Demand-ing Print & Promotional

Demand-ing Print & Promotional are a leading commercial print and supplier of Branded Merchandise, we work with major blue chips clients ensuring they are getting the best deal on all things print.

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How to find the right commercial printer

Every business needs a professional commercial printer.  Whether it be for business cards and office stationery, a full on print marketing campaign spanning the entire UK, or something somewhere in between.

But how do you pick the right commercial printer to work with?   When a simple Google search brings back a whole manner of results near and far and even somewhere out in cyberspace, it can seem a pretty confusing task.

Working with the right commercial printer for your business print needs is crucial.

Our Guide To Finding The RIGHT Commercial Printer For Your Business

There are a range of things you need to look at when working with a new commercial printer.  It really pays to do your research before even picking up the phone.  Visit their website and find as much information as possible, get yourself clued up on what they do and how.

Things to consider:

What will you need printing?

Is location important?

Turnaround times.

Delivery options.

In-house designers.

Can one commercial printer print everything for you, or will you need to go to  a couple of different specialist printers?

Look for a commercial printer who can print lithographic, digital, large format and direct mail all under one roof.

Do you need a commercial printer nearby who you can walk into the office and chat through your print jobs, who has a designer in-house who you can sit and chat through design amends?

Or can you do this from your office wherever you are but your key concerns are price and turnaround?

Neither scenario is better than the other, it’s simply down to personal preference, so consider if location is important to you and if so work around this.

Ask your printer what their turnaround times are for standard items.  This will help you work out deadlines for artwork to be with your printer in order to get the job delivered on time.

Can your printer offer delivery under plain cover, Royal Mail delivery, courier timed deliveries or collection from their depot?

What are your requirements – will you be looking to collect in order to save on delivery fees etc?

Don’t skip this point even if you have your own designer already.  It’s really useful when commercial printers have their own in-house designers to do things like last minute pre-print tweaks or cover when your designer has a sick day.

Road Test…

Once you’ve completed your research it’s time to road test your selected printer.  Start by picking a relatively small job that you need printing and check:

You receive a PDF pre-production proof.

Ask for a printed pre-production proof as this is your first job with them.

Accurate colour matching.

Items are turned around in the correct time-frame.

Items are delivered to the correct address, on time.

You are happy with their overall service – it’s your first job with them so they should be aiming to impress!

The Result

Now your first print job is complete and you’re happy with the results, you can look forward to building a long term relationship with your commercial printer.

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Direct mail: 4 reasons why it should form part of your marketing strategy

“Print is dead!” hailed many brands at the dawn of digital marketing; but as the years passed, those brands started to realise that traditional tools weren’t going anywhere, and they still have their place in the marketing mix.

Print is more effective today than it ever has been, given that it can now be integrated with digital tools to provide consumers with a seamless, cross-channel experience. Direct mail, for its part, can have a greater impact on some audiences than email and is effective for specific things, such as targeting special groups.

A Business2Community article I read recently gave reasons why brands should make direct mail part of their marketing strategy – here are four of them:

1. It’s unique

Direct mail is versatile; it comes in all shapes and sizes and can be used to convey a multitude of messages. Different to social media or email, direct mail is tangible – recipients can hold and feel it, which helps boost its impact. Nevertheless, design is key and brands must create original and eye-catching mail, or they risk it being thrown in the bin.

2. It’s trackable

The success of direct mail campaigns can be measured through the use of ‘tracking devices,’ such as vouchers or coupons which form part of the printed material. Not all recipients will use them, but at least brands will know where the customers who do use them live.

3. It can be integrated

As previously mentioned, the best strategies are ones in which digital and traditional tools are combined. Direct mail can be integrated with digital through the use of personalised URLS – or PURLS – which target recipients with personalised offer via a trackable URL or QR code. Doing this also means an instant opt-in for follow-up email.

4. It has the potential to outperform email

The response rate of direct mail outperforms all other digital platforms. According to the 2015 Response Report from the Direct Marketing Association, direct mail achieves a 3.7% response rate with a house list and 1% with a prospect list. To compare, all digital platforms combined get a 0.62% response rate.

When targeted and attention-grabbing, direct mail can be a strong component to any brand’s marketing strategy. If you want to learn more about its benefits, get in touch with us today.

