The Holiday Shopping Season Redefined

Posted on October 6, 2020 Written by

It’s snow joke – we are in for a holiday season unlike any other we’ve been through. The traditional merriment we look forward to each year involves eating, drinking, and singing together in a cozy room … all among the highest risk scenarios for transmitting viruses. It’s pretty unlikely we’ll see shoppers lined up before sunrise for Black Friday deals, or rushing to crowded stores for last-minute gift buying. No matter the circumstances, this is the time of year when retailers and other businesses start to mull over their holiday plans and prepare for what promises to be an unprecedented holiday season. How will the pandemic affect what has traditionally been retailers’ busiest time of year? Rest assured, we have some ideas around what can be expected. If unprepared, yule be sorry … but by preparing for what’s to come and offering innovative ideas and options, yule be sleighing it.

Where the holiday dollars will go
Money typically spent on heavily attended parties and festive gatherings, travel, and enormous grocery bills for huge dinners instead will go toward gift-giving, albeit with some differences. Experiential gifts like concert and event tickets, restaurant gift cards, and massage certificates are out, while popular merchandise categories – things you can hold in your hands (after sanitizing, of course) – are in.

Shoppers starting early
Gift-givers will be coming out of quarantine as holiday shopping season starts earlier than normal. Opting to shop during less volume-heavy times, consumers are likely to buy sooner rather than later in order to avoid crowds and to make sure the items on their lists are even available. From a shopper’s standpoint, one of the biggest challenges during the pandemic has been product availability. Supply chains are compromised and inventory is low. Making matters worse, deliveries take longer than normal because as the volume increases, shipping delays only get worse. To avoid out-of-stocks and account for anticipated shipping delays, shoppers will be starting early.

Business gift-giving
Businesses reaching out to customers and employees at the holidays this year will opt for cards and gifts as alternatives to dinners and parties. In order to show their gratitude and appreciation for the loyalty of their customers and employees over the past year, corporate giving will likely be at an all-time high. Branded promotional products are sure to be in high demand as businesses manage their customer and employee gift-giving from a distance.

Retail shopping holiday makeover
Without question, COVID-19 has transformed the retail shopping experience. The holiday shopping season will look quite different this year as retailers find themselves mired in the coronavirus. Here are some of the changes in store for us this year:

  • No more Black Friday lines – large retailers like Target, Macy’s, Foot Locker, JCPenney, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Best Buy have all announced that they’ll close stores on Black Friday
  • Buy online, pick up in-store – COVID-19 pushed shoppers online early in the pandemic, and not only has that trend not slowed, but it will also pick up speed in the coming weeks
  • Still social distancing – but in a more festive manner – soon all those banners, signs, floor and window decals will look very merry
  • Pop-up sales outside – expect to see outdoor pop-up shops in cities with climates that can accommodate them
  • Extra sanitation – safeguarding the health of staff and shoppers will require sanitation stations and signage throughout stores, especially near return counters
  • Curbside pickup – emerged early this year, and expectations among shoppers are that this option will be made available across all retail brands
  • Heavy communication and signage – to cut down the need for face-to-face conversations, directional signs, infographics, posters, and decals will be used to inform shoppers and direct traffic flow
  • More gift buying – with travel money squashed and big gathering spend down, that means a bigger bankroll for gifts

Stand-out products
With all the social and shopping changes brought about by the pandemic, there are still innovative products in high demand. Some of the top holiday options include calendars, greeting cards, glitter stock items, custom packaging, promotional products, custom gift wrap, labels, face coverings, holiday signage, direct mail, and much more. Communication and information exchange are not the only things going contactless this holiday season: Expressing gratitude and thanks will be done through gift-giving and showing appreciation without the typical holiday get-togethers.

The takeaway
To really make an impact this year, make sure you’re giving your customers the information they need – and preparing early is critical. Have your stocking stuffed full of ideas your customers will love (from head to mistletoe). Even though most hugs will be saved until next year, we’re still here to help you navigate the 2020 Holiday Season. We’re your go-to resource with ideas and innovative ways to work through the challenges you’re facing and uncover the opportunities this shopping season brings. For some great options, check out our online booklet Reinventing Holiday Traditions in the Next Normal.

