Prisma Graphic is FSC Certified

Prisma Graphic demonstrates respect for the planet, while maintaining its reputation as a high-quality commercial printer. Prisma Graphic, one of the Southwest’s leading privately owned commercial printers, becomes FSC certified to help protect the environment.

“FSC certification was the next logical step for Prisma. Over the years, we have developed our own internal Sustainability Program. This program has focused on reducing our overall power consumption, recycling excess production materials, as well as properly treating and disposing of the chemicals used in the printing process,” states Robert Anderson, President.

The Spirit of Giving- Prisma Graphic teams up with St. Mary’s Food Bank for an 8,000 can food drive.

A Gift to Many at the Holiday Season.

Being in the service business, the notion of positively impacting others comes natural to all of us at Prisma Graphic. We are fortunate for our partnerships and we count our blessings every single day. In the spirit of the holiday season we hope to unite the resources of our clients, co-workers, families and friends to help our community. Prisma Graphic has set a goal to collect 8,000 cans of food to donate to St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance by the end of January 2010.

St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, the world’s first food bank, is a non-sectarian, nonprofit organization that alleviates hunger by efficiently gathering and distributing food to sites that serve the hungry. Covering 13 of Arizona’s 15 counties, this worthy organization is committed to volunteerism, building community relationships and improving the quality of life for all Arizonans in need.

As a special thank you for your continued support and patronage, Prisma Graphic will match all donations can for can or dollar for dollar until this goal is reached; a perfect way to give a deserving family a happy holiday.

 Please join us to make a donation: 

Simply click here  to contact Prisma Graphic to arrange for the pickup of your food or monetary donation. We’ll contact you to coordinate a convenient time for one of our delivery drivers to stop by your location

2010 –  The Spirit of Giving Continues…

To continue the spirit of giving throughout 2010, Prisma Graphic is planning the following company events to support our community.  Please check back for updates throughout the year.

April – May 2010: Habitat for Humanity

October 2010: Race for the Cure

November – December 2010:
St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance Drive and
Crisis Nursery Hope for the Holidays Campaign

Prisma Graphic Services and Capabilities

 

 

 

 

Prisma Graphic has the following services and capabilities.

Equipment List

Electronic Prepress

• (1) Magnus 800 Platesetter with 5 Autoloader/Cassettes
• (1) Creo Trendsetter Spectrum Platesetter
• (9) Mac Work Stations
• (9) PC Work Stations
• (6) PREPS Imposition Stations
• (2) Prinergy JVX 10.4 Ripping & Trapping Systems
• Prinergy Stochastic Screener
• Prinergy – PDF Workflow
• Kodak – FM Staccato Screening
• Canon Color ImpoProofer Automated
• 2-sided proofer with Color Management
• Canon ImagePrograf Contract Color Proofer with Kodak Color Management
• Epson Inkjet Color 9900 Proofer 44”
•  (2) Sherpa 2-Sided Proofers
• HP DesignJet 5500 Proofer
• Pictoral Proofer (11” x 17” max)
• Multiple CD/DVD Burners
• Rimage Premium CD/DVD PlexWriter (6 Unit) High-Speed
• Eversmart Pro2 Flatbed Scanner (11.5” x 17” original input)
• X RITE PlateScope (Plate Quality/Process Control)
• X RITE Spectrodensitometer (Proofing, Plating, Press Profiling Process Control)
• Eye One Color Calibration System
• Profile Maker Pro (Color Profiling system)
• Complete Up to date Software and Font Library
• All files archived on DAT and DVD
• Mirrored 3T Raid Dell Servers & Gigabit Speed Network
• E. Quix & High Speed Network Server
• FTP Server
• (2) CIP3 Servers
• Kodak ColorTune Proofing Server
• Prinergy 1.6 Remote Proofing Server
• Kodak InSite – Customer Job Interface 

