Are Your Ready For Post Halloween Sales?

For many business the 60 days following Halloween are a real “make it or break it” time.  With more than half of their yearly sales volume being in the holiday season.

 The holidays are the perfect time for promotions and sales.  People are spending money left and right and it’s time to capitalize on that for your business, regardless if you are in retail or not.

Get those retail items off the shelves and into the stockings by promoting them as "Christmas Stocking Stuffers".  Virtually anything can be stuffed into a stocking, including gift certificates or notes that said what you actually bought them if it doesn’t fit…The original stocking stuffer can be seen here from this 1880 picture of “Merry Old Santa” by Thomas Nast.  Don' t forget to do some stuffing yourself by putting notices or coupons for sales and specials that happen during the rest of your holiday business.

Why not encourage customers to expand gift giving from one day to 12 days? This period called Christmastide actually expands to January 5, the day before the Feast of Epiphany.  Running after Christmas promotions and email campaigns surrounding this 12 day period could round up some more sales.  Don’t let customers get away with only giving gifts on the first day!  You can even make a special flyer that list combinations of items that work together well and make them in different price levels.

Many restaurants can benefit by offering (advertising) to take a burden off mom with specials for the family or adding special holiday comfort food or treats.  You can even do special holiday menus that feature everything from pumpkin pie to plumb pudding.

No matter what your business or service you can always have gift certificates printed so that your business can benefit from gift giving and special gifts for the holiday crowds.

Of course MI Printing can help with all of your great Holiday printed marketing materials. Making use of brochures, flyers and coupons can make a big difference in your bottom line. Give us a call at 623.582.1302 and see how we can help your business have a perfect holiday season.

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 if you would like.

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

Emotional Advertising Is On Target

In surveys that measure what makes advertising work there are common traits that show up repeatedly.  Overall the emotions that are reported as being most effective are as follows.  The advertisement affected my feelings, touched me emotionally, was stimulating, reaches out to me, was moving and was exciting.

With feelings and emotions being the first areas that are the most effective in reaching and then causing a positive action it shows why babies and puppies are often used in advertising.

If a respondent takes an immediate disliking to an advertisement the chances of them engaging in further cognitive processing decreases, which in turn could impact upon the reliability of the data. This is also an indication of how receptive the market is likely to be to messages in general.

Emotional advertising shows the target audience the benefits of the product or service through drama and relies on them being so involved with the characters and finding the story so relevant that it will hit an emotional chord. Emotional advertising is much more indirect in its persuasion.

Advertising often sells a great deal more than products. It sells values, images, and concepts of love and sexuality, romance, success, and perhaps more important, a version or normalcy. To a great extent, it tells us who we are, who we should be and who we may want to be.

A psychological or mental requirement of intra-psychic origin that usually centers on such basic feelings as love, fear, anger, sorrow, anxiety, frustration, and depression and involves the understanding, empathy, and support of one person for another. Such needs normally occur in everyone but usually increase during periods of excessive stress or physical and mental illness and during various stages of life, such as infancy, early childhood, and old age.  Effective restatements of these values in advertising are the most effective emotional triggers.

And just like any other good ad, people would want what is being promoted.  Can you adapt that to your next brochure or flyer.  Used properly “cute” always sells.

Let MI Printing help you get you message across in one of many styles of printed brochures.  We can get started with a simple phone cal to 623.582.1302.  Ask about our current specials.

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

Made In The USA - Inland Clothing

Inland Clothing was established with one goal: to sell high-quality, domestically produced men's clothing at fair prices.

They sell classically-styled traditional American clothing. Their clothes are made in the US by workers who enjoy US wages, labor protections, and working conditions. In addition, they are manufactured to a high quality standard. Because of this, they will cost a little more than you would pay for items made to a lower standard offshore where wages are very low.

However, they believe that "made in USA" clothing should be an accessible investment for everyone, not a rare luxury, and so we have sought out only those items that they can offer at a fair price. Most of their goods come from small, family-owned companies with long histories. Their prices are not padded to pay for designer names or expensive marketing budgets. They are confident that their merchandise provides excellent value for money.

Inland is owned and operated by Eli Naeher in Chicago, Illinois, somewhere in between Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. They might have turned the Florsheim shoe factory into condos, but Chicago is still a town where quality men's clothing is made, and we're proud to be here.

For questions about orders or products, please write to us at mail@inlandclothing.com.  If you'd prefer to speak on the phone, you can call them at (312) 508-3158. Because Inland Clothing is a small operation, you may reach their voicemail, but they will call back within 24 hours.