Filed Under: Design, Education, Marketing, News, Print Products, Resources

Packaging Success Starts with Innovative Thinking

Posted on September 21, 2020 Written by

Whether you are shopping online or in an actual brick and mortar store, retail and virtual shelves are jam-packed with products. A major factor in determining the success of these products is the packaging. Packaging delivers one more brand message to consumers in the final stage before purchasing. A quality product is table stakes for repeat buying, but how much weight do you think packaging holds in that equation? More than you know. To break through the clutter of hundreds of other competing products, it pays to be different. We’re talking about being innovative and unique in order to get a product noticed. Packaging builds brands and gives a product personality. First impressions count, and even if we don’t want to be judgy, people do judge a product by what it comes in.

Grab attention
Let’s first look at ways to capture eyes in the aisles. Today there are a plethora of standard paper stocks as well as unique textures and specialty paper options in a wide range of weights to help differentiate the package. High-quality cartons that stand out with innovative printing and finishing methods while meeting product specifications and adhering to brand standards generate more attractive packaging and lucrative results.

Be recognizable
Consumers form an opinion about a brand the moment they see the packaging. Make it count. And once noticed, it’s vital that consumers can easily determine what the product is and make any brand associations that are important to them. There are both traditional offset and offset-quality digital printing methods that upgrade your branded packaging to a branded experience. Bring together quality print with premium materials for full-color impact and memorable outcomes.

Elicit emotion and action
Create awareness and excitement while showcasing elements significant to the brand and its mission. Maybe it’s quality, maybe it’s conscientiousness. Perhaps crisp folds, perfect sizing, strength or possibly flexibility makes the brand statement. It could be choosing to use certified recyclable materials, such as those endorsed by the FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) or SFI® (Sustainable Forestry Initiative), which are sourced from the highest available percentage of post-consumer recycled content from local mills. The power of great packaging gives a perceived image and value to the product. How it looks provides for better experiences and raises its profile.

Add a little extra
Custom finishes and coatings add pizazz and pop to retail packaging. Processes like debossing, embossing, foil stamping and spot color printing transform the appearance of products on the shelf. Finishing processes such as UV gloss coating, spot UV, soft-touch lamination, aqueous satin, and gloss coatings, intricate die-cutting, and raised UV give it a snazzy, polished look. These extras highlight design elements, elevate the tactile experience, and add dimension.

Set yourself apart
It’s not the complete package until it’s the complete package. Including related products such as labels, inserts, bottleneckers and hang tags rounds out a comprehensive, well-branded and highly visible product package solution. Tapping into the creative inspiration of organizations like the Retail Packaging Association, and working with consultative partners that bring comprehensive solutions and marketing savvy to packaging programs is your best bet.

Make design the focus of the packaging
Better packaging design sells more products. That’s the bottom line. It’s in the innovation where packaging can accomplish all of what we’ve covered here. Brand managers and package designers spend countless hours exercising their creative chops to develop the right look for their products. The packaging and unboxing presents an experience for the consumer that adds to the product’s appeal. Organizations like the Paperboard Packaging Alliance (PPA), dedicated to promoting the benefits of paperboard packaging, recognize the importance of certain products, and influence preference for these materials in packaging design and selection. Companies that put innovation principles to work and rethink the design of their packaging create magical moments when consumers first spot it when they pick it up and feel it — all the way through their unboxing experience.

The takeaway
Opportunities for packaging innovation can be driven by pivots in consumer behaviors, attitudes, and interests, as well as other macro trends in the marketplace. But true innovation comes from blending consumer desire and product usability with production feasibility and brand voice. Sprinkle in cool packaging options and embellishments to ultimately connect brands with consumers and create moments that matter.

Our expertise, your value-add
We’re here to walk you and your customer through the process of designing and ordering standard or custom packaging. With our innovations, our Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC) membership, and our experience in diverse industries, we are an excellent resource for creative packaging solutions that meet your customers’ needs. It’s this innovation and experience that allows us to deliver The Best Packaging Experience in the industry.

Looking for inspiration? We provide finished package samples for a number of strategic markets to inspire you and your customers. Request a sample kit. The best place to start is by contacting your sales rep. If you’re not sure who your rep is, give us a call at 866.628.3290. We’re here to answer any of your questions.

