GKD Litho

GKD Litho is a leading Hull based digital and lithographic printers. We are a bespoke printers and the types of printing we mainly do revolve around brochures, business cards, leaflets and other promotional materials. We can handle any size. We can handle most print jobs, from unique designs and materials to complex requirements. Get in touch! www.gkd-litho.com or email [email protected]

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Why you should still be doing direct mail campaigns.

All too often we hear businesses say that they don't bother doing marketing / direct mail campaigns anymore! The reason? Because they're active on social media and they send out the odd email campaign.

This is all great of course, but many of your target audience may still want to read something in more detail and they may not even engage with you in the digital world. it can sometimes be easy to forget about some of the more traditional marketing techniques that still have a place. Companies that run integrated campaigns - that it a blend of both old and new methods - often see the greatest results. So next time you're planning a campaign - of course you want to run social media - but why not also give some good old DM a go too? 

If you're still weighing it up, we've listed some of the reasons we think it should still be part of your marketing mix:

the ability to be truly personalised. If you have a contact database / CRM you can tailor each piece of mail to an individual. Think of the power of something landing on someone's desk / doormat with relevant info for them and it's addressed to them as an individual. You can even target customers with offers and new product launches only on ranges they may be interested in. Personally addressing a leaflet to someone can also have a good impact as they are more likely to take time to read it.

the ability to really target specific businesses / individuals / areas. You can also use it to target only those people who have previously expressed an interest in your company with specific offers not available to the public. Targeting a direct mail campaign also allows you to target different geographic areas with relevant offers (you can use this to test the strength of different offers and creative execution too). You can reduce wastage compared with other forms of advertising.

increased shelf-life. If the content of your marketing material is relevant and well put together visually, your target audience is more likely to keep the information for a time they may want to use your services / buy your products. 

If you would like more information on direct mail and to get advice on getting the most from your next campaign, please do contact us today to see how we can help.

We handle any size job – from one print to thousands. Printing anything from promotional leaflets and stationery, through to brochures and catalogues. In addition, we also have the capabilities to manage variable data printing, finishing and fulfilment in-house. So no matter what your printing requirements, we are sure to be able to help.

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We're looking for an experienced Print Estimator - could it be you?

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7 things to remember when you're designing a leaflet or flyer

Flyers / leaflets are a great way of getting your message out to your target audience. Cost-effective and relatively simple to produce, you can use them for one-off offers, to raise brand awareness, for a marketing campaign or for promotion at an exhibition, to name but a few.

Getting a leaflet right is not always easy, especially if it's not something you do regularly. A professional design obviously helps, but if you're looking to do it yourself, we've pulled together some considerations for you:

Think carefully about the look and feel. If you put too many images or too much text on a page, people are unlikely to read it. It will be visually unappealing and confusing. 

Make sure it represents your brand well. If it doesn't look like something that your company would normally send out, think about aligning it to your brand a little better. You want your customers to recognise that it's from you.

Ensure you've included clear information on how a potential customer can make contact / buy from you. Have you added your web address? And email address? A telephone number? If not, you're missing out on a valuable sales opportunity!

Only use high quality imagery. Images can really bring your leaflet to life. Also, make sure the images you use are relevant to the product or service you supply. Again, don't confuse a customer by using an image that doesn't resemble your business - even if it's a great photo that you just love! Don't forget you can actually showcase your products with great, professional photography. Remember, they need to be high resolution otherwise they'll look grainy when they go to print.

Make sure the text you use can actually be read by the recipient. Is it in plain language? Avoid technical or industry-specific jargon. Your customers may not know what you're talking about and may go to your competitors instead! Short, snappy sentences work better than lengthy paragraphs. Also, think about the colour of the text and whether or not the wording is over a background. Is it clear and easy to read? If you have an offer, why not make it a strong headline message to grab the reader's attention?

Think about specifics, such as the size you want to go for (A5, A4, etc). Do you want it to be a simple flyer or are you thinking more of a folding leaflet? (Think about half fold, roll fold, z-fold, gate fold - all of them require specific things to be checked). Are you going for single or double-sided? Paper finish - silk, gloss, uncoated, etc and finally the weight of the paper - if it's a one-off give-away, such as a time-sensitive promotion, you can get away with a lighter paper. If it's a pizza take-away menu that you want people to hold on to, you want it to be on better quality paper for a longer lifespan.

