Monday, December 31, 2012


From The Folks at MI Printing


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

Friday, December 28, 2012

MI Printing: Indoor Magnets


Make your advertising message STICK!

Indoor Magnets... Several Sizes and Styles available  4/0 (Full Color One Side), 17pt UV coated stock.   From customer supplied art. Art should be 300dpi PDF file.

At MI Printing we can take care of all of your specialty printing needs.  Learn about the many options we offer for your business printing needs.  Questions... Please give us a call at 623-582-1302.

Please ask about money saving larger quantity print runs.  For best results a high quality PDF file is required for the customer supplied artwork.

Thank You
Matt & Paula


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

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Notes on the Fridge


I saw an ad by the United States Post Office the other day and it extolled the virtues of using paper as a storage medium. Invoices that lead the way to paid bills stored in a drawer rather than lost or hacked in cyberspace.

It got me thinking about those notes I have stuck to my fridge.  Some are just that, notes.  But many others are really ads; From my real estate agent, a place to write notes.  From my insurance man with reminders of what to do in an emergency.  From my dentist about my next appointment.  From the car dealer about my next service.

Wow, all these printed communications that are part ad and part friendly reminders or helpful hints.  Guess what, I do keep them, and use them and post them on my fridge.

You could consider giving customers a note pad that has coupons interspersed through-out the pad with different offers to entice customers to come in on days that are typically slow ones.  That way you stay top of mind and get increased traffic on days that you need it.

You could even partner with nearby business and place coupons for each other on notepads given out a the different locations.  That way, say four businesses could share in new traffic and have a reduced cost promotion for the new year.

You can use dollar shaped coupons and even leave the amount areas blank and fill them in when they are sold or given to your customers.  You can validate those coupons with employee initials or a uniquely shaped paper punch in one of the areas meant for the dollar amount.

Ok, the smell of printers ink in the morning.  Kind of reminds me of that old saying “Printer’s Ink in Your Veins” or now “Pixels in my Pocket!” and they all lead to “Notes on the Fridge” Ads with a place to call home…

Be creative, make your next printed ad have a home on the Fridge.

Want help with your next print advertisement?  Call MI Printing 623.582.1302 and lets us be your local resource.

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MI Printing
Phone: 623.582.1302
http://printinginaz.com

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

The Day After Christmas Is Here!


It doesn’t seem fair you get just a day (Christmas Day in fact) to recover from the holiday rush and here you are dealing with after holiday crush.  And for some business this after holiday crush may be the best part or at least the most profitable part of their year.  I have talked with some business owners who claim that single days during the Christmas season can equal a whole months of sales dollars during slower parts of the year.

Of course you are also competing with the big box stores for the sales dollars they are attracting with super low sales prices on merchandise that didn’t move as well as hoped for during the Christmas sales drives.

So how do you compete with Flat Screen TVs for prices that are the best around?  First, do the big box stores really have more than a few of the super low priced units in stock?

Male sure you are “in stock” during your promotions.  Nothing seems to make a customer madder than to find a pushy salesperson trying to convince them to buy what is in stock, rather than the advertised specials.  It is even worse to find that the two they had at that price sold minutes after the doors opened on December 26th.

You can have flyers going round in your business location that feature your best items to your potential customers.  If possible make sure that if you are out-of-stock you can either fill orders quickly or have a good alternative product with the same or similar specifications as a substitute purchase.

You sales staff can always make sure to check the stock on hand when a customer questions availability rather than a quick response of “We sold those out hours ago”.  It can make a customer a bit more satisfied if they think they just missed the last one rather than be told they are hours late.

If they can hear “We have an even better one for just a few dollars more”.  That message from a sales person (and make sure it is accurate) can even help to save the situation.  Make sure that the message is not that the item out of stock was inferior but that the substitute is even better.

If you really don’t have what the customer wants or needs you can always fall back on the Macy’s idea of sending a customer to your competition this one time and you have a grateful customer still who remembers you first for your truth and honesty.  What more could you ask?

Let MI Printing help you with your next handout, flyer or brochure.  Give us a call so we can help you tell a better story.  We are as close as your phone 623.582.1302.

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

Friday, December 21, 2012

1000 #10 Business Envelopes MI Printing



Business Envelopes, #10 White Envelopes 1000 for just $52.00 Black Ink on front from customer supplied art (PDF Format) plus Sales tax if applicable. To receive discount please mention this ad. 

Many times the first impression a person will have with your company is to handle and open correspondence that arrives in your company envelope.  There’s something about receiving a custom printed business envelope. You can feel the importance and significance of any document with the help of logo, printing and the quality of the paper.  In fact, correct envelope printing adds greatly to the image and credibility of a company.

While your letterheads are standards for businesses and companies, the envelopes that carry that important document can not be a poor quality product.

Business envelope printing is crucial because it contributes to the image of professionalism and reliability that a company projects. The image of a company can be picked up from the documents that they produce and use in communications with the public.

Your company's formality and credibility is also reflected in your envelopes.  Envelopes in fact, have the power to affect a response from the recipients whether its favorable or not.  Depending on the look, appearance, color and quality, your envelope can greatly influence the way your recipients think about you and your company's message.

