Your How-To Guide for Enhanced Finishes

Posted on May 1, 2019 Written by Leave a Comment

You’ve heard about Navitor’s new enhanced finishes products—are you ready to design them? Today we’re taking you through how to create enhanced finishes files, step by step.

1. Know Your Resources!
We know it can be daunting to create the designs for our enhanced finishes products at first—that’s why we have created a few resources that could help you navigate the design process more effectively. If you want to spend some time getting to know the process, we recommend visiting our website for downloadable file creation tutorials.

You can also use these documents with your customers when they are creating their own designs. The unbranded documents feature all of the file requirements for each print process, making them an excellent option for customers who want to get hands on with the design process themselves.

Are you more of a visual learner? We’ve got you covered there, too—watch this video created by one of our graphic designers to see the process step by step!

2. Download Your Enhanced Finishes Swatch Library
Ready to get started? Start by downloading the swatch library from the Enhanced Finishes page on Navitor.com.

3. Open Your Full Color Design and the Enhanced Finishes Swatch Library
A full color design is the foundation of your enhanced finishes design, so start with that full color design. Then, once the base design is ready to go, open up the swatch library you downloaded in step two.

how to design enhanced finishes spot uv gloss, raised gold silver foil, raised spot ultraviolet gloss

4. Create a New Layer For Enhanced Finishes
Whatever design elements you want to bring spot gloss, raised spot gloss, or raised foil to, create a new layer and place them there. Next use one of the various enhanced finish swatches to color the elements then from attributes set them to “Overprint Fill” so they receive the enhanced finish.

5. Create Your Press File
Your design is ready to go! Double-check to ensure that your file will be created using CMYK color and export the file!

6. Still Not Sure? Order One.
We know that you might want a bit of extra practice before you are ready to place your full order, which is why we offer you the option to order a single print piece. This press proof gives you the chance to review your design for a small fee and adjust as needed.

What do you love most about our new enhanced finishes business cards, announcements, and postcards? We’d love to see you join the conversation in the comments below.

Filed Under: Business Cards, Design, News, Print Products, Resources, Stationery

Want Proof That Your Enhanced Finishes Design is Perfect? Order One!

Posted on April 10, 2019 Written by Leave a Comment

We understand that when you place an order for one of our new enhanced finishes products you want it to be perfect. Because of this, we’re offering you the option to place an order for a single announcement, business card, or postcard to proof your design! This allows you to check a printed proof of the design for a small fee before committing to your order, and it allows you to adjust the design as needed for a small additional fee for each proof.

How it Works
These proofs can be placed as a manual order or online orders—simply place your order with a quantity of one! Proofs cannot be ordered alongside any other products, but you can order press proofs of multiple Enhanced Finishes print pieces in one order. Once you’ve ordered, we’ll print it for you and send it via 2nd day air so that the proof is in your hands quickly.

The Next Step if You Ordered Online

Like what you see? Your file’s ready to go! If you placed your order online, go to the My Account page, click on Reorders (online orders only) and select your order of one via order conformation, PO number or customer information and click Start Reorder. Once you’re there, select Edit next to Product Specifications, and update the quantity.

Once you’ve taken a look at the proof, you might want to adjust your file. To order, go to the My Account page, click on Reorders (online orders only) and locate your order and click Start Reorder. Once you have located the order, click Edit next to Front Artwork to upload the new artwork and order a single-quantity proof of this new version.

The Next Step if You Ordered Through the Catalog

As with online proofs, once you have examined the proof you can contact us to order a higher quantity of the proofed item or adjust your file and create another proof. If you would like more guidance when creating another proof of your artwork—or if you want additional guidance before you start—contact your customer service team to learn more.

Ready to get started? Take a look at the updated digital copy of our catalog or visit the Enhanced Finishes page on Navitor.com to place your order.

Filed Under: Business Cards, Misc, News, Print Products, Resources, Stationery

They’re Here: NEW Enhanced Finishes!