Filed Under: Education, Folders, News, Resources

Voting and Polling Place Safety in the Midst of a Pandemic

Posted on September 11, 2020 Written by

No question, voting will look different this year than in the past. Election safety needs have changed dramatically due to COVID-19. Some people are apprehensive about voting in person. Understandably, Americans are looking at all the different ways they can vote in this coming election. Voters and poll workers alike need assurances they can vote and volunteer safely. Putting voters and poll workers at ease with information and safe polling places calms fears and streamlines the voting process. This year you can expect to find more directional signage guiding the traffic flow in and out of polling places via eye-catching wall decals, floor decals, A-Frame signs, sail signs, and stencils.

Communication to voters
In the weeks leading up to the election — this year more than ever — reminding voters where, when, and how they can cast their ballot is necessary. There are many questions on the minds of a large majority of voters and direct mail is a tried-and-true way to communicate with such a mass audience. Not only do politicians rely on direct mail to sway voter opinion, election, and campaign offices trust its reliability to reach voters and encourage election participation. Contactless communication tactics get the message across from a socially distant and safe spot such as door hangers, window decals, and bumper stickers. Large format banners and sail signs announcing early voting and ballot drop off locations draw the attention of voters.

Understanding all the options
Thankfully there’s more than one way to cast a ballot this fall. Each state plays by their own rules, but most include a registration process, offer early voting, absentee ballots, in-person voting, and drop-off voting. USA.gov’s navigation-friendly site is a reliable resource for answers to common and general questions about voting in the United States. To get specific on what options each state offers, FiveThirtyEight has compiled and colorfully illustrated a frequently-updated state-by-state guide to voting in the age of COVID-19. Posters with these options in local libraries, government offices, and recreational facilities will spark higher voter turnout in the community.

Absentee and mail-in voting
The system has its 15 minutes of fame this fall is absentee voting. The terms absentee voting and mail-in voting are often used interchangeably. Absentee ballots refer to ballots that are requested and then mailed when a person can’t vote in person. Mail-in ballots refer to the ballots in the context of policies that allow people to vote by mail. However, some election officials have started using the term “mail-in ballots” or “vote by mail” as states expand absentee ballot eligibility during the pandemic to include people who aren’t actually absent from their precinct at the time of voting. At least 35 states have changed their mail-in absentee voting policies, allowing all voters to apply for an absentee ballot in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Candidates and local governments are using direct mail to get the word out on a mass scale to inform people of the options available to them.

Ballot drop-off
Some states and localities offer ballot drop box locations where voters can drop off absentee and mail-in ballots in sealed and signed envelopes. Some supervised, others unsupervised with security cameras, most have requirements for where they must be located, how many a county must-have, the hours they must be available, and specific security standards. Residents can find useful voter information for their state and region at U.S. Vote Foundation. Each drop-off voting location should be clearly marked with signs and banners giving arriving voters clear instructions throughout the process.

In-person voting
Of course, there will be those dedicated and determined voters that either enjoy the process and prefer to partake on-site, or question whether their vote will be counted if it isn’t cast in-person. For the legion of in-person voters, attracting them to and informing them at the polling place will be essential this election season.

  • Outside spaces
    Attracting passersby to polling places will require highly visible, colorful, and patriotic signage. If the polling place offers curbside ballot drop off, they’ll need to make sure voters know about it. Signs will inform, direct, and keep everyone safe.
  • Once voters arrive
    Areas will require clear indicators where lines form and where to drop off ballots. The demand for extremely noticeable elements for directing and informing will call for portable and durable outdoor signage as well as indoor signage.
  • Inside the polling place
    Safeguarding the health of all who enter the building is critical, and positioning kiosks and barriers will protect both volunteers and voters. Posting CDC guidelines for social distancing and handwashing protocol as well as offering complimentary hand sanitizer stations are a certainty this year. The use of floor decals, retractable banner stands, wall decals, and window decals will inform and direct voters of the safest manner in which to move about the space.
  • Post ballot casting
    Keeping the crowd moving, minimizing exposure, and expediting voters through their process with full knowledge of where to go will require items like A-Frame signs, directional decals, and sail signs to help voters find the exit.

