Speed Up with Faster Print Quotes

Posted on August 30, 2019 Written by Leave a Comment

Sometimes your customers need their quote fast—what can you do to get your quotes faster? As it turns out, there are a few things you can do to help ensure that nothing gets in the way of your quoting process. Often, your quote will arrive faster if we have more information about your order. So, how can you get your quote faster? Here’s what we need to know.

Start With Your Name, Contact Information, and Account Number
Because we work exclusively with resellers, we need to know that you’ve signed up for a Navitor account. That’s why it’s a good idea to put your account number and contact information upfront; it means that we can confirm your account quickly and ensures that we don’t need to double-check your information before getting your quote.

For an additional boost of speed, put your account number in the subject line. It’s an easy way to ensure that we get right to pricing your print products. And speaking of those products…

Product Details in Detail
What do you know about the print piece your customer needs quoted? We can give you more accurate information when you include as much information as possible, and it will cut down on back-and-forth while we try to get the specifics of your order. What information should you include?

  • A basic description of the order. What products do your customers need? Do they need sales sheets? Are they looking for a custom-sized folder?
  • What quantity?
  • What is the finished size of the piece?
  • Does your customer want a stock from our standard selection, or are they looking for a custom-ordered stock?
  • What type of print do your customers need? Do they need spot color print? Full color? Are they looking for a specialty process like enhanced finishes?
  • Does your customer need bleeds?
  • Will the piece feature single-sided or double-sided print?
  • Does your customer want a proof? Will digital work best, or do they want a press proof?

This list can seem like a lot of information, but it really does allow us to create a better and more accurate quote.

Instant Quoting for the Truly Speedy
Our quoting department isn’t the only way for you to get a quote. We also offer our online price calculator for real-time pricing. Simply select your product line from the drop down list on our homepage and click “Go” to start. Once you’ve clicked, you can select your product category, subcategory, and then product details. The calculator will instantaneously calculate online pricing for your order and your order’s production time. You can even click a button to start immediately.

What suggestions do you have for print buyers looking for printing quotes? We’d love to hear your suggestions in the comments below.

Filed Under: Design, Education, Marketing, Print Products, Resources

Should Your Customer’s Stock be Sturdier? The Benefits of Bringing in a Heavyweight

Posted on August 22, 2019 Written by Leave a Comment

Your customer has a lot of stock options to choose from when creating their print piece. Do they want something lightweight and budget–friendly, or do they want to invest in something heavier? With so many options to choose from, it’s important for them to know the benefits of investing in a heavier stock—that’s why we’re breaking down the benefits of using a thick or sturdy stock for business cards, postcards, announcements, and more.

Benefits By the Numbers
What do statistics say about the importance of heavyweight papers? According to WestRock, they had had a lot to say. Their research indicates that, when it comes to direct mail pieces, thicker and sturdier stock definitely wins out.

  • 18% of consumers said that their intent to purchase would be impacted by receiving a sturdier piece of direct mail
  • National retailers with sturdier paper saw a 38% response rate

Getting Noticed
Thicker stocks aren’t just great for postcards—they’re a surefire way to get a wide variety of print pieces noticed! One of the reasons for this is that thicker stock makes your customer’s print piece sturdier and more durable than thinner pieces.  When they choose a durable stock, their print pieces will last longer and stick around in consumers’ wallets or mailboxes.

The Unexpected Touch
Unexpected details are always the thing that makes a print piece memorable, and stock could be the unexpected detail your customer is looking for. Imagine pulling out a stack of business cards from a trade show, for example—a pop of color from a color core stock will be immediately noticeable. Even if it’s not a color core stock, the thickest and most substantial business card will be among the first that gets noticed among the stack.

These unexpected touches don’t just get business cards noticed. We mentioned earlier that direct mail is more effective when printed on a sturdy stock, and announcements will have a memorable, luxurious feel when printed on a heavier stock.

Know Your Options
Are your customers ready to bring in a heavyweight? It’s time to introduce them to their options. Many of our cover stocks have a substantial feel, and you can check out color core and extra thick stocks for a thickness that truly stands out from the crowd. The best way for your customers to feel the difference is to see them in person, so be sure to show them samples or pull out a swatch book. If you don’t have one yet you can give our customer care team a call to request yours.

Do your customers love heavyweight stocks? Which ones are their favorites? We’d love to see you join the conversation in the comments below.

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

Could Your Home Office Be Better?

Posted on August 21, 2019 Written by Leave a Comment

If you’ve ever had to spend a day working from home, you know how important it is to have your space ready for your day of work. However, it’s important to periodically take a moment to improve your workspace at home. Whether you work primarily from home or you occasionally spend the day away from the office, here are a few tips for creating the perfect home office. And if you don’t work from home, consider putting a few of these tips in place in your office at work to keep you focused and creative all day long.

