Should Your Customer’s Stock be Sturdier? The Benefits of Bringing in a Heavyweight

Posted on August 22, 2019 Written by

Your customer has a lot of stock options to choose from when creating their print piece. Do they want something lightweight and budget–friendly, or do they want to invest in something heavier? With so many options to choose from, it’s important for them to know the benefits of investing in a heavier stock—that’s why we’re breaking down the benefits of using a thick or sturdy stock for business cards, postcards, announcements, and more.

Benefits By the Numbers
What do statistics say about the importance of heavyweight papers? According to WestRock, they had had a lot to say. Their research indicates that, when it comes to direct mail pieces, thicker and sturdier stock definitely wins out.

  • 18% of consumers said that their intent to purchase would be impacted by receiving a sturdier piece of direct mail
  • National retailers with sturdier paper saw a 38% response rate

Getting Noticed
Thicker stocks aren’t just great for postcards—they’re a surefire way to get a wide variety of print pieces noticed! One of the reasons for this is that thicker stock makes your customer’s print piece sturdier and more durable than thinner pieces.  When they choose a durable stock, their print pieces will last longer and stick around in consumers’ wallets or mailboxes.

The Unexpected Touch
Unexpected details are always the thing that makes a print piece memorable, and stock could be the unexpected detail your customer is looking for. Imagine pulling out a stack of business cards from a trade show, for example—a pop of color from a color core stock will be immediately noticeable. Even if it’s not a color core stock, the thickest and most substantial business card will be among the first that gets noticed among the stack.

These unexpected touches don’t just get business cards noticed. We mentioned earlier that direct mail is more effective when printed on a sturdy stock, and announcements will have a memorable, luxurious feel when printed on a heavier stock.

Know Your Options
Are your customers ready to bring in a heavyweight? It’s time to introduce them to their options. Many of our cover stocks have a substantial feel, and you can check out color core and extra thick stocks for a thickness that truly stands out from the crowd. The best way for your customers to feel the difference is to see them in person, so be sure to show them samples or pull out a swatch book. If you don’t have one yet you can give our customer care team a call to request yours.

Do your customers love heavyweight stocks? Which ones are their favorites? We’d love to see you join the conversation in the comments below.

Filed Under: Business Cards, Design, Marketing, News, Print Products, Resources, Stationery

4 Back-to-School Lessons You Can Use in Your Business

Posted on August 16, 2019 Written by

We talked a few weeks back about how you can go “back to school” to keep your business knowledge moving. Today we want you to think back to the lessons you learned when you were in school—and put them in practice in your business! Here are four of the classroom lessons that will help your business thrive every day.

1. Have the Right Supplies
Remember when you were getting ready for the return to the classroom and you got a shopping list of the things you would need that year? Business can sometimes be a lot like that—having the right tools on hand when you start the job is essential.

But what are the right tools? As a professional, unfortunately, you can’t simply pick up your checklist at your average big box store. However, you also have the benefit of experience and can make your own list. Does having a vertical market sales kit on hand for meetings help you make the sale? Make sure you have one of these kits on hand at the start of the next sales meeting. Does one of your customers respond to having a catalog laid out in front of them? Make sure you’ve got that catalog ready—or send them a personalized digital catalog like our zoomCatalog.

2. Take a Moment Every Day to Stay Organized
If your elementary school was anything like mine, you spent some time every day picking up after yourselves, and this is a great habit to build in your business, too! Take a few minutes every day to organize your files, get a few small tasks checked off your list, and straighten things up at your desk. This will help you stay organized, and you’ll find that doing a little every day is much simpler than doing all that organizing at one time.

3. Give Yourself a Break to Recharge
Whether it’s taking a lunchtime breather or getting outside for some “recess,” taking a moment to recharge can be just as helpful for you now as it was when you were in school. Taking that break can help you work more effectively and get more done in the long run.

4. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask a Question
Do you need more information about a new product? Are you unsure how to go about placing an order? Do you just want to have a little more clarity? It can be easy to avoid asking these questions because you’re worried about whether you should already know this information—but don’t be afraid to raise your hand! Whether it’s asking a teacher for more information or asking your print provider for more information about a new product, asking a question is as great an idea in your business as it was in the classroom.

What schoolroom lessons do you still use in your day-to-day life? We’d love to see you join the conversation in the comments below.

Filed Under: Education, Marketing, News, Resources

Postcards Vs. Letters: Which is Better for Your Customer’s Direct Mail?

