BIC Graphic's Golf Tee Pack
Supplier Norwood by BIC Graphic has taken one of a golfer’s indispensable tools and made it easy to keep on hand; what’s more, the Golf Tee Pak has also become a clever way to keep an advertiser’s brand top of mind with end users.
Norwood by BIC Graphic (UPIC: Norwood) acquired the Tee Pak process in 2004 from Tee Off, a former Norwood company located in New London, Wisconsin. The Red Wing, Minnesota-based supplier established a fully automated process for producing the Tee Pak, which is a convenient way of carrying tees while on the golf course, says Margit Fawbush, communications manager for BIC Graphic North America.
“Our process includes not only taking bulk loose tees and putting them into the tee packaging, but also applying four-color process imprinting capabilities on the cover of the pack and imprinting of the tees, divot tool and ball markers that can be packaged inside,” says Fawbush.
The process required a custom-built machine that would meet the needs of customers. “When we first received the machine, it was only capable of assembling Tee Paks with 2 1/8-inch and 2 3/4-inch tees. In 2006, the option of assembling 3 1/4-inch tees was added,” she says. In 2007, Norwood by BIC Graphic again reviewed and re-engineered the process to add a touchscreen system, which allowed the machinery to automatically move from one tee size to the next.
The tees are inserted into the pre-cut slots in the paper that are specifically cut.
The current process to create a Tee Pak begins with the customer. At the time the order is placed, the customer can choose the components (tees, ball markers, divot tools), whether or not those components are imprinted and color preference. Once the various options have been selected, the order is then handled by a specialized team. The order is entered, which then generates a work order for all of the different components. When the order hits the manufacturing floor, the customized contents are then married together and placed in Norwood’s proprietary machine for production.
Fawbush says frequent users of Tee Paks include Verizon, MetLife, Sherwin Williams and several other large companies with a national presence. In 2013, Norwood by BIC Graphic produced a total of 450,000 Tee Paks, which included two million tees, 600,000 ball markers and 25,000 divot tools.
All of the included components are placed on the paper and it then gets folded into a packet form.
>>The process requires five different steps once the bulk ingredients are loaded into the machine.
The tees are inserted into the pre-cut slots in the paper that are specifically cut.
If other custom components are available or chosen, a similar step will be repeated for each item.
All of the included components are placed on the paper and it then gets folded into a packet form.
The individual packets are sealed.
Tee Paks for a single order are packaged according to the customer’s preference and shipped.
>>About BIC Graphic USA
Founding date 1969, as a special division of BIC Corporation
Principals Emmanuel Bruno, vice president & general manager of BIC Graphic North America; Rob Babb, vice president sales
Primary or most popular products produced BIC Graphic is a leading supplier in the promotional products industry offering the most comprehensive product assortment with the widest variety of decoration methods. In addition to the BIC® collection of products, BIC Graphic offers well-known, proprietary brands such as Norwood®, Sheaffer®, RCC KOOZIE®, Atchison®, Triumph® and JAFFA®, as well as prestigious partner brands
Notable accomplishments QCA Certified, PPAI Supplier Achievement Award Winner in a variety of categories
Size of facility BIC Graphic has three facilities:
Red Wing, Minnesota—hard goods manufacturing and imprinting (over 1,400 items managed and over 20 decorating methods)
Clearwater, Florida—writing instruments manufacturing and imprinting (over 670 items managed, Certified ISO 9001 and 14001)
Sleepy Eye, Minnesota—publishing operation for calendars, and adhesive and non-adhesive notepads (440 items managed, Certified ISO 9001 and 14001)
Number of employees Red Wing—650 employees; Clearwater—665 employees; Sleepy Eye—620 employees
>>Brite Ideas
BIC Graphic’s britePix® decorating process is the latest jewel in its crown. When it was introduced in January 2013, britePix was available on more than 300 products already available in the Norwood by BIC Graphic repertoire. britePix allowed these products to receive a larger imprint.
BIC Graphic worked for several years on the development of the process and proprietary ink technology that enabled the supplier to bring the innovation to market. Now more than 400 products are in the britePix collection, ranging from drinkware to writing instruments and office accessories.
“It’s not just an imprinting method, but rather a whole new concept where a brand message can truly take life,” says Emmanual Bruno, Vice President and General Manager for BIC Graphic North America. “We are offering a whole new level of branding and personalization.”
Among its characteristics, britePix® provides larger, photographic-quality imprints in full-color capability. Dates, addresses, photos and QR codes can all be part of a decoration. With sharp, clear, photographic quality imprints and a larger imprint area on many products, brands can communicate more than a logo and phone number—they can communicate their personality in full color. BIC Graphic designers can take a logo from spot color to full color, or distributors can select from a cache of free, full-color stock images.
The new method of personalization can be had for a modest full-color and personalization upcharge, while standard setup charges and standard production times apply to britePix products. Some products are available on a 24-hour turnaround time.
“As we developed britePix®, we asked ourselves, ‘Do we sell a product with a message or a message on a product?’” says Bruno. “Clearly, the most effective promotions are made up of a combination of impactful, brilliant messaging, quality products and a personal touch that makes the item a keepsake.”