BHP Printing Blog

Digital printing is a cost-effective alternative to offset printing for your short-run needs without compromising print quality. Digital printing is also the most exciting thing that's happened to the printing industry in a long time.

Digital printing lets you print very small quantities and they can be done quickly. Unlike offset printing, which uses plates, digital presses print directly form your digital files. 

Business owners can really benefit by using digital printing technology. Some of the benefits are:

1. You can print as many or as few as you’d like. You can even print just one piece, even if it is full-color printing.
2. Lead times are much shorter with digital printing.
3. Different versions of your marketing pieces can be printed. Make a brochure or a newsletter from the same file. Testing the effectiveness of your marketing piece is easier with this functionality as well.
4. Your direct mail postcards or brochures can be personalized by using variable data printing. This allows "one-to-one marketing." Each piece can have different content. Digital printing marries a database with the design template.
5. Each department can have their own sell sheets or other printed materials, tailored specifically for their own clients or prospects.
6. The content can be changed much more often with digital printing, which allows you to keep your material current and accurate.
7. Costs are more easily controlled because you can print only what you need.

Ask Blue Hill Press about digital printing and how it can benefit your business.

There are many businesses out there that need new, innovative, updated graphic design. In fact, there are many businesses that have that on their list of things to do, but haven’t gotten to it yet.  This is a big mistake.
The design of your logo says a lot about your business. This graphic relates your personality, your style and your business savvy all at once. Your logo should convey a specific message to your targeted audience. Your logo is important because you need it to aid and promote instant public recognition.

Consider Blue Hill Press your one stop shop for printing and graphic design. There are numerous times that you place orders at the printers. Let us help you with your design needs.

Our state-of-the-art graphics design department offers a wide range of services in both Macintosh and Windows applications.

Our expert designers can:

• create original designs, layouts and logos
• enhance your layout for a more professional look
• receive your files easily via FTP server
• scan your photos and digitize images

We are sure that you have received a business letter or proposal on less than impressive stationery. You know the kind, printable stationery, plain old black and white, and on the paper you can almost see through.
Stationery makes a big impact and a big first impression. You know when you have been given nice, sturdy, expensive-feeling letterhead and envelopes, and it registers in your thoughts. Free, printable stationery is obvious, and it sends the wrong message.

Many people today are trying to save a dollar, but in stationery printing, this is the wrong area in which to skimp. You and your sales people are spending lots of time and money on making a perfect presentation, having a good appearance; perhaps you are even spending travel money to see this potential client, why would you blow it all with a proposal on cheap paper?

The paper can really have a big impact on your business stationery. Not only does it have a direct relationship with the durability of your color logo, but it can also have a significant effect on the appearance of your design. But more importantly, it has a direct link with the first impression made about you and your company.

Don’t print your own business stationery. Consult with Blue Hill Press if you want letterhead, envelopes and business card printing that makes an impact.

Think of all the items in your business that you use a printing company for every day. Blue Hill Press can take care of your business printing needs in  a timely and professional manner. Here are just some of the things that we specialize in:

Annual Reports
Our design staff can produce stunning annual reports using color, photos, charts, and graphics.

Booklets
Booklets are used for everything from directories to programs. We can produce booklets of virtually any size or design from conception to finished piece.

Brochures
Our design staff can take your ideas, words, or images and produce eye-catching promotional pieces. Or, if you already have print-ready art, we can print or copy your document on a variety of stocks.

Business Cards
We can design and print business cards that incorporate your personal or company identity. These can range from black & white to impressive, full-color designs. We can also create a corporate identity package for you, with an integrated system of business cards, letterheads, and envelopes.

Catalogs
We can produce catalogues for trade, corporate, or small business; everything from simple black and white to oversized, full-color pieces. We offer a variety of binding options and can include inserts for ordering or reply.

Coupons
Whether you need a perforated coupon as part of your brochure, or a separate piece, we can help. We can produce basic black and white, eye-catching full-colour, and everything in between.

CVs and Resumes
We can design a professional CV and print it on impressive premium papers with envelopes to match. We can also design cover letters and address labels that will add to the quality of your CV package.

Digital Copies
Digital copying machines offer outstanding print quality, convenience, and faster turnaround times than standard copying or printing. With digital output, every finished piece is an original.

Direct Mail Printing
We print a variety of products that are used for direct mail. We complete the project by either using your mailing list or procuring a mailing list using your specifications and addressing the printed pieces plus applying barcodes and sorting for maximum postal discounts.

Labels
Whether you need mailing labels, price tags, or reusable static labels, we can help. We can produce labels of various shapes and sizes that adhere to almost any surface indoor and outdoor.

Flyers
We can create simple black & white posters or dazzling full-colour pieces that will make an impact and get results. Just bring us your words, art, or ideas and we'll make your concept a reality.

Letterhead and Envelopes
We can design and print letterhead that incorporate your personal or company identity. These can range in format from basic black & white to impressive, colorful designs. We can also create a corporate identity package for you, with an integrated system of business cards, letterheads, and envelopes.

