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Start Marketing Off On The Right Foot For 2013

Filed under Custom Printing Tips and Guidelines , Full Color Envelope Printing , General , Marketing Collaterals , OnlinePrinting - Marketing Tips For Small Business

Every year brings new business challenges.  Whether it is budgeting tasks, creating goals and traveling schedules, the one thing that should be at the top of your business to-do list is creating marketing collaterals that will bring interest in your company.  A consistent corporate identity will give your business brand recognition, build trust and bring in current and new customers in the door.  The best way to get the word out is to create flyers, brochures, rack cards, letterhead, business cards, and envelopes that are tailored to your exact needs.  And do all of this on a budget!   Out of all marketing collaterals, business cards, letterhead and envelopes are a must.  Business cards get handed out everywhere.  From trade shows, conventions, sales calls, and just casual run-ins, you need a way for customers to contact you.  If you have a business where there are many products and services, adding an informational brochure, flyer or rack card will give customers valuable information to take with them and have on hand.  Depending on your offering, you may just need a simple rack card, or single sheet flyer, but regardless, giving customers with the information they need that is easily accessible is a must for growing your business.   Another key element is creating marketing collaterals that show a solid corporate image.  Basically, you want everything to match.  A solid corporate identity does many things that businesses sometimes take for granted.  For example, having many different logos may make your business come off as indecisive.  If your brochures have one design and your business card is vastly different, a customer may mistakenly throw one of the collaterals away, not realizing it is the same company. Building trust is one of the hardest things any business does, and customers can be very unforgiving when it is broken.  Keeping all collaterals consistent is key to building a solid, trusting relationship with your customers.   Finally, price shop with caution.  Sometimes cheaper isn’t better.  Having one printer print all of your marketing collaterals may help ensure that your design colors stay consistent.  You may also get discounts for ordering many collaterals at one time.  Turn time is also important. You do not want to waste valuable sales time waiting on your print.  Keeping these points in mind will start your 2013 marketing year off running!  

Were you Prepared for Black Friday? What About the Next Few Weeks?

Filed under Distribution Label Solutions , General , Plastic Products

Black Friday is always the kickoff to the holiday shopping season, and also when many businesses get a taste of what is to come over the next few weeks. Many are seeing a shift in the way consumers are purchasing.  Instead of fighting in-store sales, customers are going online to purchase their sale items.  And now businesses are choosing to start their sales on Thanksgiving Day, as opposed to the traditional Friday.  And many people are just waiting until closer to Christmas to shop.  Regardless of how customers or businesses choose to purchase, being prepared for the holiday season is a must to keep your business running smoothly and staying profitable.   Retail businesses that use plastic cards and holders also need to keep a healthy supply in stock over the holidays; even more than normal.  Plastic gift cards are the easiest product to push, and they provide a high ROI for most companies, so letting them run out could put a huge strain on a business.  Not to mention they are ongoing marketing pieces that can be recharged and reused. During the holiday season, getting plastic cards printed can be a challenge, so the farther away from Christmas you order your cards, the better your turn times and pricing will be.  In fact, there are times when a business can place orders at the beginning of December, and not get their cards until January.  The demand is that high this time of the year, so ordering early is imperative. Gift card holders are more easily accessible and sometimes even have stock, or off-the-shelf, options to cut down on turn times and cost.   Another way to stay prepared is to stay stocked with every day, general supplies.  Online companies need to keep shipping labels, packing slips, and any other items needed to fulfill orders.  Nothing will shut down your business, and lose repeat business, faster than running out of shipping supplies.  Customers will not purchase again if they cannot get their orders on time.  Also having plenty of business cards, letterhead and envelopes on hand also helps with sales and office functions, keeping things running smoothly.   Marketing is very important to drive in business; however, the best marketing will not help if you do not prepare for the business coming in.  With just a few short weeks left in the holiday season, making sure you have the supplies you need will keep you up and running for a successful holiday season.

Get the Best Envelopes for your Business

Filed under Full Color Envelope Printing , Mailers , Marketing Collaterals

Selecting business envelopes seems like a easy thing to do. Put a logo on an envelopes template and you are ready. Unfortunately, it isn't always that simple. Putting together a good corporate image takes thought, vision and consistency. Your stationary is a direct reflection of your business. It should function as you need it, giving your customers the feeling of security and still be within your budget. Envelope printing seems like a pretty easy thing to understand; however, there are many different features  that a business needs to consider when choosing the perfect envelopes for their business. First variable to consider is the size, or sizes, your company  will need. A #10 envelope is pretty standard for most businesses. However, some would rather have a #10 with a window. And even one step further, many businesses that need payments or correspondence mailed back, need a #9 envelope with or without an envelope. From very large to extremely small, there is a huge variety to choose from. The key it to choose envelope sizes that you actually need with having a stockroom full of extra inventory. Another factor to consider is color. Color can really affect pricing on your envelope printing project. Businesses can go very simple with a one or two color option, or a full color envelope. Full color envelopes can be quite pricey and if it isn't necessary for your corporate image, then it is more cost effective to go simple. However, if you have photo images, or a very complex colored logo, then definitely stay with full color. Trying to change your corporate image on a few marketing pieces to save money will hurt you in the long run, not to mention making your business look disjointed. There are also a large number of materials in the envelope printing world. 24# Linens, Bonds, and Classic Laid materials are just a few. Normally choosing your color helps determine what material to go with. If you choose a full color envelope, the number of materials usually is limited to one or two options. Going with a black only, or one and two spot colors, gives you the most options. Laid materials have a slight handmade finish, whereas Linen has a woven pattern. Bond material is normally smooth. There really is a material to match any look a business is going for. The best way to help determine which envelope options are best for your business is to request envelope samples from your printing company. Testing different colors and materials is the best way to see which one works for your business image. Sometimes it is best to order a small quantity with your logo and information to make sure they are how you envisioned, and then order a larger quantity when you are sure they are exactly what you want. It is better to be out a little money than a lot.