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Marketing your brand

If you run your own small business or have dabbled in marketing of any kind, you may have come across AIDA. For those who haven’t, AIDA is a marketing model that has been around for centuries and is particularly useful when it comes to creating effective campaigns.

AIDA is made up of four basic principles – Attention, Interest, Desire and Action. The idea behind it is that each of these principles should be ticked off in an orderly fashion if you want your audience to fully engage with your message. Often, AIDA is applied broadly to the likes of a long-running campaign, a business opening or a major product launch; things that require the use of a number of marketing methods over a period of time. But AIDA can also be applied to just one marketing method, namely the design of your leaflet. Here’s how:

A – Attention

Before you create your leaflet, you need to think about how it’s going to grab people’s attention. The key to this lies in the design. The best way to get the attention of your audience is to make your leaflet design as eye-catching as possible so it stands out amongst the rest. If you don’t know where to start with this, collect a handful of leaflets from around town and take some time to identify what it is that makes them appealing. Which leaflet stands out the most? What is it about the design that made you pick up that particular one? Was it simply down to your personal taste or was there something different about the design that made you sit up and take notice? It’s often beneficial to do research like this beforehand so you know what it is that makes people look again.

I – Interest

The next thing to think about is how you’re going to keep your reader interested. This is where your best copywriting skills come in! Snappy taglines and engaging content are key components in making a connection with your audience, so it’s important to establish your message and find the best way to get that across. Think about your tone of voice. Is it suited to your target audience? Does it correspond with your brand persona? Is it fresh, fun, exciting? All of this should be taken into account so that your message stays relevant. Be careful not to include too much detail – this isn’t a booklet after all! Trim the fat to keep your content short, sweet and on point. The faster the reader can absorb your message, the better. The last thing you want is for them to get bored!

D – Desire

Once you’ve stirred the interest, you need to convince your reader that what you’re offering is what they want. To do this, highlight your unique selling points and tell them exactly why your service is great. Even better, throw in an exclusive offer. The more desirable your service comes across, the more likely it is that your audience will act on that desire. Which brings us to our last point…

A – Action

The whole reason for designing a leaflet is to inspire action, whether that’s how to get in touch with you, where to sign up for your service, how much, where to buy, etc. Whatever your end-game may be, don’t forget to make it clear on your leaflet. Always include your contact details (website, phone number, yada-yada-yada) and sign off with a call-to-action such as ‘get in touch now!’

So now you’re up to scratch on your AIDA knowledge, keep it in mind next time you’re creating a leaflet. What’s great about following the AIDA model is that it covers all bases so you won’t miss any of those all-important details out of your design. Win! Let us know how you get on.

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Laser Engraving and Embroidery/Laser engraving

This method is where lasers are used to engrave, etch or mark an object. The technique is highly technical and complex utilising a computerised system to drive the movements of the laser head. Despite the complexity, very precise and clean engravings can be achieved at a high rate. It is this level of detail that makes it ideal for creating a high quality, cost effective means of personalising a wide variety of materials in particular metal, glass and wood. The laser engraving technique does not involve tool bits coming into contact with the surface of the product being engraved. This means laser engraving is at a distinct advantage over alternative engraving, and less modern technologies, where bit heads have to be replaced regularly.

Embroidery

This is the application of embroidering a logo or design onto clothing, caps or bags using computerised embroidery machines.

There are two main parts to this process. The first part is ‘Digitizing’ which is when the logo is turned into stitches by physically tracing the design and creating the various types of stitches on a computer programme which will recreate the design. The digitizer will decide the best way for the design to be sewn onto the fabric, and will make decisions according to the fabric type and design size. Once the design has been digitized a disk is made which controls the embroidery machines. Now the design is ready for part two. This is the sewing process; firstly the disk is sampled on a loose piece of fabric to ensure that the quality is good and that there are no errors in the digitizing. Once the sample has been approved production can commence.

Some designs may need to be modified before they can be embroidered successfully. Small text below 4-5mm may need enlarging slightly and designs with very fine detail may require editing in order to achieve the best overall look.

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What is Screen Printing?

The process is known as screen printing. Silk screen printing is a name first used when the mesh or screen was made of natural silk. Nowadays screen mesh is either made from polyester, stainless steel or nylon.