Other useful things to think about when doing your design:

Colour used should be CMYK.

Images should be 300dpi resolution to produce well.

Make sure you bleed any images or solid colours off the edge of the artwork, otherwise you end up with a white border.

If you decide to have a folded leaflet with images, make sure they are aligned across the fold 

With roll folded leaflets, make sure the inside panel is slightly smaller.

Finally, don't forget to proof-read and print out a sample yourself to ensure it looks as you'd envisaged.

So you've designed your leaflet, but now you're not sure about how to get it printed? Why not contact us on 01482 325313.

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Are you creating the right impression when you exhibit at a trade-show?

  Exhibitions or trade shows are a great place to showcase your company and its products / services. It's often a cost-effective way of seeing many people all in one day. Imagine the time it would take to generate that number of leads by cold calling or doing sales visits?! You can also take the opportunity to check out your competitors of course! 

So remember, it's vital that you stand out from the crowd. Good graphics panel / display stand can often make the difference between someone stopping at your stand or simply walking straight past it. 

So, to help get you started we've pulled together some ideas to make the most of your exhibition stand.

Your stand

Remember, to stand out doesn't necessarily mean you need to have the biggest stand available. 

The key is to make an impression with your stand. Make the most of the space you have.Having bright, lively graphics is very powerful. However, you should of course ensure that you remain on brand - if you look entirely different to the way you normally brand yourself, your customers may fail to recognise you.

Your stand needs to let people know who you are and what you do. Make sure you don't load your graphics panels with too much text. It's possible that someone walking past your stand - even if they don't stop to talk to you - can still gain a clear understanding of your business. Keep it simple with clear on brand messages and a clear call to action - telephone number / email address / web so they can contact you for further information.

If you are taking a small space and are working to a low budget, roll up banner stands can be really cost-effective - and still help you create the right image. 

A way to encourage footfall on to your stand is to run a competition or to give away some promotional items / freebies. Of course you don't want to just give away something for nothing - so think about how you can use the opportunity to capture some relevant data. Get them to drop their business card in a bowl, or to fill out a competition entry form with their contact details. Freebies should contain relevant contact information so that they can easily get in touch with you - your web address and a telephone number keep the item uncluttered. Again, it's important that you keep your promotional items on brand. And spend some time thinking about how useful the item will be to the recipient. A mug, pen, pen holder, mouse mat, etc are all great items as they will sit on the desk in full view as a constant reminder to them of your brand. However, whilst chocolates or sweets may well be more appreciated in the short term, you opportunity to expose your brand is also very short-term.

Ensure you take sufficient printed material with you to the show. You will need company / product brochures, flyers promoting any special offers you may have running, order forms, enquiry sheets, etc. Go prepared - once you're there it's too late!

Attending exhibitions can take up a significant chunk of your marketing budget, but if done right, you can reap many rewards. We have had clients who have won business as a result of a trade show that more than paid for them to take part in the first place.

Think about what it is your business needs to achieve, then plan, promote and ensure your stand and your promotional material are to the highest standard possible. And finally, don't forget to ensure that you have the right staff in attendance - natural sales people are the best. Good luck with your next show! 

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Do you go digital or litho? That's a question we often get asked

Many people wonder what the benefits are of these two forms of print. Digital tends to be cheaper and good for short runs. But then litho has always had a reputation for quality. So, which do you choose?

So, what's good about Litho?

Cost-effective for large quantities

Can ensure you get the exact colour match (Pantone reference) for your brand 

Good, clear, high quality images

Great professional quality.

And what about Digital?

More cost-effective for smaller print runs.

Speed of turnaround.

Quick and easy to make last-minute changes before going to press.

So in summary

We suggest you go with the option that best suits your needs. Is timescale critical? Or is it more important that you get a perfect match for your brand identity? How many are you going to need to print?

If you're still unsure, why not ? Why not give us a call on 01482 325313 to discuss your printing needs?

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You'll be amazed at how quickly we can turn your job around

Not only are we known for our outstanding customer service and high quality printing, but we are also recognised for being reliable, flexible and responsive to our clients' needs.

Don't wait around for unreliable suppliers to print your job when it's convenient for them.  