Bindery

• (2) Heidelberg Cylinder Press; Sheet Size: 22 x 30”
• Brausse – 22 1/2 x 29” Die Cut, Emboss and Foil Stamp
• Kluge EHD – 14 x 20” Die Cut, Emboss and Foil Stamp
• Baum Lawson MPU, 47” Paper Cutter (Micro-cut)
• Polar 52” EMC Paper Cutter (Micro-cut)
• (2) Saber^® 54” Cutter w/ Baumann Jogger
• Mueller Martini Saddle Stitcher   10 Stations w/ Cover Feeder & 3-Knife Trimmer
• (2) Mueller Martini Saddle Stitcher   6 Stations /Cover Feeder w/ 3-Knife Trimmer
• Perfect Binder 18”
• Rollem TR, 35” Perforating & Scoring
• Rollem TR, 40” Perforating & Scoring
• MBO B26S Perfection Folder 26 x 40”; 32-Page
• MBO B23 Folder 20 x 26”; 8-Page
• MBO B32 S Perfection Folder 32 x 40”; 8-Page
• Stahl Folder 30 x 40” 16-Page Folder
• Kluge Pocket Folder Gluer w/Final Fold Ability
• Challenge Paper Drill, 5-Hole
• (1) Auto Shrink Wrap Packager
• (3) Semi-Auto Shrink Wrap Packager

Presses (Web, Sheetfed & Digital)

• M-130 Heidelberg 38 inch, 5 Color Heatset Web with Color Control System CCS Loop
• Combo Folder – Sheeter – Pattern Perforator    Maximum Sheet:  22.75 x 38 inches, Maximum Image Area:  22.5 x 37.5 inches
• Color King 36 inch, 2 Color Web Press / Combo Folder  Maximum Sheet:  22.75 x 36 inches, Maximum Image Area:  22.5 x 35.5 inches
• Akiyama 40 inch, 5 Color Perfector with Color Control System CCS Loop Maximum Sheet:  28 x 40 inches,  Maximum Image Area: 27.5 x 39.5 inches
•  (2) Akiyama 40 inch, 6 Color w/ Aqueous Coater,  Maximum Sheet:  28 x 40 inches,   Maximum Image Area:  27.5.  X 39.5 inches
• Mitsubishi 28 inch, 6 Color w/ Aqueous Coater,    Maximum Sheet:  20 x 28 inches,    Maximum Image Area:  19.5 x 27.5 inches
• Ryobi True 2 Color (Best for Registration and Solids),  Maximum Sheet:  12 x 18 inches,  Maximum Image Area: 11.5 x 17.5 inches
• (2) AB Dick 2 Color Replicator,  Maximum Sheet:  12 x 18 inches,  Maximum Image Area: 11.5 x 17.5 inches
• Halm Jet 2C Color Perfector Envelope Press,    Maximum Sheet:  13 x 18 inches, Maximum Image Area: 11 x 17 inches
• HP Indigo 5000 4 Color Press   Maximum Sheet:  12 x 18 inches,  Maximum Image Area: 11.6 x 17.2 inches
• C6500 Digital 4 Color Copier/Press,   Maximum Sheet:  12 x 18 inches,  Maximum Image Area: 11.6 x 17.2 inches

Fulfillment

• Pick and Pack
• Package and Distribution
• On-line Customized Inventory Management
• Cycle Count

 Mailing Services

Our Mailing Department offers a fully integrated service, which
is completely in-house, and configured to suit any requirements.
These services include data acquisition and management, CASS
certification, NCOA service, DPV validation. Prisma can customize
any mailing program to satisfy the needs of our clients.

 Dokshop.com (Web-to-Print Solution)

A unique business-to-business product that enables users to order,
personalize, proof and manage print materials online.  Its parameter-
based programming allows customization with various user options
and controls. Each site can be specifically tailored to fulfill any client’s
needs.