Website: http://www.inlandclothing.com

Do you want your business printing made in the U.S.A.?  Then please contact MI Printing and tell us your printing needs.

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

"Spooky Good Deal"

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.

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

Is the Lowest Price Always the Buying Motivation?

A recent Nielsen survey shows that price alone is not the key to shopper’s hearts. Price is top of mind for all retailers right now, but Nielsen’s annual Shopper Trends study reports that strong shopper relationships are built on at least four other factors that are equally important to driving commitment. 

When the purse-strings relax as the economy improves, those other factors will separate the strongest grocery retailers even further from the pack. Shopper Trends is an annual survey of Shopper Equity for the top retailers in the grocery channel*, conducted across more than 55 countries globally. The U.S. shopper survey included feedback from over 29,000 American shoppers across all 48 contiguous states.

The survey found that the most successful retailers are the ones who are complementing current pricing strategies with a strong commitment to other shopper needs and building a stronger platform for long-term success. The five over-arching areas that the study identified contributing relatively equally to shoppers’ emotive equity in the U.S. are:

• Store accessibility

• Store format and wide selection

• Pricing and value for money

• Stocking needed and quality products

• Efficiency and loyalty program

The importance of these other factors also explains why every shopper is not doing their weekly grocery stock-up in a discount chain, despite the pressure of a recession. 

Consumers still want to have a pleasant experience and there is tremendous value in making that process convenient and easy for them.

You can work with MI Printing to work on your business printing needs.  We look forward to working with your business.  Give us a call at 623.582.1302 and let’s talk.

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

Guerrilla Marketing – Ads Relative To Holidays or Events

This Wednesday we are just one week from the October 2012 Halloween holiday and thought we might try to bring in something today related to both guerrilla marketing and the holiday.

As you can see the advertisement here uses a very attention grabbing graphic and wording to bring more viewers to a new Trueblood TV show.

You have seen us use this phrase many times “First Get Their Attention.”  Once you have their attention, then and only then, deliver your message.  In order for you to have a person buy from your business that potential customer must be aware of your business.

Promotion and marketing for your small business must be an ongoing message.  You not only need to get the customer’s attention you must remind them from time to time that your business or service is still and is just waiting to fill their needs. 

Many times you find the reminder that a customer must be exposed to seven messages from your business before they are triggered to act on your message.  With the proper guerrilla marketing that exposure can be reduced to just one simple exposure.  

Keep in mind that guerrilla marketing is an advertising strategy in which low-cost unconventional means are utilized, often in a localized fashion to convey or promote a product or an idea. 

The concept of guerrilla marketing was invented as an unconventional system of promotion that relies on time, energy and imagination rather than a big marketing budget. Typically, guerrilla marketing campaigns are unexpected and unconventional, potentially interactive, and consumers are targeted in a place or manner they least expect.

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.

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MI Printing 
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
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Show and Tell Still Works

We all learned about or participated in Show & Tell during our early school years.  Some times they worked better than others.  One of the most memorable was when a little girl brought her brother, a brand new Marine in full dress uniform to show and tell and the whole class was full of questions and interest.

Some people refer to business promotions as “Dog & Pony” shows. At the most basic level all advertising is either a “dog and pony show” or a true “show and tell” story.  Why?  In very simple terms, they work.  Telling a story is a very effective way to get people’s attention and leave a positive memorable message.

That is the true goal of any advertisement, leave a positive message.  As the story comes to an end you should always add a “call to action.”  After you promote your message you want the potential customer to turn into a “real” customer.  The “call to action” needs to be clear and directs the customer to do what ever action you want to have happen. 

Your call to action should also have a specific “time factor.”  You want the customer to “do it now” or “ do it before” or before we run out “limited to stock on hand” triggers. 

Does your business flyer tell a good story and have a clear call to action? If not, why not?  In journalism they preach to students that a good story always has five elements.  They are; Who, What, When, Where and Why.  When it comes to sales you can use the checklist of the six “Ws”.  For sales and advertising they are; Who, What, Where, When, Why and How.  Yes, I know the “W” is at the end of “How” but you will still remember it.

Who Are You Selling To?
Why Do They Need Your Product?
What are Your Product or Service Benefits?
How Can You Prove That You're the Right Company?
What are Their Next Steps?
When Do They Need to Act?

Yes, you can modify the questions to match your sales techniques or products.  But never leave one out as your tell your marketing stories. Your appropriate show and tell stories will raise your bottom line.