Make Sure Your Connection is Ready to Go
Whether it’s your telephone, an internet connection, or both, it’s essential to be able to touch base with your coworkers when you have a question or need to move quickly on a project. While many people work from home to increase their focus, that connection is still essential. After all, you never know when you’ll need that lifeline to get your project done.

Make Your Home Office Feel Like Work Away From Work
You’ve heard of a home away from home—make sure your home office is your work away from work! Be ready to close yourself off from the rest of the house so that you can get yourself into work mode. This is especially true if you’re prone to distraction. Having a different style for your home office and shutting the door when it’s time to get to work can help keep you from getting distracted by laundry, cooking dinner, mowing the lawn, or dusting.

Invest In a Great Chair
Have you ever had to work in an uncomfortable chair? It can have a huge impact on how effectively you work, and if you’re going to spend hours in a chair you want to make sure it’s comfortable. Consider getting an ergonomic chair—and even an ergonomic keyboard—to keep yourself working effectively.

Give it Some Color
Having a colorful, nice-looking space can be a big boost to your productivity, and from light levels to the color of your surroundings, there are a lot of ways that having the right environment can help you work more effectively. Both blue and green have been shown to enhance performance on creative tasks, while those looking to improve their attention to detail might find the color red to be an ideal fit. Light levels can make a big difference, too—a dimmer environment can foster creativity, while bright lights have been shown to be better for analytical thought.

And paint or colored art aren’t the only way to keep you working effectively. Research has repeatedly shown that office plants can improve your productivity, and a window with a view can particularly help you recharge if you have a view of a natural landscape.

How do you create an ideal workspace? We’d love to hear your tips in the comments below.

Filed Under: Admin, Design, News, Resources Tagged: , ,

Matte Finishes are Anything But Dull!

Posted on August 15, 2019 Written by 1 Comment

matte gold foil on a legal business cardMatte finishes are back on trend, and your customers should consider them for their next print piece! Whether they love the look of an uncoated stock or are looking for a subtle touch of metal without a high gloss shine, matte finishes, here are just a few of the reasons your customers should use matte finishes for their next print piece.

Uncoated Stocks Let Texture Shine Through
If your customer is looking for a classic, elegant look, uncoated stocks bring their texture to the forefront! The texture of an uncoated stock gives it a handmade, tactile appeal that feels high end.

Uncoated stocks give your customers a variety of other benefits, too! They are easier to write on, so if your customer is hoping to include a handwritten note on their business card or to sign their announcements by hand they might want to stick to uncoated stocks. Your customer can also be sure that their print piece will look cleaner because fingerprints and smudges won’t show up after their print piece has been touched.

Uncoated Stocks and Color
In matte prints, colors are slightly more muted, giving colors and images a more natural feel. While vibrant hues are a great option for some customers, these subtler colors are a good fit for print pieces with a more muted color palette. This also gives a print piece a more classic feel instead of the sleek look of a coated stock.

Matte Foils are Subtle and Elegant
When your customers think of foil, they probably think of a shiny finish first and foremost. However, they can also choose foils that give them the look of classic gold or silver in a matte or dull finish. Our graphic designers recommend dull foils especially for markets that value a subtle and classic look with high end flair: law firms, financial institutions, and other well-established businesses.

Matte foils also add another benefit: readability. Because there is no glare on a dull foil, they are easier to read and keep your customer’s message and branding in the forefront.

Dull Foil for Designer’s Choice!
Like we mentioned before, when we talked to our team’s graphic designers they had a lot to say about the love of matte finishes. They said that they prefer dull foil because they find it more attractive and more subtle. They also said that dull foil stands out because many printers don’t offer it as an option and as a result it’s a less common finishing touch for business cards, announcements, and other print pieces.

Do your customers like matte finishes? Or do they prefer something shinier? We’d love to see you join the conversation in the comments below.

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

Doing More With Less: Creating Great Minimalist Design

Posted on July 26, 2019 Written by Leave a Comment

do more with less minimalism for personalized print typographyMinimalism has been on trend for some time, and if your customers come to you to ask for your design advice you want to create something eye catching. If what they’re looking for is minimalism, you need to ensure that your design does more with less. Here are our tips for achieving great minimalist design.

Highlight What’s Most Important
Minimalist design relies on choosing only the most important details and leaving the rest behind. If you’re creating a design for your customers, be sure that they pick the information that’s essential. For event invitations, that’s the information necessary for RSVPing and attending. For a business card, that’s your customer’s essential contact information. Use those details as the foundation of the design.

