Barb's Blog

Need to improve your Google ranking?

2011-09-13T13:00:00.000-07:00

Social Media Examiner has a great article on improving just that!

The basics of business cards

2011-08-17T12:52:00.000-07:00

Click here to see the ins and outs of business cards

Just when you thought there were no other ways to fold...

2011-08-03T11:56:00.000-07:00

Tired of the same old fold? Channel foldfactory on You Tube has plenty great ideas! Seriously, there are loads of 'em.

Customer Loyalty: Attitude or a Behavior?

2011-07-17T12:49:00.000-07:00

The concept of customer loyalty can be approached from one of two different directions: attitudinal or behavioral. “Although each of these directions is valid,” says Don Peppers of the management consultant firm Peppers & Rogers Group, “they have different implications and lead to very different strategies for businesses.”

Defining loyalty as “attitudinal” implies that loyalty is a state of mind. In other words, customers are “loyal” to a brand or company if they have a positive, preferential attitude toward it. In terms of economics, this would mean that someone is willing to pay a premium for Brand A over Brand B, even when the products they represent are virtually equivalent.

The behavioral definition of loyalty, on the other hand, relies on a customer’s actual conduct, regardless of his or her attitudes or preferences. By this definition, a customer is “loyal” if he or she buys from a company and continues to buy from it. In this sense, loyalty revolves around re-purchase activity. In the behavioral definition, loyalty is not the cause, but the result of brand preference.

According to Peppers, the behavioral definition of customer loyalty is more useful and practical because behaviors can be observed, while attitudes can only be measured by using polls and surveys. But this doesn’t mean attitudinal loyalty is unimportant. After all, positive attitudes do tend to drive positive behaviors.

A Practical Way to Make Invisibility Cloaks

2011-06-15T10:55:00.000-07:00

It's the stuff of science fiction but engineers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, have developed a new printing method to begin fabricating invisibility cloaks and superlenses.

Celebrate 23 years with us

2011-06-02T12:05:00.000-07:00

We're celebrating our 23rd anniversary. We will be having many specials in the upcoming months. Currently we're featuring a special deal on letterhead and envelopes. Get 50% more free! More great deals to come. Follow and contact us on Facebook or Twitter for more info.

I'll have my business card in three dimensions, thank you.

2011-06-01T10:15:00.000-07:00

A multi-disciplinary team of chemical researchers and mechanical engineers at the Vienna University of Technology has constructed the world's smallest 3D printer. About the size of a milk carton and weighing only 3.3 lbs, this breakthrough brings us that much closer to a reality of DIY 3D printing production. Click here for more on this amazing new invention!

Tips when dealing with print shops

2011-05-18T12:55:00.000-07:00

Consider your options

Before ducking into your nearest print shop or scouring through the Yellow Pages for a local printer (seriously, why would you be looking at OTHER print shops? for shame!), it’s a good idea to check Google for one that does most of its business online. You’d be surprised at how easy it can be to deal with them, and amazed by the great variety of products they are capable of producing. In many cases, you’ll also find that the quality of the end product is as good as the one you would get from a local provider, but at a lower price.

Note that many printers you'll find via Google, are also local providers in their communities—maybe your community—so while you may want to support your local printer, consider the possibility that your local vendor also does business online (yep, we do tons of our business online!).

Know your files

The first important step toward a successful print job is sending your documents in the right format. Most online print providers have become adept at accepting a wide range of files—from Microsoft Word documents to bitmap images, but most of these formats have a number of pitfalls.

For example, Word documents only render properly if all the fonts they contain are installed on the host machine, which may not be the case for the computer your printer uses. Bitmap fonts, on the other hand, only support a fixed resolution and could make text and line art appear jagged.

The golden standard, then, is to use a format that leaves as little to chance as possible. In the past, this meant using something like Adobe’s Encapsulated PostScript (EPS), but, these days, almost every printer will accept PDF files.

Find the right paper

Choosing the right paper for your job is probably one of the most important decisions you’ll make.

There are three important factors to consider. The first is the color of the paper—even “white” could mean a number of different shades and hues, with those tending towards yellow (like ivory or cream) being better suited to formal products, like invitations or greeting cards, while cooler whites are more appropriate for image reproduction.

The second element to keep in mind is weight. Heavier paper—made of thicker stock—is perfect for documents composed of individual sheets, like posters, pictures, or business cards. Thinner paper is usually better for multi-page documents, but the lighter the stock, the cheaper it will feel in your hands.

Your third choice will be one of shine. Glossy paper brings out the vibrance in colors, which makes it particularly appropriate for photographs and art. Matte paper, on the other hand, produces a more readable output by reducing glare and reflection, and is therefore better for text. Glossy paper also tends to be more difficult to write on—something to keep in mind if you’re printing things like reply cards or forms.

Understand how your documents are printed

Printers will typically print your documents using one of two methods: digital or offset.

Digital printing is performed using machines that compose each document directly from its digital representation—basically, the same way the printer in your office does. Obviously, print shops use professional equipment which produce better-looking output than your personal inkjet, but, generally speaking, a digital press trades quality in favour of speed and cost.

Offset printing, on the other hand, works by first etching your document onto a set of metallic plates (typically one for each primary color), and then using the plates to transfer ink onto paper in the right places.

