Posted on February 16, 2021November 4, 2021 by printernearme2020

5 Reasons to Install Window Signage for your Business

5 Reasons to Install Window Signage for Your Business

Does your business have a window? That’s prime real estate just waiting to be utilized with window signage!

Just as its name suggests, window signs are placed in your windows or glass doors with the objective of highlighting your brand and allowing it to stand out from surrounding businesses. The right signage can attract potential and recurring clients by showcasing your products, services, menu, and promotions.

Here are five reasons why you should install window signage for your business:

It’s large and attractive. When potential customers walk or drive by your storefront, they will be drawn to your door with eye-catching graphics placed at eye level.
It’s economical. Window and door signage is relatively inexpensive compared to other forms of advertising, and will pay for itself over time. Additionally, vinyl window perforations help retain heat in the winter and block the sun’s rays in the summer.
It reinforces your brand. A cohesive marketing campaign involves varied collateral with the same message: business cards, brochures, posters, promotional materials and signage. Make your brand stand out from the rest with window signage!
It’s secure. You can see outside, but others can’t see inside. The vinyl adds an additional layer of protection against small rocks and environmental debris, and it’s weather and fade resistant. The adhesive is extremely strong but it can be removed without damaging the glass.
It works! Research has shown that 50 percent of your customers learn about your store through on-premise signage. Additionally, 85 percent of your customers reside or work within a five-mile radius of your business.

So, now you have an idea why you should use this great marketing tool. But you still need to ensure you use it strategically. Companies that fail to utilize their window space effectively will miss out on communicating with pedestrian traffic.

Follow these three tips to ensure you are using this marketing tactic wisely while elevating the look of your window signage:

Periodically change your window display. Instead of only using a single decal to decorate the window, you can replace your signs by putting up decals that are relevant to the season. Holidays like Christmas and Valentine’s Day are perfect opportunities to put up festive window displays. Switching the decals will help you maintain interest and prevent the display from feeling stale. Decals that are static clings can be placed onto glass surfaces without the need of any adhesive, allowing companies to easily attach and remove the sign when seasons change or promotions end.
Avoid overuse of the space. Maintaining visibility through window signage is crucial. It is important to consider the needs of your indoor customers. Too much coverage will block natural light from entering the building and possibly prevent your customers from seeing outside. A perforated decal has specially designed punctures that allow for one-way visibility, displaying an image to those passing the ad outside without completely blocking the view of patrons sitting inside.
Utilize two-sided decals. You can also work with us to design two-sided decals. Two-sided informational signs can be stuck onto doors with glass panes to ensure the content is legible from either side. This is often used to communicate your business hours.

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When you’re ready to boost your brand and your sales, contact our signage experts for a consultation and see what you can gain with window and door vinyl. Minuteman Press Calgary Shepard can help you design and create window signage that will strengthen your passerby awareness. Contact us today to discuss the best print options for you!

Posted on February 16, 2021November 4, 2021 by printernearme2020

4 Ways Print Partnerships Can Save You Time and Money

Your business, like almost every business, needs paper products (like brochures and letterhead) to build and strengthen their brand. Between graphic design, production pre-sets and regular re-orders, keeping things organized can be a challenge. Consistently partnering with the same printer and forming print partnerships can make things significantly more efficient and convenient for you and your business.

Below are four ways print partnerships with a professional printer like Minuteman Press Calgary Shepard for the long haul can save you time and money:

Collaborative Process

You have your own unique needs. A professional printer can work with you to design and print materials that are right for your business. Printers can make a difference through graphic design services, brand building creative, or by securing branded promotional products (like magnets, notebooks, or water bottles). Printers serve as true marketing partners, often costing less than you would pay to individually produce or order all these items.

Flexibility

It’s likely you don’t have the time or capacity to develop high-quality print marketing on your own. It is vital to consider a collaborative partnership with a print and design company. A professional printer can easily adapt your designs or logos to work for professional booklets and brochures, banners and flags, letterhead and business cards, presentation folders and flyers, and more.