The basic items of equipment required to carry out screen printing are:

STENCIL: This consists of a frame onto which a mesh is attached under tension. The mesh is coated or covered with a photosensitive material. The image to be printed is created photographically on the stencil leaving open areas of mesh through which ink passes. The stencil is also known as “the screen”.

SQUEEGEE: A flexible polyurethane blade (sometimes rubber) held in a rigid mount or handle.

INK: Can take the form of a wide range of solids or dyes suspended in a fluid.

SUBSTRATE: This is a general term for the surface that is to be printed. The surfaces can range from bread to bio-medical sensors.

MACHINE BASE: The base provides a surface for the substrate to be printed and the upper section secures the screen.

Function of the Squeegee

In conventional screen-printing the squeegee carries out two functions. It deflects the stencil and brings it into contact with the substrate. The squeegee is held at an angle of typically 75 degrees to the horizontal.

During the printing action the squeegee is moved across the stencil, creating a pressure wave in the ink. The actual point of flow is where the leading edge of the squeegee is in contact with the stencil. This is known as the “Flow Point.”

Press Types

Press types can be split as follows:

Flat bed press. (Further split into hand bench, semi automatic and fully automatic)

Cylinder press

Rotary screen press

Container (cylindrical) printer

Carousel textile press

Applications for Screen Printing

What makes screen printing so popular is the ability to lay down a film of a wide range of materials on a vast range of substrates. Everywhere you look are examples of the process and many places that are hidden.

Applications include: Posters and point of sale displays, gaskets, watch dials, key pads, transfers, electronic circuits, car windscreens, road signs, architectural glass, tableware, nameplates, labels, ceramic tiles, vehicle instrumentation, mouse mats, office equipment, membrane switches, estate agents boards, textiles, fuel cells, pzt, containers, electronic circuitry, playing cards, scratch cards, heating elements, footballs, baseball bats, cricket bats, tennis rackets, golf clubs, clocks, fine art limited editions, laptops, plasma screen televisions. These are just a selection.

Rotary Screen Printing

Just like the method explained above for flatbed screen printing, cylindrical items can also be decorated by using a rotary screen printing machine. This is often the method of choice if an item is to be decorated by a design that wraps around more than a quarter of the circumference of the item. In the promotional market place the most common items to be decorated using this process are pens and mugs.

The process works by a cylindrical object sitting on wheels allowing it to spin freely up to 360 degrees.  A squeegee is placed directly above the item which has a point of approx 60 degrees. The point of this squeegee must be placed directly above the item; this is often referred to as top dead centre. A stencil with the image to be printed containing ink is all that sits between the item and the squeegee. The stencil is then moved in a horizontal motion causing the item to rotate. The stationary squeegee then pushes ink through the stencil onto the cylindrical item.

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What is Pad Printing?

Pad printing, is an “indirect offset gravure” printing process directly related to a process invented several hundred years ago in Europe.

The main elements of the pad printing process are:

Printing plate

The ink

Silicone rubber printing pad

Doctor blade or ink cup

Machine

The image to be printed is created on the printing plate, normally produced by chemical etching. The plate is generally steel or a nylon photopolymer material.

Pad printing inks contain solvents. The evaporation of the solvents from the ink is the main mechanism that enables the process to operate. When the ink is contained within the etched image area this evaporation of solvents causes the surface of the ink to become tacky. The shape of the pad is such that when it compresses on the plate the printing surface of the pad rolls across the plate, as it does so it comes into contact with the tacky surface of the ink. The ink sticks to the pad, as the pad lifts the printing surface rolls away from the plate and lifts up ink from the etching.

Whilst the pad moves towards the object to be printed the solvent continues to evaporate from the ink on the pad and the outside surface of the ink becomes tacky.

As the pad makes contact with the object and compresses, the print surface of the pad rolls across the object and the tacky surface of the ink attaches itself to the surface of the object. The pad then lifts and the printing surface of the pad rolls away from the surface of the object and releases the ink leaving it laying on the surface. Whilst this is happening the etched portion of the plate is recharged with ink, and the pad returns to pick up another image from the plate.

A whole range of variables will affect pad printing. Etch depth, ink condition, ambient conditions, pad shape, surface finish, hardness and machine speed are the key factors.

Inking Systems

Conventional pad printing machines are divided into three families.

‘Open ink trough’ where the ink is held open to the atmosphere in a trough either behind the plate or around the plate.