Let MI Printing help you communicate your marketing story in your next printed brochure or flyer!

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

Made In The USA - Kong Dog Toys

The toys are produced by the Kong Company of Colorado. The company owner, Joe Markham, invented the Kong in the 1970s, when he noticed his German shepherd Fritz damaging his teeth by chewing rocks. He found that Fritz enjoyed chewing on a hard rubber Volkswagen Bus suspension device, and spent about six years experimenting with different compounds to produce a chew toy of similar size and shape that he could sell to pet owners. Originally, Markham sold most of his products to Israel, Japan, Australia and the United Kingdom, but the Kong began gaining popularity in the United States in the mid-1980s, and have remained popular there ever since.

Kong is popular line of dog toys and cat toys introduced in 1976. The classic Kong resembles a snowman-like structure of three balls pushed together. Kongs also come in several variations for dogs of different ages and sizes. Made of rubber, they are hollow in the middle, and can be stuffed with treats or frozen to provide long-lasting distraction for anxious or high-energy dogs.

They come in four rubber types; red for average chewers, pink or blue for puppies, purple for seniors, and black for tough chewers. Other than the typical snowman-like Kongs, Kong has also made a very successful line of dental chews, balls, pull toys (such as the Kong Wubba and the Kong Tugger Knots), Frisbees, a dog binky, floating toys, squeakers, and various interactive toys and accessories. For cats, Kong also has a line of toys including a cat version of their "Wubba", as well as scratching boards, catnip, and other chew toys.

The 2005 book Planet Dog describes the Kong as "possibly the best-known dog toy in the world".

The Kong Company 16191 Table Mountain Parkway Golden, CO 80403-1670 Phone: 303.216.2626 Website: http://www.kongcompany.com

Do you want your business printing made in the U.S.A.?  Then please contact MI Printing and tell us your printing needs.

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

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.

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

Marketing Mayhem: QR Codes & Smartphones Are Changing The Game

According to a March 2012 study from Google, a marketer’s chances of reaching potential customers are steadily increasing.

Google’s study showed that 43% of smartphone owners used their phone to search in response to television ads at least once a month. Even more interesting is that 40% reported searching in response to ads they saw while in stores. While searching based on magazines and out-of-home ads were less common, the report suggests that search will increase as people get more used to using their device to get information.

The report showed that 58% of respondents typically research products on their smartphones while at home, 43% searched while “on-the-go”, and 31% searched while in the store. Retail was reported as the #1 out-of-home place where smartphone users take action.

As marketers see the potential in in-store mobile marketing, they will look for more creative ways to push people to interact with their brands through these devices. This presents a great opportunity for digital signage. Google’s report shows that 43% of smartphone users search in response to TV ads and 40% search based on ads seen in-stores. So, what would happen when we combine the two?

Using in-store QR codes to grab the attention of shoppers and push them towards using their smartphones to dive further into product information, promotions, or sign up to receive the latest deal. Integrating mobile marketing with digital signage makes measuring both a little easier. Marketers can use mobile marketing to measuring the effectiveness of their QR signage and digital signage as a distribution tool to promote their mobile marketing campaigns.

This combination of hard copy printing to bring the smartphone and Internet media as a promotional method needs to be considered when planning your marketing efforts.

MI Printing can help with creating and printing your QR codes that can be used in signage, brochures, flyers and many types of printed handouts.

You can work with MI Printing to work on your business printing needs.  We look forward to working with your business.  Give us a call at 623.582.1302 and let’s talk.

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

Just Two Weeks To Halloween

Did you know that as holiday sales go Halloween sales are in second place just behind Christmas.  With two weeks to go is it too late to add a Halloween sales boost?

You could say that you have missed two weeks of prime Halloween sales time with the passing of the first two weeks in October but that doesn’t mean giving up on the last two weeks as well.

Yes, it is too late to do advertising that needs to be scheduled or even to add outside signage.  But you could add a message on your website, blog or social media sites.  You could even get quick turn-around from MI Printing on a flyer or handout.  You could do a Halloween special coupon that can be placed with all current purchases.

Very important you can calendar in the Halloween season on your next year planning calendar.  You do plan your promotions and sales at least a year in advance, don’t you?

With real estate people often say the most important factor is location, location, location.  With retail sales you could say that the most important skill is planning, planning, planning.

With proper planning you won’t have to rush around doing catch up for next Halloween.  With the proper planning you can scare up some great sales numbers for the next Halloween season.

