The festivities are ready to begin! Are you ready? Get your last minute holiday cards and post cards today by calling us at 858-467-9138 or stopping in!
Happy Holiday's!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Happy Holiday's!
Order your Holiday Cards now! We hope you have a wonderful Holiday and we'll see you in the New Year for all your business and personal stationary needs!
Happy Holiday's!
Happy Holiday's!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Holiday Deals!
We have recently added out listing to Google Maps with printable and mobile viewing coupons! Check them out! http://tiny.cc/Kr9O0
We have also updated our coupons on Merchant Circle! So save some cash for the Holidays and take advantage of our great deals today!
We have also updated our coupons on Merchant Circle! So save some cash for the Holidays and take advantage of our great deals today!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Happy Holiday's!
The Holiday's are here and it's the perfect time to get those holiday cards, post cards, and any other holiday material printed up to send to your friends and family or programs for a Holiday event! Stop in today or call us at 858-467-9138!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Happy Monday!
We hope you all had a wonderful weekend! The Holiday's are just around the corner and what better to celebrate them and show the world than to spice up your business car or send out a postcard to your family, friends and clients with some holiday cheer. So give us a call today for a free quote!
Monday, November 9, 2009
Marketing with Post Cards
Getting your name out there? Letting people know about your new specials? What better way to spread the news than to use a postcard!
They're not very popular in the marketing industry but we believe the post card's impact is underestimated. They're cost-effective and able to hit a large number of potential clients.
We all love to get post cards in the mail from friends and family. So make your postcard welcoming. As if you were sending it to a friend or family member.
Post Cards get right to the point with what you're trying to do. If you're trying to sell a new product, list the benefits of this new product and maybe offer a discount with the mention of the postcard.
With a postcard you give the potential client the benefits about the product, and the information to be able to contact you about the product. What can be easier than that?
They're not very popular in the marketing industry but we believe the post card's impact is underestimated. They're cost-effective and able to hit a large number of potential clients.
We all love to get post cards in the mail from friends and family. So make your postcard welcoming. As if you were sending it to a friend or family member.
Post Cards get right to the point with what you're trying to do. If you're trying to sell a new product, list the benefits of this new product and maybe offer a discount with the mention of the postcard.
With a postcard you give the potential client the benefits about the product, and the information to be able to contact you about the product. What can be easier than that?
Monday, September 28, 2009
5 Basic Steps to Get your Files "Print Ready"
Getting your files ready for print is a fairly simple process when using a few guidelines from the very inception of the design project. Because today's modern digital printing can take advantage of camera ready files, the process is much more efficient. Basically, this just means that the printer is able to take the file you give them and immediately send it to the printing system - no edits or manipulations are needed to your file first. Here are the 5 basics of getting your files ready for print.
Make Sure The Resolution Is Right
For the best quality professional printing results, it's very important to keep the resolution as high as possible. For example, 300 dpi resolution is considered by most printers to be an absolute minimum. Also, it's important to do each step of the design process in the actual resolution you'll be submitting to the printer to avoid any loss of quality throughout the creative process.
Make Sure The Colors Are Consistent
Chances are, when you are editing an image on for viewing on your computer screen or on a web page, you're using the RGB color format. This is the format computers normally use to display colors. However, when printing accurately, it's important to utilize the CMYK color space option instead. Also, for sharp and crisp black, it's important to use 100% black with no additional CMY encoded (the K in CMYK stands for black).
Follow Trim And Bleed Guidelines
Bleed and trim are the terms used to describe the area around the dimensions of your final image that will be unsafe to use for important content in your design. In a nutshell, it's very important to leave about 1/4 of an inch from the edge of your dimensional content to the edge of any important lines of text or featured images. This area will be used as kind of a buffer zone in the printing process.
Avoid Drastic Image File Compression
The more you can avoid compressing your final design, the better. The recommended file format for saving a file is usually TIFF. This is because the TIFF file format keeps all color information and all pixel information from the original design intact. On the other hand, lossier image files, such as JPG and GIF, reduce file size by eliminating small portions of the image or by getting rid of some of the color information stored within the file. Better final results from printing happen when better quality images are put forth.
