» Graphic Design http://printingnorthshore.com Tue, 29 Aug 2017 03:21:29 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.0.25 That handwritten touch… http://printingnorthshore.com/that-handwritten-touch/ http://printingnorthshore.com/that-handwritten-touch/#comments Tue, 05 Jun 2012 01:48:18 +0000 http://printingnorthshore.com/?p=698 Continue reading →]]> All things glossy are a hot topic for us this month at printing.com as part of our June Offer of the Month which includes postcards, rack cards, business cards and creased business cards.

Is your current print marketing not working for you? Why not try a personal approach with our Xtreme Gloss cards which have a gloss laminated front and an uncoated reverse, perfect for writing, stamping or just that handwritten touch.

Xtreme Gloss Postcards

  • Postcards are a versatile option that can be mailed out, handed out or sold, these say much more than “wish you were here!” Also another great bonus is they free up time as no envelopes are required.
  • Postcards call for endless possibilities. You are bound to get some great feedback and more sales!

Why not try a loyalty card scheme? These are stamped, punched or checked off to record a series of visits or purchases, all with the goal of increasing your sales through repeat business.

Once the card is complete a reward is offered. For example a free item or a discount on the next purchase.

When used correctly, loyalty cards can help track customer habits and also generate a database. Make sure the card has enough space to write contact details so once redeemed you can grow your database.

Other ideas for our Xtreme Gloss Business Cards & Creased Business Cards

  • Appointment Cards
  • Cards
  • Thank You’s
  • Referral Cards
  • Vouchers
  • Mini menus

These are just a few ideas of how you can take advantage of this month’s glossy deals. Drop us an email or give us a call at printing.com North Shore and we will be more than happy to help you out.

]]> http://printingnorthshore.com/that-handwritten-touch/feed/ 0 It’s All in the Ingredients… http://printingnorthshore.com/it%e2%80%99s-all-in-the-ingredients%e2%80%a6/ http://printingnorthshore.com/it%e2%80%99s-all-in-the-ingredients%e2%80%a6/#comments Wed, 30 May 2012 01:08:28 +0000 http://printingnorthshore.com/?p=656 Continue reading →]]> All Printing is the Same, Right? Leaflets from us are the same as leaflets from that bloke your brother knows. Business cards from that little shop on the high street are as good as ours, right? Wrong. They may sound the same, but it’s like comparing apples with whales. We give you a “business class” product at an “economy class” price.

How It Works…
You don’t have to understand it to appreciate it, but here’s a brief explanation if you’re the inquisitive type! Full colour (process colour) is a system which allows a multiplicity of shades to be created from just four primary printing ink – Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black. 

Full colour means you can have virtually every colour of the rainbow, without worrying that you’ll need the pot of gold at the end to pay the extra costs. As many colours as you want. As many photographs as you want. One price. Simple.

Offset vs. Digital Printing
Now you understand how colour works it’s time for a little education about our two different printing processes we offer at printing.com North Shore and how to decide which is right for your needs.

Digital Printing
Digital printing eliminates many of the mechanical steps required for conventional printing, including making films and color proofs, manually stripping the pieces together and making plates.

Advantages of Digital

  • Shorter turnaround
  • Cheaper low volume printing
  • Customizable. Using information from a database, text and or graphics can be changed on each piece without stopping or slowing down the press. For example, personalized letters can be printed with a different names on each.

Offset Printing
In offset printing, the desired print image is burned onto a plate and is then transferred (or offset) from the plate to a rubber blanket and then to the printing surface. The process is based on the repulsion of oil and water. The image to be printed gets ink from ink rollers, while the non printing area attracts a film of water, keeping the non printing areas ink-free.

 

 

Advantages of Offset

  • High quality print
  • The unit cost goes down as the quantity goes up
  • Quality and cost-effectiveness in high volume jobs

Still not sure which is right to use?