Manuals
Organizing your information into a manual is an effective way to communicate with your audience. You can incorporate everything from basic black and white copies to full-color inserts and transparencies to custom designed index tabs and binders.

Memo/Note Pads
We can create memo pads customized with names, company information, or personal messages of any kind.

Menus
The look of your menu says a lot about your business. From your ideas and business image, we can design an eye-catching menu that does your product justice. We can also keep an electronic copy of your menu on file to make it quick and easy to update.

Newsletters
Whether you have print-ready art or rough sheets of handwritten content, we can help you create and produce newsletters that meet your objectives.

Presentation Folders
We can produce presentation folders in any color or size. These can be printed in a single ink or professionally embossed or foil stamped to create a lasting image. Additional options include business card slits and printed pockets.

Price Lists
Price lists don't have to be boring or basic. We can produce informative, eye-catching price lists that reach your target audiences and get an immediate response.

Proposals
We can develop, design or reproduce proposals of any nature or size. Just bring your concepts, mockups, or print-ready originals, and we'll produce proposals that make a lasting impression.

Raffle Tickets/Books
We offer fast turnaround of raffle tickets or raffle books for organizations that are holding fund raising events. We can customize the raffles with your logo and colors in both small and large quantities. All raffles are numbered and perforated and packaged for easy distribution.

Report Covers
We can produce report covers in any color or size. These can be printed in a single ink or professionally embossed or foil stamped to create a lasting image. Additional options include business card slits and printed pockets.

Training Materials
From transparencies and worksheets to full-scale manuals, we can produce materials that strengthen your training program.

Marketing is a large part of your business budget and is critical for building brand name and recognition. It is important to use effective, attractive, and compelling marketing materials. Sales sheets make great marketing tools.

Sales Sheets are a great way to provide information about your products or services. Also considered mini brochures, sales sheets are a four-panel, double sized business card. They can showcase your business in full color and tell a story. Your business can develop a one-page product or service sales sheet that provides information to a prospective customer. There are many uses: trade shows, leave-behinds, and packing inserts. You can also send them in response to phone or e-mail inquiries. On a sales sheet, your business can feature your products and services in a way that a business card cannot.

Today's business and marketing goals are to get your message across while giving you the best value for your advertising dollar.  A sales sheet or mini brochure does this by stimulating business and attracting attention. Add photographs, pricing information and a call to action to increase customer attention and conversion and you have a piece of marketing material which is able to present your products and services in an effective and cost effective way.

Direct mail postcards can help you promote your business easily, effectively, and affordably. But to capitalize on these benefits, you need a reliable and efficient program in place. There are a wide variety of Direct Mail products - flat, folded, or specialty - to help you create a versatile and cost effective direct marketing solution targeted to your business market. But once you have decided on the message and the graphics, don’t get a surprise by the postage. The mailing process should be part of your decision process. Blue Hill Press can help.

Postcards

• Postcards qualify for discounted First-Class postage.
• Maximum size of postcard to qualify for discounted postage is 4 ¼” x 6”.
• Presort First-Class postage for a postcard costs less than Presort Standard postage for a letter.
• USPS offers no Presort Standard postage rate for postcards.
• USPS requires blank space 4” x 2” in lower right corner for address and bar code.

Folded Self-Mailers

• Folded self-mailers cost less to produce than mailers in envelopes.
• Folded self-mailers get better results than mailers in envelopes, because message is visible on outside.
• Folded self-mailers must be secured with at least one wafer-seal or glue strip.
• Mailers folded with opening at top of mailing panel require only one wafer-seal.
• Mailers folded with opening at bottom of mailing panel require at least two wafer-seals.

A couple weeks ago we gave a few examples of mistakes people and companies make when choosing a printing company.

1. Picking a Print Shop based only on price
2. Thinking  all print shops are the same
3. Having three or more printers competing with each other for your work
4. Thinking  having the right equipment is all a printer needs to print your job
5. Not giving your print shop enough time to print your job properly
6. Pick print shops that don't guarantee their work
7. You don't ask for references

In that blog we discussed the first three. Here are the other 4 examples.

Mistake #4: Thinking having the right equipment is all a printer needs to print your job

Many print shops own great equipment. However, there is no guarantee that they know how to run it.
There are many printing presses that have lots of extra functions, but if the press operator doesn't know how to use the new features, you might as well use a printing company that has old equipment.

Mistake #5: Not giving your print shop enough time to print your job properly

Mistakes happen when you’re rushing! In your hurry, you may forget to tell your printer certain instructions. You may make a mistake on your original artwork because you were concentrating on getting it done, instead of getting it right.

Before you work on your printing project, talk with your printer. Get your printer involved from the beginning. There might be a more efficient way to complete your project that you don't know about.  You should think of your printer as your "project partner."

Mistake #6: Pick print shops that don’t guarantee your work

All reputable printers guarantee their work.  This means if they make a mistake on your printing, they will re-run your job at no charge.