‘Closed cup’ or ‘sealed cup’, where the ink is contained in an inverted cup with its opening in contact with the plate. Being enclosed in the cup inhibits the evaporation of solvent from the ink.

‘Rotary system’ where a rotary drum type silicone pad is used in conjunction with a steel cylindrical plate. The ink is either held in an open trough type system or in a sealed chamber rather like the inverted cup.

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Are you a Charity or Community group?

Every month we will be giving away 100 printed or promotional items to help a charity or community group here is the UK.

Just think how much value you can add to your brand awareness or you could even sell the items as a fundraising idea.  

This month we are giving away 100 folding water bottles, which includes a one colour print logo, in one location.

To enter please email [email protected] and tell us why your charity or community should win, and how this will help your charity.

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The psychology of colour when designing for print

Colour can play a huge role in the world of print and can often have an impact on how customers will react to your promotional material. Certain colours are synonymous with certain feelings and it is this emotional connection that you need to consider when using colour in print. The role of colour in posters, flyers and brochures can be particularly impactful with strong vibrant colours often standing out. These colours may not always help get your message across so it is important to understand the psychology of colour when you are designing for print.

How do people respond to different colours?

Every colour carries with it a different response with psychologists carrying out regular studies to investigate the impact various colours have on consumers and their buying habits. Colours tend to be categorised as either warm or cool with different colours falling into these categories and evoking a response from consumers. Warm colours are often associated with energy while cooler colours are often associated with a calm and secure state. Below we take a look at the role of different colours when designing for print for your business.

Warm Colours:

Red: The colour red is associated with an increased heart rate and can often be associated with a number of emotions including danger, passion, energy and aggression. This colour really does cover many spectrums but it can often dominate a page or poster so it is important to be cautious when using it. Red is an extremely popular colour to promote special offers or sales as it grabs our attention. Red is a popular colour in the automotive, food and technology industries but tends to be unpopular for clothing, energy and finance.

Orange: Like red, orange is another colour that creates a sense of energy and when we think of orange we often think of heat and warmth. Just think of the sun or a roaring fire. Orange combines characteristics of two colours; red and yellow. It has the brightness of yellow and energy of red making orange a fun and exciting colour to use. Orange tends to be popular in technology and health industries but unpopular with clothing, energy, transport and finance.

Yellow: When it comes to print, yellow is one colour that can be hard to work with especially when used with white. It does however create a sense of optimism as we can often think of the sun. Yellow can work really well when used with red, especially when promoting sales and offers as it catches the customers eye. It is popular in food, energy and household industries but doesn’t tend to be used as much in the travel and technology sectors.

Pink: The colour pink has a strong feminine association and is often used to market to women and young girls. It is also a very calming colour that evokes a sense of romance. Just think of hearts and roses the colour pink comes to mind. When it comes to designing for print, pink is a very powerful tool in the beauty and clothing industries, particularly among young women. More recently it has been popular in the travel and automotive industry.

Black: The final warm colour on our list is black. While this may seem like a bit of a surprise, black is a very sophisticated colour when it comes to designing your print material for your customers. It is often associated with wealth and power and is used to promote luxury products. You will often find the colour black used as the primary colour in posters for goods like luxury cars, clothing and jewellery. Black is less popular when it comes to promoting areas like health care and energy.

Cool Colours:

Blue: Blue is one of the most popular colours among brands, particularly in print. If you think of some of the biggest global brands, IBM, Facebook, Intel, Samsung, HP and Nivea, they all use blue throughout their print material. Blue is a very calming colour that we often associate with the sky and the sea. It also evokes a sense of trust and security and is very popular in the financial and corporate industry along with the technology sector.

Purple: The colour purple is often associated with elegance but like blue it has soothing and calming influences. It also creates a sense of nostalgia but is a very powerful colour and one that can add real elegance to your printing needs. Purple is popular in the health and beauty industry but tends to be unpopular with energy and agricultural organisations.

Brown: It may not be the most popular or glamorous of colours when it comes to meeting your print requirements but one thing brown does really well is to create a natural connection. Brown evokes a connection with earth and is seen as an extremely durable colour often used in the clothing and agricultural sectors. You need to be cautious when using brown though as it is often associated with dirt and lack of cleanliness.