Save In A Standard Format
Once you've finalized your graphic design and text files, it's important to lock them in and place them in sort of a shelter that can be easily shared with the printer. One great way to do this is to use Adobe? Acrobat? PDF files. They're commonly used in the printing industry because they're cross platform compatible. Plus, using this type of standardized format doesn't allow for the possibility of accidental changes or edits to the camera ready image. Once it's "locked" and saved as a PDF file, how it is shown in that format is how it will be printed.
-Warson Printing
Make Sure The Resolution Is Right
For the best quality professional printing results, it's very important to keep the resolution as high as possible. For example, 300 dpi resolution is considered by most printers to be an absolute minimum. Also, it's important to do each step of the design process in the actual resolution you'll be submitting to the printer to avoid any loss of quality throughout the creative process.
Make Sure The Colors Are Consistent
Chances are, when you are editing an image on for viewing on your computer screen or on a web page, you're using the RGB color format. This is the format computers normally use to display colors. However, when printing accurately, it's important to utilize the CMYK color space option instead. Also, for sharp and crisp black, it's important to use 100% black with no additional CMY encoded (the K in CMYK stands for black).
Follow Trim And Bleed Guidelines
Bleed and trim are the terms used to describe the area around the dimensions of your final image that will be unsafe to use for important content in your design. In a nutshell, it's very important to leave about 1/4 of an inch from the edge of your dimensional content to the edge of any important lines of text or featured images. This area will be used as kind of a buffer zone in the printing process.
Avoid Drastic Image File Compression
The more you can avoid compressing your final design, the better. The recommended file format for saving a file is usually TIFF. This is because the TIFF file format keeps all color information and all pixel information from the original design intact. On the other hand, lossier image files, such as JPG and GIF, reduce file size by eliminating small portions of the image or by getting rid of some of the color information stored within the file. Better final results from printing happen when better quality images are put forth.
Save In A Standard Format
Once you've finalized your graphic design and text files, it's important to lock them in and place them in sort of a shelter that can be easily shared with the printer. One great way to do this is to use Adobe? Acrobat? PDF files. They're commonly used in the printing industry because they're cross platform compatible. Plus, using this type of standardized format doesn't allow for the possibility of accidental changes or edits to the camera ready image. Once it's "locked" and saved as a PDF file, how it is shown in that format is how it will be printed.
-Warson Printing
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Power Words for Business Cards
These days, a small business needs every ounce of marketing muscle they can get. Business cards are a perfect weapon for an entrepreneur to have in the trenches when competing for customers.
You designed your business cards using all the right techniques and it looks incredible. Now that you've got the attention of the holder, are your words appealing to them?
This is one often overlooked marketing essential: What your business card says.
Take your business card out and have a good look at it. What words do you use to describe your business, your products or your services?
The header or slogan should speak directly to your customer and distinguish your business from the rest. Remember your card will likely be on a bulletin board or in a rolodex with a few other competitors. This small bit of text could mean the difference between a new client or unseen revenue.
Give them a reason to call:
____ doesn't have to be expensive Not just another ____ The ____ advantage The best-kept secret in ____ Don't get stuck with... How our ____ stacks up Can you afford not to...? An investment in your future
Next, give the holder a bottom line that is irresistible:
Huge discounts Receive a ____% discount when you present this card Visit our website for special rebates and coupons Don't pay more for ____ Present this card at our showroom and receive a free ____ Call us for a special offer for first time customers
Lastly, include a closing statement that will motivate the holder to respond:
Mix and match these phrases to create business cards that will compliment your products or services, prompting that all-important phone call or e-mail. The saying goes that a picture is worth a thousand words. I say that a few well chosen words are priceless.
By Chris J. Brunner
You designed your business cards using all the right techniques and it looks incredible. Now that you've got the attention of the holder, are your words appealing to them?
This is one often overlooked marketing essential: What your business card says.
Take your business card out and have a good look at it. What words do you use to describe your business, your products or your services?
The header or slogan should speak directly to your customer and distinguish your business from the rest. Remember your card will likely be on a bulletin board or in a rolodex with a few other competitors. This small bit of text could mean the difference between a new client or unseen revenue.
Give them a reason to call:
Next, give the holder a bottom line that is irresistible:
Lastly, include a closing statement that will motivate the holder to respond:
- Why settle for ____ when you can have ____
- A rewarding ____ awaits you
- You owe it to yourself to ____
- Seeing is believing
- You'll be glad you did
- ... and that's a promise!