Even if you don’t sell anything or provide services that are related to Halloween you can use the fun and temperament of the Halloween season to provide customer interest and have spooky good time to promote a boost in sales for your items or services.

From the traditional color scheme of black and orange to costumes on you and your staff can be used to add from just a touch of the spirit season to an all out Halloween theme party atmosphere.  You could add a Halloween themed window or decorations to just increase foot traffic.  If they don’t notice or enter your business they won’t be buying from your business.

If you provide a mint or sweets bowl for your customers it is past the time to start, but never too late  to change to Halloween treats in your bowl.  Yes, they probably cost just a bit more but they will add a smile to your customer’s face.

If you need help getting your sales messages out using printed material please give MI Printing a call at 623.582.1302 and see how we can help your business communications.

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

Thinking Outside The Pizza Box

Being creative in your advertising is always a good idea, Right?  Pizza Hut is in the middle of a fire storm and backlash on their idea of asking a pizza question during a presidential debate during the follow-up questions.

Pizza Hut is rethinking its contest daring people to ask "Sausage or Pepperoni?" at the presidential debate Tuesday.

After the stunt triggered backlash last week, the company says it's moving the promotion online, where a contestant will be randomly selected to win free pizza for life.

Pizza Hut was offering a lifetime of free pizza, one large pie a week for 30 years, or a check for $15,600 to anyone who poses the question "Sausage or pepperoni?" to either President Barack Obama or Republican candidate Mitt Romney during the live Town Hall-style debate next Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012.

But blogs and media outlets immediately took the pizza delivery chain to task for trying to capitalize on the election buzz by injecting itself into the process.

A Pizza Hut spokesman says in an email that moving the contest online was a "natural progression of the campaign" after people got excited about the idea and "wished they could get in on it."

The change comes after Pizza Hut's stunt became the butt of jokes last week.

Pizza Hut, a unit of Yum Brands Inc., says it will still honor the prize if someone poses the question live at the debate. But it's encouraging everyone to participate in the new online version, where contestants must enter their email addresses and zip codes to be eligible. The company did not say whether it would award two prizes if someone does ask the question.

Make sure your printed materials message is a match to the buyer you expect.  Call MI Printing and let us help you make printing much better looking.

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

Made In The USA – Amplifier Technologies Incorporated

ATI known for solid engineering and high performance. They use huge transformers and separate power supplies for each channel. And massive heat sinks to assure reliable operation. Some brands use cooling fans to save space, weight and cost but fans make noise and noise detracts from performance. They also ground all of their amplifiers at a single, central point instead of grounding them in the transformer. Their improved grounding lowers noise but it requires extra rectifiers in the power supply. Overall this creates a weight issue. Heat sinks and big transformers are heavy, so they use an extremely sturdy chassis. Skimping on any of these key elements would save cost, but performance / reliability would suffer and the end product would not be as good as they want it to be.

At ATI they make heavy-duty amplifiers with proven circuitry, meticulous assembly and rigorous testing designed to deliver state-of-the-art audio for years, all designed by them and built in their own US factory. It's a simple story, "American Muscle built by American muscle."

They design, engineer, and assemble all ATI products in their 50,000 square foot Southern California factory. Everything is built completely to their specifications and they monitor every aspect of the process themselves. They are convinced, that the efforts pay off in dependability and sound quality.

At the heart of any amplifier is the power supply. Its foundation is the power transformer. To assure the highest quality, they wind their own. For the transformer's core they use MOH with magnetic properties that increase efficiency 18% over conventional units. They wind the core two wires at a time, a technique called "bifilar winding" that ensures perfectly symmetrical transformers that maximize efficiency and reduce distortion. Each amplifier channel gets not only its own set of transformer windings, but its own rectifier and storage capacitors, thus giving each channel its own separate power supply. Even if the left channel is pushed to the limit by, say, a loud car crash on a movie soundtrack, it does not affect the power available to the other channels.

The gold-plated RCA input jacks on their amplifiers are mounted directly to the rear panel and not to the circuit board. While this technique complicates assembly, it results in a more robust connection and the jack cannot be accidentally broken off by the tight-gripping RCA plugs used in some audiophile interconnection cables.

ATI amplifiers employ lightening-fast optically-coupled protection circuits that are completely removed from the signal path so they cannot affect the sound quality. These protection circuits sense electrical "shorts" in speakers or wiring and sense electrical "spikes". If triggered, the circuit instantaneously disengages the output, samples the affected circuitry every 10 seconds and automatically restores proper operation when the fault is corrected. This special feature minimizes the chance of your amplifier going out of service just when you've filled your home theater with expectant guests.