Contact Matt or Paula at MI Printing for help with your professional quality business envelopes. 623-582-1302

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MI Printing 
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
http://printinginaz.com

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Can You Hear The Refunds Coming?


Have you paid too much attention to decorating your retail stores with all the bells and whistles for Christmas Sales but forgotten about your after Christmas run on what ever is left over, on sale or being closed-out. Chances are you’re not alone.

While the day (or week) after Christmas is famous for refunds and exchanges it is also a great time for sales.  I know a person who owns a string of restaurants that likes to say the best thing about restaurants is that they don’t have to give after Christmas refunds.

Yes, people are going to return items because they don’t like the color, they don’t fit or in some cases they don’t work.  Sometimes they even return things for other strange or bizarre reasons.  A pet store reports that a puppy was returned because the girlfriend was allergic to “Cats.”

Can you turn a return into an exchange?  Rather than have your money leave through the front door make sure that every refund is done with an eye to capturing that customer with a brands new sale.  If people are waiting in line have an employee hand out sales and special flyers to those waiting in the refund line.

You can even offer a special dollar incentives as part of the refund process if they will spend in the store today or will accept an in store gift card as the refund currency.  You don’t want to make it sound mandatory but as an incentive to spend more in your store.  If possible make it sound like their idea by having signs suggest the better percentage of using the in store credit or card.

Of course it can also be helpful to make sure a retuned product is actually a fault rather than a customer use error.  Yes, this takes more time and requires more staff but can lead to much higher customer satisfaction.  Not to mention they get to keep and use the gift.

So save your refund stories and ideas for turning refunds into new sales.  We will be glad to publish your stories and experiences in up coming blogs with full credit for you and your business establishment.   No real prizes, but may a whole lot of fun reading.

Ways to Confuse Santa: Leave a note and explain that you have moved and include a map.

Need to have a creative twist to your next commercial printing job?  Let MI Printing work with you on your next handout, flyer or brochure to make your message stand-out and be remembered. Give MI Printing a call at 623.582.1302.

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

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Last Minute Christmas Sales Ideas


Just six shopping days till Christmas and there are still tips that can help you get more out of these last minute sales days.

Guide Your Customers' Experience
Organize your products in a way that makes it easy for customers to zero in on what they're looking for. Group items into categories such as "Gifts for Him," "Gifts for Her," "Toys for Ages 2-4," etc.

Offer Gift Certificates
Explains Rincon, "Many buyers don't know exactly what to get, and a gift certificate is a great alternative." With online delivery, buyers can purchase all the way up to, and even on Christmas Day and still have purchases reach their recipients on time.

Gift Certificates are great sales ideas for restaurants and service based business.  It gives your customers a way to share your products with their friends and loved ones.  

Offer Gift Wrapping And Gift Cards
People shop online to save time and avoid hassles. They don't have time to physically receive the gifts they order, then wrap and resend them. By providing this service, you add value to your products and gain a competitive edge.

Offer Wish Lists
Many shopping cart systems already have a wish list feature built in. Shoppers should be able to choose what they like from your site, create a list, and store it there for other buyers to reference, or have it emailed directly to them.

Offer Free Delivery And Set-Up
You're not taking a loss here — you're just building those costs into your price. According to a survey by Shopping.org, seventy-five percent of consumers view free shipping as a major selling point. When they don't have to calculate those extra fees, it's that much simpler and more convenient for them. So in the end, both you and your customer are happy.

Ways to Confuse Santa: Instead of Christmas ornaments decorate your tree with Easter Eggs.

If you are looking for someplace to have your Gift Certificates printed give us a call here at MI Printing 623.582.1302.

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

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Counting Down Christmas Sales


We are now seven shopping days to Christmas counting today and Christmas Eve.  Many shoppers are still buying Christmas gifts and some out there haven’t even started their Christmas shopping. You know who you are.

These last minute shoppers tend to be men rather than women, but not always.  To capture their attention in these final shopping days you may want to use some in your face displays and what appears to be ready to give gifts.  Make it easy and simple for them to choose these last minute items.

If possible, you can sell pre-wrapped gifts to make it even easier to both buy and give the item.  The idea of making gift giving easy is why the sock, fruit or umbrella of the month clubs exist.  Remember now is the season when the bigger sign really means a better buy.

As the last minute panic sets in, easy trumps price as the primary reason for the selection.  If size can be eliminated so much the better and one-size-fits-all dances in the eyes of the buyer.  Signs saying  1 for $5.00 or 3 for $20 begin to make sense to those with more money than time.

If you think now is a state of panic wait until this weekend when the shopping days are fewer than fingers on one hand.  People begin to hope for credit card limits to be increased at the last minute to make buying even easier and more guilt free.

Panic phone calls begin going out to Figis and Hickory Farms for chocolates, summer sausages and cheese dips of all flavors with a chaser of FedEx overnight to complete their order.

Last minute orders to HSN and QVC because you really can shop at 3AM. Gift cards and cash in envelops round out the panic.  Displays in stores begin to look herds of reindeers have been shopping.

Smile, we have just 365 days before we do this week all over again.

