The Interesting History of the English Language
Whan that Auerylle with his shoures soote The droghte of March / hath perced to the rooteAnd bathed euery veyne in […]
Sustainability Incentives for Small Businesses in the Inflation Reduction Act
In August of 2022, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which included a wide array of tax incentives to promote […]
The Power of Direct Mail in a Digital World
We are two months into 2023, and I have received 32 marketing emails from LOFT. And that’s nothing compared to […]
Moving beyond variable data to variable content
In the mid-20th century, companies like Xerox, Canon, and Hewlett-Packard (HP) developed the first laser and inkjet print technologies, essentially […]
ChatGPT and its Place in Content Marketing
The science fiction of the 1960s and 70s predicted many technology trends we now take for granted. The “communicators” used […]
The Story Behind Storytelling
When I was little, I refused to go to sleep without a bedtime story. It was the chance to set […]
Environmental Impacts of Laminates and Coatings
Laminates and coatings are popular finishing techniques because they enhance the durability and appearance of printed materials. If you are […]
4 Key Takeaways on the State of Marketing 2022
As we move into the home stretch of 2022, several organizations are releasing their latest “state of marketing” findings for […]
7 Ways to Make Your Direct Mail More Sustainable
Did you know that using paper actually supports the preservation (and even expansion) of U.S. forestland by making forest products […]
What is Banjo?
At More Vang, we strive to keep print both relevant and efficient. That said, it’s almost impossible to scale marketing […]
Defining Nostalgia—Disease or Emotion?
On August 25, 1768, a ship carrying 94 Royal Navy sailors left Plymouth, England with 18 months of provisions. On […]
Curiosity Killed the Cat?
Sometime towards the end of the Middle Ages, there lived a very special cat. For the purpose of this fictitious […]
Using Social Networks to Build Belief
In 2020, almost twice as many people logged onto Reddit as subscribed to a newspaper. The number of people who […]
Offsetting Emissions With Carbon Credits
A couple of weeks ago, we wrote about the carbon neutral certification process and how businesses measure emissions. In this […]
What Does It Mean To Be Carbon Neutral?
The climate crisis can only be addressed by changing how consumers and businesses operate. As sustainability is a core component […]
To Connect With Customers, Have a Human Conversation
This past March, I flew from Washington, D.C., to San Diego to attend a trade show. It was my first […]
Adam, Eve, and the Apple: The Power of a Single Word
Contrary to popular belief, Eve never handed Adam an “apple” in the Garden of Eden. This might be surprising to […]
Why We Built Our Own Rendering Engine
You probably already know that More Vang has over 40 years of commercial print experience. What you may not realize […]
Is PCW Recycled Paper the Holy Grail of Sustainability?
Increasingly, our clients are requesting papers with recycled content. At face value, it seems like a sustainability home run; but […]
Toilet Paper’s Environmental Impact Stinks
If I were to ask you to identify the world’s largest undisturbed old growth forest, what would you guess? Does […]
What is Algorithmic Direct Mail?
At More Vang, we believe in the technology of print—leveraging data, software, and hardware to facilitate more effective use of […]
Some Customers Would Rather Get it Right Than Be Right
When we first started this business over 40 years ago, sales reps drove around with donuts and paper samples in […]
Email May Be Most Popular, But Direct Mail is Still Top of the Class
Marketers tend to favor popular digital channels like email, social, and paid search for their direct response campaigns. But when […]
FWIW, OK Once Made People LOL
I’m OK with modern terms like TBH, LOL, and OG. Yes, in some contexts they look odd and out of […]
The Benefits of Virgin Fiber Paper
Are you prioritizing sustainability in your marketing campaigns? If so, choosing recycled paper might seem like the obvious choice. But […]
The Grinch Isn’t the Only One Who’s Green this Holiday Season
Red and green are ubiquitous colors this time of year, but at More Vang, we decided to lean into the […]
When Language Becomes a Legacy
I’ve been busy for the past few months working with our creative team as we launch our new website. I’m […]
What Do These Environmental Logos Actually Mean?
In truth, not much. Most paper mills have moved to chlorine-free processing these days, and nearly all new printing technology […]
What’s a VOC and Why Should You Care?
If you’ve ever purchased paint for a DIY project, you’re probably familiar with the term “low VOC.” But do you […]
Your Guide to Alternative Fiber Papers
*Special thanks to our intern, Noah Berg, for his research and writing assistance for this article. Where does paper come […]
In Need of Shared Beliefs
As I drove to the office this morning, I heeded a newly installed stop sign placed at an intersection that […]
Back to the Future
My wife and I love to host dinner parties. We enjoy the challenge of preparing new dishes that test our […]
An Old Guy’s Advice for High School Graduates
A few years ago, I was giving a presentation to a group of students at my alma mater. A woman […]
Care About Sustainability? Create Valuable Content.
In a post about optimism in the early days of COVID, our CEO said “As optimists, our job is to […]
Returning to the office—a question of when or why?
I’m assuming that one day I’ll have grandchildren. I can imagine telling a story about my old work experiences. “Yes, […]
The End of Big Data?
In 1517, a little known monk named Martin Luther wrote a paper calling out some questionable practices of the Catholic […]
A COVID Reality Check
Every Friday afternoon, I hold a company-wide Zoom meeting. We begin with a review of the latest news on COVID. […]
Learning to Listen
This past Monday, the More Vang staff participated in a day of learning to celebrate the Martin Luther King Jr. […]
Words and Their Consequences
On Wednesday morning, I was finishing my latest blog post. It was a predictable message, noting the odd human habit […]
What I’m Thankful For
This has been a difficult year, and it’s easy to focus on the consequences and challenges brought on by COVID. […]
Back to the office. What am I missing?