Do you want your business printing made in the U.S.A.?  Then please contact MI Printing and tell us your printing needs.

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

MI Printing: Special Custom Business Cards

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.

Please ask about money saving larger quantities.  For best results a PDF file is required for the customer supplied artwork.

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

Creative Ways To Hand Out Your Business Cards

All of us have business cards. Right? We had them out when we have a business meeting.  But there are many creative ways to promote your business by distributing your business card.

We all go out to eat, why not leave your card on the table? The waiter might grab it not wanting to throw it out and possibly either keep it or hand it over to their manager or might leave it on the table! Guaranteed to bring attention no matter what! For faster results, leave it inside the checkbook as part of your tip!

While most people pay their bills now online. But if you are that exception and you still mail some of those checks, why not include your business cards. Paper bills contain advertisements so counter advertise your skills when they open up the envelope. The person who opens your envelope might just need the services you are providing.

Give the cards to anyone who will take them. Friends, family members, your local shops that have known you for years. If they love you, they'll be walking billboards and free advertisement. People love to help and feel like they are a part of something. Anytime someone mentions a service they need that you provide, they will instantly think of you and jump at the chance to give out your cards.

Airports are one of the biggest marketing hubs to promote your business. People are usually looking for something to read or do, at times, work on their own businesses, writing emails, etc. You can "place" your card in waiting areas, the food court, magazine newsstand, and many more. This is free and easy marketing. You can also network with anyone and give your cards out to people. While they wait, they may want to learn about what you do!

People tend to be bored when they are waiting on line. It can be for movie or at your local grocery store. They will start to look around for things to look at – hence why they place the magazines here!. Leave your cards in a little stack so people will be tempted to grab one!

Never leave home without them!. You'll be surprised who you may run into. Before walking out the door, make sure your business cards are part of your stepping out checklist. Any chance encounter could turn into a business deal, so always be prepared.

Whenever you give out a business card, ask for one in return. Not only is this considered business card etiquette but can make the person feel important. Also, take a minute to look at it in front of the person, as is with human nature, they'll reciprocate.

If your customers aren’t noticing your business, you should work on that with MI Printing.

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

Keeping It Simple

Simple, the word almost sounds like the process.  A simple idea is generally the best solution to any problem.  So if your problem is the need for more customer traffic then the correct answer should be the simplest answer, Right?

Where does that thinking come from?  You have heard of K.I.S.S?  No, not the famous rock band.  But Keep It Simple Stupid or as some folks say “Keep It Stupid Simple.” 

KISS is an acronym for the design principle articulated by Kelly Johnson, lead engineer at the Lockheed Skunk Works (creators of the Lockheed U-2 and SR-71 Blackbird spy planes, among many others), Keep it simple stupid!. Variations include "keep it stupid simple", "keep it short and simple", "keep it simple sir", "keep it simple or be stupid", "keep it simple and stupid", "keep it simple and straightforward" or "keep it simple and sincere."

The KISS principle states that most systems work best if they are kept simple rather than made complex, therefore simplicity should be a key goal in design and unnecessary complexity should be avoided.  While this started as related to engineering something it has been expanded to apply to selling as well.

Famous sales trainer Fred Herman was known for his sales techniques that he put forth in books and tapes under the title Keep It Simple Salesman. He once said “If people want what we don’t have, we have no right to sell them what we do have.”  From Mr. Herman’s point of view selling is a matter of sorting.  A matter of finding the right people, the ones who want to buy what you are selling.

Advertising tells people what you are selling, so the people responding to your ads are coming to buy what you do have.  While that is an effective traffic builder, it also lowers the gross and net profits.  So while the “buyers” are in your business you need to make sure they are offered or exposed to other non-sale items to help boost the profits of their purchase totals.

Want more sales and success? Then take a tip from some of the best “pencil sales reps” and change your approach from selling features and opening to focus more on questioning – discovering whether you’re dealing with a qualified buyer, and what it might take to actually sell them.

Failing to adopt this process, you’ll just end up with a lot of frustration and a lot of unsold pencils at the end of the month.

When you are ready for your next business printing job call MI Printing at 623.582.1302.  Serving the Phoenix Metro area.

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

When Did You Stop Handing Out Business Cards?

Everyone who starts a business knows they need business cards and they are usually one of the first purchases when staring a new business.