Craftmanship

Quality craftsmanship is paramount in printing. The skilled, tenured experience of a printer’s staff ensures your projects receive meticulous attention to detail, seamless color matching, and superior finishes. By working with a printer, you benefit from an experienced eye, a skillful touch, and unrivaled personal service.

Competence

Competence and quality are often the most important factors in weighing your print options. Although it can be difficult to evaluate these before you’ve worked with someone, there are several indicators to look for from any print partner:

Request to see samples of past jobs done for other customers
Inquire about areas of specialization
Ask if bundled pricing or services are included
Ask if shipping and/or delivery is included
Inquire about the quality control process
Inquire about the communication process
The make-up and size of the team
The make-up and diversity of the print equipment
Typical turnaround time for specific jobs
Environmental standards
Proximity and availability to your location

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Your time is valuable, so making wise choices is of utmost importance. Taking time to enter a print partnership that maximizes your investment is well worth your consideration. Often, choosing the right printer means you are beginning a relationship that will last for years. Curious how Minuteman Press Calgary Shepard can help you save time and money for your printing needs? Contact us today.

Posted on February 9, 2021November 4, 2021 by printernearme2020

4 Ways to Market Small Business Through Print

Your small business — whether a sole proprietorship, franchise, partnership or professional corporation — has plenty of competition and must work hard to stand out from the crowd. When looking at offline solutions, you need to take advantage of cost-effective products to advertise your products and services. A key is to procure items that will consistently be seen by multiple people over an extended period. Because you are a “small” business, financial limitations may price certain advertising products (such as billboards) out of reach, but there are many less expensive products that can equally spread your brand without breaking the bank. Here are our suggestions to focus your budget to market your small business through print:

Business Cards

The most important advertising product in which you can invest is business cards. The reason they make such an excellent marketing tool is because they contain all your pertinent information in a small amount of space. This ensures your message is clear and concise. Business cards are so small, in fact, that potential consumers have no qualms about taking one. Most importantly, business cards are inexpensive to obtain. A well-designed business card includes most of the following key elements:

Business name
Logo
Contact information (address, telephone, email, website)
Company slogan
A brief description of your products or services

Signage

Business storefronts and subsequent signage are as old as stores themselves. Your sign provides you with a 24/7/365 advertising opportunity. Like a business card, the minimum elements are name and logo, but you can also include your hours, website and phone number. This allows potential customers who see the sign after hours to learn about your company the moment they interact with your storefront on their own time.

Posters and Flyers

Depending on your business, posters and flyers for distribution among busy local gathering areas (such as shopping malls) can pay huge dividends in getting your business found. This print collateral can be created with software found on most PCs and free online templates. Or, you can have them professionally designed with print in mind. It is important to capture the viewers’ attention with:

A catchy heading
An attractive image
Easy-to-read text
Most importantly, what action you want them to take (call you, visit your website, visit your store)

Promotional Items

Promotional items are additional products that small businesses like yours can purchase to advertise their brand. Apparel merchandise such as jackets, caps, t-shirts and pullovers, as well as other useful goods such as travel mugs, pens and notebooks, are all products that consumers will use in their daily lives. Having your business’ name and logo on them makes them walking billboards for your company. You can give them away to reward current clients, raffle them off, or even sell them if there is intrinsic value and interest.

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Minuteman Press Calgary Shepard can work with you to create the right print marketing campaigns for your business. We specialize in graphic design for all your printing needs. Contact us today to bring your brand to life in print!

Posted on January 2, 2021November 4, 2021 by printernearme2020

6 Design Pitfalls When Creating Business Cards

Everyone knows how important it is to make great first impressions. If you’ve ever been to a networking event and found yourself with a handful of business cards, you’ll know what we mean. For better or worse, a business card is how your newly met contacts remember you. A professionally designed business card is essential to making long-lasting positive impressions on new contacts. However, a poorly designed card may result in the loss of a potential client and a lack of familiarity with the brand.

Companies can prevent negative interactions by avoiding these six business card design pitfalls:

1. Providing Insufficient Information

While it may seem self-explanatory, ensure that all your company’s information is included. This includes the common details such as your company name, contact information and logo, but also other pieces that tend to be forgotten such as your slogan and/or mission statement. We cover 4 ways to market your small business through print in another blog here.