____________________________________________________

 Offset Printing Services:

•  Sheetfed: Medium Quantity Print Runs
•  Jprint 5C Perfector Press with Color Control System CCL
• Sheetfed: Large Quantity Print Runs with our new Control System CCL
•  Heatset Web: Large Quantity Print runs with Color
• Open Web: Short and Large Print runs

  Digital Printing:

•  Including Variable Data
•  Indigo Short Quantity Print runs, Up to 12”x18”, Including Variable Data with Inline Finishing
•  Konica Minolta Quantity Print runs, Up to 12”x18″
•  41”X72” Large Format-Short Quantity Print runs

Prepress  

•  State-of-the-Art Computer Hardware,
•  Software & Color Correction & Image Manipulation
•  Hi-res Canon Kodak Proofs
•  HP Ink Jet & Laser Proofs, Sherpa Digital Proofs
•  Prinergy Ripping & Trapping
•  Prinergy –FM Segundo Stochastic Screening
•  Kodak Remote Proofing
•  Kodak-FM Staccato Screening
•  Prinergy PDF Workflow
• SSL Secured FTP Site
• Direct-to-Plate Magnus 800

  Design & Production 

•  Outside agency support
•  Supplement In-house Creative Staff
• Develop Original Concepts 
• Follow Existing Corporate Graphic Standards

 CD/DVD Duplicating

•  Data Duplication 
• Thermal Label Printing

Bindery

• Folding 
• Scoring 
• Perforating 
• Stitching 
• Perfect Bind 
• Die Cutting 
• Embossing 
• Foil Stamping 
• Gluing
• Drilling
• Mounting
• Sequential Numbering

  DOKSHOP: Online e-Commerce Website

• Pre-approved Products
•  Brand consistency
• Static and Dynamic Fields
• Instant Online PDF ApprovalView Order Status and History
• Customizable Shipping

State-of-the-Art Warehouse Facility

• Product Inventory Storage
• Clearly Labeled Product with Scannable Bar Codes

 Fulfillment  

• Computerized Pick & Pac
• Build Kits of Various Configurations Requirements
• Bulk or Custom Packaging to Fit your Unique
• Ship to Single or Multiple Locations

Mailing, Shipping & Receiving

• CASS Certified Mailing Services
• Database Management
• Inserting
• 1st Class, Standard Presort
• Bulk Mail with FedEx Overnight
• 2-day or Ground Shipping
• Common Carrier

 

Contact Prisma Graphic for a quote on all your printing, design and mailing needs.

 

Why printing? The ways Prisma Graphic can help your company prosper.

Why printing?  The ways printing helps your company prosper.

   At one time or another we all have taken printing for granted. Perhaps because print has been the world’s number one communication medium for so long, we tend to overlook its impact and power. That oversight could be detrimental to the success of a marketing campaign, a product launch or a branding initiative trying to make connections. Consumers trust print, feel comfortable using it and are unable to fast forward past it. Electronic content comes and goes and when it’s gone, your message disappears with it. Print, on the other hand, is there for the long run.

 According to a recent survey by the Magazine Publishers of America 24% of readers will pass along an interesting article to someone else, 23% will save it for future reference and 13% will visit a relevant website; giving advertisers double and triple bonuses on their marketing investments.

This magazine is dedicated to the persuasive power of print and how it continues to evolve and play an important role in the marketing mix. Along with several informative articles throughout, we have included the advantages of using print. We hope you find this blog informative, inspiring and ultimately beneficial to your marketing efforts.

 Sincerely,

The Prisma Graphic Team

Prisma Graphic provides print smart marketing solutions.

Prisma Graphics – Relationships Redefined: Our sales story

  There are all kinds of sales people, all kinds of buyers and endless bargaining options. Selling a product or service based on price alone is one approach. Being able to earn a long-term business relationship as a trusted solutions provider, however, is something completely unto itself.

 Alan McAbee, Prisma Graphic’s General Manager says, “By offering creative ideas, adding project value and even knowing equipment limitations, our sales team demonstrates Prisma’s fair business practices right off the bat.” He goes on to say, “No matter the level of experience, each member of our sales staff has a team of industry professionals behind them to help our clients make the most informed, economical decisions for the specific needs of every project.” 