And stick to what’s most important in terms of color, too! Focus on your customer’s brand colors or the colors for their event to ensure that their minimalist design contributes to a cohesive overall look.

If you’re looking for some design inspiration, check out this post from 1st Web Designer to look at some eyecatching minimalist business cards.

Embrace the Unexpected Detail
Sometimes, an unexpected detail is what you need to make minimalism really work for your customer’s print order. A touch of spot gloss or raised print can add unexpected texture. A heavyweight stock can catch attention immediately. A pop of bright, branded color in an otherwise muted business card will stand out all the more because of the minimalist design.

Choose Just the Right Stock
Because minimalist design is focused on only the most important details, your customer’s stock choice is even more important. Minimal designs let the space around the text do much of the talking—and that can make an impact that’s anything but minimal! Minimalist designs allow the texture of the stock to take center stage, whether the stock is smooth and sleek or features a subtle texture with handmade appeal.

Stock can also be the source of those unexpected details I mentioned before. A subtle shimmer from a pearlized stock adds a luminous touch. An extra thick stock has a surprising heft when held. And for an additional pop of color, consider color core stock.

Consider The Print Process
Minimalist design is also a chance for your customers to use print processes that add an extra touch of professionalism to their design. Full color print is a great option for many customers, but when your customers are interested in minimalist design they should consider the many other options available to them.

Thermography is a great place to start. Whether paired with full color print or spot color, thermography adds depth and texture to your customer’s design. That texture can add a lot of interest to their print piece.

Speaking of depth, for a truly extraordinary finishing touch, consider enhanced finishes. Spot gloss and raised spot gloss can be used to enhance your customer’s minimalist design or on their own for a subtle, shiny look. Raised foil creates a classic metallic look with style.

Do your customers love the look of minimalism? What details are their favorites? We’d love to see you join the conversation in the comments below.

Filed Under: Business Cards, Design, Education, Folders, Labels, News, Print Products, Promotional Products, Stationery

Spectacular Spot Gloss: What You Need to Know About Designing for this Enhanced Finish

Posted on July 18, 2019 Written by Leave a Comment

Whether flat or raised, spot gloss is a finish on the rise, and for good reason! This Enhanced Finish is becoming a popular option for a variety of print pieces, and it can be an excellent addition to your customer’s business card, announcement, or postcard. However, the real strength of spot gloss and raised spot gloss are in the design. Here’s what you need to know about creating spectacular spot gloss.

Having Your Formatting Right is the Foundation of Great Design
Great design starts with great execution. That means having your fonts correctly sized, using the right file and color formats—and, for spot gloss and raised spot gloss, taking a look at our instructions for file creation. Having these basic guidelines in mind will help ensure that your design choices are executed perfectly, making your whole design more impressive. Click here to download our design guidelines, or take a look at our youtube video if you’re more of a visual learner.

And don’t forget about the option to bring spot gloss to new heights. Raised spot gloss can be used in a similar way to spot gloss, but with extra depth added to the shiny accent. It’s a slightly different look—and an interesting, tactile texture—that your customer should consider for their print pieces.

Do You Want Your Spot Gloss to Stand Alone or Make Details Stand Out?
Gloss is a particularly versatile finish because of the sheer number of ways that it can be used—emphasis on “sheer”! Because spot gloss and raised spot gloss are transparent, they can be used to create a wide variety of different looks.

Spot gloss can be used on its own or over a flood coat to create a subtle design element. This option will appeal to customers seeking a minimalist look for their business cards, but it can also create stylish patterns, interesting borders, or subtle text.

When paired with a full color design, on the other hand, spot gloss and raised spot gloss can highlight different bits of the design. Be strategic about the design. Spot gloss can be used as a glossy accent on the most important word of a message or to add a luminous quality to elements of an image like the stars in a night sky or the fire in a fireplace.

What Does Your Customer Want to Emphasize?
Whether it’s your customer’s brand colors, their logo, or a particular part of their marketing message, spot gloss can be an unexpected detail that helps emphasize what’s essential. An unexpected touch of spot gloss in the shape of their logo can be a memorable way to change things up. Using spot gloss or raised spot gloss over the most important part of their message on a postcard can ensure that message is noticed.

Would Coated Stock Be a Better Choice?
If your customers are excited about spot gloss, we understand the temptation to use it everywhere, but it really works better as an unexpected accent. If your customer wants a lot of shine for their piece, they might be better off using a glossy coated stock and leaving spot gloss for a special occasion.

Have your customers ordered spot gloss or raised spot gloss? How have they made sure that their design is extraordinary? We’d love to see you join the conversation in the comments below.

