PrintRoundTable

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. 

The Benefits of Offering Custom Gift Cards and Carriers in Retail and Department Stores

Filed under Full Color Plastic Card Printing , Plastic Products

Custom gift cards and carriers are definitely a big draw for customers at retail and department stores. They give the option of giving a great gift that allows the recipient to choose what they want.  Many retail stores offer several different departments such as  jewelry and accessories (such as belts and purses), clothing, power tools, fitness equipment,  appliances and even food products, making a plastic gift card that much more appealing as there are many different items to choose from. You do not have to offer many different products in order to take full advantage of gift card printing.  A store that sells only perfume still has a wide array of brands to choose from. Purchasing a gift card for someone really does take the guesswork out of getting a gift, and you guarantee the person will like what they get. Investing in a plastic gift card program can be a bit challenging if you are not sure what direction to go.  A “must have” is a complimentary, or matching, gift card carrier.  This is your wrapping for a gift card and should be as inviting, if not more so, than the actual card.  Investing additional funds into the design of the custom gift cards and carriers, as well as a possible gift card envelope, will enhance your corporate image and entice your customers. A retail store can go one step further and offer several different designs give customers the option to further customize their gift. Designs could be directed towards certain events and greetings, such as "Happy Birthday" or "Congratulations", as well as artistic designs that may be more visually appealing than those that just have the department store name on the front. Including the department store's logo and / or brand colors into the design is a good way to tie it all together, while also reminding the recipient where the card is from. A business doesn’t have to be large to have such a program.  Even little “mom and pop” shops can take advantage of a gift card printing program.  The trick is to only stock cards that you know are appealing to your customers and will get sold.  Most companies offer a minimum of 250 cards, which is a perfect “starting out” inventory.  You can expand that offering once you feel confident that customers will start buying.  The goal is to grow sales, while keeping costs down.  For as little as a dollar a card, you can reap huge benefits and keep your customers, and new ones, coming in the door.  

Traditional Plastic Cards vs Laser Membership Cards - Which to Choose for Your Business?

Filed under Custom Printing Tips and Guidelines , Full Color Plastic Card Printing , Plastic Products

With the number of choices on the market, it is not surprising that businesses are not sure what direction to go in when it comes to providing customers a plastic card.  Whether you are an insurance company distributing a coverage card, or a non-profit organization giving their supporters a membership card, it can be challenging what direction to go and which cards will work best for your business.  There are a number of factors to consider when starting, or converting, to a new plastic card program. The first thing to consider when choosing between the two options is a rather simple one.  Do you want, or need, a letterhead portion attached with your card.  If you want that combined into one form, then laser membership cards are the answer.  This gives you the freedom to change your letterhead portion without committing money to forms that may outdate quickly. However, if you already have letterhead, and the information you send out is more general, then single, traditional plastic cards are a great option. You can affix the card to the form, add an envelope or carrier, or just simple ford them into the letterhead when you mail to your customer. The second item to consider when making a program decision is how fast do customers need their cards.  If you need the ability to give a customer, or member, their card within the same day, or within one or two days, laser membership cards are the best options because you can print on demand.  If you have a week or longer to get your member their card, then traditional plastic cards are a good option that will take the work out of your hands.  The one drawback is most printing companies require at least a 250 card minimum.  So you may have to postpone printing until you have that many members to print for. However, on the upside, all you have to do is give the printing company your card design and excel file of the data you want on the card, and you have freed up time to do more pressing company business. The next thing to contemplate is how durable do the plastic cards need to be. If you want your cards to last a long period of time, then a traditional plastic pvc or composite card is the answer.  They are 30 mils in thickness (think of a credit card) and withstand wear and tear.  A laser membership card must be thin in order to go through a laser printer, so they can range from 7.5 to 8 mils in thickness.  They are still durable, but not as much as their counterpart.  Because they are thin, they are extremely flexible to the point that you can fold them in half.  You cannot do this with traditional plastic cards. However, if you have to replace cards on a regular basis, the laser membership card might be more cost effective. And finally, the last two aspects to consider go hand and hand…that is time and money.  Every business large and small has a budget they need to adhere to, and deciding how much money you want to spend on plastic card printing may help make that final decision on which style of cards to go with.  The two big mistakes that are commonly made is not figuring the amount of time you want to spend on your cards and forgetting to figure extra outside costs.  For example, a small business may decide to go with a blank laser membership card and just print their cards themselves thinking that is the cheapest route.  They sometimes forget about the cost of toner to print their cards, and how much time it will take them to set up the form to print.  Your time is valuable and needs to be figured into the cost.  Furthermore, a business may figure the costs and realize it is cheaper, and better use of their time, to have a professional print single, traditional plastic cards. Sometimes, even after asking the above questions, the decision still may not be clear.  With two great product options, what if the wrong choice is made? You may want to try one program for a few months, and then switch to the other.  Doing this allows you time to figure which one is best for both time management and your company’s budget, and help you make that final project decision. Whether you final choice is a laser membership card or a traditional plastic card, you now have options to help improve your business and your bottom line.