Posted on August 14, 2019 Written by

Your customer has a lot of different options for their next direct mail project. Should they print their message on letterhead and send it as a letter? Should they send out a postcard with full color flair? Which mailing will speak to their customers and make the sale? We’re breaking down the big differences between letters and postcards for your customer’s direct mail efforts—here’s what you need to know.

Considering the Cost? Postcards Come Out on Top
When your customers are looking for a budget friendly option for their direct mail efforts, postcards definitely come out on top. Because they are lightweight, traditionally sized postcards are less expensive to mail than any other form of direct mail.

Who are They Marketing To?
When your customer is sending mail to consumers, they need to create a piece that speaks directly to that audience. When they’re sending their mail to the public, they want to pick the print piece that catches attention in the mailbox and immediately captures that attention.

If your customer is targeting businesses, however, a postcard isn’t necessarily the right play. A letter will feel more polished, more professional, and—most importantly—important! Because a letter feels more direct, it is an ideal fit for business-to-business marketing because your customer’s audience will feel like they are being spoken to directly rather than simply marketed to.

Letters are also more effective for consumers who are already familiar with your customer’s business. They will recognize your customer’s branding and are more likely to open the letter when it arrives.

Does their Sales Pitch Rely on Great Images?
If your customer’s business creates visually striking products or provides a stylish service, they might want to focus on inspiring photographs for their direct mail piece and postcards are a good way to do that. Not only do they feature full color print, they put those full color images in front of consumers without even an envelope standing in the way.

They can, of course, include full color images in their direct mail letters, too. They can create sales sheets or brochures to accompany the more formal letter to highlight images of their products.

The Right Print for the Job
At Navitor, we’re pleased to offer you the right print for the job. Whether your customer wants high quality letterhead for their mailing or wants to create a striking postcard, we’ve got product options that are sure to impress!

And if you want to know more about the numbers behind direct mail marketing, take a look at this post on direct mail statistics.

Which print pieces do your customers love most for their direct mail efforts? We’d love to see you join the conversation in the comments below.

Filed Under: Marketing, News, Print Products, Stationery

Marketing: It’s Time to Shake Things Up!

Posted on August 9, 2019 Written by

alarm clock announcing that it's time to change your personalized print marketing

Whether you’re feeling stuck in a rut with your marketing efforts or you want to reach out to a new audience, sometimes you need to shake things up with your marketing efforts! If you’re looking to make a change, here are a few tips for shaking things up with your marketing strategy.

Shake Things Up on Social Media
Because it moves quickly and changes just as quickly, the social media world can be a great way to shake things up with your marketing strategy. First and foremost, if you don’t have an online presence for your business you should definitely create social media pages as a new way to connect with customers. Once you’ve created these pages, it’s time to get started!

If your marketing is a highly polished and conservative affair, consider using social media to show a more casual, more human face to your business. Depending on your customer base, you might also want to show off the visual flair of the print you provide by sharing photographs on social media. This gives you a chance to show a different side of your business and possibly appeal to a whole new market.

Experiment With Seasonal Marketing
With the holidays coming up, you might want to think about how you can create seasonal marketing for your business. Not only is embracing the holiday season a great way to shake up your marketing and give you the chance to try something new, it is also a great way to experiment with new things without dedicating your marketing strategy to them long term.

Talk to Your Customers
Are you looking for a lower-risk opportunity for change? Talk to your existing customers about what they love about your business and what they wish they had known when they first started to do business with you. You might find that you aren’t highlighting the best that you have to offer and have the opportunity to change your marketing for the better.

Reach Out to Find New Ideas
This isn’t just one way to shake up your marketing—it’s opening the door to potentially endless ways! By reading books or blogs and following social media accounts written by people outside your specific industry you might find inspiring new ideas. As print professionals, you have a lot of choices—read a book on marketing strategies from a professional marketer, read blog posts about the markets that you work with most often, or follow small business owners to learn about a variety of new topics.

How do you shake up your marketing efforts? We would love to see you join the conversation in the comments below.

Filed Under: Education, Marketing, Misc, News

Labels for Nonprofits

Posted on August 8, 2019 Written by

In a world that’s constantly on the go, why settle for advertising that stays put? Get your message out and about! Cost effective and multi-functional, labels can play a supporting role in engaging donors and increasing the awareness of your cause or organization.

A non-profit organization was looking to create a sticker that would help show support at an upcoming marathon fundraiser. The labels needed to stick firmly to runners’ outfits from the starting line to the finish line and arrive quickly to have in time for the race.