- Put our ideas to work for you
- We'd like to hear from you
- Call us today to schedule an appointment
- Looking forward to hearing from you
Mix and match these phrases to create business cards that will compliment your products or services, prompting that all-important phone call or e-mail. The saying goes that a picture is worth a thousand words. I say that a few well chosen words are priceless.
By Chris J. Brunner
Friday, September 11, 2009
Constructing a Quality Letterhead
Business letterheads are an important part in most office paperwork. In fact, some people are serious enough to invest in professional letterhead printing to bring out the most from their letterheads. In this article, we will teach you about the worst errors in printing letterheads so that you can learn from them and avoid them altogether. Hopefully, that should lead you nearer to your goal of getting the most out of your color letterheads.
No important information – One of the worst errors in letterhead printing is when you do not print any important or relevant information in the letterhead. It is sometimes possible to completely forget all the details on the letterhead while you are preoccupied with its design. While of course the design may be perfect though once your letterhead are printed, the details on it though may not be truly useful.
It is important for a letterhead to display pertinent information like contact numbers, addresses, emails and websites. Your name, the company's name and the office title of the letterhead's source should usually be printed as well. Without these information, there will be no point in printing letterheads. It will just a boring wand simple design element. So please, do not forget to place all the important information that people need on your letterhead.
Not including objects or symbols – Another mistake that some people commit is to not include objects, symbols or actual images. These objects make a letterhead more interesting and sometimes it gives the letter its authority and image. Without it, the paper looks very simple and sometimes, it might look like a fake official letter. So if you have a company logo or same kind of identifying image, try to always use it in your color letterheads.
Lack of proper borders – Proper borders is also an issue in letterhead printing. Lots of people produce letterheads that almost have no space on the top or at the bottom of the page. This is because the letterheads were already set beyond the usual borders of the page. It might look okay on the computer, but once printed it is just odd and unprofessional. Try to avoid this as much as possible by setting your letterhead header early on with proper borders.
No paper quality – Finally, professionally designed and printed letterheads are not that special if the paper quality they are printed on is bad. Some people forget about this little detail until it is too late to change it. There is a difference between several paper types and usually, the thicker, whiter and glossier one is, the better the letterheads look like. That is why you have to make it a point to maintain the paper quality by strictly specifying to the printer the materials that you want used. Otherwise, people will look at your letterheads and see something that looks very cheap.
So that's it! The worst errors in printing letterheads. Very simple, but they are very hard to deal with sometimes. Good luck!
No important information – One of the worst errors in letterhead printing is when you do not print any important or relevant information in the letterhead. It is sometimes possible to completely forget all the details on the letterhead while you are preoccupied with its design. While of course the design may be perfect though once your letterhead are printed, the details on it though may not be truly useful.
It is important for a letterhead to display pertinent information like contact numbers, addresses, emails and websites. Your name, the company's name and the office title of the letterhead's source should usually be printed as well. Without these information, there will be no point in printing letterheads. It will just a boring wand simple design element. So please, do not forget to place all the important information that people need on your letterhead.
Not including objects or symbols – Another mistake that some people commit is to not include objects, symbols or actual images. These objects make a letterhead more interesting and sometimes it gives the letter its authority and image. Without it, the paper looks very simple and sometimes, it might look like a fake official letter. So if you have a company logo or same kind of identifying image, try to always use it in your color letterheads.
Lack of proper borders – Proper borders is also an issue in letterhead printing. Lots of people produce letterheads that almost have no space on the top or at the bottom of the page. This is because the letterheads were already set beyond the usual borders of the page. It might look okay on the computer, but once printed it is just odd and unprofessional. Try to avoid this as much as possible by setting your letterhead header early on with proper borders.
No paper quality – Finally, professionally designed and printed letterheads are not that special if the paper quality they are printed on is bad. Some people forget about this little detail until it is too late to change it. There is a difference between several paper types and usually, the thicker, whiter and glossier one is, the better the letterheads look like. That is why you have to make it a point to maintain the paper quality by strictly specifying to the printer the materials that you want used. Otherwise, people will look at your letterheads and see something that looks very cheap.