Custom Gift Cards for Holidays, or Any Other Time of the Year, to Boost Sales

Filed under Full Color Plastic Card Printing , Plastic Products

The biggest occasions for gift card printing are usually the major holidays in the United States-- Christmas and birthdays. However, there are several other holidays throughout the year that can also be a great gift card giving occasion. For these instances, businesses need to be ready with custom gift cards that have an eye-catching design and are ready for almost any celebratory event at any time of year. Thanksgiving It may not be known as a common gift giving holiday, but the idea behind Thanksgiving is "giving thanks", which can easily be done through gift cards. Encourage customers to give gift cards to their teachers, children’s sports coaches, neighbors, co-workers, or anyone who has given them a helping hand throughout the year.  Also, because “Black Friday” is the day after Thanksgiving, that may be even more incentive to get customers into your location. Easter Many parents give their children an Easter basket or candy during Easter. As a healthier alternative to candy, offer custom gift cards to your business. Many times, children will never eat all the candy they receive, so a "shopping spree" at your business could be a fun way to continue the spring and Easter season.  Valentine’s Day Another holiday that is a prime time for gift giving is Valentine’s Day.  Restaurants, spas, retail stores and hotels can take advantage of offering plastic gift cards to their customers.  Whether your customers are more traditional with cards, flowers and candy or more of an adventurist with trips or spa days, it is a win-win for everyone. “Professional” Holidays This is another smaller group of holidays that was created for showing appreciation for the men and women who handle different positions in the workforce. Jobs can often times be stressful and many employees would appreciate a token of appreciation for everything they do each day.  These is a great B2B opportunity that will help build future partnerships. Quirky Holidays Other holidays that aren't commonly celebrated, like Half Birthdays or "Housiversaries" (when a person first purchases their home) can be a fun way for customers to show someone how much they appreciate them. Offering these fun ideas can inspire customers who may have not thought of it on their own. No matter the holiday, a business should offer several different types of custom gift card designs that could be applicable for almost any situation. There is always a time to give a gift card…and for customers to spend it in your establishment!  

Custom Gift Card Fundraisers

Filed under Full Color Plastic Card Printing

Custom gift card fundraisers are a great way to fund money for non-profit organizations, educational causes such as an intramural soccer teams, or an organization that raises funds for medical research. What makes gift card fundraisers so successful is how team oriented and personal each one is.  The cause is most often very near to the volunteer's heart, which further promotes its success and gets everyone, including businesses excited about the cause. Participants and volunteers from the organization or team can ask friends, family members, neighbors, and other members of the community for donations in exchange for a custom gift card to a local organization.  It is truly a group effort. For instance, a local pizzeria could offer custom gift cards for fundraising groups. These groups would sell the gift cards at a discount rate from the normal advertised price. If a custom gift card is good for 5 large pizzas, which normally sell for $10 each, the fundraising group can sell the cards for $30. Then, the fundraising group would get a percentage of these profits, such as $10 or $20 for every gift card, while the pizzeria may have to absorb some of the costs.  They are helping support a non-profit fundraising organization or group within their local community, so this is usually expected by the business donor.  There are a variety of local and national businesses that can offer this type of gift card fundraiser program. Businesses that are visited frequently, such as coffee shops, restaurants, and movie theaters, are always good choices.  Well known organizations, such as museums, landmarks, or sporting arenas make great additions to a co-op fundraiser plan. An organization looking to get into a custom gift card selling program should start call local businesses to see all options, put a plan in place, and get ready to start the program running!      