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

The Anatomy of an Event Ticket

Posted on July 10, 2019 Written by Leave a Comment

Have your customers taken a closer look at their print? While it can be easy to think of their print pieces as a simple piece of paper, the details of their print piece are essential to creating a great print piece. This is especially true of event tickets. That’s why we’re breaking down the details of an event ticket and what makes tickets a great tool for your customer!

The Stock: Stylish Color or Brilliant White
The foundation of great print is a great stock, and event tickets start with a white stock that provides a great foundation for vibrant full color print. Your customer can also choose white, yellow, or blue stock for a spot color event ticket to add a bit more color to a simple and readable design.

And speaking of print…

The Print: Perfectly Suited to Any Event
Full color print is a great choice for event tickets. It can be used to coordinate tickets with event décor, highlight your customer’s branding, or show off a relevant photograph. Not only does this make the event ticket more visually interesting, it also gives your customer a chance to create an exciting look for their event. That can be a great way to build buzz for fundraisers or community events long before the day arrives.

And if your customer wants to keep things simple, we have an option for that, too! Spot color print is readable, and your customer can choose from three different stock options that are a great fit for raffles, community events, and more.

The Cut: Conveniently Sized With a Perforated End
One of the details that your customers should pay close attention to is the perforated end of their event tickets! A perforated end makes it easy to divide raffle tickets from matching stubs or to show that drink or game tickets have been redeemed.

The Numbering: A Practical Addition
Whether your customer wants to keep track of the tickets sold for an event or needs conveniently numbered raffle tickets for a fundraiser, numbering is a useful addition to any event ticket. If you want numbered tickets from Navitor, we offer this practical addition to your customers’ event tickets through our catalog.

The Order: Online or Catalog
Are you ready to place an order for your customer’s event tickets? Choose the ordering option that works best for you! Event tickets are just a click away on the Navitor.com online ordering tool, or you can order them through our catalog. Our online ordering tool includes options like instant proofing and simplified reorders, while ordering through our catalog allows your customer to choose additional options like numbering.

What details do you think are most important to creating a great event ticket? What do your customers love most about their event tickets? We’d love to see you join the conversation in the comments below.

Filed Under: Design, Marketing, News, Print Products, Stationery

Designing an Extraordinary Business Card

Posted on June 27, 2019 Written by Leave a Comment

When everything works—from the print design to the stock choices—a business card can be a key part of making a great first impression. And if your customers are coming to you for advice on their business cards, considering all elements of the design can help ensure that their business card is striking. Here are our tips for designing a business card that is truly extraordinary.

Remember Your Design Principals
Good design starts with the basics, so keeping those basics design recommendations in mind is an ideal foundation for designing a great business card. Keep important information and images at least 1/8 inch from the trim edge, work at 300dpi for a clear image, use CMYK for full color print, and ensure that your fonts are above the minimum size to ensure that the card is legible.

Change it Up
A memorable business card is often a business card that stands out, and that’s why it can be a great idea to change things up. If your customer’s business card design features rounded shapes, for example, choosing rounded corners for their business card can help their card stand out from the square-cornered crowd and reinforce the look of their design. A vertical business card can also be a great way to change things up.

Keep it Simple
A business card is a great canvas, but it’s also a small canvas—don’t oversaturate it with information! Talk to your customer about the information that absolutely needs to be included and focus on the details that will be most relevant to a potential client.

Talk To Your Customers About Stock
A great design can be made even better when it’s printed on a great stock, so be sure to talk to your customers about how their stock selection might impact their design. A bright white will give them the truest color, while an ivory or ecru will soften the colors slightly. They can use a specialty stock like pearlized stock to add a shining dimension to the design, or they can add an accent color with color core stock for an added visual pop.

And speaking of business cards, keep an eye out for more exciting business card options coming soon from Navitor. Click here to adjust your email preferences to ensure that you receive news about new options that will help your customer’s business card order truly extraordinary.

What do you think makes a great business card design? We’d love to see your recommendations in the comments below.

Filed Under: Business Cards, Design, Marketing, News, Print Products

Is it Time For Your Customers to Update Their Form Design?

Posted on June 21, 2019 Written by Leave a Comment

When your customers use a form every day, it can be easy to let it stay exactly the same. However, if they’re looking to add another touch of branded flair to their day-to-day interactions with consumers, their form offers big opportunities! Not only are custom forms a blank canvas for their creation, but they can use their form as a foundation for better brand recognition. Here are some simple ways for customers to update their form design.

