Latest news with #POD
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Fallen comrades recalled during Memorial Day service
FORT GIBSON — Three comrades were on retired Army sergeant Tim Smith's heart Memorial Day — Sgt. Gauthreaux, First Sgt. McGinnis and Lt. West. Smith spoke about those three Monday at Fort Gibson National Cemetery's Memorial Day service. 'Gauthreaux came into my section arrogant, cocky. ... I helped him get back on track,' Smith said. 'A bracket broke off a door, an explosion went through his advanced combat helmet. It took them five minutes to figure out where he was injured. 'McGinnis took a medical waiver to go to Iraq. The doctor said he couldn't go, and he fought to get a waiver. ... The first day we had transfer of authority, an IED went off and he was gone.' 'Lt. Kyle West ... never left the POD but one time. We teased him, joked around, he never left. His job was to stay at his base and take in the logistics. We had an aircraft go down, we had to salvage the equipment and he paid the ultimate price that day.' Smith said 17 from his squadron and 28 from his base never came home from combat. 'Don't let those names be forgotten, tell the stories,' he said. Smith talked about the 650 flags that line parts of U.S. 62 and Willey Road leading to the cemetery. 'Here's the reason why we want to do that here,' Smith said. 'I can't be where First Sgt. McGinnis is laid to rest. I can't be where Sgt. Gauthreaux is laid to rest in Louisiana. I can't be where Lt. Kyle West is. I can be here, though, making sure years and years from now that when you drive out here you say 'man, they respect our veterans.'' Smith, former post commander at Frank Gladd American Legion Post 20, said a post honor guard does 20 military funerals per month. 'The record is 12 in one week and four in one day,' he said. 'I want you to think about our veterans, think about those who paid the price.' In an invocation, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Chaplain Forrest Kirk asked that people 'never forget the cost of freedom.' 'War reveals that reality,' Kirk said, recalling those who gave their lives 'so that we can have the nation we have, so that we can have the freedom that we have.'
Time Business News
5 days ago
- Business
- Time Business News
Etsy Print on Demand UK
Running an Etsy store is exciting, but what if you could scale your business without the headaches of managing stock or shipping? Welcome to the world of Etsy print on demand (POD)! With POD, you can design, sell, and ship custom products without ever touching inventory. Let's dive into how you can level up your Etsy store with print-on-demand services like Papello. Print on demand is a game-changer for Etsy sellers looking to expand without the risks of upfront costs. Once your design is ready, the rest is handled for you. Orders are automatically fulfilled and shipped, giving you more time to focus on creating new designs and engaging with your customers. Ever wondered how your favourite Etsy sellers manage to offer such a wide range of products without ever seeming to run out of stock? Chances are, they're using print on demand. It's more common than you might think and there are a few easy ways to tell if an Etsy shop is working with a print-on-demand partner. First, check the Highlights section just below the 'Add to basket' button on a product page. If it says 'Made by', the seller is probably making and shipping the product themselves. But if it says 'Designed by', that's usually a sign the product is being produced and fulfilled by a third party, most likely a print on demand company like Papello. For an even clearer answer, head over to the shop's About section. Etsy requires sellers to disclose production partners there. If they're using a print-on-demand service, it will often be listed right alongside a brief description of what the partner does. Knowing this not only helps you spot great shops using POD, it can also inspire you to run your own, without the stress of managing inventory or fulfilment yourself. You don't need fancy software or a degree in graphic design to succeed with print on demand. In fact, many top-selling Etsy shops use Canva to create their designs. It's quick, user-friendly, and filled with ready-made templates that help you design everything from t-shirts to art prints without starting from scratch. Canva gives you access to thousands of fonts, icons, illustrations, and mockups, all within a simple drag-and-drop interface. It's perfect for beginners, but powerful enough for experienced creators too. Whether you're making personalised wedding prints, quirky quote mugs, or colourful tote bags, Canva helps you bring your ideas to life quickly. And yes, designs made in Canva can absolutely sell. What matters most is your creativity, not your software. If you can make something people want to buy, tools like Canva just make it easier to get started. Upload your Canva designs directly to Papello and we'll handle the printing and shipping from there. From clothing and homeward to stationery and accessories, the product possibilities are endless. POD allows you to add new items to your store quickly and easily. With Papello, you can even experiment with seasonal collections or trending designs without worrying about unsold stock. Want to add a personal touch to your shop? Let's explore how POD can make it happen. Customisation is king. With Papello, you can offer personalised items that customers love; think names on mugs, custom artwork on totes, or personalised t-shirts. Let your customers' creativity shine, while you focus on growing your brand. Forget about bulk buying. With POD, you only pay for products when you make a sale. No upfront costs and no unsold stock collecting dust. This means you can focus on scaling your business risk-free. Shipping can be a pain, but with Papello, it's streamlined and stress-free. Your orders are shipped directly to your customers, complete with tracking, so everyone knows where their package is at all times. Want your Etsy shop to stand out? Strong branding is the key. White Label Packaging Take your branding to the next level with Papello's white label packaging. Every order is shipped in unbranded materials, ensuring that your customers see your business, not ours. Add a gift message, or thank-you cards to create a truly memorable unboxing experience. Plastic-Free Packaging Eco-conscious branding is on the rise. With Papello, your products ship in plastic-free packaging, aligning your brand with sustainability.