We understand how important it is to you, when you're up against a deadline, that we deliver withinyour timescales. We never over promise and under deliver, it's just not in our nature. And we always bend over backwards to help our clients... In fact only the other week we printed and delivered a company's 32-page catalogue that was needed for a show within less than 24 hours of receiving the artwork.

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Did you know?

You can drop in and talk about your print job anytime?

That’s right. We’re not running a top secret operation here! In fact, we actually find that the more our clients understand about the print process, the easier it is for them to order print jobs in future.  And many of them actually enjoy the experience too!

We’ve earned our long-standing reputation as a quality-focused printing company that puts its customers first. So next time you’re thinking about your print requirements, why not give us a call and pop in for a chat? 

We’re a friendly bunch… honest. 

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Got a marketing campaign to get out, but you can't get it printed on time?

You need to get a marketing campaign out this week. You've got the creative finished. But your usual printer can't get the job done in time. We understand how frustrating that can be. 

No longer do you need to sit around waiting for your printer to be able to squeeze you in!

GKD is a leading Yorkshire-based digital and litho commercial printing company with over 25 years' experience. We handle all size of jobs, printing anything from promotional leaflets and stationery, through to company brochures, catalogues and product packaging. So no matter what your printing requirements, we are sure to be able to help.

On-time printing... guaranteed

We produce print beyond the constraints of ‘9 to 5’, which combined with our highly skilled team has given us a strong reputation for customer service and a ‘can do’ attitude.

So, isn't it time you said 'goodbye' to unreliable suppliers who deliver only when it's convenient to them and 'hello' to a printer that delivers when you need them to?

Want to find out more? Please contact us so we can tell you how we can take the stress out of your print buying experience.

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Being 'green' with printing

Protecting the environment and our natural resources, is important to us.

“But you’re printers?” we hear you cry. Understanding what we need to do to reduce our impact on the environment is something that we take very seriously. We are members of twosides, whose goal is to promote the responsible production and use of print and paper, and to explode the myths commonly associated with this industry.

Helping you to be green

We know it’s difficult for you. You keep hearing about how you need to reduce your carbon footprint. So what do you do? Reduce how much paper you consume? Turn to online news content only? Stop printing your marketing campaigns and rely solely on email marketing and social media?

"Print and paper are based on renewable and recyclable raw materials." www.twosides.info

Well, not only would that be decisions based on myths, but also it would be a poor business move for anyone thinking that digital alone is the answer to all their marketing campaigns. Think how many times you’ve received a marketing email that you’ve deleted without reading it. Well you’re probably not the only person to do that! Also, not everyone in your target market will be net-savvy. Many people still prefer to read a hard copy.

It is our aim to help our customers to fully understand this issue. If you have any concerns over the environmental friendliness of this form of communication, please give us a call or arrange to pop in to see how we work. We’re here to help.

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We will make you jump for joy...

With our speedy turn-around, the very highest print quality and outstanding customer service.

We like to delight our clients.

At GKD, our customers really do come first. We want to do everything we can to be there for them. Whether that means working beyond the constraints of ‘9 to 5’ in order to get the job done on time, or helping out at the last minute when another supplier has let them down. With over 25 years’ experience, we understand what makes our clients happy. We’re not satisfied until they are completely happy with our work.

Service so good you will jump for joy

We've earned our long-standing reputation as a quality-focused printing company. So next time you’re thinking about your print requirements, why not give us a call on 01482 325313? We’re a friendly bunch… 

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Calling all designers... don't suffer in silence!

We know how it can be some times. You come up with the best creative idea ever, your client loves it… and then you’re not sure how, or even if, your idea can ever be brought to life. Don’t suffer in silence. We’re here to help.

We're not like other printers out there, just waiting for you to hand us your completed artwork. Our team is experienced with every kind of printing technique available today and, with our modern digital equipment, we’re always on hand to offer some guidance.

Your problem is our challenge to overcome… and we simply love a challenge.

So go on, pick up the phone and speak to Phillip (01482 325313), or arrange to pop in and talk through your ideas with us. We’re sure to be able to come up with a great solution, so you can continue to amaze your clients. 

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Feeling frustrated with your current printing supplier?

Concerned about the quality of your printed materials?

Feeling let down by your current supplier?

Do your printers often deliver later than promised?