Green: The colour green is often seen as a fresh and healthy colour that also carries wealthy associations. It is also a colour that is really easy for the human eye and mind to process and can be very relaxing to look at. Green is extremely popular in the health industry and pharmacies in particular. It tends to be less popular in the airline industry although Aer Lingus who are the national carrier of Ireland are one airline company that are synonymous with the colour green.

White: The final colour on our list is the colour white, perhaps one of the most popular colours to work with in print. White works with almost every colour although it’s best to avoid using light shades of yellow and orange with white. The colour represents purity and cleanliness and can be a very clinical colour to use. Think of the fashion industry and wedding gowns or the health industry and lab jackets and you instantly think of white. More recently white has become a popular colour in the automotive and technology industries.

We hope that this gives you an insight into the psychology of some colours and how they are perceived by customers. You must also take into consideration your own corporate colours and the message you are looking to portray when you are deciding on what colours to use in print.

Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter  and let us know your favourite colours when it comes to creating your print requirements. What colour grabs your attention and which brands do you think use colour well?

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Christmas colours for your promotional material

Traditional colours – Red & cream/white

Red and cream work with branding material at Christmas time because they are traditional, warm and instantly recognisable. These are great colours for businesses which operate in the hospitality industry (like food or hotels) as these colours will evoke a sense of warmth and reliability. The use of white space in the below advert is also very useful as readability is very important in all marketing material, but particularly at Christmas when details are imperative.

Earth colours – Green, white and brown

These colours derive from the traditional Christmas tree and are a great neutral colour scheme for all marketing material. These would be particularly effective for the beauty and holistic industry as earth colours represent nature and holistic practices. They are colours people associate with health and wellbeing so they are considered trustworthy in the world of branding and with so many businesses competing for customers at Christmas – trust is something you must focus us through your marketing efforts. Learning about the psychology of colour can really help with your marketing efforts.

Icy colours – Blue, silver and white

They are cool, cold and forever in style. Icy colours for Christmas branding are a great and modern way to brand your marketing material this Christmas. Consistently popular amongst gift shops and retailers – icy colours at Christmas set the mood for the season and of course these colours always look fresh and good together.

Using your own brand colours

There’s nothing to say you cannot simply add Christmas details to your own brand – this can be something as simple as adding small trees or bells to your leaflets, using your own brand colours.  This a great way to show your Christmas spirit whilst being loyal to your own brand and allowing your customers and potential customers to recognise your instantly.

Whatever your Christmas printing plans – make sure you are ready in advance. We offer an excellent service with great turnaround times – helping to take the pressure of you. 

Keep up to date with all the latest news and offers here at Demand-ing Print & Promotional by connecting with us on Facebook and Twitter.

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Pack a punch with your packaging!

In an increasingly competitive marketplace, it’s vital to constantly think about how to get your message across. Promotional opportunities are everywhere and your packaging is a ready-made marketing tool that goes directly to your customers.

The personal touch

Everyone likes to feel special. Used correctly, your packaging can really build and strengthen relationships. A simple hand-written note shows you care about your customer. It might just say thank you for the business, or that you hope they enjoy their new product. Small touches like these can get you remembered for all the right reasons.

Complimentary service

With more and more business being carried out online, some people might think the simple compliment slip is outdated, but they couldn’t be more wrong. Demand-ing Print & Promotional prints a huge number of these, both as part of our stationery packages and as stand-alone items. A hand-written note on a well-designed, branded compliment slip can go a long way to keeping your business at the forefront of a customer’s mind.

Send a postcard

A well-designed postcard is another great way further promote your business when sending a package or literature to prospective or existing customers. Everybody likes something for nothing, so why not include a postcard displaying a special offer, discount code or invite to an event? Again, you’ll be adding value to your product and building customer loyalty. You can also use your postcard to collect customer feedback. People love giving their opinions, and asking them to comment on products and services is a great way to encourage interaction. Your feedback postcard might even double as an entry into a prize draw if completed and returned. And a big plus with Demand-ing Print & Promotional is that it’s easy to customise your print for different customers, further adding to the personal feel.

Stick ‘em up!

Advertise even before someone opens their package or envelope by adding a sticker or branded address label. Your sticker might just show your logo or maybe tease with a QR code, web address or social media page. We print a great deal of stickers for customers who use them as part of a larger marketing campaign, but stickers are increasingly popular for branding packaging at very low cost. They can help drive traffic to your online pages or simply add a fun feel to your packaging. Have a look on our website to see the range of stickers available. It really doesn’t cost much to personalise your packaging and brighten someone’s day!