Greenhouses and Nurseries Utilizing Custom Gift Cards

Filed under Full Color Plastic Card Printing

Custom gift cards are a great option for any business in the retail or service-based sector, but a gift card to a certain industry may be the perfect  "not so common" gift.  Greenhouses and Nurseries are businesses that people don't normally associate gift cards with; however, these two specific industries can take advantage and increase their sales just like any other retail store. Some options include targeting new homeowners who may really enjoy a gift card to a greenhouse or nursery, especially if their new home could use a lot of landscaping or outside maintenance. Besides giving a custom greenhouse gift card to a new homeowner, there are several other customers that would enjoy such a gift, like gardening enthusiasts or current homeowners. There are several different items that can be purchased with a greenhouse gift card. Depending on the particular greenhouse or nursery business, some of these include gardening tools, flowers, potting containers, watering supplies, trees, pest control, and much more. Quite obviously, the selection is going to vary between each business. Some greenhouses may specialize more in a certain type of style or inventory, like flowers or trees. Before buying a custom gift card to these types of businesses, it's important to find out what type of products and selection they offer to make sure it will fit the recipient, and his or her individual needs. Greenhouse custom gift cards can also be a good option when hiring out labor to do a landscaping or gardening project. If they have a set budget, that amount can be put onto a gift card to make sure that the employees stay on budget. This helps keep costs low and make everyone more aware of the total costs of supplies and plants or trees that are needed. Additionally, most gift cards are reloadable, so if the project goes over budget, it usually isn't a big issue to add more funds onto the card.  So whether it is a gift for a friend or customer, or a way to keep track of expenses for a project, Greenhouse/Nursery industry should take advantage of custom gift cards for their business.  

What Types of Plastic Cards Can My1Stop.com Print?

Filed under Full Color Plastic Card Printing

If you want a way to grab customers’ attention, using plastic card printing in your marketing materials is an attractive and professional way to do it. My1Stop.com has many options for you to choose from.   Gift Cards – Nothing says “coming of age” for a company like when it starts printing its own gift cards. Not only are they great for advertising your business, they are also a convenient purchase option for your customers who are looking for great gifts.   Calendar Cards– If your business revolves around a sort of schedule (e.g. athletics, deliveries, event planning, etc.), calendar cards are an excellent, long lasting promotional item.   Luggage Tags – Don’t underestimate the marketing power of the little luggage tag. Print your message on one side, and give personalization options on the other (personalized items are more likely to be used by their owners). Plus, your luggage tags could be seen the world over!   Key Tags – Functionality and visibility are hallmarks of the key tag. Their small size makes them budget friendly as well. Use them as a promotional item or a frequent buyer card.   Membership Cards – The right membership card reflects positively on your organization while helping you manage your membership base. The cards from My1Stop.com come with the features you need at a price that’s nice.   Of course, My1Stop.com has even more plastic card choices than these. We also have graphic design services to help you choose the look and design features of your plastic cards to make them perfect.  

Laser Membership Cards – Get More From Your Budget By Doing It Yourself

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

Cut printing costs and help your budget by printing your own laser membership cards! [More]

Can Direct Mail Marketing Really Expand Your Customer Base and Increase Profits?

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

Cut costs and drive up direct mail response rates by using various forms of affordable, biodegradable plastic mailing pieces. [More]