No longer do you need to put up with poor service!

We are a leading Yorkshire-based digital and litho commercial printing company with over 25 years' experience. We handle all size of jobs, printing anything from promotional leaflets and stationery, through to company brochures, catalogues and product packaging. So no matter what your printing requirements, we are sure to be able to help.

Hassle-free printing... guaranteed

We produce print beyond the constraints of ‘9 to 5’, which combined with our highly skilled team has given us a strong reputation for customer service and a ‘can do’ attitude.

So, isn't it time you said 'goodbye' to poor service and 'hello' to a supplier who delivers what you need, when you want it, at a price that's right for your business?

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Launch of new prototype service

We've been busy developing a new service, that we're very excited about as it allows us to move into different markets, whilst continuing with our existing products and services.

Currently in trials, we are working with a major food manufacturer to produce proofs for packaging, such as those that are used for trade shows, mock-up shops and for store layout visualisation.

GKD is known for being at the forefront when it comes to investing in the latest technology. And the decision to invest in the new kit, a Fuji Acuity LED wide-format printer, means that we are now able to offer even more services to our customers. Printing on carton-board and other more interesting materials prior to this investment just hadn’t been possible. 

In fact we’ve already produced some promotional items – such as mouse mats and coasters – to use ourselves at shows and networking events.

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Are you using QR codes?

Are you still not sure what to use them for? Will they help your business?

A QR (quick response) code is a special kind of barcode, which can be read by smart phones or barcode readers. They're much smarter than a standard barcode though as they can hold a host of information.

Most commonly used as a short-cut to a website, where you provide much more information to promote your product / service, they can also hold information such as your company's telephone number, details about an upcoming event, promotion offers, and much more...

Still not sure how you could put one to use in your marketing efforts? Think about it... if you are a retailer, you could run specific promotions and discounts on a webpage which you could update daily if required with the latest offers, promoted through a flyer containing the QR code.

Got a sales team that spend a lot of time on the road and at networking events? Why not add a QR code to their business cards and / or sales collateral? A new contact could then scan the QR code and instantly add your sales person's 'virtual' business card details to their contacts list. Simple!

Running an event soon? Think how convenient it would be if you wanted to get more people along to your music festival, or your business exhibition, if you could print posters and flyers with QR codes on, which would take your target audience straight to a dedicated website, from which they could instantly sign up to attend or buy tickets!

So what's stopping you? It really is simple to get started - there are various suppliers offering free-to-use QR code creators, so all you need to do is think about how you could best implement it into your marketing strategy.

Need help? Just give us a call on 01482 325313.

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The (not so) money-saving idea

So you're thinking that it'd be a good idea, to keep the price down on a job, to print a promotional leaflet in-house on your colour copier/printer?

Not a bad idea you're thinking... saving money is always a good idea, especially during a recession. Well, it may just be worth giving it some extra thought.

Have you thought about how much your ink cartridges cost (we know they're not cheap!)? Then add to that the cost per copy that you are charged by your copier/printer supplier, plus electricity usage and paper costs... and you've probably spent more than you would have by using a commercial printer in the first place. And that's before we add in the cost of your time...

And to top it all off, you also need to give serious thought to the quality of print that you will get from your in-house machine. Is that the impression you want to give of your company? 

We're all for helping our customers save money, but not at the expense of quality, brand reputation or wasted time!

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The Design Community receives iPad mini as customer loyalty scheme reward

Earlier this year we ran a customer loyalty scheme, whereby customers could earn rewards from an iPad Nano through to an iPad.

This week we handed over the final reward to Nic Johnson of North Cave-based Design Community. Nic is pictured here with our Production Director Phillip Taylor.

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Know your folding terms

We often have customers getting confused about the right terminology when it comes to folding, the numbers of pages and how they want them to be presented when it comes to their printed materials.

Here's a simple guide to knowing how to refer to your finished document.

A. 4 page single fold

B. 6 page gate fold

C. 8 page close gate fold

D. 6 page concertina fold

E. 8 page concertina fold

F. 8 page French fold

G. 8 page parellel double fold

H. 6 page roll fold

I. 8 page roll fold

J. 6 page reverse fold

Hope that all makes it a bit simpler?! And if not, as always, just pick up the phone, We're here to help. 01482 325313.