* Custom Packing Slips Include a personalised thank-you message or special promotions with custom packing slips. It's an easy way to make your customers feel valued and keep them coming back. Sustainability matters, and with print on demand, you're already taking a step in the right direction. 100% Plastic-Free All packaging is plastic-free, reducing waste and supporting a healthier planet.* Carbon Offsetting With efficient production and shipping methods, Papello helps minimise your carbon footprint. Toxic-Free Inks Our water-based inks are vegan and non-toxic, making them safe for people and the planet. Digital Order Processing No paper invoices here! Everything is processed digitally, saving trees with every order. Create Unique Products Design your way to success with an endless range of product options. Made in the UK Support local with high-quality products made right here in the UK. Global Delivery Reach customers worldwide with reliable international shipping. Eco-Friendly Products Feel good knowing your products are sustainably produced. Easy Design Tools User-friendly product mock-up tools make creating your products simple and fun. No Minimum Orders Order one item or a thousand, it's entirely up to you. Complete Automation From production to shipping, everything is handled for you. Fast & Friendly Support Questions? Help is just a click away, with a dedicated team ready to assist. Papello Free Mock-up Generator Papello's resources include blogs, videos, and an active updated knowledge base to guide you every step of the way. Help Centre Got questions? Find detailed answers in our comprehensive help centre. Whether you're new to print on demand or looking to troubleshoot an issue, our help centre has you covered. Explore step-by-step guides to walk you through everything from setting up your Etsy store to creating custom products. Watch how-to videos for visual learning and dive into a wealth of resources designed to make your journey smooth and successful. No matter where you are in your print-on-demand journey, the help centre is your go-to for support and solutions. Print on demand lets you design and sell custom products without holding inventory. Once a customer places an order, the product is printed and shipped directly to them. Absolutely! With Papello, you can offer personalised items like mugs, shirts, and more. If you offer personalised prints and your artwork is different each time, you can upload your artwork for each individual order. Yes! Papello uses toxic-free inks, plastic-free packaging* and sustainable practices. No, print on demand eliminates upfront costs. You only pay when an order is placed. Shipping times vary but are typically quick, with tracking provided for peace of mind. Yes! Papello supports global delivery, so you can reach customers anywhere in the world. Can I use print on demand for international orders?
CBS News
21-04-2025
- General
- CBS News
More Minnesota families deciding to homeschool their children
More and more Minnesota families are opting out of the traditional classroom. POD days at Christian Homeschool Academy Tutoring (CHAT) keep getting busier. "There's been a big uptick in the last three years," CHAT co-director Laura Johnson said. At the start of the 2018-2019 school year, there were under 20,000 Minnesota students in homeschooling . That number skyrocketed to over 30,000 at the height of the pandemic. In all, Minnesota homeschool totals are up nearly 40% from pre-pandemic and 7% since last year. "I think during COVID, parents got to see, maybe a little bit more of what was really going on in the classroom," Johnson said. "And I think that with our liberal state, I think a lot of families are just not comfortable with what is being taught." Johnson says she sees more and more families looking for faith-based learning. Although not everyone at CHAT is Christian. Faith isn't the only draw, though. "I think people are realizing all the, you know, opportunities that are out there with it, and also just the resources that they have," homeschool mom Lauren Burns said. The spike in homeschooling rates doesn't surprise her. "I think people did it because of maybe COVID, but some people are continuing it because they're seeing how amazing it is to have the flexible schedule that you can," Burns said. Burns is a mom to three: 6-year-old Brooke, 9-year-old Blake and 11-year-old Christopher. Her family made the switch to homeschooling about four years ago. Homeschooling was always a desire, but COVID was the catalyst. So were state test scores. "The statistics of some of the students across Minnesota being below lines of reading and writing and arithmetic and everything, and their scores being so low, it made me lose a little bit of faith in the system," she said. "And so, I started being like, all right, well, what are my other options?" Before making the switch, her oldest, Chris, worked with a tutor. "I almost felt like he was learning more in that one hour of focused, specific time than he was in his other hours at school," Burns said. "And so I was like, wow, if I can get this done in focused time, and he's going to learn so much in one hour of focused time, what could we be doing with the rest of our days? Why not? Do you know our focus time and then be able to be outside and be a kid?" For Burns, it was an easy switch. She was already running an out-of-home daycare and the transition to teaching at home was pretty seamless. She's found her kids do better with focused, flexible learning. In fact, they've consistently tested above state levels. While Burns stays home with kids, her kids stay social at POD twice a week. They're involved in church Bible study, chess club and sports. Burns loves the community they've created and the hands-on learning homeschooling allows for. "There are so many co-ops now, and there are so many opportunities to get together for social groups or for nature groups, or, you know, science groups, or whatever it is, that it's not just being in your home, homeschooling anymore," she said. "You will really are out and with your community and with friends and just building bonds with people who are just amazing." She feels grateful for the privilege and sacrifice. "Of course it doesn't work for some families, but we're very blessed that we are able to do it," Burns said. "And my kids have really thrived under it." Public schools still remain the most popular choice for Minnesota families; nearly 90% of K-12 students attend public schools.