Posted on April 5, 2019 Written by Leave a Comment

raised foil, spot uv gloss, raised spot uv gloss for postcards, business cards and announcementsAre your customers looking for a way to add polish to their business cards to make a more memorable first impression? Do they want to make their announcements for an upcoming event extra-special? Do they want the postcard for their next mailing to be truly showstopping?

We’ve got the products for you.

Navitor has debuted three new print processes: raised foil, raised spot gloss, and spot gloss. These processes are a striking addition to a wide variety of print projects. Here’s what you need to know.

Raised Foil: Nine Colors to Choose From

Raised foil creates the look of foil with the tactile appeal of a raised surface, and we’re excited to debut this new print process with a wide selection of foil colors! If your customer is looking for a classic look, take a look at gold and silver raised foil; these are classic metallic colors that are a great fit for brands looking for polished, professional appeal. They can also consider dull gold and dull silver for a similar look with more muted shine.

But their options don’t end there. Your customer can get creative with light blue, red, green, or black at the same price point as classic gold and silver options. And if your customer is looking for a trendy way to capture attention, holographic raised foil is available at a slightly higher price.

Spot Gloss: Just Where You Want It

Does your customer want to add emphasis to the most important parts of their design? They should consider spot gloss. Spot gloss, also called spot UV, allows them to apply a glossy coating in selected areas. They can use it to highlight their logo, the most important text on their print piece, part of an image, and more.

You can also achieve a more subtle look by using spot gloss as a design element in areas where there is no print or in areas where you have used a flood coat to apply a single color. This will create a surprising pop of shine from certain angles, making it a great way to add an unexpected design element or to create a pattern with flair.

And if your customer wants to add dimension to their spot gloss print…

Raised Spot Gloss: Bringing Gloss to New Heights
Love the look of spot gloss but want the tactile appeal of a raised surface? Raised spot gloss is here to deliver! You can use raised spot gloss similarly to spot gloss, but in addition to the pop of shine it will create a raised surface for even more emphasis.

Want to Know More?
If you’re looking for more information, we have a variety of different options for you! Click here to explore the products available, or download a flyer to help you introduce these new print processes to your customers. If you want to learn more about how to create the designs for these print pieces, click here for the detailed instructions you will need to create your Enhanced Finishes press files.

Are you excited about these new print processes? We’d love to see you join in the conversation in the comments below.

Filed Under: Business Cards, Misc, News, Print Products, Resources, Stationery

Summer is Coming! Here’s Your Chance to Save

Posted on April 4, 2019 Written by Leave a Comment

Your customers have a lot of events to prepare for now that warm weather is finally here. They might be hosting sidewalk sales to bring more foot traffic into their store. They might be preparing to host a booth at the commercial building of a fair or sponsor an upcoming community event. They might want to replenish their supply of business essentials. They might have new products that they need to inform customers about.

And you’ve got the print pieces they need to make that happen.

Not only is this the perfect time to reach out to your customers about their summer print needs, but it’s also a great time to save!

Reaching Out Early for Summer Events
If your customer has events coming up, it’s a good idea to reach out early so that they can place an order for the print they need. Not only will this help ensure that you have the opportunity to save on your order—more on that in a moment—but it will also ensure that your customer’s order is in hand early and ready to go whenever their event arrives.

Want to Save?
To celebrate summer, we are offering 50% off any form of shipping for custom stationery items. Simply include coupon code CPN-50SH9 with catalog orders or visit Navitor.com to save automatically on all these products:

This offer excludes promotional products and holiday and greeting cards.

What print pieces do your customers look for as summer approaches? We’d love to see you join the conversation in the comments below.

Filed Under: Business Cards, Deals, News, Print Products, Resources, Stationery

Getting Organized For Spring? 3 Things to Learn From the Planner Trend

Posted on April 3, 2019 Written by Leave a Comment

One of the biggest trends I’ve seen since the beginning of the year is planners and bullet journals. While the planner trend is largely geared toward keeping people organized in their personal lives, this trend could also teach you a lot about staying organized in your work. Whether you keep your notes on a calendar, keep a printed checklist, have a favorite app on your phone or are hoping to take the first step in getting organized, here are three things the planner trend can teach you about keeping your work day on track.