Use this check list to help decide:

  • Quantity Offset printing has a front-end cost load. Short runs may have a high unit cost. But as quantities increase, the unit cost goes down with offset printing. Very short runs can be much more cost effective with digital printing; while larger quantities are likely to have a lower unit cost with offset printing.
  • Printing medium Do you need or want a special paper, finish or unusual printing surface, or unique size? The options are increasing continually for digital, but offset printing still offers the most flexibility.
  • Turnaround If you need it fast, digital usually offers quicker delivery.
  • Proofing Digital offers accurate proofs since you see an actual sample of the printed piece. Accurate color proofing for offset printing can be expensive.
  • Customization Without question, digital printing offers the most affordable way to customize marketing materials, direct mail pieces, letters, etc.

Well we hope that we have given you a little inside information on colour and the printing process and next time we talk or quote about digital or offset options you won’t stare blankly at us!

]]> http://printingnorthshore.com/it%e2%80%99s-all-in-the-ingredients%e2%80%a6/feed/ 0 Heads Down – Bums Up! http://printingnorthshore.com/heads-down-bums-up/ http://printingnorthshore.com/heads-down-bums-up/#comments Thu, 05 Apr 2012 00:36:13 +0000 http://printingnorthshore.com/?p=663 Continue reading →]]> So we have been rather quiet lately on the blogging front! We really have had our heads down – bums up this year. So we thought it was best to show you what we have been doing lately as we have been working on some exciting stuff for clients.

We have noticed a steady increase this year of new start up businesses, check out below some logo design work we have done. 

Life-Story offers education and career counselling for young adults. We designed their logo and a business card for Val. Check Life-Story out online and on facebook.

Verve Training is a brand new venture for Lizzie Brandon. We designed her logo and a business card.

Construction HQ is a new venture for Aaron Dawick. We designed his logo and a business card.

HCG The Key is an exciting venture for Mary Coup who will help discover the key to your weight loss. We designed her logo and a business card. Check on HCG The Key on facebook.

CV Now We rebranded their logo and designed a new business card for Nikki. CV Now is a NZ based business that provides a personalised service. CVNow.co.nz is the first choice service provider to numerous Job-seekers in New Zealand when it comes to drafting a highly targeted CV to move between jobs or countries. Check them out on facebook.


Helicopter Me is the leading helicopter tour operator in Auckland, New Zealand. We are really excited to be working with innovative clients such as Helicopter Me that offer such unique services. We helped to put together their print material; business cards, flyers, banner and promo voucher.

The new year has also seen one of our great clients Sierra explore new design styles in their seasonal promotions. We have had lots of fun illustrating posters, so keep an eye out for a winter promo coming soon to Sierra Cafes.

And our latest news is that we meet NZ Masterchef 2011 Winner Nadia Lim and her husband Carlos. What a lovely team and we even managed to help them out with business cards, postcards and recipe cards for Nadia’s recent book and website launch. All the best Nadia and Carlos.

So we really have had a great start to the year, with building new and existing client relationships and designing and printing solutions for them. Give us a call as we would love to help you out!

Happy Easter from the printing.com North Shore team

]]> http://printingnorthshore.com/heads-down-bums-up/feed/ 0 Looking ahead to a booming New Year http://printingnorthshore.com/looking-ahead-to-a-booming-new-year/ http://printingnorthshore.com/looking-ahead-to-a-booming-new-year/#comments Mon, 19 Dec 2011 23:47:23 +0000 http://printingnorthshore.com/?p=587 Continue reading →]]> I know, you’re probably swimming in holiday orders at the moment and are counting down the days until you can take a much needed break from production. But a funny thing happens between the end of December and January – the orders come to a screeching halt.

Instead of taking the month of January off, or sitting back with the understanding it will be a rough month, do something about it and plan ahead to get your customers back in the door for the New Year.

Spicy new ideas for 2012

Create a New Campaign
If you keep doing the same stuff, you’ll get the same results. Instead, come up with an entirely new idea – something you’ve never done before or have never seen anyone else do in your area.


Offer packages for recurring work
It may seem obvious, but if you only offer one-off services then your clients won’t have a reason to hire you again. Create a relationship with your clients through follow ups, VIP cards, loyalty cards etc. All these things keep you in front of their mind and stop them from just using the closest or the cheapest competitor.