So that's it! The worst errors in printing letterheads. Very simple, but they are very hard to deal with sometimes. Good luck!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Top of the Line Printing Receives 2009 San Diego Award
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Top of the Line Printing Receives 2009 San Diego Award
U.S. Commerce Association’s Award Plaque Honors the Achievement
WASHINGTON D.C., June 8, 2009 -- Top of the Line Printing has been selected for the 2009 San Diego Award in the Printers category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).
The USCA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community. 
Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2009 USCA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USCA and data provided by third parties.
About U.S. Commerce Association (USCA)
U.S. Commerce Association (USCA) is a Washington D.C. based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USCA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.
The USCA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.
SOURCE: U.S. Commerce Association
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Tips to Remember When Designing & Printing Your Business Cards
- If you're serious about your business be serious about your business cards. Don't focus on the money, focus on the quality. Business cards not only provide contact details, they represent you and your organization. People you give your card to will form a first impression within seconds of receiving your business card (oftentimes before even reading it), and you want that impression to be a good one. Make it appeal to the senses.
- Hire someone to create a catchy logo and/or design and layout for your card.
- Get high-quality, thick card stock that feels nice to the touch.
- Apply foil or glossy finishes if applicable to catch their eye.
Make your card stand out. If you spend enough time and quality on your card people will believe you put that same amount of effort into your business. Note that this doesn't just apply to business cards, but is generally a good rule of thumb for all of your printed products!
- Make the most out of your cards. Don't be afraid to use them as a marketing tool. Give them to everyone you meet. In fact, give everyone you meet two or three, so that they can give them out if the opportunity arises.
- Give your business card additional value. If you wish, you can usually create a useable backing for your business card—a calendar, appointment card, coupon, referral discount —give it value and decrease the chance that it will disappear into the trash bin.
- Make sure to order enough, but not too many. Order enough so that you won't be afraid to hand them out in mass quantities whenever the opportunity presents itself. But don't order so many that you're stuck with them for years to come. There are often changes of address, phone numbers, and position, and once that happens your old cards are pretty much useless, unless you want to spend the time to go through all of the cards and correct them by hand.
- Be creative...but not too creative. It is important to design a visually-pleasing layout for your business card. But there are times when you can take creativity too far. Nobody likes to receive business cards of odd shapes and sizes that wont fit into their Rolodex or other business card holder. Make the text big and dark/light enough to read. Don't use 'wacky' colors or fonts.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Going Green with Printing!
Green Printing Checklist
Greenbiz, a leading information source on aligning environmental responsibility with business success, offers a recommended list of questions to ask about printers and print projects. In addition to answering your customers’ questions, this list is also a good starting point to begin making environmentally friendly choices in your business.
Questions for Printers
1. What is being done to minimize air emissions, including VOCs, ozone-depleting substances, and air toxics?
2. What is being done to reduce chemical use or discharges to sewers?
3. What is being done to reduce solid waste?
4. What is being done to ensure the shop is in compliance with environmental and health and safety regulations?
5. What is being done to minimize the shop's energy consumption?
6. Are the cleaning solvents used safe for human health and the environment? A printer should determine the chemical constituents of cleaning solvents used in the plant and evaluate potential substitutes.
7. What is being done to cut paper waste?
Questions about a Print Project
1. Can the project be printed on recycled paper containing post-consumer fiber?
2. How bright must the paper be?
3. Can the project be printed with low-polluting or recycled inks?
4. What is being done to cut ink waste?
5. What is being done to improve the recyclability of the print project?
Compliance Assistance
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created PrintSTEP in the early 1990s to simplify the process of the regulatory process for printers and state governments and increase awareness of environmental regulations within the printing industry. PrintSTEP stands for Printers’ Simplified Total Environmental Partnership and was launched as a pilot program in Missouri and New Hampshire. Both programs have ended, but in the evaluation, 100 percent of Missouri printers responded that they were very satisfied and 100 percent of New Hampshire printers were either very satisfied or somewhat satisfied.
Todd Crawford, an environmental engineer at the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, said there no plans to reinstate PrintSTEP in Missouri, but they are looking at various innovative concepts that were a part of the program and figuring out how best to employ them. Some of the approaches were sector-based, assistance-oriented and targeted mainly to smaller companies and to improve neighborhood awareness.
“To have states take a PrintSTEP approach to environmental regulation would take a concerted effort by the industry associations working with their federal and state environmental agencies, economic development agencies, environmental advocate organizations, the legislature and most important, their member companies,” Crawford said.