2. An Unoriginal Design

If your business card lacks originality is likely not going to be remembered. To ensure your card is not forgotten, seek out a print company to alter your business card with visually interesting customizations. For example, a custom die cut will help businesses turn their cards into unique, non-rectangular shapes that stick out from the norm. Spot UV also deviates from the typical card, drawing eyes to the card’s information.

3. Failing to Represent the Brand

Your business card is a lasting impression of your brand. Business cards without clear brand representation prevents companies from properly introducing customers to their brand. Create recognition by including prominent brand-related visuals on the card, such as the corporate logo, company colours, and typeface. Business cards can be coloured by printing companies to expose contacts to themes utilized by the organization.

4. Offering No Additional Functionality

Increase the value of your business card by incorporating design elements that give your business card additional value to your customers. Depending on your industry, your business card can double as a stampable loyalty card or you may include a tear off discount code.

5. Typos, Misprints, and Colour Alignment

While everyone makes mistakes, your business card is an area where you don’t want typos, misprints, or misaligned colours. Nothing screams, “I don’t care about my business” louder than these three problems. Print companies normally offer a, “physical proof” before beginning a print job. This is your only opportunity to perform quality control, so make sure your business card is perfect!

6. Using a Poor-quality Card

High-quality business cards with thought and intention behind them leave a positive feeling in your customer’s mind. Your customers make decisions based on emotions, so make sure there are positive emotions associated with your business card. Cards that are feather-light, have rough edges or are peeling create an impression of cheap-quality which reflects poorly on your company. Take the time to plan and design your business card—even the card material itself.

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Post-Press Minuteman Press Calgary Shepard has years of experience with creating high-quality, memorable business cards for hundreds of businesses, offering timely and friendly service at competitive prices. Ready to get started on building your network through memorable business cards? Contact Minuteman Press Calgary Shepherd today.

Posted on January 1, 2021November 4, 2021 by printernearme2020

5 Ways to Create Brand Exposure in a Contactless World

If you are one of many small business owners who has a brick and mortar location, the pandemic has fundamentally changed how customers access your company’s brand exposure. Physical restrictions on businesses have transferred in-store purchases to online ordering and contactless delivery.

This does not mean that print is dead. On the contrary, it is more important than ever to be strategic in your placement of branded content to continue to leave a lasting presence in your customers’ minds. With so much online competition, your imagery must dance online and thrive offline. How can you continue to make a lasting impression?

1. Create Branded Packaging

Packaging can be expensive as a small business, but when customers cannot come into your location to view your product, packaging becomes even more crucial to brand exposure. Ensure there are company symbols, colours and logos on the packaging, so it sets your product apart from others. Each order is an opportunity to maintain brand recognition with the client. Well-conceived packaging tells the customer that your company has considered the details and values their experience. Print service companies can help design packaging to match your company’s products and branding.

2. Direct Mail

Direct mail includes print advertisements like flyers, postcards, and catalogues that are sent in the post. In addition to direct mail, placing items inside your curbside pickup or posted packages is an excellent way to show your customers what is new and exciting at your business. Utilize these to encourage reorders and create loyalty. The more your imagery makes its way into your customers’ homes, the better.

Printed catalogues can display your current product or service offering and share upcoming offers. Drop a single page flyer version of your catalogue with each order and mail more detailed monthly catalogues.

Newsletters can offer behind the scenes insights into your business as a community. The energy that customers once felt when they entered your store must be replicated in some other way. Newsletters should be a part of that plan. Newsletters can share plans for the coming month or your favourite project from the previous month. Memorable stories create a personal connection that the customer will wish to revisit in the future.

You can’t forget business cards. Business cards are portable calling cards that your customers can take with them wherever they go. “Where did I get that awesome product? Oh right! Their card is in my wallet.” This puts your contact information and your website at their fingertips and solidifies your brand exposure.