There are loads of ways to add a little extra punch to your packaging. Postcards, stickers, compliment slips or even business cards can be included to add value to your product or service. So, check out our website or contact us today and let us help you get creative with your packaging!

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How do I choose the best vinyl banners for my business?

All over the country, people are constantly competing for attention. A great way to get it; Vinyl banners. They stand out and bring attention to your business. This is the ideal way to catch people’s eye and stick in their mind. First, you have to know how to pick the best vinyl banner for your company’s needs.

Quality of Product

The first thing that needs to be considered is quality. There’s many places that are willing to short change you, but you need the best. You want to purchase from somebody that has quality vinyl. Make sure you’re getting the best bang for your pennies.

You need to make sure that the vinyl banner you are purchasing can be used outside. It would be a shame to spend the money on a vinyl banner you intended to use for outdoor advertising only to find out the colours will fade in the sunlight and that it lets off a glare in the sunlight. Make sure you look for these things when purchasing.

Thirdly, make sure that your banner can stand the weather. The UK's weather can  be brutal, and you want to make sure your banner can stand the weather conditions. Check with the printer before buying your banner to ensure it can handle wind, rain, etc.

Affordability of Advertising

An extremely important factor on everybody’s mind is affordability. While it’s true that advertising helps to bring in clients and therefore money, you don’t want to overspend on your marketing. Pay close attention to these few factors that could impact the price of your banner.

Size an important part of the banner. A large banner is much more noticeable and can be seen from a distance. This is a typical means of advertisement with vinyl banners. A large banner seems to be many organisations’ go to.

Quality, again, is something that will affect the cost. If you intend to use your banner indoors, you could get something lower quality and, therefore, cheaper. If compromising on quality will suit your needs, it’s something to be considered.

Compromising with Convenience

Convenience is another important aspect to be considered. It’s best to find somebody with rush printing, such as Demand-ing Print & Promotional . It’s very convenient to design your banner online and have it printed.

Decide if you want to go to the printer and pick up your vinyl banner or if you want to have it delivered. You’ll have to go through the printers options to see what’s available. If you want to have it delivered, see how much delivery costs are in addition to printing costs.

Vinyl banners are the best choice if you’re trying to get exposure for your company in a cheap and effective manner. Picking the best one for your company may be difficult, but if you know what you’re trying to achieve you’ll find what you want. Now, get out there and go find your banner!

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What are you going to achieve with your Christmas print budget this year? 

With ever-increasing competition and the race to secure early bookings, many hotel groups have to put quantity before quality in order to ensure sufficient stocks of brochures, menus and POS to cover their supply demands.

THIS DOESN’T HAVE TO BE THE CASE! 

You can have quantity AND quality if you select the right printer for the job.

How many folded A5 and A4 brochures are out there, printed onto a nice quality material? Hundreds or possibly thousands. What will catch your eye and make it stand out from the crowd?

It needs to be something that little bit different, but budgets can be so constraining. Imagine a brochure with some flittering (glitter) on the front cover, or a beautiful high quality textured card with an image embossed into it with gold foiling.

Depending upon your audience you could go for a novelty approach: perhaps an advent calendar style cover with some little windows to open which reveal special Christmas offers, such as book

before xx date and receive a free bottle of bubbly; or something fun like a front cover with a pair of pop-out antlers.

The possibilities are endless, but only if you know how to achieve it within your budget.

HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

Don’t just speak to one or two printers, or let your creative agency buy your print for you. Speak to a specialist who understands all the in’s and out’s of the production process, different paper and board options and the infinite possibilities of different finishes.

Let them give you an unbiased quotation and compare it to others out there. It won’t cost you anything and you can rest assured you won’t be hassled by sales execs giving you endless follow-up calls.

What have you got to lose? So don’t look at your competitors’ material and think “I wish we could do that” DO IT!

Give us a call and talk you your requirements 0330 222 1995 

[email protected]  

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How Promotional Products Can Impact Positively on Your Marketing ROI

Here at Demand-ing Print & Promotional we are fully-fledged promotional products geeks.  We passionately believe that tangible items within a brands marketing activity will not only boost the campaign but also provide a return on investment.