Since the PrintSTEP pilots ended, another approach called the Environmental Results Program has been implemented to handle confusing environmental regulations. ERP combines compliance assistance, self-audit/certification and statistically-based inspections and performance measurement to strengthen or replace an existing regulatory structure. Printers, including small-to-medium size commercial and personal printing facilities in Massachusetts and Wisconsin have implemented this program.
Conclusion
This is meant to act as a starting point for thinking about corporate social responsibility. Refer to federal, state and local governments and online resources to meet or exceed compliance obligations. Financially, going green costs the same or a little more than doing business as usual, but when you take the public benefits into account, it is the right choice to make.
Greenbiz, a leading information source on aligning environmental responsibility with business success, offers a recommended list of questions to ask about printers and print projects. In addition to answering your customers’ questions, this list is also a good starting point to begin making environmentally friendly choices in your business.
Questions for Printers
1. What is being done to minimize air emissions, including VOCs, ozone-depleting substances, and air toxics?
2. What is being done to reduce chemical use or discharges to sewers?
3. What is being done to reduce solid waste?
4. What is being done to ensure the shop is in compliance with environmental and health and safety regulations?
5. What is being done to minimize the shop's energy consumption?
6. Are the cleaning solvents used safe for human health and the environment? A printer should determine the chemical constituents of cleaning solvents used in the plant and evaluate potential substitutes.
7. What is being done to cut paper waste?
Questions about a Print Project
1. Can the project be printed on recycled paper containing post-consumer fiber?
2. How bright must the paper be?
3. Can the project be printed with low-polluting or recycled inks?
4. What is being done to cut ink waste?
5. What is being done to improve the recyclability of the print project?
Compliance Assistance
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created PrintSTEP in the early 1990s to simplify the process of the regulatory process for printers and state governments and increase awareness of environmental regulations within the printing industry. PrintSTEP stands for Printers’ Simplified Total Environmental Partnership and was launched as a pilot program in Missouri and New Hampshire. Both programs have ended, but in the evaluation, 100 percent of Missouri printers responded that they were very satisfied and 100 percent of New Hampshire printers were either very satisfied or somewhat satisfied.
Todd Crawford, an environmental engineer at the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, said there no plans to reinstate PrintSTEP in Missouri, but they are looking at various innovative concepts that were a part of the program and figuring out how best to employ them. Some of the approaches were sector-based, assistance-oriented and targeted mainly to smaller companies and to improve neighborhood awareness.
“To have states take a PrintSTEP approach to environmental regulation would take a concerted effort by the industry associations working with their federal and state environmental agencies, economic development agencies, environmental advocate organizations, the legislature and most important, their member companies,” Crawford said.
Since the PrintSTEP pilots ended, another approach called the Environmental Results Program has been implemented to handle confusing environmental regulations. ERP combines compliance assistance, self-audit/certification and statistically-based inspections and performance measurement to strengthen or replace an existing regulatory structure. Printers, including small-to-medium size commercial and personal printing facilities in Massachusetts and Wisconsin have implemented this program.
Conclusion
This is meant to act as a starting point for thinking about corporate social responsibility. Refer to federal, state and local governments and online resources to meet or exceed compliance obligations. Financially, going green costs the same or a little more than doing business as usual, but when you take the public benefits into account, it is the right choice to make.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Hard Times Call for Color Brochures
With many large businesses closing off and with unemployment rate rising who is interested in buying stuff. Many might have put off their purchases and might wait for better time to come when they would think of buying things other than food.
In these times when the economic wheel is tripping from its cycle some small business start mushrooming. The owners of these new small businesses hope to earn something extra to make their ends meet. Their need now is the cheapest advertising mode that helps them to spread their offer around to the masses.
Small businesses often have cheap offers and promise better service then big businesses yet they often fail to pass on the marketing message effectively as they lack the advertising capability or have small budgets to advertise.
Full color marketing brochures came to their rescue, as Bob, an entrepreneur explains: “I was stranded, had low budget and had no way to tell people that doors of my small business are open. I used brochures, the no fold ones, as I was tied up with cash.
“Initially I felt I had made a mistake but when people started to walk in slowly and gradually referring to the brochure they got with the newspapers, I started to feel better. I am still in business and my business is growing, I am using 4 color brochures as my primary business promotion tool.”
