Erik Knear credits his young children with bringing out the inventor in him. About four years ago, he created a device called The Santa Signal™ as an alternative to climbing on rooftops. “I used to climb up on my roof on Christmas Eve and stomp around in my boots yelling ‘ho, ho, ho!’ down the chimney for my kids. Aside from risking a Christmas in the emergency room if I slipped, I was never in the room to share in my kids’ reactions to hearing Santa Claus,” says Knear.
The Santa Signal, tucked in a chimney or other inconspicuous place, electronically reveals Santa’s arrival. Santa spreads his jolly good cheer, wonders aloud if the children are sleeping (typically sending little feet scurrying to bed), and calls out to his reindeer, including Rudolph, whose nose glows bright red for all to see. The Santa Signal not only keeps ambitious parents and grandparents off slippery rooftops, but it also spreads Christmas magic and produces unforgettable memories.
As Knear can attest, bringing a new product to market isn’t always a bowl full of jelly. He struggled to find the right packaging provider. “There are many manufacturers that can make inventions like The Santa Signal at decent prices, but packaging was a challenge until I found Folded Color Packaging,” he says. Before landing on the supplier, Knear learned that most package printers have order minimums ranging from 500 to 10,000 units, and those that do short runs favor digital output.
The Santa Signal, says Knear, was a fledgling product. “I wanted a great quality package because I know that a customized and professionally printed package adds credibility to the product and strengthens the brand. But I didn’t need thousands or even hundreds of boxes,” he explains. “I think I speak for many small businesses and startups when I say even $500 is a lot of money.”
Folded Carton offers custom cartons printed in seven-color offset with a 50-piece order minimum. The company uses a web-to-carton process—Knear priced, designed and ordered his folding cartons using the streamlined online workflow at the company’s website. “I customized the size I needed, getting it down to an eighth of an inch of the product. The system generated a price. Then I downloaded the design template and created the artwork using the simple built-in design editor,” he explains. “After that, I chose the quantity I wanted and submitted the order.”
Knear approved his 3D proof online and received his custom-printed cartons about 10 days later. “It’s clear that my boxes were printed with care and precision. I can say for certain that The Santa Signal in its package has impressed more investors and retailers than the product alone,” he said.
Knear is currently working on a new USB version of The Santa Signal, which is expected to be available for Christmas 2016. The built-in USB input will greatly enhance The Santa Signal’s capabilities—and give Santa much more to say. Customers will be able to download a variety of audio files, including vocal tracks custom-created using one or more names typed into the system. In the coming months, the website will be changing to support the USB-based customization. The next generation of The Santa Signal will come in a slightly larger carton to accommodate the USB cable. Knear said he may modify the design, too, “since Folded Color makes it so easy.”
