Happy New Year!

In 2009, we put a lot of energy into social networking programs. Those of you who were with us through the year joined in the conversation on this blog, on Twitter and on Facebook. And, many of you took advantage of our Tweet Treat specials, which we ran every Tuesday in the Spring/Summer and weekly in the fall.

We started all of these programs with one goal in mind: we wanted to connect more with you, both our existing customers and those of you who had never heard of us before.

Pretty early on in the history of iPrintfromHome.com, we noticed that an overwhelming majority of iPrintfromHome.com customers first came to our site because they heard about us from a friend.

Word-of-mouth advertising, fueled by customer loyalty, allows us to focus our energy on providing a high-quality product and excellent customer service instead of spending time (and money) on advertising.

So how did we arrive at that position? What makes our customers want to go out and spread the word about our company?

The answer is surprisingly simple: We take care of our peeps.

At iPrintfromHome.com, we make photographic and giclee fine art prints from digital files for artists and photographers. We help people create the prints that they need to run their own businesses, sell in their Etsy shops or hang in galleries.

We've been working with artists and photographers for 30 years. We know who you are, what you need, and how important it is to you that we get it right and on time. And we don't just tell you that we know these things - we show you every day.

What it all boils down to is this: we exist as a company because we have customers who take advantage of our services. We know how important you are to our business and we do our best to not only meet your expectations but to exceed them. At iPrintfromHome.com, we provide you with a high-quality product that you value, with consistency that you trust, and customer service you can rely on to help make things right if you run into a problem.

As a result, many of you are tweeting about how happy you are with your prints, raving about our services to a friend, and referring new customers to iPrintfromHome.com. We've also seen a great increase in participation in our Ambassadors program.

It's pretty clear to us that one of the best business decisions we can make is to invest in you. We made some changes in 2009 that we hope made your experience at iPrintfromHome.com even better: we increased the number of "Thank You Dollars" you could earn for referring a friend from $3 to $6, offered weekly Tweet Treats, and started offering free FedEx Ground shipping.

We really appreciate every little thing that you do to help spread the word about our services. If you have any suggestions about things that we can do to make your experience with our company run a little smoother, or if there is a service that you wish we'd offer, please contact us to let us know. We can't promise to act on all of your suggestions, but we can promise to listen and do our best to meet your needs.

The more I look, the more I see this pattern repeated - this pattern of people and businesses playing a role in promoting virtuous cycles (the opposite of vicious cycles). And, the more I see it, the more hopeful the idealist inside of me becomes. Nice guys don't always finish last.

There is an old, torn and yellowed photocopy taped to the refrigerator in our lunch room that reads:

"We know that no one shop can have all the business. We also know that business goes where it is invited and stays where it is taken care of."

Living true to that philosophy has allowed my father to stay in business for 30 years and it continues to drive our success today. We look forward to working with you in 2010 and for many years to come.

Thank you for your continued support of iPrintfromHome.com! Happy New Year!

Say What? Christmas is Next Week?

It's getting close to Christmas and we are getting lots of calls asking if it's too late to order prints in time to give as gifts. The answer is, you still have time!

At iPrintfromHome.com, our standard turnaround time for Photographic Prints is as follows: if you place your order by 6am EST, we have it ready for shipping the same day, Monday through Saturday. Any order that comes in on Sunday will be shipped on Monday.

Please note that the turnaround time for Giclee Fine Art Prints is 3 business days (weekdays), and that the daily production cut-off is 6am EST.

If you're planning on ordering before the 23rd - which we would encourage (hint, hint) - please feel free to choose whichever shipping method meets your needs:

* FedEx Ground - $6 (FREE if your order totals $30 or more)
* FedEx Ground to Canada - $18
* FedEx 3-Day - $10
* FedEx 2-Day - $12
* FedEx Standard Overnight - $20
* FedEx Priority Overnight - $25
* FedEx Priority Saturday - $35.

For more specific information about each shipping method, please click here.

Here's what you need to do if you're really waiting until the last minute:

If you order Photographic Prints: Please place your order by 6am on December 23rd and choose FedEx Standard Overnight so that you receive your order on December 24th.

If you order Giclee Fine Art Prints: Please place your order by 6am on December 21st and choose FedEx Standard Overnight so that you receive your order on December 24th.