Like Bob, many small businesses can use brochures as their primary marketing tool.
In these times when the economic wheel is tripping from its cycle some small business start mushrooming. The owners of these new small businesses hope to earn something extra to make their ends meet. Their need now is the cheapest advertising mode that helps them to spread their offer around to the masses.
Small businesses often have cheap offers and promise better service then big businesses yet they often fail to pass on the marketing message effectively as they lack the advertising capability or have small budgets to advertise.
Full color marketing brochures came to their rescue, as Bob, an entrepreneur explains: “I was stranded, had low budget and had no way to tell people that doors of my small business are open. I used brochures, the no fold ones, as I was tied up with cash.
“Initially I felt I had made a mistake but when people started to walk in slowly and gradually referring to the brochure they got with the newspapers, I started to feel better. I am still in business and my business is growing, I am using 4 color brochures as my primary business promotion tool.”
Like Bob, many small businesses can use brochures as their primary marketing tool.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Are You Fully Utilizing Web-to-Print?
How do you think about your printed documents? Design them, contact a printer, figure out how many you can afford to print in order to keep the price down, then hope you didn’t order too many? Balance the quality and run length requirements against your turnaround? It’s the way designers, agencies and marketers have done it for decades. But today’s Web-to-print (W2P) technology enables you to do much more.
We’re not just talking about printing in shorter runs, on demand, although that’s part of it. We’re talking about revamping the way you think about and manage your marketing collateral, forms and documents, and print marketing projects. We’re talking about changing the way you approach branding, personalization and multi-channel marketing.
These aren’t yesterday’s Web-to-print solutions. This is a new crop of solutions that is increasingly flexible, increasingly open and designed to handle the wide range of workflows and design and marketing needs that marketers, creatives, and printers face in today’s complex, multi-channel world.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Printer in Transition: AlphaGraphics of Paramus Embraces Change
“We have to embrace the concept to not be a traditional printer: Now we’re more of a consultant,” said Bernie Wilker, owner of AlphaGraphics of Paramus, N.J. He was speaking of the ever-changing printing industry, as things have certainly transitioned since he and his wife Simone purchased the company in 1996.
AlphaGraphics of Paramus is a full-service printing company with capabilities of design, copy, digital printing, bindery, CD and DVD duplicating, mailing services, and signs, posters and banners. Its business center offers one-stop printing solutions dedicated to serving customers. AlphaGraphics of Paramus’ staff also includes Eric Perrotta, Nick Lombardi, Johan Rojas, Mujahid Khan,Tim Stahl, and Arsenio Zapata.
“(Before I got into printing) I used to be in sheet metal fabrication for 20 years. I started looking for something else because clients were going overseas and to Mexico. I’m a mechanical engineer and was looking for something involving manufacturing and sales. I wanted to do everything myself, and when I walked into franchises like AlphaGraphics and Kinko’s, I thought, ‘I can do this.’ I then went to the AlphaGraphics seminar and training in Tucson, and it turned out that a family in Paramus (who owned one) was looking to retire. The advantage of it was immediate cash flow, but the disadvantage was everyone else in the company knew more than me (about printing) so I had to learn fast,” he remembered.
The Wilkers started their business in a 1,500-sq-ft building in Paramus and moved to a larger building next door after one year of growth. Two years ago, they moved their facility to a 4,000-sq-ft standalone building. “We grow as the industry is changing,” he commented. “When we started the business, everything was done by hard copy: The most important person was the pressman doing his own color separations.”
AlphaGraphics is “ahead of the curve in so many ways,” he said. About nine years ago, the company went direct to plate and eliminated cameras. The Wilkers made their printing transition from analog black and white to digital black and white to digital color. Although offset printing has slowly declined to make up 7 or 8 percent of the business, AlphaGraphics still uses it for master billing for physicians and letterheads.
“This year we’ve gone into online marketing. We do a lot of pURLs and we expanded our mailing capabilities,” explained Wilker. “I’m also on the board of the Greater New Jersey Postal Council. Our company does outdoor signage work and uses eco inks. We’re environmentally conscious and do UV coating and laminating. We’ve also expanded beyond the core of traditional offset printing and do ancillary and promotional items. We’re greatly expanded our services during the last nine years. You have to keep moving,” Wilker noted.