Give your best clients special treatment
Always treat your best clients better than prospective or new clients. Best clients are those who have brought you the most amount of business or referred you to new clients.

“Special treatment” may include discounted rates or unannounced gifts. You can also offer exclusive services for them. Always make time in your schedule for last-minute requirements from existing clients.

Revive “zombie clients”
Haven’t heard from a past client for some time? Give them a gentle nudge. What about making up a “where have you been” letter, to ask clients why you haven’t heard from them…or ask for feedback. Worth a try :)

Mark important dates
Send existing clients a birthday card or another gift. While you’re at it, why not include a voucher. Or, you could do something similar on the anniversary of when you first started working together

Ask for referrals
Having a referral system in place can be good for your business. Aside from bringing you new clients, having an existing client refer a prospect to you increases her loyalty to you. You can offer incentives in exchange for referrals, such as a discount on a future project or an outright commission.

If you don’t offer an incentive, always send the referrer a simple, but thoughtful email.

I know, it takes work to keep track of these things. But, these details are what makes you stand out from your competition. You will notice there is a common theme running through these tips. They’re all about making your clients feel special, appreciated and loved. So always ask yourself, “What can I do to show my clients how much I value them?”

Christmas is the season of generosity so this December we are offering THREE fantastic specials so that you can get organised for the New Year. We are offering 40% off A4 3 Panel DLE Premium Brochures, 30% off Regular DLE Rack Cards and 25% off Starmarque Spot UV Business Cards helping you to hit the ground running in 2012.

Merry Christmas from the team at printing.com North Shore and all the best for the New Year!

]]> http://printingnorthshore.com/looking-ahead-to-a-booming-new-year/feed/ 0 Why I still use a diary? http://printingnorthshore.com/why-i-still-use-a-diary/ http://printingnorthshore.com/why-i-still-use-a-diary/#comments Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:25:13 +0000 http://printingnorthshore.com/?p=573 Continue reading →]]> Ever since I can remember I have been using a paper diary. Probably a talent that was installed in me as a young school girl.

This wee obsession surprises many who except a young graphic designer to be a sporting the latest in calendar technology. How could I, of all people, be so resistant to progress?

Like many people with the same abnormal fetish, there is a particular style of diary I prefer – a week view, portrait layout, lined hours in the weekdays and a hard wearing cover. This then has to fit nicely into my hand and not too heavy in my handbag.  I like the cover to feel tactile; laminated possibly very important with something you hold and touch so often.

Why bother using digital organisers when the analogue version is already near perfection. Digital versions are still poor seconds behind a well laid out paper diary.

However there are some advantages to planning my life in an iPhone, over my trusty old paper diary. The main one is that the iPhone is synced to all sorts of places, so if I lose my phone the information is safe, somewhere… By making the diary public, or sharing it with colleagues, we can gain some efficiencies in coordinating our lives.

This is where the benefits stop. The most important function of a diary is to make it quick and easy to record and recall appointments for myself. The technical term for a shared diary is a calendar, or more specifically, a wall calendar. Of which we have plenty stuck up around our office!

And the major flaw with electronic organisers is that you cannot easily talk to someone on the phone whilst looking through your diary to make an appointment. Sure you can put the phone on speaker but you risk pushing the wrong button and ending the call! With a paper diary you can find, create and change appointments in a fraction of a second by flicking through the weeks and using your pen boldly still while talking on the phone!

In closing, I am a very fast touch typist, but even I cannot tap faster on an iPhone than I can scrawl with my pen across my diary. I do not need to scroll or page to the right place on the right day when one thumb movement can turn the page and take me forward a week.

So why not entertain diary giving this Christmas? A diary with your company logo and contact details is an ideal corporate gift or promotional vehicle, subtly exposing your business in front of your customers every day of the year. Talk to us about our November offer on 2012 diaries – personalise your own 2012 diary cover and we’ll fill in the pages with New Zealand 2012 dates and public holidays.

Chanel Campbell – Graphic Designer
printing.com North Shore

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