Marketing is now multi-faceted.  We are bombarded with advertising whether it be TV or bus adverts, magazine adverts, website banners, social media, sponsored adverts and content marketing. Technology advancements mean there is a strong pull for marketers to focus on digital and online marketing to ensure the brands message is heard.

Did you know, we actually spend more time with media than asleep?!* With so much information on offer, can we really digest it all? If you think about it, the more scarce a marketing channel, the more value it has. With this abundance of digital advertising, have you considered promotional products?

It is no secret that marketers are faced by challenges in the current ever-changing and evolving climate. In this blog we hope to shed a little light on the power of the promotional product within your marketing campaign, whether it be as part of a direct mail campaign, a gift to loyal clients or an exhibition freebie.

It is evident that customers make deeper, emotional associations with your brand if they receive a personalised, useful item from you with a clear call to action.  When they need your product or service, how do they contact you?  By using a branded item, you are getting in front of your clients, with something more meaningful than say a web banner or an advert in a magazine.

Here come the stats…

Research carried out by the BPMA demonstrates the impact branded products can have as a marketing medium.  Interestingly, over half of those asked in a recent survey by the BPMA said promotional products was the advertising media best to get clients to take action, a much larger proportion than any other medium.

83% of customers suggested they can name the brand of the promotional product on their desk and 87% advised they kept a promotional item for longer than a year.  Even though purchasing branded merchandise may initially seem like a high expenditure, thelongevity of the product will potentially make it a better use of budget than something more fleeting. We call this “cost per impression”. For example, how many times will your phone number be seen on a mug in its lifetime of use versus an advert in a paper?

As humans we are hard wired to respond if we receive a gift, meaning promotional items are a brilliant way to increase interaction with customers.

So whether it be as part of a direct mail campaign, a gift to loyal clients or an exhibition freebie, promotional products are a fantastic way to gain exposure, engage with your clients and hence impact positively on your ROI.

If you are interested in finding out more, we would love to hear from you. You can email [email protected]  or call us on 0330 222 1995.

*Source: Ofcom **Source: BPMA Research

[demandingprint-blog]

See how much you could save on your print...

Do you know how many companies are paying way over the odds for their print? Do you have ANY idea how much 1000 letterheads or a 16-page brochure might be at cost-price? Well, I do - and I reckon that you could easily save at least 30% and possibly up to 50% off your current bills.

DO YOU PREFER TO STAY WITH THE DEVIL YOU KNOW?

It is very time-consuming researching new print companies, sending them specs and then receiving endless follow-up calls. Even then, how do you know if you can trust a new print company - and where do you stand if things go wrong? Is that why you tend to stick with your current suppliers?

HOW TO INADVERTENTLY SPEND EVEN MORE ON YOUR PRINT

Perhaps you buy your print through the advertising agency which produces your design work, in which case you will be paying EVEN MORE, as they will most likely be putting on a 15–20% mark-up on top of what the printer is charging!

HORSES FOR COURSES

If you are dealing direct with a printer, are you using the same one for all your needs? Different print suppliers tend to be far more competitive in certain areas. Some will be far more cost-effective for short runs (say 500 to 1000 copies), whilst others will be far more suitable for long runs (possibly 10,000+ or 100,000 copies). Then there is the question of finishing, does your job require any special finish such as a matt laminate, die-cutting in a special shape or embossing some part of your document? If so, some printers will be able to do this in-house, whilst others will farm it out which will make it more expensive.

IT’S NOT A PAY-PER-LESS BILL

Do you have any idea how much impact the cost of the paper your job is printed on will have on your final bill? Different paper types can have a substantial affect upon the quotation you are given. If you understand what’s out there and possibly just change the weight of the paper just a little, or choose an alternative paper manufacturer (some are notoriously expensive) you can save a significant amount.

WHAT’S THE SOLUTION?

Quite simply, I think every company should regularly review their print spend, but if you are not a specialist in this area it can be difficult to identify where cost-savings can be made. That’s where a free print audit comes in. How? Simply provide invoices for your last 12 months’ print spend and I will show you where savings can be made. In fact, I have run free print audits for large blue chip businesses and have saved them around 40-50%. Seriously, it’s a no-brainer - it’s free and you could save thousands!