I did something strange on Wednesday. I woke up, took a shower and drove to the office. The traffic was […]
Why Words Matter
“Words Matter” is imprinted on the side of my coffee cup. It isn’t a particularly original message, but amplifying language […]
Finding common ground on climate change
The consequences of climate change are real. It’s time to focus on the opportunities. Last week, I found myself driving […]
Teach Our Children Well
In the waning days of August, I managed to escape the confines of the Capital Beltway for a brief family […]
Mapping and Understanding Change
Many years ago, in an attempt to create a broader middle class, the Clinton administration experimented with housing. They created […]
Only The Curious Will Survive
This post is going to sound a bit dark for an optimist like me, but remember—optimism is about accepting a […]
Join us on August 8th
In May, we announced that we had acquired the assets, talents and expertise of Ecoprint in an effort to shift […]
You’re as healthy as your friends are
Assorted wisdom for keeping a business open during COVID I’ve written extensively on our work experiences outside the office. I […]
Preparing Ourselves for Change
My wife is passionate about her alma mater. This week, she was texting friends about booking a house near campus […]
Race and Us
Over the past week, I’ve been talking with family, friends and coworkers about racial equity. The recent video evidence presented […]
Time to get back to the office?
It seems like months ago that our school system decided to close for 10 days in an effort to stop […]
How does this end?
This question came up at our dinner table last week. Home-cooked meal number 67, to be exact. We’ve been skirting […]
The Air Seems Cleaner Right?
My house is crowded these days. I have a small office (closet) where I remotely run our business. My wife […]
A Time for Optimism
We are in desperate need of optimism today. I believe it could save us. Now, I’m not talking about blissful […]
A Message to Our Clients
According to federal guidelines, those who manufacture for or provide services to essential businesses are themselves considered essential. As our […]
The Meaning of Marketing: Determining Your Brand’s Archetypal Identity
Unless your brand embodies a core set of consistent values, you cannot communicate it successfully. In The Hero and the […]
The Meaning of Marketing: The 12 Archetypes, Pt. 4
So far this week, we have walked through the first nine archetypal identities outlined in The Hero and the Outlaw: […]
The Meaning of Marketing: The 12 Archetypes, Pt. 3
In our posts on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, we discussed six archetypal identities highlighted in The Hero and the […]
The Meaning of Marketing: The 12 Archetypes, Pt. 2
In yesterday’s post, we tackled the first three archetypal identities—the Innocent, the Explorer and the Sage—as outlined in The Hero […]
The Meaning of Marketing: The 12 Archetypes, Pt. 1
In our previous post, we introduced the concept of archetypal theory as it pertains to successful branding. In this next […]
The Meaning of Marketing: Introducing Archetypal Brand Identity
Humans have long looked—individually and collectively—to stories for their sense of order and meaning. The world is, in essence, governed […]
Crafts, Crayons, and Holiday Glee
The kids are sitting in a scattered circle on a green rug decorated with bugs and flowers when we walk […]
Get to Know More Vang: Kelly Kornmann
As you know, there are three business divisions at More Vang: Create, Code, and Make. Kelly Kornmann is a Product […]
A Deeper Dive into the Swamp
“The suburbs” often evoke a cookie-cutter picture of Americana: kids playing in fenced green yards, ice cream trucks rumbling around […]
Practice empathy and #embracetheswamp
We’ve talked a lot recently about the meaning of empathy and how we use it to do our best work. […]
Get to Know More Vang: Rob Leake
If you are a More Vang client, chances are you have exchanged an email or two with Rob Leake. Rob […]
Harry Potter Makes You Nicer
We all know that reading makes you smarter, improves your vocabulary, and provides you with interesting tidbits to share at […]
Empathy Briefs. The difference between great work and guesswork.
Our CEO, Jon, recently wrote a blog post about the origins of the word empathy. The English word empathy was […]
No sympathy for misusers of the word empathy
Choose your words carefully A sophisticated vocabulary gives us the ability to express our best ideas, thoughts and beliefs. But […]
Brick & Mortar is Back
The online marketplace completely disrupted the retail shopping experience. But one of the original disruptors, Amazon, is steadily making their […]
Without values, you don’t have a brand.
If I were to ask you to describe brands you are familiar with, you might reference the Nike swoosh or […]
Monuments and Memory
It’s a classic movie plot. A careless treasure hunter digs up an ancient power that should not have been disturbed. […]
200 miles. 36 hours. Zero sleep. In a word, fun.
They say running is half mental. Some say it’s 90%. We aren’t sure who “they” are but they’ve clearly run […]
Words and Their Meanings
“Words are magical in the way they affect the minds of those who use them.” In May of 1940, Aldous […]
Chances are, you’re reading this post on a telephoenician.
“Sing, O muse, of the rage of Achilles, son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans.” This line, […]
Here’s to change
We’ve been struggling with an identity problem for years. If I were to ask you to describe us to a friend or coworker, what would you say? Would you portray us as a printing company—a proficient manufacturer of books and direct mail? Would you describe us as engineers of experiential graphics—producing trade show booths, product packaging or any of that odd stuff that is printed but not called printing? Or would you be wholly confused by all of this print talk and instead describe us as a creative agency that builds websites or writes brand strategy? And let’s not forget those of you who subscribe to one of our SaaS products or data processing tools. What do you call all of this?