The non-profit was pleased to find that they could create a colorful, custom-shaped label using freeform™ laser cutting and digital printing. Not only was the process budget-friendly and useful in creating a unique label shape and image, it also allowed the label to arrive more quickly. This meant that they had a sticker that was instantly recognizable on every runner, stayed on their clothes throughout the race and had it in time for the race.

The stickers also featured printed label liners to talk about why the labels were created and helped explain the group’s cause to race attendees. This meant that it was easy to distribute not just the labels, but also a message about the importance of showing support.

Of course, not everything about this quick turnaround was down to the label. Sometimes, the choice of supplier is just as important as the choice of which label to print. The non-profit found that, with a little extra help from their supplier to make sure their labels arrived in a timely fashion, the label they chose brought with it some great benefits:

  • Runners were able to show their support and the custom label shape was easily recognized on their shirts
  • Labels stayed adhered to runners’ clothing during the entire marathon
  • With freeform™ laser cutting, there was no additional cost for a die to create the custom shape
  • Printed label liners allowed race organizers to easily explain their cause and why the labels were created

Labels can also assist with fundraising efforts and to secure sponsorships. They can help with drumming up interest, announce a person’s participation in an event or charity drive, thank contributors, and decorate event paraphernalia, just to name a few.

So what types of labels can non-profits utilize? The list is long, but some of the big ones include:

  • Tech Decals & Stickers Sheets
  • Bumper Stickers
  • Mailing Labels
  • Window Decals
  • Promotional Stickers
  • Water Bottle Labels

Whether people choose to run a marathon to help raise funds, wear a fun-and-flirty red dress to stand in solidarity, or simply pin a ribbon to a lapel to show support, there’s a super easy and very visual way to help spread the word about non-profit organizations and fundraisers. Labels Works products! The possibilities for advertising with labels are truly endless and the more the public sees a logo or symbol, the more familiar they become with the cause it represents.

Looking for label inspiration? Check out our selling resources for an online catalog, sales tools and so much more. As always, if you need label or pricing help, please contact Label Works at 800.522.3558 or customercare@labelworks.com. We’re here to answer any of your label questions!

Filed Under: Labels, Marketing, Misc, News, Print Products

Personalized Stamps Help Teachers Make Their Mark

Posted on August 7, 2019 Written by

Imagine writing the same check mark or star twenty times on a page, then turning that page and needing to do it again. If you know any teachers, you know that this isn’t pure imagination—it’s a reality for many educators while they grade assignments. Then multiply the experience by the number of students in the class and by the number of classes that a teacher has to teach throughout the day.

With so many stars or check marks to draw, it’s easy to see why a stamp could be an ideal gift for many teachers.

Whether your customer is a school official looking to thank teachers for their hard work, a nonprofit looking for a way to liven up classrooms, or someone hoping to create a striking teacher gift, stamps are a great choice.

1. Saves Time for Busy Teachers
This is the biggest reason why teachers might want to have some stamps on hand in their classroom. Just like signature stamps, a classroom stamp can help them save time marking assignments and give them back more time in their day. And, as we mentioned before, teachers can grade many assignments every day, so that time savings can really add up throughout the year.

2. Personalization Potential
Every classroom is different, and a stamp is a fun way to personalize the grading process. Rather than using just a smiley face, a message of “Great Job!” or “100%”, your customer can choose to add the teacher’s name to the message for an extra, personal touch. Think of it like a signature stamp with a grading twist!

The design isn’t the only option for personalizing a stamp, however. The type of stamp can also be a great chance for personalization. If the recipient likes color, consider a traditional rubber stamp that can be used with a wide variety of different colored stamp pads. If they value neatness, a pre-inked or self-inking stamp can help them keep their desk neat while still enjoying the benefits of a stamp.

3. Have Fun!
One of the biggest reasons that teachers use stamps in the classroom is that they can be just plain fun! Charming designs, a bit of color, and a little creativity make stamps an enjoyable desktop addition that teachers won’t just use because they are practical—they’ll use because they make them smile.

Do your customers order stamps for gifts? Which stamps are their favorites? We’d love to see you join the conversation in the comments below.

Filed Under: Education, Marketing, News, Print Products

What Your Customers Say—And What it Really Means

Posted on August 2, 2019 Written by

When you talk to your customers, sometimes you need to decode what they’re asking for. Whether it’s a technical term that they aren’t familiar with or navigating their desire to be polite, talking to your customers can be like a lot like translating. Here are a few of the things you might hear your customers say—and what they really mean.

(And, remember, we love our customers, and we know you appreciate your customers, too. This is only for fun.)

1. What Customers Say: “I definitely need [product].”
What Customers Mean: “I’m pretty sure I need this product because I’ve used it in a similar situation before and I’m not ready to change.”