Our ability to sell marketing solutions and secure business with some of the largest and most reputable companies in the world goes well beyond a passion for print and seasoned industry knowledge. The Prisma sales team has redefined the rapport between a printer and its buyers by focusing on one key element. Trust.

 “I will never forget the satisfaction I felt for the trust and loyalty of my first corporate client,” says Prisma’s Vice President of Sales, Tim Bateman. “As a salesperson, it is an extremely rewarding experience when a client decides to work with you, and the company that you represent, when you know they have countless options.”

 That ideology is just a part of our Print Smart philosophy. From the initial contact, to the delivery and success of each project, we ensure our clients are satisfied throughout the entire production process. We understand partnerships and strive to offer a wide selection of solutions and programs that exceed our clients’ expectations.

 Call one of our Prisma’s Sales Representatives today to learn more about what it really means to Print Smart (800 379-5777).

Primsa Graphic is Proof to Print G7 Master Qualified.

Prisma Graphic is Proof to Print- G7 Master Qualified by IDEAlliance.  For more information about Prisma Graphic and the G7 Master rating please contact us at Prisma Graphic.

Web to Print: The DokShop Solution

WEB TO PRINT: The DokShop Solution

 For some years now discerning print buyers have been charged with reducing costs, saving time and improving results, all the while saddled with tight marketing budgets based on revenue generation. While some marketers have turned towards alternative media to help meet their defined objectives, others simply started cutting back their efforts altogether. Those that have experimented with multi-channel communications, especially the integration of print and the Internet, have found they did not need to stray too far to get results. And really, with so many companies falling well short of their sales objectives today, no one can afford to scale back any part of their marketing efforts.

 A September 2008 Epsilon survey of top Chief Marketing Officers reported that over 94% of the respondents said they feel “a tough economic period is precisely the time when marketing plays a key role.” By investing in proven strategies and collateral-based marketing materials, companies can sustain basic marketing efforts that continue revenue flowing even through economic downturns. This notion can be substantiated considering the CMO Council’s 2008 Marketing Outlook that said events and trade shows, direct marketing, sales support materials, and online marketing were at the top of marketers’ investment lists.

 Generally speaking, collateral-based materials have always been centered in corporate marketing departments where brand standards, timing, costs and other critical aspects of marketing campaigns can be closely monitored. With the time, expense and headcount required to maintain this control, however, many have looked to their vendors for solutions. Meeting these demands on time, with ease, and at reasonable prices can be difficult; especially for those vendors unwilling to evolve. Many traditional printers have yet to embrace the web-to-print relationship, maybe for fear of losing the customer to the convenience of the Internet, or simply due to a lack of technological confidence or knowledge.

 “In today’s business environment, being able to provide traditional print, as well as a robust web-to-print solution, is crucial to the future success of any commercial printer,” according to Bob Anderson, President of Prisma Graphic Corporation. Launched almost 9 years ago, Prisma’s industry-leading, online solution called dokshop has become an integral part of the company’s business and appeal. “Most of our clients really understand the importance of an online application like this right from the start,” says Anderson. “Our dokshop system alleviates the majority of the day-to-day costs and headaches of corporately-managed marketing efforts; helps to explain why it has become the fastest growing component of our company.”

 Dokshop Defined

 Prisma Graphic developed dokshop.com as an online solution to support company-specific ordering sites that are tailored and personalized to meet the individual needs of each client. More specifically, dokshop sites enable clients to easily manage and distribute valuable corporate marketing assets; direct mailers, sales sheets, brochures, image or logo libraries, advertisements and email blasts, for example. These products can be produced statically or variably and either printed on demand and/or distributed electronically or by any common carrier. More importantly, the basic functionality of these sites gives complete control to the client to decide who can order, how often, how much and how each order is cost accounted.