COVID-19 has added new twists to an already complicated election year. Voter turnout could be abysmal given social distancing constraints and other pandemic-driven restrictions. In order to understand all the voting options and have assurance that it is safe to cast their vote this year, voters need communication, communication, and more communication. We’re dedicated to providing health and safety readiness products that support communication, inform voters, and prepare polling places leading up to and through Election Day. For election season safety product ideas, follow this link to polling place health and safety readiness products in the age of coronavirus.

Filed Under: Education, Marketing, News, Resources

14 Steps We Are Taking to Stay Safe and Keep You Going

Posted on June 11, 2020 Written by

At Navitor, we care deeply about our employees, customers, and our communities. To safeguard the health and safety of our employees to ensure you receive what you need to keep our communities safe, we wanted to share our protocols and procedures. We will continue to monitor and review guidelines and recommendations and will adjust plans as necessary. We believe our distributors have made and will continue to make a major impact on the overall health of our local communities across the nation because you have access to a wide range of ideas and solutions for restaurants, retail establishments, schools, hospitals, and more.

The following is a summary of COVID-19 Prevention Practices that we are currently following:

  1. Require all employees whose duties allow them to work remotely to do so
  2. Require the usage of cloth face coverings for all employees working in our facilities
  3. Conducting electronic symptom checks daily through an emergency texting platform housed in our corporate office.  We are following up on any “yes” answers to verify the employees are not in the facility
  4. Conducting frequent cleaning and disinfection on frequently touched surfaces using EPA listed disinfectants for COVID-19
  5. Enforcing CDC guidelines for the safe return of anybody who has developed symptoms or who has tested positive
  6. Conducting enhanced cleaning of areas used by anyone who has tested positive
  7. Conducting contact tracing for anybody who has worked within 6 feet of a person who has received a positive result in the 48 hours prior to the start of their symptoms
  8. Require employee training on cloth face-covering usage and personal symptom checks
  9. Review workplaces for proper social distancing
  10. Install distancing barriers in locations where employees cannot maintain 6 feet of spacing
  11. Restrict internal business travel
  12. Limit location visitors to critical visits only
  13. Conduct weekly update calls with a single point of contact for each location regarding proper COVID-19 procedure
  14. Conduct daily COVID-19 subgroup planning calls and daily COVID-19 Executive Reviews
Filed Under: Education, News, Resources

Your Partner for Architectural Signage

Posted on April 1, 2020 Written by

We know that architectural signage projects are different than a regular print order due to the custom nature of the product. It can be a complex process to audit an existing building’s signage and determine what additional signage is required to meet ADA laws or reflect a company’s new brand image.

That’s why we partner with you from the first call to the install.

Working for You
As with any big project, budget and on-time completion are at the forefront of our discussions. Our experts will collaborate with you to present different options at various price ranges. Starting with a site audit, our team will assess the current situation and help create the future vision. Following the completion of the job, we provide a signage report that can be used for reorders.

Inspiring Creativity | Transforming Spaces
A blank piece of paper can create anxiety for a client. We have tools available to spark creativity and aid in the design process. Our Architectural Signage & Visual Graphics Solutions catalog offers:

  • Over 50 pages of inspiration
  • Before and after photos showing the transformation that occurs when adding vibrant signage to different environments
  • An overview of our project management process – including details about the initial inquiry, assessment, proposal, production, installation, and completion of the job

Whether it’s temporary or permanent, architectural signage is critical to establishing a company’s brand. From a practical restroom sign to a feature wall recognizing donors, your options are limitless.

Tap into Our Expertise
We’re here to walk you and your customer through the process of ordering architectural signage. With years of experience in diverse industries, there is an excellent chance we’ve worked on a project similar to what your customer needs. It’s this experience that allows us to partner with you to bring a creative signage solution to your customer.

The best place to start is by contacting your sales rep. If you’re not sure who your rep is, give us a call at 866-628-3290. We’re here to answer any of your questions!

Filed Under: Education, News, Print Products, Resources

The Business of Badges: How You and Your Customers Can Both Benefit

Posted on February 12, 2020 Written by

Almost every industry uses ID badges. You see them on bank tellers, store clerks hotel staff and bartenders. Flight attendants, nurses, and even realtors commonly wear name badges.