Ways to Confuse Santa: Leave Santa a copy of your Christmas list with last minute changes and corrections.

If you are looking at doing some printed advertising instead of the online variety give us a call here at MI Printing 623.582.1302.

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

Monday, December 17, 2012

Made In The USA - Jelly Belly Candy Co.


Their beginnings are traced back to a family named Goelitz. When two young brothers emigrated from Germany to make their mark in America, they set the family on its candymaking course. In 1869, just two years after arriving in America, Gustav Goelitz bought an ice cream and candy store in Belleville, Ill., and his brother, Albert was sent out in a horse drawn wagon to sell their sweets to nearby communities.

The great-great jelly bean ancestor first appeared in the 1800s, but jelly candies of one kind or another have been around for thousands of years. "Turkish delight, " a citrus, honey and rose water jell, has been putting smiles on kids' faces since biblical times.

When the penny candy craze came along in America during the late 1800's, candy makers began experimenting with sugar candies. The jelly candy inspired by Turkish delight was shaped into a bean and given a soft shell using a French process called "panning". The first jelly bean was created by an American candy maker whose name has since been lost in time.

Although the penny candy boom waned a bit when America fell in love with chocolate in the early 1900's, there was a real chocolate shortage when most chocolate went to overseas troops during World War II. So, patriotic Americans once again discovered their urge for non-chocolate sweet treats like common, candy store jelly beans.

In 1960 along came 19-year-old Herman Goelitz Rowland, Sr., fourth generation candy maker who planned to carry on the family candy business. The times were lean for his family's Oakland, Calif., business which was best known for making candy corn. In a leap of faith that boggles the mind today, Herm and his family decided to expand and begin making jelly beans, Chocolate Dutch Mints®, America's first gummi bears, and jells. Giant jelly beans, regular jelly beans, miniature jelly beans, all sorts of styles were pouring out of the candy factory. The extra touch that became a signature for the company were jelly beans with flavors cooked into the center and in the shells using the very best ingredients regardless of cost — simply terrific tasting jelly beans.

In 1967 some of those beans managed to catch the attention of the Governor of California, Ronald Reagan. Throughout his two terms in office, the Governor ate Herm's jelly beans and ultimately wrote that famous letter saying "we can hardly start a meeting or make a decision without passing around the jar of jelly beans." (You can see a replica of the letter at the Jelly Belly Visitor Center).

Location: One Jelly Belly Lane Fairfield CA 94533 - 800-522-3267

Website:  http://www.jellybelly.com

Do you want your business printing made in the U.S.A.?  Then please contact MI Printing and tell us about your printing needs.  We are ready to listen and help.

Presented By
MI Printing, LLC
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
http://printinginaz.com

Friday, December 14, 2012

MI Printing: Special Custom Business Cards



1,000 Business Cards, Full Bleed. 4/4 (Full Color Both Sides), 14 pt UV Coated Just $57.00 from customer supplied art.   No one will mistake these cards for homemade ones!

At MI Printing we can take care of all of your business card needs far beyond just simple black on white.  They say you simply aren't in business without your business cards. Need to know more about all the uses for business cards?  Learn about the many options for your cards.  Please give us a call at 623-582-1302.

Sales tax, if necessary, not included.  Please mention this ad when calling to order.  For best results a PDF file is required for the customer supplied artwork.

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

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Guerrilla Marketing – Online Holiday Video Ads


Now why would a local commercial and business printing company tell you about making or using online Holiday videos?  We are here to help you be successful in any way we can knowing that as we help you – you will remember us when you need printing done for your business.

I think an example might be in order.

Here is a video on how to make a very crafty holiday wreath.  Now if you sell yarn you could make a similar video, in your store showing the same kind of idea.  Or you could offer a sales kit with everything needed for this idea and then use a flyer with a link to the video so your customers can find out how to make it.  You could also set up a screen where your shoppers could watch the video right in your store.

Here is the link: http://youtu.be/69wvg72M_L4

So there it is a pre-made idea for you folks that are selling notions or craft goods.

So you would like a second idea?  Let’s see what we can come up with for you.

How about a feel good old time production number on a grand scale.  Now I know this is beyond your budgets but is sure fun to watch and is a great Christmas promotion.  It is done on a grand scale.  But you could do one in your store with your employees singing a Christmas Carol and inviting folks to come to your store or place of business and giving them a big thank you for doing business with you over the last year.  All you have to do is post it to YouTube and let your customers know it is there.  Just a quick little hand out.  You could also play it back on a computer or TV set in your business.

You can see what T-Mobile did for their Christmas Carol.

Here is the second link:  http://youtu.be/vcmfCXwAFs4

So grab your camera ad put up a great holiday story about your business or what you can do for decorating on a budget….

Need to have a creative twist to your next commercial printing job?  Let MI Printing work with you on your next handout, flyer or brochure to make your message stand-out and be remembered. Give MI Printing a call at 623.582.1302.

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

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

12 Days of Christmas For Small Businesses

We are all familiar with "The Twelve Days of Christmas" an English Christmas carol that enumerates a series of increasingly grand gifts given on each of the twelve days of Christmas. Textual evidence suggests the song, first published in England in 1780, may be French in origin. The time signature of this song is not constant, unlike most popular music. This irregular meter perhaps speaks for the song's folk origin.