3. Match your online imagery to your offline imagery

Your digital content must match your offline content to keep a cohesive image and direct customers back to the website they ordered your products from. This means working with your printer to design signs, labels, business cards, internal documentation, invoicing and packaging to match the colours, fonts, and imagery that is found on your website and social media. If your colours look completely different on print versus on screen, your customers may not immediately make the connection between your branded content and your business. A graphic designer at a print shop can help ensure these things are cohesive and allow your customers to tie your digital presence to your product or service.

4. Use your website and social media to create a loyal following

Though there is less foot traffic entering your brick-and-mortar store, you can still communicate with your customers. A landing page and/or ecommerce site is an absolute must. Here is where you will place the bulk of information about your business. To direct your customers to this page and keep an open dialogue with your customers, utilize social media platforms to continue the conversation. Monitor your emails, messages and social media channels and stay active. Building a following and creating awareness requires diligence and a plan. If you are a B2B business, LinkedIn is a great place to start. Instagram is excellent if you have visual content. Twitter is perfect for linking back to the appropriate content on your website.

5. Video marketing

Video marketing is an online trend that is sure to stay. Create a well-constructed video that is geared towards your target audience and their interests. You can use video to showcase a product in use or share a heartwarming story about your business. In addition to your digital branded content on the video, strategically placed branded print items in a video will reinforce your company’s imagery. If you’re still working in your physical location, film your video in your showroom to create a virtual shopping experience for your customer. A printed backdrop in your branding colours will pop in the background as you showcase your product or service and solidify your business’ personality.

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In the age of physical disconnection, it can be a challenge to create brand awareness. By utilizing these tips, your company will make a lasting impression both digitally and in print. Harmonious use of these elements is essential to create an enduring relationship with your clients. Minuteman Press Calgary Shepard can help you design and create print content that will strengthen your brand awareness in a contactless world. Contact Minuteman Press Calgary Shepard today to discuss the best print options for you!

Posted on December 31, 2020November 4, 2021 by printernearme2020

5 Benefits of Branded Apparel for Your Business

Effective branding can create a unique and lasting impression of your company. However, building your brand requires investment and time. Branded apparel is a cost-effective option with several benefits for your business. Considering adding branded apparel to your marketing mix. We have compiled 5 major benefits of branded apparel for your business below.

It Increases Brand Awareness

Your business can work with print companies to design custom t-shirts, hats, aprons, and other apparel that carries your brand logo and tagline. When your employees, clients and customers wear the apparel in public, they become walking billboards of your brand, giving your business additional exposure wherever they go.

Work with a printing company to design apparel that represents your brand while being stylish and high-quality enough for people to want to wear it time and time again. The more frequently they wear your branded clothing, the more repeat brand interactions you will get, thus increasing your brand’s familiarity and awareness.

It Ignites Interest

Customers tend to associate branded apparel with large, established companies. By having branded apparel, your company’s professionalism and expertise is boosted in the customers’ eyes. Branded apparel, like uniforms, also give your employees a sense of authority and helps them be seen as experts in their field. As a result, customers can feel more confident in purchasing from you and be assured that you can get the job done.

It Promotes Loyalty and Unity

When your customers have a positive experience with your brand, they are likely to return. People associate brands with experiences. If they had a positive experience with you, next time they see your

logo, they will know what to expect and will gladly choose to work with you or purchase from you again. The more they see your logo on apparel, the more they are reminded of your brand, which can encourage repeat interactions and sales.

Providing your employees with branded apparel can also create a sense of unity amongst them, which can influence their loyalty with your business. Whether the branded apparel is part of their every-day uniform, or your company is participating in a team sport or tradeshow, the branded apparel will give everyone something in common and make them feel like they are part of the team and united in their goals. When all employees wear the same thing, the distinction between management and subordinates is blurred, promoting communication and cooperation amongst everyone. Employees who wear corporate apparel can also identify more strongly with the company’s values, mission and goals, and strive to represent the company well as a result

It’s Cost-Efficient

Traditional marketing tactics like commercials and print ads can cost you more money and resources. Branded apparel is a less expensive but equally effective marketing investment for your business. When the clothing is worn, you get maximum exposure from prospects and the general public. Also, there’s no expiry on the usage of branded clothing – unlike TV advertisements which only last for a few seconds or minutes. Apparel can be worn repeatedly over a long period of time, making them a long-lasting investment that’s worth your money.