2. What Customers Say: “I want people to know that this is our brand.”
What Customers Mean: “Make the logo big.”

3. What Customers Say: “Could you make that logo a little bigger?”
What Customers Mean: “Could you make that logo a lot bigger?”

4. What Customers Say: “It’s a shame that you have to work on holidays/weekends.”
What Customers Mean: “This is probably a pain for you, but I’m really glad that you’re open because it’s the only day that I have to place this order.

5. What Customers Say: “Can you make it pop?”
What Customers Mean: “Make it shiny and colorful. Maybe add more detail. No, more colorful.”

6. What Customers Say: “I’m on a tight budget.”
What Customers Mean: “My wish list is much bigger than my budget. I’m probably going to look at your pricing quote and ask if you can adjust the pricing a bit.”

7. What Customers Say: “I like it, but…”
What Customers Mean: “I don’t actually like it at all, but I’m trying to be polite.”
What Customers Might Also Mean: “I’m realizing now that the more expensive thing you showed me before would have made me happier.”

8. What Customers Say: “I don’t have a budget in mind!”
What Customers Mean: “I’ve definitely got a budget in mind, but I haven’t put a number on it just yet.”

9. What Customers Say: “I’ll know what I want when I see it.”
What Customers Mean: “I don’t know what I want, and chances are I’ll want to see every sample you have before I know what I want.”

10. What Customers Say: “What’s the turn time on that?”
What Customers Mean: “I should have placed this order a few weeks ago, but time got away from me and now I need to get it fast.”

11. What Customers Say: “Let’s change it back to how it was before.”
What Customers Mean: “I know I had a lot of requests, but I’m starting to realize that they didn’t get this to look like I wanted it to and it’s easier not to change.”

Have you heard these customer comments? Are there others that you’ve had to decode? We’d love to see you join the conversation in the comments below.

Filed Under: Education, Marketing, Misc, News

Back to School? 5 Tips for Improving Your Business Knowledge

Posted on July 31, 2019 Written by

back to school typography image on graph paper for a post on business knowledgeThe summer is nearly over, and soon students will be going back to school.

How long has it been since you were in a classroom?

You might be too old for school, but you’re never too old to learn something new! Whether you want to learn something specific or simply explore a new topic, improving your business knowledge is within your grasp. Here are five simple tips for improving your business knowledge.

Make a List of What You Want to Learn
Start with what you want to learn. Do you want to get better at running the books for your business? Do you want to explore new marketing strategies? Do you want to get better at your customer service skills? No matter what you want to learn, take some time to think about the details and make a list. Not only will this help you narrow your focus to the things you want to learn specifically but it also gives you the chance to look at your existing skills in a new way.

Make A Little Time Every Day
Take a look at your schedule—is there a small break during your day that could be used for learning? Whether it’s reading a book chapter over your coffee break or reading new blog articles after dinner, learning a little bit every day is easier than trying to learn it all in one go. And, when you make a little time every day, you can start building good habits that make it easier day by day to carve out that time.

Use Your Rest Time as Learning Time
If you’re having trouble making time to learn, consider the times when your ears are open! If you’re taking a road trip, consider listening to an audiobook or stocking your smartphone with podcasts so you can learn even while you’re driving. Are you taking a trip? Tuck a book on your bag for the plane.

Attend Professional Events
Local companies, business associations, and professional groups might be hosting seminars, forums, or workshops—be sure that you keep up with the events in your area! These events could give you great new insights into marketing strategies or business ideas, and that fresh perspective can be a great learning opportunity.

Take Professional Development Courses
Sometimes, learning might involve actually going back to school! Professional development courses can help you expand your professional skill set, learn something new, or even earn academic credit to put towards a degree. If you’re looking for something particularly affordable and flexible, online training courses are a great option. Traditional universities and training institutions could also be great resources for class availability.

No matter what class you take, be sure to do your homework. Take a look at the instructor’s biography, read reviews, check the syllabus, and do that bit of extra research before making the commitment to the class.

What are your favorite ways to learn something new for your business? We’d love to see your tips in the comments below.

Filed Under: Education, Marketing, News

How to Identify Your Target Market in 6 Easy Steps

Posted on July 25, 2019 Written by

One of the many ways to guide your marketing strategy is to focus on a specific market, but finding that niche can be a challenge. Whether you’re looking to focus on reaching out to a new market to guide your marketing strategy or you’re hoping to focus primarily on one market long-term, identifying your target market can help your business focus. Here are six easy steps to help you reach out to those niche markets.