1) Monthly, Weekly, or Daily Formats: Choose What Works For You
Whether you’re jumping into a bullet journal or just trying to keep your to-do lists on track, one of the biggest things to take from the planner trend is that you should choose the format that works best to keep you organized. Whether you want to plan on a monthly calendar so you can see longer-range plans at a glance or you prefer to plan your schedule day-by-day or even project-by-project, personalizing your plans according to your needs helps ensure that you stay on track.

When you’re working on getting organized, this might take some trial and error. You might want to make yourself a daily checklist and pin it up next to your calendar, for example. You might want to divide a notebook page in half with one side for meetings and another for important tasks. You might even keep your list on an app on your phone or on your computer. Whatever you choose, give it a week or so before deciding if it’s the right method for you.

2) Keep Your To-Do Lists and Meetings in One Place
Keeping your plans on one page is a helpful way to ensure that you don’t miss anything, and that can be a big help in your work day. Whether you keep everything in one binder like planner aficionados or simply have a designated space on your desk for your to-do list, by keeping all your daily tasks together you will be able to avoid double-booking yourself or scheduling too much in a day when you have a long sales meeting with an important customer.

And speaking of things to keep in one place…

3) Keep Notes On Hand—And Date Them!
Don’t be afraid to keep your notes in the same place as your schedule. This can make it easier for you to find your notes and it can make it easier to look back on how a project has progressed. It’s also important to date your notes so that you can reference when a note was taken—after all, it’s important to know which notes are the most up-to-date.

How do you stay organized? Do you keep a planner for your work day, or do you use another method? Join the conversation in the comments below.

Filed Under: Education, Marketing, News, Resources

3 Reasons to Check Out NSP’s Architectural Signage Catalog

Posted on March 21, 2019 Written by Leave a Comment

What’s new from Navitor Specialty Products (NSP)? We just released our architectural signage catalog featuring a variety of different signage options including new sign audit and installation services to support specialty signage projects and help make growing your signage business a breeze. Here are just three reasons to check out this new catalog.

Get Inspired
The first section of the catalog is dedicated to inspiration, showing off what your customers can do with the signage included in the catalog. This is a great way to highlight the effect that different signage options can create in a finished space. We show a photograph to highlight the look of the space and then break down the different sign options used so that your customer can take that inspiration directly into the ordering process.

Make the Process Simple
We know that, for your customers, transforming the space can be intimidating even on a good day. For 2019, we have added options for new services including sign audits and sign installation. This takes the fear out of the process of signage ordering for those customers that need it.

We’ve also included information to help guide you and your customers through the process of ensuring that signage is ADA-compliant. Not only does this signage make their facilities more accessible for individuals with disabilities, but it can also reflect their brand as beautifully as other signage.

And speaking of their signage options…

Choose From a Wide Selection of Products
NSP offers a wide variety of different products in this catalog, allowing your customers to choose from indoor and outdoor signage as well as signage tailor-made for special events. With a wide variety of stocks to choose from and many stylish shapes available, your customer can create signage that brings their brand style to every part of their facilities.

Filed Under: Marketing, News, Print Products, Resources

Bring Colorful Stocks and Substrates to Your Customer’s Print This Spring

Posted on February 28, 2019 Written by Leave a Comment

yellow green business cards ASTROBRIGHTS stock colorful printWhether things are still snowy in your area or it’s already a warm day, spring is a great time for your customers to embrace color in their print order. Vibrant color can help bring eyecatching style to print for upcoming events, capture attention for spring sales, and might even be something that becomes a favorite for year-round use. And while every print piece is a chance to print a colorful image, colorful stocks are another great way to bring vibrant color to their upcoming print orders. Here are just a few of the products that allow your customer to embrace colorful stocks and substrates.