We will be closed on December 24th, 25th & 26th.

Happy Holidays!!

Team Photo Cards

Help your team stand out this holiday season.

Combine your team photo with artwork from the Paint Box Project to create a personalized holiday card that makes a difference.

When you purchase Paint Box Project Photo Cards, the proceeds from the sale directly benefit cancer research at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

The Paint Box Project uses the healing power of art to help young cancer patients and their families express themselves during and after cancer treatment. Each year, volunteers at Roswell Park host Paint Box Project art parties where children create original designs that are featured on holiday and all-occasion cards and gifts.

For more information about Paint Box Project Photo Cards, please click here

You've still got plenty of time to get your order in! Our turnaround time for Photo Cards is as follows: if you place your order by 6am EST, we have it ready for shipping the same day, Monday through Saturday. Any order that comes in on Sunday will be shipped on Monday.

Holiday Cards That Make a Difference

Combine your family photo with artwork from the Paint Box Project to create a personalized holiday card that makes a difference.


When you purchase Paint Box Project Photo Cards, the proceeds from the sale directly benefit cancer research at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

The Paint Box Project uses the healing power of art to help young cancer patients and their families express themselves during and after cancer treatment. Each year, volunteers at Roswell Park host Paint Box Project art parties where children create original designs that are featured on holiday and all-occasion cards and gifts.

For more information about Paint Box Project Photo Cards, please click here

You've already got the perfect gift.

Today marks the beginning of a pretty hectic few weeks. This year, which was a tough year on everyone, is probably going to be a little more stressful than usual. We're all counting our pennies and trying our hardest to make good decisions with the resources we have.

To help ease the stress, we want to remind you about something we've been talking about all year. We've been making one specific suggestion to you over and over again:

Don't bury yourself in your studio, surrounded by an inventory of prints you haven't quite figured out how to sell. Give those prints away. Let people see your work. Once you do, you'll be surprised by how quickly you start hearing from people who want to see more. You'll also be giving a very special gift, a gift that only you can give.

We're celebrating 30 years in business this year. We first published the image featured above in 1982. It's a picture of my Dad and my brother, Chris. Although the picture is old & dated (note the antique light meter in my Dad's hand), the message still rings true.

You've spent a lot of time creating beautiful images. You've poured your heart and soul into your work. This holiday season, when you're thinking of all the people you're thankful for, consider giving them a little bit of yourself. Nothing could be better.

Happy Thanksgiving!

This holiday season, the thing we're most thankful for is you.

We know this year has been tough and that everyone can use a little help making their dollars stretch further. Starting today and running through December 23rd, we're offering Free FedEx Ground Shipping on any order totaling $30 or more. (NOTE: This offer is only valid on orders shipped within the United States.)Thank you for your continued support of iPrintfromHome.com. It's been a pleasure working with you and we look forward to continuing to do so for years to come.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanks,
the iPrintfromHome.com team

What, How & Why: A Closer Look - Featuring Chris Lazzery

At iPrintfromHome.com, we work with artists and photographers from across the United States and Canada. We're inspired everyday by the images that they send to us and by the stories they share.

In our "What, How & Why" interview series, we take a closer look at some of these fascinating people.

We've asked each participating artist or photographer three simple questions:

1. What do you do?
2. How do you do it?
3. Why do you use iPrintfromHome.com?

Please read on to find out more about Chris Lazzery.








Chris Lazzery
Photographer
Boston, MA


What do you do?
I'm a hobbyist photographer living outside Boston, Massachusetts. I've only really been interested in photography for a couple of years now, but it has easily become my favorite pastime. I love to photograph anything and everything, but I think I've found that my favorites are landscapes and cityscapes, especially during sunrise and sunset.

There aren't many weekends when I'm not out and about searching for something to shoot in the area. Or out of the area, for that matter.

I will often times get in my car to explore a lighthouse or waterfall hours away, just to spend some time with camera, relax, and shoot the beauty around me.


How do you do it?
Well, I've been drawing pretty much since I have been alive, and I went to school for graphic design, so I'd like to think I have a good eye for composition. Photography just seemed like another fun creative outlet with which to express myself. I currently shoot with a Canon 5D, very often with a wide angle lens attached, and an array of useful filters.

I often like to use rich, eye-catching colors and contrasts in my photos, really striving to make the viewer wish he or she was alongside me when I shot the scene.