Step 1: Look at Your Current Customers
This is the simplest way to identify your target market, so it’s the best first step! Take a look at your current customers. Do you see a pattern? Are one or two types of business coming to you time and again? Then you have a ready-made niche!

Step 2: Look At Your Skills
Not seeing a specific pattern in your current customers? That’s all right! Instead of looking out to your customers, take a look at what you do best and work from there. Do you have a killer sales pitch for business cards? That will serve you well in a business setting. Are you great at finding solutions for events? Event planners or hospitality businesses would benefit from that skill. Play to your strengths.

Step 3: Research Your Competition
Take a moment to check out that competition. Are there other businesses who are also targeting the market you’ve identified? Is there something you can do to stand out from them? Is there something of value that your business offers—a wide product selection, for example—that you can highlight?

Step 4: Gather Your Tools
You’ve identified your market and done your research—now it’s time to get your tools together so you can reach out to those customers. Start by tailoring your elevator pitch according to what you can do for that market, listing your relevant skills and experience and cutting details as needed. After that, identify what you need to do to create your marketing.

You might be surprised what tools you already have, too! If you have samples of previous orders for the market you’re targeting, that’s a great place to start. You also may have access to relevant vertical market flyers or even sample kits from Navitor.

Step 5: Get to Work!
You’ve got your target market. You’ve got the tools you need to speak to them. You’ve tailored your elevator pitch to this target market. It’s time to get to work! Reach out to your existing customers and consider new potential customers. Research trade shows or networking events where you could make new connections.

Step 6: Consider Where You Go From Here
It might seem like you could stop at step five, but it’s important for you to look to the future when you are targeting a specific market. Do you want to continue to focus on this market as you build experience? Are there other, similar markets that you could also target with relatively little effort—for example, if you’re focusing on schools, are there education foundations or colleges you could also market to? This will help make it easier to market in the future!

Do you work with a niche market? What advice do you have for businesses looking to focus on a particular market? We’d love to see you join the conversation in the comments below.

Filed Under: Education, Marketing, News

Print to Add Polish to Nonprofit Fundraisers

Posted on July 24, 2019 Written by

Nonprofits of all sorts will soon be hosting the last outdoor fundraisers of the year, and just as soon they will be preparing for the events they host at the end of the year. When they’re planning their events, they should also be planning the print that adds a great finishing touch to their fundraisers. Here are our choices for the print pieces that will add profit to your customer’s next nonprofit fundraiser.

Posters
Are your customers trying to get the word out to a wider audience? Posters could be the best way to raise interest in their community events! And with a variety of quantities available, posters could also be a colorful addition to event promotion even in smaller communities.

Announcements and Postcards
Some of your customers’ events focus on previous donors or top donors, and announcements and postcards are a great way to add polish to those event invitations. Choose postcards for a more informal feel, or use announcements to make the occasion feel a little extra special.

Brochures, Rack Cards and Sales Sheets
Whether your customer wants to include them with a mailing or wants a piece to show donors what their gifts will be doing, informational pieces are an essential way to get the word out about the good work that they do. Brochures, rack cards, and sales sheets are classic pieces that can include text to show off essential statistics or photographs that highlight the people who benefit from a nonprofit’s work.

Event Tickets
If your customer is hosting a raffle or fundraising event, event tickets are essential! These tickets feature practical details like perforated ends for easy raffle use and numbering to make it easy to keep track of attendees. Even better, when your customer chooses full color print they can help make their nonprofit’s branding more memorable.

Folders
Whether it’s organizing instructions for volunteers, putting together forms and information for donors, or keeping documents organized afterward, branded folders are a good way to keep organized. As a bonus, using branded folders is a good way to add that extra touch of professional polish to every document.

Badges
Speaking of event volunteers, badges are a great way to show which people at your customer’s event are working and which are simply attending. Choose labels as temporary name tags for events with a lot of short-term volunteers, or consider window badges, chalk badges or erasable badges  for flexible badges that can be used at event after event.

Banners, Signs and Other Décor
Once your customers are actually at their event, indoors or out, it’s time to personalize the space. Banners are a great fit for events indoors or out, adding a splash of color in your customer’s choice of a variety of styles. Freestanding a-frame signage can guide attendees through buildings, personalize stages and accent sidewalks outside outdoor event venues.

Do you work with customers in the nonprofit sector? Which print products are their favorites? We’d love to see you join the conversation in the comments below.

Filed Under: Business Cards, Folders, Labels, Marketing, News, Print Products, Promotional Products, Resources, Stationery
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