 Prisma Graphic promotes these fully-customizable, web-to-print solution sites to clients looking to save time and money in the marketing process. With complete personalization options, dokshop can mirror a corporation’s centralized marketing department and help to lower basic administrative costs. Ultimately, dokshop’s very existence is to help marketers maintain brand standards, manage multiple location orders and total inventory, minimize collateral waste and economically distribute assets quickly and efficiently.

 Orders placed through dokshop typically ship within 1-to-4 working days from the time of receipt – a fraction of the time needed for a traditional order. Since introduced in 2001, dokshop has enabled businesses around the country to launch worldwide marketing campaigns much more efficiently. Today, dokshop supports nearly 235 clients with over 32,000 users and continues to grow.

 Simply put, dokshop allows Prisma Graphic to offer their clients the products and services they need, when they need it and how they need it. Please contact your current Prisma Sales Representative, or Bob Anderson now to find out how this dynamic web-to-print solution can benefit your company (800 379-5777 or  roberta@prismagraphic.com ).

  “What brought Avnet to Prisma in 2000 was the need for a quick turnaround on a specialty order of embossed business cards. I am pleased to say we have been married like ink to paper with them ever since. Prisma not only upholds our project deadlines but also meets our time, cost and quality standards. Needless to say, when they launched their dynamic online ordering site, we were the first in line. Their dokshop system has helped us control brand consistency across our 300 world-wide locations, streamline our print buying process and manage our company collateral; supporting our company-wide green initiative. Our business relationship has significantly grown and strengthened over the years, as they continue to work with us and our ever-evolving needs. The key to their success is their friendly service, ideas and consistent effort to support our programs.”

 Al Maag,   Chief Communications Officer, Avnet

With operations in 73 countries, Avnet has become one of the world’s largest technology distributors of electronic components, embedded subsystems, enterprise computing products and solutions. Their corporate social responsibility strives to make a difference in their employees, community, industry and the environment.

In 2008, Avnet was recognized in the list of “America’s Most Admired Companies” by Fortune magazine – ranking first in many categories and second overall.

 “As a large organization, one of the biggest struggles we face, as do many large organizations, is maintaining brand consistency. We also have the added challenge of supporting multiple locations throughout the country, which can be both time consuming and costly. A couple of years ago, Prisma set us up with a dokshop site, which streamlined our ordering process while allowing us to maintain our brand throughout our nearly 200 locations. Our dokshop site has made it easy for our locations to utilize corporate-approved materials, rather than relying on their own collateral.”

 Darin Hancock,  Marketing Manager, University of Phoenix

In the past 30 years, University of Phoenix has helped transform the landscape of higher education by making it easily accessible for working students. The University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association (ncahlc.org). University of Phoenix offers a wide variety of degree programs at the Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorial levels and in fields such as business, technology, health care and education to name a few.

Print Smart: The Rewards of Being Green

Print Smart: The Rewards of Being Green

Despite the growth and popularity of the Internet as a marketing tool, the mailbox continues to be the preferred communication channel for information, promotions and announcements. According to a study by International Communications Research1, 70% of consumers prefer direct mail compared to 18% who prefer email.

 As consumer concern for the environment increases, so has sensitivity toward direct mail and its perceived negative impact. While direct mail accounts for only 2% of the country’s municipal waste, it is still a concern for businesses that use direct mail as a marketing strategy.

 So, what can marketers do to accommodate today’s consumers? Print Smart. For Sherri May & Company, a mailing proponent that specializes in direct marketing, being green is the positive result of simply printing smart. “We’ve been the most successful when we focus on delivering the right message, to the right audience, at the right time, using the most energy and cost-efficient means possible. Green production is a win-win all the way around,” explains Sherri May.

 To address the growing concerns of the environment and the impact of direct mail, the Direct Marketing Association, Pitney Bowes and the United States Postal Service have all published practical steps to become more efficient in direct mail and thus more environmentally responsible.

