We Bought It So You Don't Have To
The Prinker S is supposed to be a fun and relatively inexpensive way to create an interactive marketing experience, and honestly, it's pretty cool. It's compact, portable, and gives attendees a chance to wear your brand quite literally on their sleeve. We took it for a test drive to see if it really lives up to the hype.
User Experience for Brand Ambassadors
First off, the Prinker comes with an app that's your key to tattoo town. The app can be a bit of a head-scratcher at first. Brand ambassadors needing to get up to speed quickly before an event starts will be stressed out. But once they’re over that hurdle, it's smooth sailing and happy prinking. You will want to keep a consistent BA throughout the show.
Design Flexibility and Cost Implications
The Prinker S itself is relatively inexpensive for a marketing campaign – we're talking around $400. And then there's the extra cost for the ink and spray which is needed for refills. Plus, after you upload 20 images, it starts hinting that you should get a monthly subscription. It's not exorbitant, but a little off putting with the monthly model.
Image Quality and Application Nuances
The print quality is pretty decent and lasts for about 1-2 days, but you've got to play by the rules – that means sticking to at least 300 dpi resolution and the meager 22mm height size limit. It's a bit like putting on makeup; you need a primer, a sealant spray, and patience to let it dry, or else you'll end up with a smeary mess.
Ink Choices and Performance
Choosing between color and black ink can be a game-changer. If you go for color, be ready for the odd yellow streak in your black designs. Black ink, though, is more reliable for a consistent look, even if it means fewer colors to play with.
Application Process
Here's a bit of a downer: the app needs you to reset it for each tattoo, which can be annoying if you're trying to prink a bunch of the same design. It's a hiccup that could slow things down during a busy event.
Reception and Memorable Impressions
But when you do get it right, the Prinker S really wows people at first Prink.”Wow, that’s cool” and “That’s crazy” is very common to hear, which is pretty much gold for creating a buzz at your booth.
Use Case Recommendation
A piece of advice: don't just slap your logo on and call it a day. Unless your logo is as famous as the Nike swoosh or Apple's...Apple, you might want to think more creatively. The Prinker shines when it's used to make cool, conversation-starting designs that people actually want to wear. The best use case may be to have roaming brand ambassadors to compliment your booth presence to get greater reach.
Final Thoughts
Overall, we’d give the Prinker a solid 6 out of 10 for ease of use and 7 for print quality. It's a bit finicky but gets brownie points for the novelty factor. As for its effectiveness in marketing? Well, it's not perfect for every situation, but with a bit of strategy, it can be a real asset. It's all about how and where you use it. For their next gen model, a developer API would be great to have in order for agencies, like ourselves, to create unique attendeee experiences to fit the brand’s needs.
Any questions? Contact us at clutch@24g.com
