3) I then deliver these laminated sheets to a participating Hotel for them to place in ALL their rooms.

I've made "laminated sheets" for;
Holiday Inns...Super 8's...Motel 6's...Best Westerns...Sleep Inns.... Travelodges....Howard Johnson's....Marriotts....Comfort Inns...LaQuintas and many Independents.

For making 150 of these "laminated" sheets....which cost me about $150...
I get a minimum of $2,200.....because WHAT I print on these sheets makes them "Valuable" to the Hotels AND....Pizza Parlors...Restaurants....Gift Shops...Local Attractions....Realtors....and (in my area) Fishing Guides.

However....the Pizza delivery restaurants and regular restaurants are the most popular and easiest to get to buy an Ad Space on my "laminated" sheets.

I provide FREE....TV CHANNEL LISTING SHEETS to Hotels and Motels.

The Hotels/Motels LOVE THEM....because instead of a plain ol' sheet of paper showing their TV Channels (that looks cheap and usually has to be replaced with every guest)....I provide them with a FULL COLOR, LAMINATED, GOOD-LOOKING piece that makes the Hotel/Motel appear "more professional" and "provide better service" for their guests.

PHOTO CALENDARS for Car Dealers

1) I take an 8 1/2 by 14 sheet of index stock and run it thru my Inkjet Printer
2) I place a 5" by 7" photo on this sheet and run it thru my "12 inch" Laminator
3) I attach a Calendar Pad to the Laminated piece
4) I place this into an envelope and deliver it to my Car Dealer client who then gives this as a "GIFT" to their Car Buyers.

I get $19 for each of these "laminated" pieces and my cost is about $4 ea (I pay someone to assemble these)

"THANK YOU CARDS for Car Dealers"

As an offshoot of my Photo Calendars I've provided "VIP Cards" for Car Dealers. These are special, LAMINATED, "Discount Cards" sent to Car Buyers as a "Thank You" for buying a vehicle from the Car Dealer.

1) I go to Staples and buy a package of their "Perforated Business Cards".
2) Run these thru my Inkjet Printer
3) Separate them into single cards and run the cards thru my "12 inch" laminator
4) I then place the Laminated Cards into a "Gift Envelope" along with an "explanatory Card" and send them to the Car Dealer...who mails them to his Car Buyers as a "Thank You".

I get $10 for each of the "packages" and my cost is less than $2 ea.


Thus.....here are 3 examples of how someone can take a piece of paper... print some words and graphics on it....laminate it....and make it VALUABLE!

Don Alm

"TV Channel Guides"...."Photo Calendars"...and "VIP Cards" and other programs I've been involved with.
http://www.donalm.com