What can you do as a small business using a series of promotions for the 12 days before Christmas?  You can use a printed flyer that has 12 suggestions for gifts that can be purchased from your store.  If you are a restaurant you could have a series of 12 deserts or holiday meals that your customers could partake of.

You don’t want to make a customer come back 12 different times to fulfill their purchases. The customer may turn into the Grinch under those circumstances. If you want to break up their visits you could do it at three visits with purchases of 4 items or choices each time.  Best for your customers may be at least two visits with purchases of 6 items or choices each time.

Keep in mind that the more customer visits you have the more sales you should have.  So whenever possible you want return customer visits.

If you are a clothing store your flyer could feature a complete outfit that is broken down into twelve pieces. You could do a hat, scarf, blouse, vest, sweater, coat, gloves, belt, skirt or trousers, socks and shoes.  If you can combine these with a holiday theme or colors so much the better.  You can sell them as a set or over the twelve days or have twelve different outfits at one per day.  Be creative and have fun with your 12 days of Christmas.

If you are a hardware store you could always give coupons with each purchase that gives a special price for each of 12 different tools or needed parts for home improvements.  

No matter what you sell, even services you can do some holiday theme items even if you need to create new titles so they can follow along with you 12 days of Christmas plans.

Need to have a creative twist to your next commercial printing job?  Let MI Printing work with you on your next handout, flyer or brochure to make your message stand-out and be remembered. Give MI Printing a call at 623.582.1302.

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

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Holiday Sales With Profits In Mind


Arrange Your Merchandise So It’s Easily Shopable:  People like to buy from stores that are easy to shop, so have your products arranged appropriately, grouping items as necessary. Signage should be clear, what’s on sale, what’s not, and what the price is. 

Have Enough Product On Hand:  You’ll want to have three to four times as much product as you expect in sales for the season. Keep your backstock handy and the displays fully stocked. Create the desire to buy with an abundance of product choices so customers can each find something to buy. 

Demonstrate, Demonstrate, Demonstrate: Most products can be demonstrated and demos do increase sales if they’re done right. Train your employees on how to run a proper demonstration. Don’t leave it up to the employee to develop a strong demo pitch. 

Focus On Upselling And Add-on Sales:  Determine which products can be paired up for sale together, to increase the value of any given sale and which products have more expensive or upgraded models that salespeople can suggest customers consider.

Use Pay Incentives To Motivate: Make sure your salespeople can earn a commission or SPIFFS (Special Pay Incentives For Fast Sales) to encourage higher sales. Set specific sales goals.

Make Your Store A “Happy Place” To Encourage Sales:  First, set the tone for your business by staying positive and focused throughout the season. Second, give your salespeople proper care and feeding. When your guests approach your store, your salespeople need to be relatively content, meaning they’ve had their breaks when appropriate and are pleased to see your customers.

Hire Enthusiastic Salespeople Who Have A Passion For Your Products:  Talk to the people already in love with your product: your best customers. Their passion for your product will show in your sales. Your best customers just might be interested in receiving an employee discount, earning some extra money during the holiday season and spreading the good news about your merchandise.

Collect All The Customer Data You Can:  Capture each customer’s name, mailing address, phone number and email address. On a regular basis email your customer base to offer incentives and specials to entice them to come back and purchase again. Start an email newsletter for your customers. Include up-to-date information about your products, announcements of new lines and special promotions or discounts.

Make Product Knowledge A Priority:  Make sure your salespeople know your products’ features and benefits inside out. Teach them strategies for being assertive but not aggressive in their sales approach. Review how different types of customers view your products and what features and benefits appeal most to each group.

Holiday Wisdom: Holiday party strategy. Paint your nose red and wear antlers. Complain that you never get to join in on any reindeer games.

If you are looking at doing some printed advertising this holiday season give us a call here at MI Printing 623.582.1302.


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

Monday, December 10, 2012

Made In The USA - Henry Repeating Arms


In every field of human endeavor there is a select group of individuals who are given credit for making such major contributions that they become synonymous with their achievements. In the area of firearms development, one name that must be included on that honored roster is Benjamin Tyler Henry. His invention: The Henry Rifle.

It was Mr. Henry who conceived the first practical, lever action repeating rifle. Patented in 1860, the Henry gave a single man the firepower of a dozen marksmen armed with muzzle-loading muskets.

America was engulfed in the searing flames of the Civil War, and the first Henry rifles were in the hands of Union soldiers by mid 1862. Due to its revolutionary design and rapid rate of fire, the Henry quickly found popularity both with the military and civilian purchasers. Early sales were especially brisk in Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri and Indiana.

The Henry rifle would go on to play a significant, if not dominant role in the frontier days of the American West. It would soon become one of the most legendary, respected and sought after rifles in the history of firearms. A contemporary rifle collection isn't complete without one.