 Data Management – Reducing Undeliverable Mail

Each year almost 60 billion pieces of direct mail end up in landfills. By working with a partner who understands how to minimize undeliverable records and optimize the production process in general, you can save as much as 30% on each and every mailing. Incorporating USPS endorsed NCOAlink® software, Intelligent Mail® and OneCode ACSTM into the data process will ensure accuracy, helping to maximize ROI while maintaining good environmental stewardship.

 FSC Certified versus Traditional Recycled Paper

Besides positively positioning your company’s image, for little or no additional cost, using an FSC Certified paper helps reduce global warming, save forests, conserve water and lower emission of toxic pollutants. Moreover, using a recycled FSC Certified paper supports municipal recycling collection programs and diverts usable materials from incinerators and landfills.

 Generally speaking, the benefits of using a traditional recycled paper are more of a perception than a reality. Many countries continue to destroy rain forests for the hemp needed to produce the original papers used in the recycling process today. In fact, recycling traditional paper actually depletes more in fossil fuel and other non-renewable resources in the collection, fabrication and delivery than it saves for the environment. The FSC Certification demonstrates that your finished product was produced from start-to-finish, using sources and methods that promote responsible forest management worldwide.

 Manage the Mailbox

When possible, try to consolidate your message into fewer mailings. Instead of mailing monthly, consider mailing quarterly and augmenting the effort with opt-in, personalized phone and/or email communications. Combine multiple messages into a single envelope and always utilize the front and back of each insert. “Companies that are able to coordinate all their mailings through a single internal point person, do a great job of managing the customer mailbox. Customer perception can turn negative when they receive multiple mailings from the same company within a short period of time,” says Sherri May. These minor adjustments will stretch your marketing dollars and help to reduce your company’s impact on the environment.

 Manage the Message

Making an impression is sometimes easier than most people think. Minor size adjustments, self-mailers versus envelope mailers and even using a pre-printed corporate mailing permit instead of stamps, can all extend the budget of a direct mail piece. This creative thinking not only improves efficiency, but also inherently applies eco-friendly practices.

 Poly versus Poly-Less Envelopes

Implementing the use of a window envelope is a smart way to retain personalization, yet avoid the extra cost of match mailing. Also, by using poly-less window envelopes, especially on larger quantities, you can reduce production costs while making these envelopes easier for consumers to recycle.

 Vegetable/Soy or Petroleum Inks

The increasing demand for a front-to-back eco-friendly process has made vegetable and soy-based inks more cost-effective than ever before. Today, these inks are very competitively priced against petroleum-based inks, and customers appreciate receiving printed pieces from those who demonstrate a commitment to the environment.

Always Consider the Combo

Printing one project at a time is always more costly than printing multiple projects at once. Although that’s not always possible, a strategic approach to your next staggered, multiple-piece campaign could save your company thousands of dollars, while also reducing the manufacturing waste of the overall campaign.

 Become an Environ-mail-ist

Employing these simple initiatives into your direct mail strategy can improve your company’s image, will be good for your budget and ultimately good for our planet. Print Smart is more than a philosophy for Sherri May & Company and Prisma Graphic. We all have a responsibility to our clients and to our shared environment. Plus, if we’re able to reduce a carbon footprint along the way… we all win!

 Contact Sherri May & Company today to discuss everything from data optimization, mailbox management and how to develop a results-driven direct mail campaign that positively impacts our environment. Call 602 547-7020 or visit  www.sherrimayco.com . 

 1 International Communications Research (ICR) study dated 6/11/2007

2 The Truth About Green, February 2008, © Pitney Bowes Inc.

3 Forest Stewardship Council, see  www.fsc.org  for more information

 Mailing Made Simple

Over the years it became increasingly clear that print buyers were becoming tired and often frustrated managing multiple vendors in the direct mail process. This is especially true considering the everyday pressure to find ways of improving speed to market, while reducing costs at the same time.

