Friday, December 30, 2011

MI Printing: Flyers For All Your Advertising Needs

Quality flyers are among the most used advertising media that can help draw more prospective customers to your business.  It our job to make sure you are satisfied with those advertising materials.  We are proud to produce printed materials that you are proud to distribute.

We can help bring your companies' image into your companies' printed materials used in communication and advertising.

Call Paula at  623.582.1302  to discuss how we can show you our Customer Satisfaction model for your printing needs.

Presented By
MI Printing
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email:
sales@printinginaz.com

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Offline Ads in a Online World continued

Promote your site in everything you do. By phone, by mail, handouts and in person.

Including your web site address or URL in all your print media. But don’t stop there. Realize that readers don’t necessarily take your web site address from your ad and type it into their Internet address bar. Often, readers remember some other key item from your ad, such as the product name or tagline, and search that phrase in a search engine. That means your print media needs to prominently display your company name, product name, tagline, or any other pertinent descriptor or keyword your customers would remember. Therefore, before you design your ad, think like your customer and create a list of keywords they would likely search for if they were looking for your product. Then, include those words in your print media so you can reinforce the message into the readers’ minds.

You can make some of the following changes as the need for reprinting arises.

• Annual Reports
• Return Envelopes
• Appointment Cards
• Sales Sheets
• Business Cards
• Shipping Containers
• Business Reply Cards
• Statements
• Customer Survey Literature
• CVs
• Estimates & Proposals
• FAX Cover Sheets
• Flyers, Door Hangers, Coupons
• Holiday Cards
• Instruction Manuals
• Invoices
• Letterhead
• Menus  Tent & Comment Cards
•  Postcards
• Price Sheets
• Product Literature
• Products & Product Tags
• Reminder Cards & Letters


Presented By
MI Printing
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email:
sales@printinginaz.com

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Offline Ads in a Online World

To reach today’s consumers in the most efficient manner, you need a mix of offline and online ads. And while many advertisers are already aware of the power of television advertising to drive sales and online traffic, few realize the potential of print advertising and how it impacts a company’s bottom line.

New research from iProspect and Jupiter Research that looks at the influence of offline channels on online search found that 67% of online search population is driven to search by offline channels. Of that percentage, 30% come from print ads. Even more impressive is the fact that print advertising topped the list of offline media sources that led to a purchase, with 30% of search users who opened their wallet and bought online coming from a print medium.

So what does all this mean to today’s advertisers? It means that if you’re not using print media, such as flyers and brochures, to advertise your company, product, or service, then you’re missing out on not only sales, but also web traffic that could in turn lead to future business. Stay tuned for more tips.

Presented By
MI Printing
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email:
sales@printinginaz.com

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

North America’s Top Paper Companies

With total annual sales in excess of $130 billion and production approaching 100 million mtpy, North America’s Top 25 producers employ nearly 400,000 workers.

It’s no surprise that International Paper Co. continues to be the top paper producer in North America, in fact the world’s No. 1 paper company in terms of sales and production volumes.With net sales of $24.097 billion, a production portfolio of some 16 million metric tons per year (mtpy), and 68,700 employees worldwide, IP is a firm No. 1 on the PaperAge list of Top 25 North American-based pulp and paper companies.In compiling this listing based net sales and earnings include all categories such as lumber, wood products and other building materials, converted paper and paperboard products, molded pulp products, plastics and other specialty composite products, chemicals, distribution services, and in some cases waste/secondary fiber collection, recovery, and sales. However, production capacities, as accurately as possible, include just pulp, paper/tissue, and paperboard. Likewise, employee numbers are company-wide for all business segments, not just pulp and paper. Capital spending and research and development allocations are, generally, also consolidated for all business segments, except as noted. Canadian sales, earnings, and expenditures were converted to U.S. dollars, and all production capacities were converted to metric tons.

In terms of net sales,Weyerhaeuser is a close second at $22.629 billion, followed by Georgia-Pacific at an estimated $18.7 billion, which was acquired by U.S.-based Koch Industries and now operates as a private company.Weyerhaeuser had nearly 14 million tons of capacity and 49, 887 employees. In No. 4 position based on net sales of $8.396 billion and a production capacity of 8.184 million mtpy, The Top 6 - 25, in order of sales and production are: Boise Cascade (now owned by Madison Dearborn Partners investment group), Temple-Inland, Abitibi-Consolidated, Domtar, Sonoco Products, Bowater, Canfor, Tembec, Cascades Group (40% employee-owned), Graphic Packaging Corp. (formerly Riverwood), Packaging Corp. of America, Rock-Tenn, Catalyst Paper (formerly Norske Skog and Fletcher Challenge Canada), NewPage (Cerebus Capital Management/formerly printing and writing paper business of MeadWestvaco), Potlatch,Wausau Paper, Appleton (100% employee owned), Longview Fibre, Caraustar Industries, and Pope & Talbot.

Presented By
MI Printing
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email:
sales@printinginaz.com 

Friday, December 23, 2011

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;


The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,


When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.


The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,


With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:


Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"


As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too.


And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.


He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.


His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;


The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.


He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;


He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;


He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."