Today, the Henry Repeating Arms Company, a descendant of the venerable gunmaker, makes its home in Bayonne, New Jersey. From our inception our goal has been to manufacture a line of classic, well-crafted firearms that every enthusiast would find readily affordable. Every single part in each Henry rifle is made in America, and engineered with features that other gun makers often charge twice the price for. For that reason, our corporate motto is “Made in America and Priced Right”.

They're confident that you'll enjoy and be proud to own any of the firearms in their ever growing family of Henry rifles. The Henry Lever Action, well known for its reliability, accuracy, handsome looks and smooth action, is available in .22 LR, .22 Magnum, and the new .17 HMR varmint cartridge.

To purchase any one of Henry Repeating Arms rifles, you must do so through a licensed firearms dealer. They cannot sell their rifles directly to you. Henry rifles are available from the finest gun shops and sporting goods retailers around the country.

Henry Repeating Arms  59 East 1st Street Bayonne, NJ 07002 • Phone 201-858-4400

Website: http://henryrepeating.com

Do you want your business printing made in the U.S.A.?  Then please contact MI Printing and tell us about your printing needs.  We are ready to listen and help.

Presented By
MI Printing, LLC
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
http://printinginaz.com

Friday, December 7, 2012

Special: Custom Advertising Banners


Custom Advertising Banners, Full Color, Full Bleed, 2 x 8 outdoor banner with grommets $58.00 from customer supplied art. Please mention the ad to receive the discount. Use these banners to get more Attention and Exposure at your next event!


At MI Printing we can take care of all of your business printing needs.  Fast Turn Around, Great Service and Fair Pricing are what we are known for.

Need to know more about all the uses for business banners?  Learn about the many options for your trade shows and events.  Please give us a call at 623-582-1302.

Sales tax, if necessary, is not included.  For best results a PDF file is required for the customer supplied artwork.  Please call if you have questions about setting-up for large displays and banners.

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

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Learning To Get More


Learning to get more from every relationship your business has is a great target for an improved bottom-line.  You can consider this aspect for both customers and suppliers.  

If each customer can be enticed to either buy more per visit or to purchase a more profitable up-scaled product that is a good example of learning to get more per visit.

You need to ask every supplier to see what they can do for you in addition to selling you products, what can they do to help you sell their products.  Make sure you are taking advantage of every thing they offer.  Your sales rep may not be telling you the whole story.  Does the company offer co-op advertising dollars?  Do they offer a different  discount range with different product buys.

You need to find out if they offer a discount for product pick-up Vs delivered product and if that can make good dollars and sense for your company.  The price you can buy for is often more important to profitability than the price you can sell for.

Do you track your average dollar income for every customer visit?  Do you factor in the customer visits that end with the customer leaving with no purchase being made?  Do you reach out to a no purchase visitor and try to find out what is the reason that they visited and made no purchase?  Once you understand why, can you reduce the number of no purchase visits?

Do you have a program in-place to improve how your associates are “selling” to your customers?  Commission incentives are nice for the sales associate but costly to the bottom line.  Contests, prizes and recognition can be both more effective and less expensive motivations than commission increases.  Sales training has an upfront cost but can be very effective in supporting sales and profit growth.

Learning to be better at both buying and selling can be very effective ways to make your business more profitable.

Holiday Wisdom; There are a lot of things money can’t buy, but none of them are on my Christmas list. – Joan Rivers.

If you are looking at doing some printed advertising instead of the glow in the dark variety give us a call here at MI Printing 623.582.1302.

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

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Can You Give Every Customer A Bonus Item?


During this time of holiday gift giving would it not be nice to give every customer a gift or bonus as a thank you for their business? Some of your competitors do just that.

It may be something as simple as holiday greeting card.  Yes, just that simple.  Some business give out a yearly calendar.  Other business provide every customer with a gift certificate in an amount based on their spending during the year.  These gifts are a good way of reminding a customer that you appreciate their business.  These gifts help keep you top-of-mind during the coming year.

I have a to-do-list hanging on my refrigerator that was a gift last year, from a real estate agent, and it gets used a least once a week and I, at least subconsciously, am reminded of that business every time I use that simple pad of paper.  More than that, if I leave my list behind somewhere there is at least one more possible impression of that business to a new and potential customer.

I know a restaurant that gives out holiday coupons to every customer.  The coupon thanks the loyal customer and invites them back (next year) to use the coupon on a future purchase.  You could use variations of this idea in many ways.  You could go so far as to make up a coupon book for the next year and have a different special every month.  Coupon books are far cheaper than newspaper ads and more effective to promote a return visit.  Yes, it is only aimed at existing customers.

You can also give out special coupons to customer that they give to friends, inviting their friends to try out a two for one offer for a favorite meal of the existing customer.  Think of this as a very personalized version of word-of-mouth or social media posts.  Nothing is better than a recommendation that has a special promo to go with it.

If you choose to give your better customers a business novelty gift, make sure it of good quality. I got a flashlight designed for my keyring the other day and while it looked very nice, it fell apart inside my purse the very next day.  That experience didn’t make me feel very happy about the gift giver’s choice or leave me with a great feeling about their quality.

I related the story to a fellow businessman and he promptly gave me a flash light that he gives out to his customers.  Very well made (all metal) and brighter (3 LEDs).  You can guess who’s advertising I am carrying around and using now.  Which business do you think I remember fondly?