Business Cards
In the past few years, we’ve introduced a number of ways to bring color to add vibrant color to business cards using stock choice, and these stocks are a great way to bring an extra pop of color to your customer’s spring print orders. Consider using color core stock that coordinates with their logo to create a substantial business card for important upcoming business meetings, and vibrant ASTROBRIGHTS® papers are a good choice for business cards with allover color. Speaking of these vibrant stocks…

Announcements and Postcards
A lot of the stocks we’ve introduced to our business card selection have also joined the stock selection for announcements and postcards. ASTROBRIGHTS® stocks make for eyecatching postcards, and that makes these postcards a great fit for attention-grabbing promotions for spring sales. Color core stock, on the other hand, has a subtler look that can add a touch of unexpected charm to postcards and announcements.

Badges and Signage
Does your customer love the classic look of engraved badges and signage? They should consider using a colorful stock! Because engraving gives your customer a wide variety of stock options, it’s easy for your customer to choose a stock color that appeals to them.

Promotional Products
When your customer is preparing for an upcoming tradeshow or other event where they will connect with prospective customers, promotional products are a great addition to their print order—and those promotional products are yet another chance to add color! Most promotional products, from pens and pencils to bags and water bottles, are available in a wide variety of vibrant colors.

Do your customers love colored stocks and substrates? We’d love to hear more about the colorful print options they love in the comments below.

Filed Under: Business Cards, Design, News, Print Products, Promotional Products, Resources, Stationery

Which Informational Print Piece is Right For Your Customer?

Posted on February 27, 2019 Written by Leave a Comment

Your customer’s spring and summer events are coming fast, and it’s time for them to prepare the print that they need to run tradeshow booths, mailing campaigns, and more. Your customer’s informational pieces—whether brochures, sales sheets, or postcards—need to be ready, and making their information more impactful starts with choosing the right product. Here are just a few of the questions you can ask to learn which informational print piece is best suited to your customer’s need.

How Much Information Do They Have?
The most important thing to consider is the amount of information that your customer wants to share. They might want to create an in-depth list of services available at their business, or they might want to illustrate only the must-know information about a new product. Knowing how much information they will need to include is a good way to narrow their options.

If your customer has a lot of information to share or wants to go into detail about a concept, then they’ll need enough space to let that information breathe. Brochures and sales sheets are a great choice, as are oversized postcards.

On the other hand, if your customer wants to focus on high-level information, a smaller print piece might be a better fit. Postcards, rack cards, and door hangers are a good option for these uses because they offer the same full color style but provide a more compact canvas for your customer’s information.

How Will It Be Distributed?
Once your customer knows what size their piece will need to be, they should consider how they will be distributing this information.

If your customer is going to be handing out the informational pieces in person, they have a lot of flexibility in their options. For settings where they will be handing out a large number of informational pieces—for example, if they want to create a piece for each product—they might want to focus on brochures or rack cards that will be easier to keep organized. If they want one big, splashy print piece, then a sales sheet will make a big impact at tables or booths.

If your customer intends to mail their informational piece, on the other hand, they want to consider how well each piece will mail. A postcard—whether traditionally-sized or oversized—is a great choice that is ready-made for mailing, but pieces like rack cards and trifold brochures are also a great choice because they are well-sized for mailing envelopes.

Do They Want to Get Creative?
We’ve focused mostly on traditional informational pieces, but there are creative options, too! When your customer wants to branch out from these more traditional pieces, there are a number of options they can consider. Magnets are available in a wide variety of different sizes and make a creative alternative to rack cards and sales sheets. For pocket sized informational pieces, consider business cards or trading cards. Door hangers, bookmarks, and announcements are other creative options.

Which informational print pieces do your customers love most? We’d love to see your suggestions in the comments below.

Filed Under: Education, Marketing, News, Print Products, Resources, Stationery

What Screwdrivers Can Teach Us About Our Sales Tools

Posted on January 30, 2019 Written by Leave a Comment

This year, I’ve been trying to get some quick home repairs done. While it might not seem like updating cupboard hardware and tightening hinges have a lot to do with print sales, you’d be surprised how much your tools could teach you! Here are just three of the lessons that the humble screwdriver can teach you about your print sales tools.

1. You Need The Right Tool For The Job
Have you ever needed a screwdriver for a project but could only find a wrench? When the tool you need isn’t the perfect fit, it can be hard to finish your project. And the same goes for sales tools! It’s important that the sales tools that you have are the right fit for the sales tasks in front of you.