Remove the Information They Don’t Need
One of the biggest benefits of custom forms is that your customer can include all the information they need and save space by not including anything that they don’t actually need. When it comes time for your customer to update their form design, it’s also a good time to take a look at the information that they have on their form. Is there a piece of information that often gets included in a note on a Post-it® Note when the form gets filed? Is there a form category that your customer simply doesn’t use anymore? It’s time to make an adjustment!

Put it in Full Color
If your customer has been using the same form design for a long time, chances are that they haven’t updated the details that could make their form truly shine. One of the best—and quickest—ways for your customers to update their form design is to put their logo in full color if they’ve previously used black and white forms.

And, if you want to take that full color logo to the next level…

Add a Pop of Branding
Your customer’s form is a branded piece that will be seen by many of the consumers they work with, so adding a bit more of their brand is a great way to increase brand recognition. Your customer can easily add a border of one of your customers’ brand colors or use their brand fonts to create a cohesive look.

Add a Photo to the Header
Does your customer work in an industry that values great visuals? Add a photo to the header! Whether they decorate cakes, work as a contractor for striking remodeling projects, or offer design services, a photo can be a great reminder of what their clients will receive. They’re also a great visual nod to the design of brochures or sales sheets that consumers might be looking at to make their order.

When your customers update their form design, what special touches do they love most? We’d love to see your suggestions in the comments below.

Filed Under: Design, Education, News, Print Products

Make the Grade with School and Educational Labels

Posted on June 6, 2019 Written by Leave a Comment

As summer approached and another school year came to an end, Ms. Claire Gilman felt it was time to breathe some new life into her 5th grade classroom. The school was repainting classrooms, which would certainly freshen things up. With things pulled apart to paint, Ms. Gilman knew it was the perfect opportunity to implement some ideas she had been considering for some time. She had wonderful plans for the reading nook in her room. She had also begun to collect some creative additions for the art supply storage. New colors, new shelving, and some new technology were just the beginning to Ms. Gilman’s new and improved 5th grade room!

As the project progressed, Ms. Gilman looked for ways she could best keep art supplies organized on the new shelves. She ordered some custom industrial strength labels that would adhere nicely to the shelves. Voila! Everything was clearly labeled and would stay neatly in the right spot! The students would have no problem finding what they were looking for. When the school’s technology liaison delivered new Chromebooks to her classroom, she noticed each device was labeled on the bottom with a barcode tracking label, an official ID label, and another label offering contact information for tech support. Hmmmmm, she wondered. Could she use labels on the top of the laptops to help the students? She ordered colorful labels instructing students how to log on to the school’s server, as well as cheerful labels that reminded students of safe internet use practices. For fun, she also ordered custom-shaped tech labels in the form of the school’s mascot paw print. She placed them on the closed top of the laptops. “Nothing like a little school spirit to brighten up these black devices!” she thought as she finished placing the labels.

What other ways could she use labels to help her in the classroom, she wondered. Over lunch that day with Mr. Frank, the kindergarten teacher, and Mrs. Horner, the administrative assistant, Ms. Gilman shared her label endeavor. Mrs. Horner piped up to add that the office, too, was utilizing labels and stickers for the upcoming school year. “I just ordered visitor badges, as well a parking permit labels for our cars, accreditation seals for official documents, and mailing labels with our school mascot. I also helped our librarian order new labels for our books and music, as well as custom school spirit labels that affix to water bottles for the back to school barbecue!” Mr. Frank reported that his kindergarteners would be excited to see themed sticker sheets throughout the year, keyboard tech decals to help them learn to type, and Elmwood Elementary Wildcats bumper stickers for moms and dads, which would be handed out during School Spirit Week.

The dedicated teachers and staff at Elmwood Elementary aren’t the only ones who regularly put educational labels to work. Preschools, high schools, colleges, and even tech and trade schools rely on labels to perform a myriad of different jobs. School property ID labels, contact info labels, parking permits, window decals, and even fun locker stickers are just some of the many uses for labels in the school and university setting.

Label Works’ new tech decals are a wonderful way to keep your school’s colors and motto front and center, 24/7! These affix to laptops, computers, tablets, keyboards, and even cell phones. They are available in individual sheets, making them perfect to hand out to students and parents, and free gloss lamination is included. That’s an A+ school spirit win! Convenient removable adhesive ensures easy removal without sticky residue.

We offer a wonderful selection of various shapes and stocks in our 24 Hour FasTurn® labels. We also offer our freeform™ laser-cut labels, available in any shape you can imagine. No matter how unique the mascot might be, Label Works can create the perfect label!

Study up on what Label Works has to offer the school and educational market! Contact our Customer Support team at 800.522.3558, to order school specific sample packs, or to ask about any of our products.

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