 In response, Prisma Graphic hired a mailing expert, invested in the equipment and launched an in-house mailing department almost three years ago. This move quickly became an invaluable addition to our service offerings.  We have been able to shorten turnaround times and reduce overall project costs for our clients.  Today, our mailing department drops over 1.5 million pieces per month and continues to grow in output.

Advantages of a Knowledgeable One-Stop-Shop:

•          Start-to-finish quality control by a trusted contact

•            Improved speed to market

•          Waste reduction by using USPS endorsed NCOAlink®, Intelligent Mail® and OneCode ACSTM processes

•            Availability of saturation or demographic-specific list purchases

•            Promotional results tracking

 To find out how Prisma can help you reduce costs and make
your next direct mail project seamless, contact your a Sales Representative, or John Pisauro at 800 379-5777 or johnp@prismagraphic.com.

Sustainable Actions

Everyday at Prisma Graphic, we search for ways to step a little softer on the earth. From the inks we use and the paper suppliers we support, to the design of our 82,000 square foot facility and the company-wide recycling program, we are proud to say we have successfully implemented one of the most aggressive sustainability programs in our industry.

Most of our success and efforts are thanks to our General Manager, Alan McAbee. His 29+ years of seasoned commercial printing experience and devotion to sustainability have benefited Prisma, as well as the green initiatives of some of our clients, Arizona State University in particular. Truth be told, Alan is always willing to discuss current trends and real-world sustainability applications with anyone who shares his passion.

Prisma’s initiatives include:

•            Vegetable and soy-based inks

•            Energy-efficient equipment

•          Low-wattage halogen bulbs used in offices

•            Recycled shipping cartons

•            Recycle paper, aluminum and cardboard

•          FSC Certified & FSC Certified recycled paper

•          Trip Reduction Program (rewards for use of alternative transportation)

•          Eco-friendly floor mats, cleaning and restroom supplies

•          High efficiency HVAC units

 For more information about sustainability or to learn how Prisma can help with your efforts, please contact a Sales Representative, or Alan at 800 379-5777 or  alanm@prismagraphic.com.

Making the Most of Marketing Dollars, Planning and Prepress is key.

Making the Most of Marketing Dollars, Planning & Prepress Addressed

Although it seems fairly straight forward, there are many decisions leading up to and within each print project that directly affect its bottom-line and overall impact. Proper planning and specific attention to detail can save thousands of dollars. Working with a reliable and knowledgeable print solutions representative is a great start; a partner willing to provide practical solutions to make the most of your marketing dollars.

 The options to save during planning are endless with a little creative flexibility. And, below are just a few examples.

 Removing bleed on an 8.5 x 11 flyer allows for 10, rather than 8, to print at a time and on the same parent-sized sheet; paper is normally 30 to 50% of the total job cost.

 Think about using a self-cover format for multiple-page products. Removing the heavier cover eliminates the cost of an extra press form and may allow the project to fold in-line; every off-line process adds to the bottom line.

When preparing for a direct mail project consider the following:

•            Processing the mailing list(s) in advance will establish the actual quantity needed and potentially reduce waste by 7% or more.

•            Sticking to a maximum finished size of 11.5 wide x 6.125 tall, and staying under 3.3 oz, can save roughly $0.12 per piece in postage; a $2,400 savings with just 20,000 mailers.

•            Fugitive glue dot closures can be applied during the folding process for a small set-up fee, while the wafer seal application adds $17 to $20 per thousand in each direction; new USPS regulations require closures on all “open” sides.

 Once the final specs are established, a second place to prevent additional costs is in the final file set-up and content review stages. Utilizing each software application correctly and carefully reviewing projects before file release are critical steps in this process. Below are just a few examples of ways to retain cost controls.

 Using a document size larger than the actual trim size of the piece, forgetting to include 1/8″ bleeds or building multiple-page products in spreads, rather than single pages, can all add considerable time and costs in to the prepress process.