One example of the right tool for the job is a sample; samples are great for inspiring your customer to create individual print pieces and showing them how that finished print can be paired with other print pieces to support their business. If they want a more complete look at their stock options, on the other hand, then a swatch book is going to give them a more complete picture of their options and allow them to easily compare colors.

This also goes for digital tools. When you want to highlight a single product, a digital flyer like the ones we make for you is a great option. If you want to give your customer a chance to peruse your entire product offering, though, sending them a digital catalog like a personalized ZOOMcatalog is the way to go.

2. Know How to Use Your Tools On The Move
Sometimes, you and your tools need to travel to where you are needed, and your print sales tools are no exception! Knowing how you will bring your tools from one place to another is an essential part of getting the most out of your sales tools, especially because it’s rare for your print sales tools to come packaged in a handled toolbox.

One way to use your print sales tools on the move is to have a briefcase or bag that you always use to bring your sales tools from one place to another. You can keep your sales tools in this bag if you use them most often when meeting with customers outside your office, or you can keep it on hand for occasional meetings.

3.The Right Tool Really Does Help Get the Job Done
It can be tempting to go in without tools sometimes, but while you could try to remove a screw without pulling out your tool kit you are more likely to be successful with tools at your side. The same goes for print sales! No matter how successful a salesperson you are, print sales tools can help make the process smoother and might even result in higher sales.

Want to add some of Navitor’s free sales tools to your toolbox? We’re happy to help! Whether you’re downloading a flyer or requesting a catalog, we’re happy to provide you with the tools you need to reach out to your customers. If you want to keep up with these sales tools and receive new digital flyers in your inbox every month, please take a moment to sign up for Navitor emails.

Which of our sales tools are your favorites? Tell us about how you use them in the comments below.

Filed Under: Education, Marketing, News, Resources

Check Out Label Sales Tools in 2019

Posted on January 9, 2019 Written by Leave a Comment

Happy New Year! Now is the time we all say ‘Hello 2019’ and ‘Hello’ to creating this year’s plan to target new label, decal and sticker sales growth. Go ahead and mark it off your ‘to do’ list because Label Works already has the plan taken care of.  Check out our FREE, ready to use sales tools below to see how growing business is really as simple as 1-2-3.

First off, we all know clients love seeing materials that speak directly to their market, day-to-day needs and goals. So why not use a sales presentation that does exactly that? Just use and repeat the steps below for any vertical you’re targeting this year and ta-dah your presentation is ready!

  • Zoom Catalog – Use this resource to re-brand our free marketing pieces with your own company name and logo. Your individual sales reps can also customize these with their contact info. Start with our e-catalog then move to one of our many Sales Flyers. These flyers highlight types of labels, their uses and available options for each market. Simply find the customer type that you’re speaking to, create a PDF of the flyer or print it out and share!
  • Physical Sample Kit – Gone are the days of having to show your customer samples that do not pertain to them and trying to get them to use their imagination to fit them into their world. Our sample kits are designed to include stickers that speak to specific markets. As you open the kit, you can share how every label within it speaks to your customer specifically. Ideas will start flowing! How cool is that?! These kits make a wonderful tool to mail out directly to customers as well.
  • Vertical Market Deck – We all love happy endings! Our vertical market deck, made up of 18 different 5 x 7” post cards, provides you with a success story to share with your customer that is relevant to their industry. Not only that, it is also an end customer facing piece that shares various label ideas and benefits that will help spark additional conversation. How do you use this tool you ask? It’s easy! Simply pick out the card that matches the industry you’re meeting with, pair it with the branded sales flyer and physical sample kit and you have the perfect presentation combination! Keep this tool at your office, in your vehicle or even utilize the e-version that is available to share via email!

One important key to growing sales in this product line is to simply make sure your potential and existing customers are aware that you sell it! Whether you like to call them labels, stickers or decals, we’ve got you covered. Using the above tools, as well as help from your label expert team at Label Works, makes this easy. Happy Selling in 2019! We’re excited to partner with you again this year!

Filed Under: Labels, Marketing, News, Print Products, Resources
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