PrintRoundTable

Great Ways Print Can Grow Your Restaurant

Filed under Hositality Products

Restaurateurs have many details to arrange when running a successful restaurant.  Making sure the food is fantastic, the service is suburb, and they have a prime location to draw in customers.  The one piece that often gets overlooked is the printing component.  Restaurants need menu’s, both for diners and take out order, receipt tickets, promotions, coupons, business cards, magnets, gift cards and so much more.  There are opportunities everywhere in print to assist with promoting your business.   First there are your promotional materials.  Table Talkers, or table tents, when designed to entice your customers, are a great way to advertise lunch or drink specials, or even an upcoming event.  Because they are made of plastic, they are durable, reusable and can easily be cleaned. Handing out a business magnet and a takeout menu is also another way to keep your customers thinking about you long after they have left your restaurant. Both of these options are fairly inexpensive, and can be designed in such a way to fit into your current budget.   Everyday items, such as cash register tape and business cards can help your business. Pre-print a coupon on the back of the register tape so customers will have their receipt and come back for a free appetizer, or other promotion.  Keep general business cards, with a promotion or QR Code on the back, handy so customers can grab one and take advantage. Some restaurants now use a punch card and offer a free lunch after a specific number of punches.   One last item that has really taken restaurants to the next level is offering gift cards and carriers to their customers.  Everyone loves getting a gift card to their favorite restaurant, and what is especially beneficial are most customers are spending more than what is on the gift card. Plastic gift cards and gift card holders are affordable and are normally very easy to set up with your current point-of-purchase provider.  If your machine takes credit cards, then it should also be easily set up to take gift cards.   Regardless of the products a restaurant chooses to purchase, printing should always be one of the more important items on any restaurateurs list. They will help your business grow, and make life easier long term.

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.

Boost Sales with Gift Cards and Matching Carriers this Holiday Retail Season

Filed under Full Color Plastic Card Printing , Plastic Products

It is that time of the year again; the time of the year when retail businesses gear up for their holiday season in hopes of growing from the previous year.  Businesses are already beginning their holiday campaigns.  In fact, with an estimated 42%* of consumers beginning their shopping even earlier than last year, and a predicted 3%* increase in sales, it is more important than ever to be prepared to serve customers.   One of the best ways to help your business keep up with the competition is by offering gift cards and gift card holders.  From the very small “mom and pop” shops to the largest retailers, offering gift cards to their customers has been a great way to grab sales for a great number of reasons.  First, offering gift cards gives customers the impression that you are current on technology.  You rarely see paper certificates any longer.  Second, it is an easy gift to give.  The old thinking of a gift card being “impersonal” has finally been thrown out the window.  More people actually prefer to get a gift so they can pick out something they know they will enjoy.  And finally, the third reason is a bit of a selfish one, but you have the opportunity to make more that the cost of the gift card.  For example, most customers end up spending MORE than their gift card.  And there are even handfuls that spend LESS than their gift card. These customers, who don’t spend the last bit of change on their card, normally throw the card away.  If you sold 1000 gift cards, and 250 of the cards had a quarter left on the card, your business just saved an additional $62.50! Both are wins for a business.    Gift cards and matching holders are a nice package that advertises your business. It is important to take advantage of that real estate, and design a functional, eye-catching card and carrier so customers will be enticed to buy them.  It really is worth the investment to have a professional design your collaterals so everything coordinates with your business and the image you want to convey to the world.  You don’t have to break the bank to get great results.   Choosing a program is as simple as contacting your cash register/credit card point of purchase provider.  Getting the correct specifications the first time will save time and cost in the long run.  If you have a machine that takes credit cards, then chances are you can accept gift cards with a few modifications.  Your point of purchase provider should help set that feature up for you should, and give you the information you need such as the OE Density the cards will need to work on your machine.  You can also discuss the specifications you need with the card company who will print your gift cards.  They will be able to explain the questions you need to ask your provider and even speak to them directly if you choose.     Finally, BE PREPARED! Do not wait until last minute to order your gift cards and gift card holders.  This is traditionally the busiest time for retail businesses and card printers alike.  Many forget to order their cards and pay a hefty premium to get them rushed to their business in time; especially for Black Friday!  Normally, the turn time could take anywhere from 5 to 15 days depending on the specifications you need.  You don’t want to be caught off guard and lose sales by simple not being prepared! *Statistics from 2012 Christmas Holiday Shopping Season Retail Sales, Job, Technology Predictions by Barbara Farfan, About.com Guide  

5 Ways to Promote your Business Gift Cards

Filed under Full Color Plastic Card Printing , General

Consumer budgets are tighter this year than ever, and many businesses may need a little extra help bringing in business and getting customers to purchase.  For those who offer plastic gift cards to their customers, below are some extra tips to help increase your gift card sales. 1.      Make your plastic gift cards stand out!  This can be done by creating a design that commands attention, or simply creating an inviting display for your cards. 2.      Make sure you offer the complete package. Offer a complimentary holder, envelope or sleeve to complete the look.  Most customers don’t just hand their card over to the recipient.  They put it in a pretty package. 3.      Offer a variety of choices. Customize your cards based on the occasion.  A birthday, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Congratulations, and Thank You are popular options. 4.      Create a promotion or incentive. For example, for every $100 you put on a gift card, the store will at $10.  Another would be by $50 worth of gift cards and get 10% off your purchase.  There is nothing more enticing when a customer is shopping to get a little something for themselves. 5.      Join forces with a nearby business. Sometimes two offers are better than one.  For example, you can teaming up with a nearby store, restaurant or spa and share the responsibility of promoting each other.  Buy a gift card with Store A and get something From Store B.  A little co-op marketing can help increase sales and even possibly decrease costs.