AlphaGraphics has digital presses including Xerox DocuColors, a Xerox Workcentre Pro 40 digital color laser printer, a Xerox Nuvera 120 black-and-white digital laser printer, a Canon ImageRunner and ImageClass, a bookletmaker, and a saddle stitcher.
His definition of a modern day printer in transition is being able to keep business and make money. He stated that during the first quarter of 2009, his AlphaGraphics franchise was ahead of last year’s revenue. He said that hiring their first outside salesperson in December 2008 contributed to the success. “There’s business out there, but it doesn’t come to you—you have to go out on the road to get it,” he pointed out.
AlphaGraphics of Paramus is a full-service printing company with capabilities of design, copy, digital printing, bindery, CD and DVD duplicating, mailing services, and signs, posters and banners. Its business center offers one-stop printing solutions dedicated to serving customers. AlphaGraphics of Paramus’ staff also includes Eric Perrotta, Nick Lombardi, Johan Rojas, Mujahid Khan,Tim Stahl, and Arsenio Zapata.
“(Before I got into printing) I used to be in sheet metal fabrication for 20 years. I started looking for something else because clients were going overseas and to Mexico. I’m a mechanical engineer and was looking for something involving manufacturing and sales. I wanted to do everything myself, and when I walked into franchises like AlphaGraphics and Kinko’s, I thought, ‘I can do this.’ I then went to the AlphaGraphics seminar and training in Tucson, and it turned out that a family in Paramus (who owned one) was looking to retire. The advantage of it was immediate cash flow, but the disadvantage was everyone else in the company knew more than me (about printing) so I had to learn fast,” he remembered.
The Wilkers started their business in a 1,500-sq-ft building in Paramus and moved to a larger building next door after one year of growth. Two years ago, they moved their facility to a 4,000-sq-ft standalone building. “We grow as the industry is changing,” he commented. “When we started the business, everything was done by hard copy: The most important person was the pressman doing his own color separations.”
AlphaGraphics is “ahead of the curve in so many ways,” he said. About nine years ago, the company went direct to plate and eliminated cameras. The Wilkers made their printing transition from analog black and white to digital black and white to digital color. Although offset printing has slowly declined to make up 7 or 8 percent of the business, AlphaGraphics still uses it for master billing for physicians and letterheads.
“This year we’ve gone into online marketing. We do a lot of pURLs and we expanded our mailing capabilities,” explained Wilker. “I’m also on the board of the Greater New Jersey Postal Council. Our company does outdoor signage work and uses eco inks. We’re environmentally conscious and do UV coating and laminating. We’ve also expanded beyond the core of traditional offset printing and do ancillary and promotional items. We’re greatly expanded our services during the last nine years. You have to keep moving,” Wilker noted.
AlphaGraphics has digital presses including Xerox DocuColors, a Xerox Workcentre Pro 40 digital color laser printer, a Xerox Nuvera 120 black-and-white digital laser printer, a Canon ImageRunner and ImageClass, a bookletmaker, and a saddle stitcher.
His definition of a modern day printer in transition is being able to keep business and make money. He stated that during the first quarter of 2009, his AlphaGraphics franchise was ahead of last year’s revenue. He said that hiring their first outside salesperson in December 2008 contributed to the success. “There’s business out there, but it doesn’t come to you—you have to go out on the road to get it,” he pointed out.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
New Kodak and Xeikon Alliance Brings Web-Based Solutions in the United States and Canada
A new alliance between Kodak and Xeikon enables label printers to extend their web-based businesses with branded online ordering of tags, labels, and other print products. It also simplifies and streamlines production, from order origination on the web, via Kodak Web to Print Solutions, to final output on the Xeikon 3300 Digital Color Label Press. The agreement is effective in the United States and Canada.
“The adoption of digital printing within the packaging market is growing, and Kodak is excited to work with Xeikon to bring web-to-print solutions to the tag and label market. Kodak’s e-commerce solutions—as well as our web-based tools for content creation, collaboration and approval—connect seamlessly into the production workflow and through to the digital label press,” said Steve Miller, Product Manager, Packaging Workflow, Kodak. “Integrating Kodak’s web-based systems with the Xeikon Press will give label printers the ability to provide new services to existing customers while also attracting new business opportunities.”