It Makes a Great Gift or Giveaway

You can create positive brand experiences by providing your customers or clients with relevant apparel that is suitable for the season. In the fall or winter, you can give out branded scarves or toques, and in the summer, you can hand out branded t-shirts. If your company is attending a sporting event, you can hand out branded headbands and activewear to the athletes. You can also use branded apparel for promotional giveaways as a marketing tactic.

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Your brand is everything, so it’s time to include promotional clothing in your marketing mix if you haven’t already. Here at Minuteman Press Calgary Shepard, we offer a wide selection of promotional apparel that can be customized according to your branding needs. We can print your logo and tagline on t-shirts, jackets, hats, socks and many other items. Contact us today for a quote on your next batch of custom branded apparel!

Posted on December 30, 2020November 4, 2021 by printernearme2020

Taglines: How to Create Them and Where to Place Them

What are Taglines?

Your tagline is a small set of words or a short phrase that you use to make your company and products stick in your customers’ minds. It should also invoke a mood and create a bond with your customer. Here are some famous examples:

Allstate: “You’re in good hands.”
Nike: “Just do it.”
Disneyland: “The happiest place on Earth.”
Staples: “That was easy.”

Taglines can instantly move your prospects and consumers one step closer to your company, providing additional opportunity for recollection and resonance with your brand.

Creating Your Tagline

Consider the purpose of your tagline: does it have additional information about what you do? Or does it generate a feeling you want to be associated with your brand? If there is something distinctly unique about you, use your tagline to call this out. If it is your brand personality and values that distinguishes you from others, go the emotive route. When authored correctly, the effectiveness of a tagline is immeasurable and can capture the attention of new consumers for years to come. Not to mention the positive impact words can have in driving brand loyalty from your past customers and turning them into repeat customers. No matter how you look at it, there’s an undeniable value to be claimed if you can create a memorable tagline that people connect as the solution to a specific need they have in their life or business.

Length of Your Tagline

Some of the most memorable taglines are concise and to the point, no more than 4-5 words long. Nike’s “Just Do It” is only three words long but is instantly recognizable and immensely descriptive. Taco Bell’s “Think outside the bun” positions them as a departure from the plethora of fast-food competitors and does it with a touch of humour too. Whatever your company does best or provides as a solution that no one else does will work nicely. Then, trim the words down to their core elements without losing the meaning.

Branding Your Business

Branding your business is not the same as your business having a brand. Your brand is the perception that others have on your company based on their interactions with it. By being consistent and true to your passion, your brand will live strong despite not having full control over it.

On the other hand, you have 100% control over branding. Ensure you have the three key elements of your branding: company name, logo, and tagline—on every piece of advertising that your customers and prospects may see. Yes, this includes invoices. To be effective, your tagline must be used consistently in the same relative position in every piece of collateral.

Positioning Your Tagline

A tagline is not just a tool to assist your customers in remembering your company. Short, concise taglines also provide flexibility in how they can be used and where it can be placed. A tagline that’s too long can take away from your logo and name.

The location of your tagline depends greatly on the display medium. The layout and orientation dictate tagline placement, too. A portrait orientation would force you to stack your tagline beneath the logo, whereas a landscape orientation would allow the tagline to have space of its own beside the logo.

For digital mediums such as your website, your tagline could be placed:

Above the main navigation
Immediately beside or below your logo on the home page and/or child pages
In the footer
On your ‘About Us’ page
On your ‘Contact Us’ page
…and more

For print, you can place your tagline:

Below or beside your logo
In the masthead of a document
In the footer of a document
Prominently displayed on a presentation folder

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At the end of the day, where you choose to place your tagline depends on the message you want to deliver to your target audience. Remember that your taglines say a lot about your brand and personality. Make sure you place it where it will get attention throughout your website or on social media.

Minuteman Press Calgary Shepard can work with you to create a logo with a tagline that will stand out from the crowd and communicate your brand because we design, print and promote you! Book a consultation today and we’ll get your tagline rolling.