Holiday Wisdom; The moment you stop believing in Santa Claus is the moment you start getting clothes for Christmas!

Promotions and food for thought from MI Printing.  Your local resource for business printing.  Fast, fair and friendly, give us a call and see what we can do for your business.  623.582.1302

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Phone: 623.582.1302
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Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Holiday Advertising Ideas


Nobody likes to wait for sales to begin their holiday shopping! So you should try some tested advertising ideas to give a new dimension to your business earnings. Apply every possible policy to market your products. 

Ads and Relation Building: While so many other ploys are noted above there is some other successful and old holiday advertising ideas - coupons, post cards, e-cards etc. These items are generally sent to help maintain or build better relationships with customer (potential ones too) and the sellers or the service providers. But with the greetings you can tactfully let the reader or the viewers know about your new products or the services for sure.

Content Marketing: All of us surf the internet for information and we do like to visit informative sites. This is why as one of the holiday advertising ideas - content marketing has come to the fore! Just think if you can inform people about the importance of holidays and the rituals! Just the articles have to be placed in good article directories. Intelligently infuse some information about your product or services in these articles. Whereas blog articles provide you best freedom to describe, highlight your products and services with text and images. So do prioritize blogging as one of the fruitful holiday advertising ideas.

Press Releases: When you are launching new product or services for the holiday seasons, you should use press release to market or advertise those new arrivals. Both on internet and in print media you can provide the information to people about the products or services. With proper story line you could impress the readers and they will pay a visit to your website or business place for sure. Press releases are also considerably beneficial as one of the holiday advertising ideas for the power of good copy writing.

Use of Social Networks: It is not to mention that nowadays social networks are highly popular among all ages of people. Millions of profiles are existent and hardly there is an educated person who does not know the name like Facebook or the Twitter! Almost all social networking sites provide businesses to showcase ads. You can easily throw your ads on these sites. Now this type of ads is one of the most successful holiday advertising ideas. Spending a few bucks for ads on Facebook, you may find huge returns.

Holiday Wisdom
Anyone who believes that men are the equal of women has never seen a man trying to wrap a present.

Let MI Printing help you with your next handout, flyer or brochure.  Give us a call so we can help you tell a better story.  We are as close as your phone 623.582.1302.

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Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
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Monday, December 3, 2012

Made In The USA – Cerreta’s Candy Company


The Cerreta Candy Company is an old family owned business. Founded 40 years ago, by Jim Cerreta, Sr. who learned candy making in his father-in-law’s factory in Ohio. Jim passed the trade to his entire family. 

Today four of Jim’s sons are actively involved in every aspect of the candy business. Jim, Jr. is in charge of the caramel operation, where he makes caramel, Camelbacks, and caramel popcorn. Joe oversees production of the cream centers, where he combines modern methods with old fashion candy making techniques. Jerry is the chocolate man. He covers the caramels and cream centers made by his brothers with the robust chocolate covering that makes Cerreta’s chocolate so distinctive.

Sales to the grocery and retail trade, running of the in-house store, mail-order operations and overseeing the web site are handled by Joner.  Even the wives get into the act. Joe’s wife Marisa gives daily tours to the public, and her enthusiasm is contagious!  Marisa & Joe’s sons work in the factory in the summer. These two boys represent Cerreta’s fourth generation of candy makers.

It’s this deep family involvement and their time honored authentic production methods which ensure the highest possible quality and homemade taste of every piece of Cerreta Candy from the caramels to the chocolates.

The Cerreta’s strive to create a fun, lively atmosphere where everyone can see candy magic being made. Take a special guided tour of our family owned hometown candy factory. We’ll show you how a sea of caramel becomes wrapped tempting taste treats. Learn how cream centers are enrobed in luscious chocolate.

30-minute guided tours are offered Monday through Friday at 10am and 1pm. For groups of 30 or more, please call (623) 930-1000 and arrange for a private tour.

Cerreta’s is located on the southeast corner of 54th and Glendale avenues in Historic Downtown Glendale, Arizona, 1/2 mile east of Murphy Park and just 15 minutes from downtown Phoenix.

http://www.cerreta.com

Do you want your business printing made in the U.S.A.?  Then please contact MI Printing and tell us about your printing needs.  We are ready to listen and help.

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Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
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Friday, November 30, 2012

1000 #10 Business Envelopes MI Printing



Business Envelopes, #10 White Envelopes 1000 for just $52.00 Black Ink on front from customer supplied art (PDF Format) plus Sales tax if applicable. To receive discount please mention this ad. Offer good through November 30. 

Many times the first impression a person will have with your company is to handle and open correspondence that arrives in your company envelope.  There’s something about receiving a custom printed business envelope. You can feel the importance and significance of any document with the help of logo, printing and the quality of the paper.  In fact, correct envelope printing adds greatly to the image and credibility of a company.

While your letterheads are standards for businesses and companies, the envelopes that carry that important document can not be a poor quality product.

Business envelope printing is crucial because it contributes to the image of professionalism and reliability that a company projects. The image of a company can be picked up from the documents that they produce and use in communications with the public.