Read Full Article Article
“The adoption of digital printing within the packaging market is growing, and Kodak is excited to work with Xeikon to bring web-to-print solutions to the tag and label market. Kodak’s e-commerce solutions—as well as our web-based tools for content creation, collaboration and approval—connect seamlessly into the production workflow and through to the digital label press,” said Steve Miller, Product Manager, Packaging Workflow, Kodak. “Integrating Kodak’s web-based systems with the Xeikon Press will give label printers the ability to provide new services to existing customers while also attracting new business opportunities.”
Read Full Article Article
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Digital vs. Offset Printing
Digital vs. Offset
Paper manufacturers address the growing need for cross-platform media
Over the years, offset paper makers have developed a dizzying array of substrate options, from super-thin translucent papers to board-like heavyweight covers. Miraculously, these diverse substrates work on almost any offset press, giving communicators and printers a range of choices, depending on whether they want a unique look-and-feel, or high-performance print characteristics.
Digital printing, by contrast, has been characterized by a much more limited range of paper options—determined largely by equipment capabilities. Toner-based presses typically require smoother paper for optimum performance. Paper must be precision sheeted to feed correctly. Most devices can run coated paper, but with varying degrees of success, while some equipment requires special surface treatment for reliable performance. All the while, caliper and sheet size capabilities continue to expand. Some paper mills have reacted by offering sheets designed for specific types of equipment, all in an effort to satisfy customer demand, and address paper performance and quality issues equally.
Converging Needs
Today, the offset and digital worlds are rapidly converging. Many commercial print shops are running a variety of digital presses alongside conventional equipment. In an effort to sell digital and offset interchangeably, they want to take advantage of the unique capabilities each has to offer as a means of profitable growth and diversified services.
At the same time, their clients want the flexibility of printing the same document in long or short runs, with static or variable data. Printers need the option of running the same papers across platforms: offset and digital. Equipment manufacturers have responded by expanding the range of substrates digital presses can run. A few paper makers have responded by developing papers that will run cross-platform, and perform whether ink or toner is the imaging vehicle.
It is now evident that the move to digital color is a permanent industry shift, and the market demand for digital will steadily increase. In fact, industry experts are predicting that the digital color market will double by 2009. Now that digital printing has come into its own, the need for true cross-platform papers is more important than ever. Luckily, paper manufacturers are realizing that today's printer craves the ability to source one brand of paper that can easily and reliably be deployed to a shop's entire portfolio of equipment, offering ultimate flexibility and efficiency.
Reference Chris Harrold
Paper manufacturers address the growing need for cross-platform media
Over the years, offset paper makers have developed a dizzying array of substrate options, from super-thin translucent papers to board-like heavyweight covers. Miraculously, these diverse substrates work on almost any offset press, giving communicators and printers a range of choices, depending on whether they want a unique look-and-feel, or high-performance print characteristics.
Digital printing, by contrast, has been characterized by a much more limited range of paper options—determined largely by equipment capabilities. Toner-based presses typically require smoother paper for optimum performance. Paper must be precision sheeted to feed correctly. Most devices can run coated paper, but with varying degrees of success, while some equipment requires special surface treatment for reliable performance. All the while, caliper and sheet size capabilities continue to expand. Some paper mills have reacted by offering sheets designed for specific types of equipment, all in an effort to satisfy customer demand, and address paper performance and quality issues equally.
Converging Needs
Today, the offset and digital worlds are rapidly converging. Many commercial print shops are running a variety of digital presses alongside conventional equipment. In an effort to sell digital and offset interchangeably, they want to take advantage of the unique capabilities each has to offer as a means of profitable growth and diversified services.
At the same time, their clients want the flexibility of printing the same document in long or short runs, with static or variable data. Printers need the option of running the same papers across platforms: offset and digital. Equipment manufacturers have responded by expanding the range of substrates digital presses can run. A few paper makers have responded by developing papers that will run cross-platform, and perform whether ink or toner is the imaging vehicle.
It is now evident that the move to digital color is a permanent industry shift, and the market demand for digital will steadily increase. In fact, industry experts are predicting that the digital color market will double by 2009. Now that digital printing has come into its own, the need for true cross-platform papers is more important than ever. Luckily, paper manufacturers are realizing that today's printer craves the ability to source one brand of paper that can easily and reliably be deployed to a shop's entire portfolio of equipment, offering ultimate flexibility and efficiency.
Reference Chris Harrold
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)