The best thing you can do is pick a printer who unconditionally guarantees their work. If it's not printed right and it's their mistake, they will run it again.

Mistake #7: You don't ask for references

This is probably the easiest way you can avoid any problems with a printer. All good, reputable print shops will eagerly give you references. Ask your printer to give you at least three names of people they have done business with. Most successful printshops can run quite profitably on their referrals and their repeat business.

As a business owner, of course you need to be concerned about whether or not your company is presenting a good impression. One of the best ways to do this is with high quality, full color brochures. Professional-looking marketing brochures allow you to create an engaging image for your company, your products and your services. Whatever your business, color brochure printing can provide an answer for your promotional needs and your image.

When used effectively, color can have the impact that you are looking for. However, along with color there are some other factors that will affect your campaign.

Fold - The fold that you use for your brochure can affect the look and functionality. For maximum impact, choose a fold that complements your brochure's content.

Cover - Your brochure should be among the marketing material that says "read me" to your target market. The purpose of the cover is to persuade people read your brochure.

Images and Texts – be sure to have attention-grabbing headings.

Blue Hill Press is a full service, full color brochure printing company that specializes in marketing brochures, product brochures, short form catalogs, and flyer printing. We consider ourselves to be experts when it comes to brochures and we also offer mailing advice.

Our clients can enjoy the positive experience that comes from using our brochure printing services. Give us a call or use our contact form, or request a quote.

There are seven mistakes we see over and over again when people are choosing a printing company. In this post we are going to talk about the first 3. Stay tuned, next week, we’ll talk about the last 4.

1. Picking a Print Shop based only on price
2. Thinking  all print shops are the same
3. Having three or more printers competing with each other for your work
4. Thinking  having the right equipment is all a printer needs to print your job
5. Not giving your print shop enough time to print your job properly
6. Pick print shops that don't guarantee their work
7. You don't ask for references

Mistake #1: Picking a Print Shop based only on price

The old saying is true. "You get what you pay for." This is especially true in the printing business. If you want good printing, you should pick on based on the overall value you receive, not because they are the lowest priced.  Value is the combination of Quality, Service, and Price.

It is impossible for any company to offer the cheapest price, have the highest quality, and provide the best service all at the same time. You can get high quality and you can get super service, but you can't get both while getting the lowest price.

A printer who offers the lowest price tends to offer the lowest quality. Your printed piece is your image. It directly reflects on your professionalism and the standards of work you are willing to accept.

If your printed materials are poor, this is how your company image is presented.

Mistake #2: Thinking all print shops are the same

Every printing company is different. Each one has different equipment and different employees who know how to do certain kinds of jobs well. All employees have different abilities, and companies have different lead times to complete your work.

Printing is a combination of art and craftsmanship. Contrary to what many people think, printing is not running paper through a machine. It takes craftsmanship to turn out quality printing.

Ask questions in order to pick the best print shop for you:

• What type of work do they print.
• Can you see samples.
• What is their average turnaround time.
• What type of jobs don’t they handle themselves.

Mistake #3: Having three or more printers competing with each other for your work

Sometimes this is a good way to do business, but it often is not with printers.  A good printer has loads of loyal customers. If you flip-flop from printer to printer, a good print shop won't be too motivated to help you in an emergency situation, and with printing, there will always be an emergency situation.

Price is always a consideration. But price should never be more important than good quality and good service. But, when you need a favor or superfast turnaround a loyal company will bend over backwards to help you.

Every print shop expects to go above and beyond for their customers. They might have to work all night, print an extreme rush job, or pull off a miracle. As a loyal customer, the print shop will do all they can to help you meet your deadline.

Next week we’ll talk about the next four mistakes….

A company that offers bindery, finishing services, graphic design, and printing  often is the best choice for your business to reach your prospective audience. It's important to tailor your ideas to your audience.

Your business should be appealing to a wide variety of customers. As an example, if you're trying to attract high-end customers to a clothing boutique, Blue Hill Press will help you create a bound catalog that features all the products you offer. This is a very attractive printing option. Blue Hill Press's  printing, bindery and finishing services give your marketing materials a polished look that is sophisticated and professional.

In partnering with another publication in your area to advertise and give your company more of a presence in the community, printed inserts or folded materials would be good options to capture the attention of prospective customers. 

Many companies choose bound printing marketing materials because it gives variety in what you can produce and helps your marketing materials stand out from others in the same industry. With bound printing materials the end products look better and last.

Finishing your job accurately and on-time requires an extensively equipped team of skilled, dedicated craftsmen who can handle all phases of producing and delivering your marketing materials.

From cutting to folding to binding, Blue Hill Press (a complete one stop shop) applies the highest quality standards to ensure that your order is produced precisely to its specifications.  And by the way, we can mail it for you too!

In addition to our regular bindery operations, we offer die-cutting, embossing, and gold foil stamping. Contact us today.