Badges provide an opportunity to reinforce a company’s brand while also lending a sense of professionalism. Knowing someone’s name also gives customers a sense of familiarity. And badges encourage employees to go the extra mile, knowing customers might mention them by name.

We offer an extensive selection of name badges to suit any industry.

New Offerings for 2020
Our badge line now includes two new options:

  • Full color printing on alder wood for a natural, aesthetic
  • Sublimation printing on silver or white aluminum for a more industrial feel

Reusable Name Badges
High turnover industries like retail and hospitality particularly appreciate our reusable badges. The ability to use the badges for different employees reduces costs and waste.
Our three reusable name badge options include a full color imprint with different functions:

  • Chalkboard (used with chalk or chalk marker),
  • Plastic (used with a dry erase marker)
  • Window-badge (used with customer-supplied printed name)

Engraved Name Badges
Engraved badges offer supreme durability. Choose from plastic, metal (Flexibrass), or wood. Engraving is permanent and long lasting.

Full Color Print & Sublimation Name Badges
These specialized printing processes can be used with plastic, wood, metal or acrylic for a polished appearance. These badges are ideal for customers with intricate or colorful logos.

Photo ID Badges
Custom ID badges are beneficial to workplaces where additional security is needed. They help distinguish between employees and non-employees.

Name badges are a useful tool for all types of businesses. And any time is a good time to promote them. Badges are a great way for businesses to accentuate their brand and make employees more approachable to customers. Let us know what kind of badges you use in the comments below!

Filed Under: Education, Marketing, News, Print Products

5 Reasons You Should Try our Rebrandable eCatalogs

Posted on January 3, 2020 Written by

Did you know that you can rebrand a digital copy of our catalog with your logo and contact information? Creating an ecatalog personalized with your business’s brand takes just a few minutes, and you can use this catalog as a customer-facing sales tool. We have five reasons you should give our rebrandable ecatalog a try.

1. It’s Easy
Creating a branded piece might seem challenging, but rebrandable ecatalogs allow you to add your brand to our catalog with just a few clicks. Simply visit the navitor.com eCatalogs page to get started. Once you’re there, you can select the Navitor Catalog, the Folder Works catalog, the NSP Catalog, or the NSP Architectural Catalog. Once you’ve selected your catalog, click “Personalize” to add your logo—it’s that easy!

Once you’ve created your catalog, you can download your personalized catalog, save the catalog link for future use, or use the zoomcatalog tool to upload your email list and send an email link of your new catalog to your customers.

2. It Gives Your Customers a Chance to Browse On Their Own Time
Whether your customers want to take some time to make their print decisions or would appreciate the ability to browse before their next order, giving them the time they need to make their print decision can help your customers make a more informed decision. You can send all your customers an email link or keep the catalog link to send to new customers as a part of the acquisition process.

3. It Brings Together Your Brand And Your Print Offering
Want to give your customers a strong connection between your business and the print that you offer? Rebrandable ecatalogs can help you do just that. Showing off your logo and contact information will strengthen your brand, and tying that to print will help your business stick in the mind of your customers.

4. It’s Digital
A digital catalog is a flexible tool with staying power. When you’re unable to visit a customer in person or to bring your sales tools to them, a digital catalog is always just a click away. It also makes a great leave-behind, and you’ll never run out of copies.

5. It’s Free
The rebrandable ecatalog joins our expanding selection of free sales tools, and we’re proud to give you the tools you need to boost your business. You’ve got the opportunity to create a branded sales piece at no cost to you, so you can focus your marketing budget on direct mail pieces, print ads, and more.

Have you checked out our rebrandable catalog yet? If you haven’t, give it a look here. If you have, we’d love to hear what you thought in the comments below.

Filed Under: Education, Marketing, News, Print Products, Resources

Navitor.com a Year in Review

Posted on December 12, 2019 Written by

With the year coming to close, we wanted to do a wrap up of all the new products and features that have been added to Navitor.com this year.