Your company's formality and credibility is also reflected in your envelopes.  Envelopes in fact, have the power to affect a response from the recipients whether its favorable or not.  Depending on the look, appearance, color and quality, your envelope can greatly influence the way your recipients think about you and your company's message.

Contact Matt or Paula at MI Printing for help with your professional quality business envelopes. 623-582-1302

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Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
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Thursday, November 29, 2012

Holiday Marketing Mayhem Those Dangerous Trees


If a tree falls on the highway, and no one hears it, can it still be "Mayhem"? Yup, especially if it's Dean Winters playing the perfect Douglas fir, all trussed up in netting, a sight that's positively terrifying at first and then turns a bit dark in this holiday spot.

Now consisting of more than a dozen commercials, the "Mayhem" campaign for Allstate from Leo Burnett advertising may be the most consistently inventive work on the air these days. The Mayhem metaphor is a monster concept, and it keeps on going.

Like a twist on a ditsy acting exercise, Winters has played a deer, a key and even a foaming espresso. The ingenious setups and clever writing allow the former Oz actor, always in a sharp black suit and crisp white shirt with black tie, to show his true acting chops. The details are great too, the butterfly bandage on Mayhem's face in this holiday spot a great festive touch.

This latest holiday spot in particular shows that Mayhem is not a literal anything -- and is an equal opportunity troublemaker. Mayhem is the chaos that ensues from unexpected problems and accidents.

In this Allstate mayhem spot, after being carefully chosen by the perfect Tree Family Singers, Winters is trussed and placed atop a minivan. He loosens his twine and falls off while the family in the vehicle is in mid-carol, oblivious to any trouble. And then he becomes the problem of the innocent driver who, out of nowhere, has to swerve on the ice, and wreck his car, to avoid the big, dark bundle suddenly lodged there.

The tone -- funny, dark, scary, knowing, is hard to achieve and even harder to sustain. But it does jar us into recognition, and hits home: you might want to pay more for your insurance, ho ho ho.

Give MI Printing a try to work on your very next business printing project.  Give us a call at 623.582.1302 and let’s talk.

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Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Target Price Sensitive Consumers


It is true that some folks will only make a purchase after tons of research into who has the lowest price and that is the single bottom line for a purchase.  None of us like to pay too much for an item.

When it comes to buy a particular item you can use price as at least part of the purchase decision.  When you sell items that other stores also sell the lowest price can result in the most sales. But, at what price to your bottom line.

The old saying “We lose money on everyone we sell, but, we make it up in volume.” May bring a smile when talking about sales ideas… it would mean that a business who takes that too much to heart is doomed to failure.

Using some of your items as loss leaders will work to stimulate traffic you must make sure the “traffic” makes other profitable purchases to offset the leader loss.  Many items require support or add-on purchases to work.  These additional items can bring the total purchase into profit.

A coupon, gift card or discount program can help to make sure that customer are reward with special prices and your store still stays in the black.  You can offer every customer a coupon useable on their next visit to promote sales of your items that can be tied to items you need to move.  You can make sure that the coupon can be used to bundle items that are promoted with additional full price profitable bundles.

People will be shopping for others during the holidays and expect to get nothing less than great deals. There an expectations that all businesses offer seasonal promotions, and they won't want to pay full price. You should prepare yourself financially ahead of time to go with the flow and offer larger than usual discounts. You'll land more clients and customers and help to gain even more loyalty from your repeat and future customers. 

It is also important to note that although the buzz around the holidays usually involves retail companies, other companies can still benefit. While most people won’t be focused on buying life insurance or seeking legal services during the holiday season, their eyes and ears are still more open than usual. Your customers may come into your company after the holidays, but your holiday marketing could have the trigger that resulted in the new business.

If you would like to make of a list of marketing ideas that have worked for you, we will be happy to look them over and compile them with others and share them in future blogs.  Yes, of course you will get credit for your ideas if you like.

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Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
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Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Staying Top Of Mind


The single most important reason that people will make a purchase at your business is that they think of your business when they decide to make “A” purchase.  While they are at your business then it is up to you and your staff to make the most of each customer visit.

So how do you stay Top Of Mind?  Some businesses use traditional advertising to remind and attract their customers.  The advertisements not only list the who, what, where, when and the why of the business they tend to be about making the purchase at a reduced price.  Other businesses do the same type of marketing.  This tactic reduces the profits of the “sale” items.

Some innovative business use a completely different approach to stay top of mind.  They sell the customer a very special type of advertising.  Yes, that is correct, they sell their ads to the customer. How many times to you see a person out and about wearing a T-Shirt with a brand name or business name as the primary message.  Getting your customers to both purchase and wear your ads as they go about their daily lives is a very effective form of advertising.

Do you have ad shirts for sale?

The Logan’s Roadhouse has a novel way to stay top of mind.  Many of their ice cream and brownie desserts are sold in a cute little souvenir buckets complete with the chains logo.  They are put to use as a playthings or a useful storage container for paperclips on your desk.  In either case you are seeing their logo and, at least subconsciously, remembering both the taste experience and where it occurred. 

