New Marketing

Because the purpose of business is to create a customer, the business enterprise has two—and only two—basic functions: marketing and innovation. Marketing and innovation produce results; all the rest are costs. - Peter Drucker

The first thing that companies generally cut from their budgets when times are tough is marketing. What do you need most when times are tough? Marketing. Evolution and KPB are here to help!

We have recently found that a fair number of our customers do not know the scope of what we do. We are constantly changing and improving, but some of our oldest and best customers only think of us for certain items. As we grow and change, we need to make sure that we are continuing to educate our customers at the same time. The same is most likely true for your business if you are multifaceted.

With the new year just around the corner it is a great time to impress your customers and to let them know your business is truly great. Update your marketing materials, tighten up your message and provide great customer service. This will help you stand apart from your competition. In addition, it can be a great way to re-introduce yourself to existing customers.

Evolution and KPB offer so many things that can help you with ongoing marketing and grow your sales. Between the two companies, we can do everything from updating your design, to printing new marketing collateral, to providing premiums. If you think doing these things is too expensive, check in with us. We can help you come up with a customized plan regardless of your budget!

Don’t leave your business to chance, have a marketing plan and materials that are as savvy as you! Reach out to Evolution and KPB today, we can help you get a jump on 2013.

Reducing files

Reducing files can be an easy solution to saving money on a project...

Many times changing the trim size of your file can change your costs. For instance, to print on our large format printer is much more expensive than our color digital. The difference between the two machines is the size they are able to print. Read on for two examples:

Posters:

• Our large format can print 60 inches wide by 100’s of feet (prints on a roll), where our color digital press prints up to 12x18. However, the cost savings to print on our color digital is significant. Next time you are designing or ordering a small poster keep that in mind. If you are planning a14x20 poster, but can live with a 12x18 instead, you will definitely save money.

Postcards:

• Smaller postcards can sometimes save cost since we are able to print more pieces on one sheet. If you are thinking about an 8.5x5.5, changing to a 4x6 will change your cost. You will be surprised how your costs can be decreased just by reworking the size of your finished piece. This even saves on postage!

Let us help you determine the most cost effective size for your project during the conceptual stage and you may save money in the end!

Tired of always making new holes in the walls?

Tired of always making new holes in the walls? Try repositionable vinyl for your next poster projects instead of the traditional framed look.

This product works great on glass and is a fantastic fit if you have limited walking space through a hallway. It is low profile, so it takes up very little space.  Repositionable vinyl is also a cost effective alternative if you have to hang something for a limited time. Perfect to use for signage for an upcoming event or for a limited announcement.

There’s a variety of vinyl’s available to fit all your needs. We carry white and clear - permanent adhesive and removable. The permanent adhesive is ideal for applying to beverage bottles, salsa bottles, vinyl binders or even covering up that pesky little typo on your large vinyl banner that you don’t want to reprint. We’ve even had clients adhere them to boxes that will be shipped and large machinery. The removeable is more ideal for window displays and temporary applications or adhering to something you may want to peel off later.

Add repositionable vinyl into your marketing repertoire. It is a fantastic complement to all of your other print collateral. Call your Sales Representative or CSR today to see how this product may work for your next poster job!!

From the Outside Looking in

By Dana Johnson

I can remember the first time I met the KPB team, nearly five years ago. They were a new vendor that our marketing team was trying on. Maybe it was the southern lilt to one member's voice, the easy enthusiasm they all exhibited or the genuine way they talked to me, but it only took a few moments of conversation before I felt like we were friends. And it took probably five minutes after that before I stopped viewing them as a vendor and started viewing them as a partner. You can’t fake those things. They just are. Follow up the personal connection with unwavering consistency, meeting ridiculous deadline requests with a smile, and suggestions for how to save cost, and you have a winning combination. KPB provided all of those in spades!

Consequently, my vendor did become a true business partner and ultimately, a friend. But it’s not just me with whom this has happened. I’d venture to say it happens with most of KPB’s clients because caring about people is not just their business philosophy, it’s what drives them as a company.

Fast forward five years and imagine my curiosity as I found myself working here. Would the impression I had as a client hold fast behind closed doors? Could the philosophy of investing in people be felt by the employees? Would the commitment to excellence be evident in the culture here? The answer to all of these is yes. The owner’s personal brand does not stop with them. It permeates throughout the building. Even on the busiest day, you’ll see people banding together to make it all happen. This translates to a supportive work environment where each person is dedicated to producing a great product every time.

Stop by sometime; you can feel it in the air!

Binding Your Book

Have a book project? Wondering how it should be bound? Here are your options...

• Saddle Stitching - With this option, the book is folded in half and stapled along the spine. Just remember, if you choose this style, the total number of pages in your book needs to be divisible by four. Think magazine!
• Perfect Binding - The inside pages of the book are printed and glued together. The cover is designed to include the spine, which then wraps around the insides of the book. A good example of perfect binding is a softcover novel.
• Tape Binding - With this book, a thermal tape that holds the book together is heated and glued to the spine of the book. It has a perfect bound appearance, only it includes a textured piece along the spine. The tape used along the spine comes in a variety of color options. This is a cost-effective method, but you may find that for heavily-used books, the tape wears out over time.
• Comb Binding - This book has wide holes punched on the bound edge and a wide-toothed plastic “comb” placed through the holes. This is an older method now becoming outdated as companies that used to own equipment for the technique found that, with use, pages snagged on the combs. Training manuals are often bound this way.
• Plastic Coil Binding - Small holes are punched on the bound edge of the book and a spiral plastic coil is then fed through the holes. The plastic coiling used comes in a variety of color options. Recipe books are a good example as spiral binding allows books to lay open easily. This method is the fastest-growing as it replaces comb binding.
• Wire Binding - Holes are punched along the bound edge of the book and a wire coil is fed into them. Although more expensive than coil, it adds a bit of class to your book and is not easily removed. From the old school days, this was how a teacher's grade book was bound.

Contact your sales rep or your customer solutions representative today to discuss the different binding options and what will work best for your project. Whether it be budget, time, or design that is dictating the finishing touches of your project, we can help you choose the best option!