 Correctly specifying inks, throughout software utilized, has never been more important. Using PANTONE’s COLOR BRIDGE® profiles to establish your 4-color process builds will ensure color accuracy and avoid second and even third rounds of color proofs. To download free support tools, including the latest color libraries and PANTONE® Color Bridge Tutorials visit www.pantone.com. You will be asked to create a user account, then you can click on the “helpCenter” in the menu bar to select the “Color Library Updates” page.

 Running a quick spell check and having an “outside” set of eyes review the overall content, before final file release, will also help avoid costly mistakes. Discovering grammatical and layout issues beforehand will help to keep projects on track and on budget.

 To find out more about minimizing costs or about proper file set-up, please contact a Prisma Sales Representative, or Kyle Cardinal by calling 800 379-5777 or emailing  kylec@prismagraphic.com.

What is Loyalty Marketing and how can it help my business?

Loyalty Marketing  by Jessica Grosse

 As consumers, we are constantly exposed to loyalty marketing programs. Think about how many times a day you insert your debit card, scan a key fob or provide your phone number or zip code at the check-out counter. We have become so accustomed to these routines that most of us now consider them just part of the purchase process, regardless of the personal benefit or reward. Whether we opt-in or not, our spending patterns and product preferences are easily attainable. Considering how prevalent transactional data has become, companies willing to invest the time and resources to collect this data have a distinct advantage in their respective industries. This data provides clear customer profiles, helps to predict product trends and can also be used as the foundation of a successful loyalty marketing program.

 I recently had the opportunity to sit down for a brief Q&A session with Stacee Amos who is the Owner of SEEK-Consultants, an advertising and branding firm. The goal was to capture the essence of a loyalty program, what it entails and how it can work for any brand.

 Q:         How do you define loyalty marketing?

A:            Loyalty marketing can be defined as a program that helps a company retain and expand their existing customer base by identifying the purchasing habits, preferences and then translating that data into relevant incentives to increase sales.

 Q:         What is a successful loyalty program?

A:         You must keep it simple and sweet or “KISS.” A successful loyalty program offers: (1) a clear list of expectations, (2) valuable rewards/perks that are relevant to its members’ needs and (3) attracts new customers with compelling opportunities that are only provided through the program.

 Q:         How does one start a loyalty program?

A:         A few top-line points in starting a loyalty program.

•          Get to know your customers intimately. Try to gather enough information during enrollment to learn about their preferences, which will in turn allow you to define their needs, wants and wishes. After all, the program is all about them.

•          If you can offer multiple points of communication, find out how they prefer to be contacted (online, direct mail, social media, mobile, etc.) and how often (1x a day, 1x a week, 1x a month). This investment will keep loyalty customers engaged on their terms, and allow your business to better understand what methods and promotions are working best.

•            Tracking. A loyalty program must have a tracking component within each communication. Implement an online tracking code, personalized URL (PURL), vanity phone number or bar code within all communications to determine what works and what needs improvement.

 Q:         What types of rewards are appropriate in loyalty programs?

A:         In most cases, the bargain hunters are not loyal customers. Ideally, your loyalty program will have rewards based more on products and less on discounts. If you are a restaurant, consider offering members one of your most popular or newest appetizers the next time they dine in. Or, if you are an online or retail store, offer an exclusive opportunity to purchase new products prior to the general public. Reward your loyal customers with your product as the incentive, not a discount. These customers become “loyal” over time by choosing your brand over price.

 Q:         And lastly, how do you sustain a loyalty program?

A:            Sustaining a loyalty program is simple if you continually support your existing customers with relevant promotional opportunities, entice new customers with members-only rewards and consistently track all communications; ensuring you target the right person, with the right message and at the right time.

  To learn more about the benefits of loyalty marketing, or discuss ways to get started using transactional data to increase sales, contact a Prisma Sales Representative, or Chad Carmody at 800 379-5777 or   chadc@prismagraphic.com.