Using a Coupon


If every customer is thanked by receiving a “thank you coupon” with their check or receipt you will find  they are more likely to return than a customer who is simply thanked.  Using can target the coupon use to a slow time of business or to move stock that is spending too much time on the shelf.

Social Media

Most business have found that using social media is an effective way to stay connected and communicate with their customers.  One step that is necessary is to get your customers to join you on your social media channel.  Why not invite every customer to join.  Use a message on your receipt itself. Use your URL http://www.facebook.com/pages/MI-Printing-LLC/266200583411345

No matter how, use methods that remind your customer that you will be happy to see them return.

Let us help you Stay Top Of Mind!  Call MI Printing 623.582.1302 and lets us be your local resource.

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Phone: 623.582.1302
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Monday, November 26, 2012

Made In The USA – Badger Clamp


The Badger Clamp was first conceived in October of 2007 by the inventor following a spinal cord injury that caused him to have limited abilities. The goal was just to provide him a quick way to be able to lift and move objects in his garage and basement that he normally would have done himself by hand. When friends and family seen the device they were sure they had not seen anything like it before and started thinking up different ways they could use it. Extensive research was done on patent searches to ensure the Badger Clamp would not infringe on an existing patent and it was found that it is a unique product. Keldebre Products LLC was formed to manufacture and market a new product that is called and will carry the trademark name "Badger Clamp". A Patent application was filed in the spring of 2009. The Badger Clamp is patented, U.S. Patent No. 8,196,272.

The Badger Clamp is a hand tool that clamps and locks on a joist, rafter, stud or other wood structure. It provides a quick, temporary or permanent, means of attachment for hanging, lifting or pulling up to 1000 pounds.  Made from zinc-nickel plated steel components, the Badger Clamp is a very durable product that will provide the user with a high quality tool designed to last a life time.

People who seen our first pre production run of the Badger Clamps compared to the market ready production Badger Clamps ask, “what happened to the nice shinny silver finish”. Well this is what happened with that finish. The first run was plated with a bright translucent zinc electroplate. And they did look real nice but lacked durability. The electroplated zinc-nickel finish is more of a dull grayish finish. By adding nickel into the zinc the plating is more wear resistant and can withstand being used on a regular basis. Engineering standards ASTM B 633 for zinc plating: no red rust after 96 hour salt spray test. Engineering standards ASTM B 841 for zinc-nickel plating: no red rust after 500 hour salt spray test. Roughly five time the protection. Bottom line is, zinc-nickel cost about two and a half times that of bright zinc and does not look as nice but we think it’s worth it to provide a long lasting quality tool.

Keldebre Products LLC, P.O. Box 62, Ionia, Michigan 48846-0062
http://badgerclamp.com

Do you want your business printing made in the U.S.A.?  Then please contact MI Printing and tell us about your printing needs.  We are ready to listen and help.

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MI Printing, LLC
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
http://printinginaz.com

Friday, November 23, 2012

MI Printing: Special Custom Business Cards



1,000 Business Cards, Full Bleed. 4/4 (Full Color Both Sides), 14 pt UV Coated Just $57.00 from customer supplied art.   No one will mistake these cards for homemade ones!

At MI Printing we can take care of all of your business card needs far beyond just simple black on white.  They say you simply aren't in business without your business cards. Need to know more about all the uses for business cards?  Learn about the many options for your cards.  Please give us a call at 623-582-1302.

Sales tax, if necessary, not included.  Please mention this ad when calling to order.  For best results a PDF file is required for the customer supplied artwork.

Offer Expires:November 30, 2012

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Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Advanced Holiday Marketing


If you wish to advance your holiday marketing, but don't have the famous “deep pockets” for it, these tips are for you. 

Here are five easy ideas that time-wise take maybe a couple of your coffee breaks. Results? You will be nicely surprised by what a big impact these small ideas can bring to your business and holiday sales.


Use a Holiday Message To Communicate
Having the right message can turn an uninterested visitor into a loyal customer. Make sure you are maximizing the power with an appropriate and seasonal holiday message. 

Holiday Copy Considerations
Ad copy should also be modified to fit with both the type and device. It is possible that smartphone users are further down the list, especially if they are conducting a local search indicating they may be in the vicinity of a retail location and ready to buy. Call to action should be more urgent in this case, which would not necessarily be appropriate in the wider campaign.

Add a Physical Holiday Theme
The idea of using holiday décor to dress up your store may sound trivial, but the impact is big. Use our holiday outfits for your staff as well.

Highlight Special Deals
Sales ambassadors are known for their ability to focus visitors attention to your specials and help customers find what they are looking for. Customers will become more rushed and frustrated as the final shopping days wind down. Why not use that power to pitch your deals and maximize last minute sales for holidays?

Spread Holiday Cheer with Your Emails or Social Networks
Use online tools to send a personalized email to customers or add a touch of holiday spirit to your social network profiles and fan pages. A holiday-themed email series is a great addition for holiday promotions, season's greeting messages, or thank you notes to customers or social followers.

Want help with your next print advertisement?  Call MI Printing 623.582.1302 and lets us be your local resource.

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MI Printing 
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
http://printinginaz.com