New product additions:

  • Enhanced Finishes- Raised Foil, Raised Spot Gloss, Spot Gloss available on Announcements, Business Cards and Postcards
  • Hang Tags
  • Shaped Business Cards
  • Holiday Greetings
  • Stainless Insulated Tumbler
  • Spot Color Announcements
  • Spot Door Hangers
  • Additional Color Stock Pairing for Signs and Badges
  • Stock Additions to:
    • Blank letterhead
    • Full Color and Spot Color letterhead
    • Brochures
    • Sales Sheets
    • Stationery Envelopes
    • Glitter Stock: Business Cards, Post Cards and Announcements

New Features:

  • Mulit Design Ordering
  • Coupons
  • Additional Sales Flyers and Tools

We look forward to bringing you even more features and additions in 2020!

Filed Under: Education, News, Print Products, Resources

5 Creative Holiday Uses for Business Cards

Posted on December 11, 2019 Written by

The holiday season is here, and your customers probably have a checklist. Send out greeting cards? Check. Decorate a tree? Check. Purchase gifts? Check. But have they considered adding business cards to their checklist?

The business card might seem like an everyday item—and it is a business essential for a reason—but it can also be a small canvas for big holiday plans. Because of the wide variety of stock options available for business cards and the variety of print options, business cards could be an ideal addition to your customer’s holiday season when they are used creatively. Even better, you’ll save instantly on business card shipping throughout December. Here are our five creative ideas for using business cards in the holiday season.

Drink Tickets
Is your customer hosting an event for the holiday season? Whether they are hosting a New Year’s Eve bash, celebrating the holidays with employees or hosting a fundraiser for a good cause, drink tickets could be a must-have element of the evening. Business cards make ideal drink tickets because they are pocket-sized and easy to personalize to match any event décor.

Gift Tags
Whether your customer is creating a gift for top clients, employees, or simply friends or family, a business card could be a creative gift tag option with flair. Not only can they easily be branded for your customer’s business gifts, but they can easily be taped or tied in place with ease. Gift tags can also be printed to match event décor to add an instant finishing touch to door prizes and gifts alike. – Check out our Shaped business cards for more ideas.

Coupons
Holiday sales and special offers are a hallmark of the season, and business cards make ideal colorful coupons that can be sent alongside invoices, scattered on tables at storefronts, or stacked by the register. Your customer could also give these coupons as a gift for customers who make holiday season purchases and to encourage them to start the New Year with another purchase.

Business Cards for Santa
Does your customer want to add an extra touch to Santa’s presence at their retail location? They should consider creating business cards for him! Full color print will make them festive, and these business cards could even point kids to a Santa phone number for an extra surprise.

Event Favors and Easy-to-Distribute Gifts
Is your customer looking for a lightweight favor or gift that they can give out at large events or send to a large group of their clients? Magnetic business cards are a fun option that is a colorful surprise they’ll appreciate now and may keep for weeks and months to come.

Want one more reason to order business cards for the holiday season? You’re in luck! Business cards and other Stationery items have 50% off shipping through December! These savings will be applied automatically for online orders. Be sure to place your order by December 31st to save.

Do your customers get creative with business cards during the holiday season? We’d love to see your creative uses in the comments below.

Filed Under: Business Cards, Design, Education, Marketing, News, Resources

Something New on Navitor.com

Posted on December 6, 2019 Written by

We are continuing to make our website the best ordering tool for you. The upcoming release the evening of December 12th, will introduce the new feature of Coupons!

You will notice that when you log in you have a new feature on the My Account page, a new area for coupons.

When you have coupons available to use they will display in this area.

With each coupon, you can click on the code to open a new page that will display more information about the coupon.

  • You can view what the coupon is valid for
  • View the end date of the coupon
  • View the max uses of the coupon
  • View the number of times that the coupon has been used

There will be instances that you may have a coupon available to use that we provided to you that may not display in the coupon area, however, the coupon will be valid when you enter the code in the shopping cart.

In the shopping cart there is also an option to View All Coupons when this is clicked, a new window will appear with the available coupons. Simply click on the coupon that applies to your cart and the coupon will automatically be added.

And we’re not done yet. We have many more enhancements planned throughout the next year and beyond. Remember to check back in the beginning of January to view all of the new 2020 catalogs! Please let us know what you think of the site — as well as any suggestions you have for making Navitor.com better.

Filed Under: Education, Marketing, Misc, News, Resources
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