Presented By
MI Printing
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email:
sales@printinginaz.com

Thursday, December 22, 2011

“Merry Christmas” Say It Loud With Christmas Banners

During Christmas you come across attractive Christmas banners saying, “Christmas Sale Up to 50%.” No matter you are a big brand or a small business, Christmas is the time where you get maximum business exposure. Decorating storefronts, halls, entrance and booths is something that you cannot miss during Christmas. You can use attractive Christmas banners to display holiday offers and discounts.  Keep these tips in mind:

Christmas theme will add festivity flavor in your Christmas banner design. The most popular Christmas themes are Santa Claus, Christmas trees, gifts, stars, bells, snowman and much more. You can choose the most appropriate one for your Christmas banner. Whether you are running annual sale or showcasing your products, add Christmas theme in your Christmas banner. Be innovative while you design Christmas banners.
Incorporate Christmas colors in your banner design. Popular Christmas colors are red, green and snow white. Make sure you use a mix of these colors in your banner to add Christmas zest. You can also select the colors that represents your business or brand.

Choosing the right material and message

Vinyl is the most popular banner printing material. Vinyl material is ideal for outdoor purposes. It is the most durable, weatherproof and UV-resistant. You can convey your message in the public with high quality vinyl material.

Choose the short and clear message in your Christmas banner design. Include necessary call to action in the text. Encourage visitors to take necessary actions. Use attractive fonts and styles to display your message. Use appropriate images and graphics in your banner design. Use high resolution images. You will get the finest quality images and vibrant colors printed on vinyl material.

Mounting banners at the right places

You should know where you are going to place your Christmas banners. You can place them at storefronts, near church, schools or anywhere to draw audience’s attention.  Remember displaying banners at the right place will help you increase sales and ROI. Mount the banners at the places where it get maximum exposure.
You can make this Christmas more special with attractive Christmas banners. All you need to do is, use your imagination and creativity to design a perfect banner. Banners are really helpful in conveying your message, offers and special festival discounts.

Presented By
MI Printing
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email:
sales@printinginaz.com

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

A Charlie Brown Christmas

The half-hour special first aired on Thursday, December 9, 1965, preempting The Munsters and following the Gilligan's Island episode "Don't Bug the Mosquitoes". To the surprise of the executives, it was both a critical and commercial hit. None of the special's technical problems detracted from the show's appeal; to the contrary, it is thought that these so-called quirks, along with several other choices, are what lent the show such an innovative, authentic and sincere feeling. For instance, Linus's recitation was hailed by critics such as Harriet Van Horne of the New York World-Telegram who said, "Linus' reading of the story of the Nativity was, quite simply, the dramatic highlight of the season."

A total of 50% of the televisions in the United States were tuned to the first broadcast.  A Charlie Brown Christmas won an Emmy and a Peabody award, and is today considered to be one of the most beloved animated holiday specials of all time. The success of the animated special, A Charlie Brown Christmas, has given rise to numerous other Peanuts specials (including ten others that are also holiday-themed), a miniseries devoted to America (This Is America, Charlie Brown), a Saturday morning cartoon (The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show), and four full-length Peanuts feature films.

"Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!"

Presented By
MI Printing
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email:
sales@printinginaz.com

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Christmas & Holiday Cards Around The World

Photo by Malene Thyssen
Christmas is the largest card-sending holiday in the United States with approximately 2 billion cards sent annually. In the UK there are over 7 million Christmas cards sent out. Annual e-card sending industry-wide is estimated at less than 500 million More than 20 paper cards are sent for every one e-card.

There are more than 3,000 greeting card publishers in the United States, ranging from individual studios and small family-run companies to major corporations.

Many businesses, from small local businesses to multi-national enterprises send custom printed Christmas and holiday cards to the people on their customer lists, as a way to develop general goodwill, retain brand awareness and reinforce social networks. These cards are almost always discrete and secular in design, and do not attempt to sell a product, limiting themselves to mentioning the name of the business. The practice harkens back to trade cards of the 18th century, an ancestor of the modern Christmas card.

Many organizations produce special custom printrd Christmas cards as a fundraising tool. The most famous of these enterprises is probably the UNICEF Christmas card program, launched in 1949, which selects artwork from internationally known artists for card reproduction.

From the beginning, Christmas cards have been avidly collected. Queen Mary amassed a large collection that is now housed in the British Museum. The University College of London's Slade School of Fine Art houses a collection of handmade Christmas Card.

Presented By
MI Printing
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email:
sales@printinginaz.com

Monday, December 19, 2011

History of the Christmas Card

When London's John Calcott Horsley invented the first Christmas card in 1843 as a favor to Henry Cole, neither man had any idea of the impact it would have in Britain and later in America. Even the early Christmas card manufacturers believed Christmas cards to be a vogue which would soon pass. They operated on a quick turn basis and did not bother to document the cards they produced. However, the Christmas card was destined to become an integral part of the holiday season. By 1880 their manufacture was big business, creating previously unknown opportunities for artists, writers, printers, and engravers.

The "trick card" was the most popular Christmas card of the Victorian era. While infinite in variety, it always featured some element of surprise. While seemingly simple at first glance, the turning of a page, the pulling of a string, or the moving of a lever would reveal the unexpected, showing the card to be more complex than first imagined.

For more than 30 years, Americans had to import greeting cards from England.  In 1875, Louis Prang, a German immigrant to the U.S., opened a lithographic shop with $250 and published the first line of U.S. Christmas cards. His initial creations featured flowers and birds, unrelated to the Christmas scene. By 1881, Prang was producing more than five million Christmas cards each year. His Yuletide greetings began to feature snow scenes, fir trees, glowing fireplaces and children playing with toys. His painstaking craftsmanship and lithographic printing have made his cards a favorite of collectors today.  Christmas Cards have changed since the days of Sir Henry and Louis Prang.  They now sport comics, jokes and clever verses.  But those that picture timeless and simple settings such as excited children around a Christmas tree, Nativity scenes, nature scenes and carolers singing in the snow are still in the highest demand today.


Presented By
MI Printing
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com