Offset printers produce much better output then their digital counterparts, but are more complex—and, therefore, expensive—to operate. To put things in perspective, it’s not unusual for one of these machines to require hundreds of wasted sheets of paper to “make ready,” that is, to uniformly ink up all the plates so that they can be used for printing the final product.

Embrace the process

Armed with a little knowledge, going from digital file to fine printed product should be easy and inexpensive; with a little planning, the look of crisp, fresh ink on paper is just a few clicks away.

But aren't you guys hurting the environment?

2011-03-19T12:39:00.000-07:00

Paper use can be conceived as bad but here are the facts:

The forest products industry plants more than 1.7 million trees per day. For every tree that is harvested, several more are planted or naturally regenerated.
We have about the same amount of forests as we did 100 years ago. If we did not use these forests for tree production commercial land would be used for development, which would shrink our forests.
For every ton of wood a forest produces, it removes 1.47 tons of CO2 from the air and replaces it with 1.07 tons of oxygen
In 2009 over 63% of paper consumed in the US was recovered for recycling. The recovery rate for metal is 36%, glass is 22%, and plastic only 7%.

Get The Word Out

2011-03-14T11:37:00.000-07:00

Needing to get the word out about an event? Need to promote that big sale? Or are you just wanting to say "Hello" to your customer base? We here at Expressions Printing can craft the perfect promotional piece for your business and mail it with lightning quick speed. Contact us today to experience a stress and hassle free service that will make your business take off!

2011-02-16T16:09:00.000-08:00

Design:

Logo Design Tips

Your logo is what customers look to when they remember you or identify your business. A business that doesn’t even have a logo is not yet a business in many people’s eyes. That’s why you have to get a logo first!

Here are some tips to help you get that eye catching logo:

1. Choose a style that fits your business’s personality. Remember, your logo is not just a mark – it reflects a business’s brand through the use of shape, fonts, color, and images. Your logo is for inspiring trust, recognition and admiration for a company or product and it creates an identity that speaks for your company.

2. Make your logo work anywhere. Your logo must be describable, memorable, effective without color, and be scalable (effective when just an inch in size).

3. Don’t… be too complex. An intricate logo will lose detail when scaled to a smaller size.

Don’t… use stock images. You may run the risk of using the same art as another business. Be original.

Don’t… have your logo designed by an amateur. If your logo looks unprofessional, then so will your business.

Printable... skin?

2011-01-14T14:24:00.000-08:00

Imagine that in the near future you could come into Expressions Printing and ask for... a replacement ear! Sounds gross but scientists have found a way to create layers of skin using 3D printing techniques. Of course the process is in the beginning stages but it's applications are amazing. Click here to read more.

Bulk Mailing

2010-12-19T10:31:00.000-08:00

Want to get the word out? Let your business be known with our bulk mailing service. Bulk mailing is a fantastic way to save money (compared to standard mailing) and it lets customers (and potentials) know about a special event, upcoming sales, or to say that you appreciate their business. Let us handle the paper work, boxing, sorting, and the driving to the post office and let us help you get your business booming.

Free Delivery

2010-11-18T13:27:00.000-08:00

Too swamped at the office and don’t have the time to come and pick up your order? No problem! If you’re in the local metropolitan area, you’re guaranteed free delivery. Whether it’s just a few business cards or oodles of oversized laminated posters, just ask and we’ll deliver.

Industry News

2010-10-13T13:48:00.000-07:00

QR CODES MAKE PRINT INTERACTIVE WITH MOBILE PHONES

Consider putting a QR code on all of your printing, including the backs of business cards. This is an easy way to link your print identity with your mobile identity. It's a good first step to take in any digital branding strategy and one that we can do in house. A QR Code is simply a mobile barcode used from a phone camera. "QR" stands for "Quick Response." The user simply points their phone camera at the square code and it takes you directly to a company website or Facebook page. Wow! The future is now!

Less Clutter, Better

2010-09-17T13:21:00.000-07:00

With the hustle and bustle of today’s living, people’s time and attention is limited. We typically skim many ads and articles than read them in their entirety. Because of this, when designing, one needs to be simple. Nothing disinterests a potential customer faster than an overly packed and cluttered piece. Oversized graphics, poor layout, and too much information can make your work look unprofessional and lose precious business. Good design is the correct use of white space to stop cluttering, making important points stand out with a bulleted list, including a small (but eye catching) graphic that represents what is being sold, and using call out boxes that draw the reader’s attention.

Business Cards

2010-08-27T13:54:00.001-07:00

Make a lasting first impression. People establish their first impression of your company from your logo and the materials it is printed on. That's why it's so important to have a coordinated, unique, and consistent corporate identity program that projects a high degree of professionalism. We can design and print business cards that reflect that identity. At Expressions Printing, we offer a variety of services including spot or full-color printing, embossing, and foil printing on a wide range of papers. We can also help you design and print a complete corporate identity package that includes business cards, letterhead, envelopes, business forms, and mailing labels.

Quality Offset Printing

2010-08-25T08:50:00.000-07:00

Expressions Printing offers quality offset printing. Our job is to make you look good on paper. Quality printing can help your business make a lasting impression on your customers and clients. Printing has changed. And nowhere is that more evident than at Expressions Printing. Today, offset and digital processes constitute "printing." Prices are affordable. The turnaround time is fast. But what is most important is the high quality of work produced at Expressions Printing, regardless of the process used. Our printing experience delivers quality you can count on!