Why do you use iPrintfromHome.com?
Short answer: Because they are awesome. They offer incredible quality, reasonable prices, and a myriad of printing styles and products. I've yet to hand a print to someone and didn't receive a "Wow" in regards to the quality. Turnaround is lightning fast and their customer service is among the friendliest and most personable I've encountered, which are key components in having a satisfied client in myself and, more importantly, those interested in my photography.

Contact Information:
Chris Lazzery
onefiftyeightphotos.com
flickr.com/photos/onefiftyeight

Pictures Make Great Presents

It might feel like Christmas is a long way off, but Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away.

And, you know what happens the day after Thanksgiving - the madness begins.



This year, which was a tough year on everyone, is probably going to be a little more stressful than usual. We're all counting our pennies and trying our hardest to make good decisions with the resources we have.

To help ease the stress, we want to remind you about something we've been talking about all year. We've been making one specific suggestion to you over and over again:

Don't bury yourself in your studio, surrounded by an inventory of prints you haven't quite figured out how to sell. Give those prints away. Let people see your work. Once you do, you'll be surprised by how quickly you start hearing from people who want to see more. You'll also be giving a very special gift, a gift that only you can give.

We're celebrating 30 years in business this year. We first published the image featured above in 1982. It's a picture of my Dad and my brother, Mikey. Although the picture is old & dated, the message still rings true: Everyone knows that pictures make great presents.

You've spent a lot of time creating beautiful images. You've poured your heart and soul into your work. This holiday season, when you're thinking of all the people you're thankful for, consider giving them a little piece of yourself. Nothing could be better.

November Art Show Listing

We are featuring artists from all over the United States in our November 2009 Art Show Listing. Click here to see the Art Show Listing.

If you have a show coming up and would like it listed, please send us the details so that we can include your show. Click here to learn how to submit information for our Art Show Listing.



About the Artwork Above

Artwork by Jude Welter
Canvases and Paper Art

What, How & Why: A Closer Look - Featuring Lynn Cyr

At iPrintfromHome.com, we work with artists and photographers from across the United States and Canada. We're inspired everyday by the images that they send to us and by the stories they share.

In our "What, How & Why" interview series, we take a closer look at some of these fascinating people.

We've asked each participating artist or photographer three simple questions:

1. What do you do?
2. How do you do it?
3. Why do you use iPrintfromHome.com?

Please read on to find out more about Lynn Cyr.









Lynn Cyr
Oil & Watercolor Artist
Fort Kent, ME


What do you do?
I'm mostly a self-taught artist, working primarily in Oil and Watercolor. I like to challenge myself by painting different subjects, whether it’s a portrait, still life, or landscape. But no matter the subject or medium, it’s no question that my work follows a consistent theme: color and simplicity.

Although my online store is based in Fort Kent, ME, my working studio and gallery is situated on a peaceful lake in Quebec, on the border of New Brunswick and Maine. In addition to selling my work online, I also participate in art shows on a regular basis, because I love the human interaction between me and my collectors.



How do you do it?
Depending on the painting, I either paint from life or from my own photos and sketches, using various reference images to create my own composition. It could be a combination of colors and shadows I see reflected on a bowl of fruit, or the unique way I compose a design to make my simple subjects tell a story. I generally don’t confine myself to small details, and prefer to let loose and allow my work to have a realistic, yet painterly feel.

Why do you use iPrintfromHome.com?
Why wouldn't I? :) Since opening my shop on Etsy, I thought it would be the perfect venue to sell Giclees of my original paintings. They're easy to ship, a fraction of the cost of my original pieces, and allows for more collectors to own one of my creations.

I had three requirements: A) my Giclees had to be created professionally, not from my home printer; B) the quality had to be top-notch; C) it had to be from a company that was big enough to do the job well, yet small enough that I could just pick up the phone and talk to a real person. IPfH met all the criteria!! :) I couldn't be happier with their prints... they're so incredibly accurate in terms of color and texture, you'd swear they were originals. And the service I get there is just outstanding - really something you don't see often in businesses nowadays! I've highly recommend them numerous times to my artist friends!!

Contact Information:
Lynn Cyr
www.lynnlovesart.com
lynncyrart.etsy.com
lynncyrart.blogspot.com