The bad news is that most business people have a large box of unused business cards hiding in a closet. 

Your business card is one of the most valuable networking tools you have in your quest for increased business and referrals. Can you envision a reality where 20 to 30 people in your word-of-mouth marketing circle carry your cards and have them ready to hand to prospects they're actually qualifying for you? I certainly can, and am excited every time I hear someone say, "Let me give you my friend's business card; oh, and by the way, may I have them give you a call?"

The business card is the most powerful single business tool, dollar for dollar, you can invest in. It's compact, energy-efficient, low-cost, low-tech, and keeps working for you hours, weeks and even years after it leaves your hands!

Some of the things your business card does is:

• Tell people your name and the name of your business

• Provide prospects with a way to contact you

• Give others a taste of your work, style and personality

• It can be so unusual or attractive or strange or charming or funny that it sticks in the memory like a great radio or television ad

• It can be reused, as it passes from person to person, giving the same message to each person who comes in contact with it

The two main functions of your card are to gain business from the person you give it to and to get your name out to other people with whom the first person comes in contact with via referrals. With that in mind, let's take a look at the most effective ways to use your business cards. (For a complete look at how to make an effective business card, read It's in the Cards ).

In short, don't leave home without them! It's a great idea to keep a small box of your cards in your glove box, just in case you find yourself in a situation where you need more than you've carried in your pocket or purse. In addition to my jacket pocket, I tuck them away in my briefcase, wallet and computer bag, just to make sure I never run out.

When did you stop handing out your business card?

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

Made In The USA – Green Toys Inc.

At Green Toys Inc. they believe the world would be a much better place if everyone said “please” and “thank you", cell phones didn’t ring during movies, and all toys were fun, safe, and made from environmentally friendly materials. Since it’s probably no use holding their breath for those first two, they are concentrating on the toys.

Green Toys Inc. makes an awesome line of classic children’s toys constructed from recycled plastic and other environmentally friendly materials. This helps reduce fossil fuel use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improving the overall health and happiness of the planet.

All Green Toys products are 100% made in the USA. To be more specific, they are produced in California, a state known for strict toy safety and environmental laws. It's cool to buy USA, but also think about this: transportation is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gasses. We all know driving less is good for mother nature, but did you ever think about how many miles a toy logs before it ends up in your local store?
Their toys are truly local creations. Every step in the process, from milk container recycling to toy production to final assembly, occurs in California. The raw materials and toys aren't shipped from overseas, which saves a lot of energy and reduces greenhouse gasses. It also guarantees your toys won't get seasick before they get to your home!

Robert von Goeben - Co-Founder, Products
Way back in the pre-Green Toys era, Robert was the founder of Propellerhead Studios, a leading Silicon Valley design studio specializing in electronic toys and games. At Propellerhead Studios, he worked with many major toy companies, including Mattel, Radica and Wild Planet.

Laurie Hyman - Co-Founder, Marketing
Prior to starting Green Toys, Laurie worked as a marketing executive for several online consumer-marketing companies, including most recently Ingenio, a pioneer in combining the power and ubiquity of the Internet and phone to connect buyers and sellers.

Steve Markey - Sales
Having seen a potential professional soccer career in England cut short due to a tragic lack of ability, Steve entered the toy industry over 20 years ago. He has served in a variety of senior sales roles, including Director of International Sales for Ertl Europe, International Sales Director then Director of National Accounts for OddzOn, and VP of Sales for both Wham-O and Sprig Toys.

Do you want your business printing made in the U.S.A.?  Then please contact MI Printing and tell us your printing needs.

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

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

Can You Hear Me Now?

Most of us can remember the Verizon Wireless famous television advertisement campaign that ran from 2002 to 2007 "Can You Hear Me Now?". It made actor Paul Marcarelli a household face.  From Verizon's point of view the ads were all part of the "Test Man" group but the public in general remember them from the tag line of "Can You Hear Me Now?".  Hundreds of ads ran for five years until Verizon decided to take their ads in a different direction.

Why would a company change an advertising campaign that has become iconic in nature.  Most companies would die to have part of their advertising become a common catch phrase "Can You Hear Me Now?".

If you read this blog on a regular basis you know that a common theme is “First, Get Their Attention.”

You can’t get your message across if the audience doesn’t pay attention to your advertisements.  As an ad campaign runs over a period of time the response to the ads tends to taper off.  Once the response drops below a pre-determined level it is time to change the ad.

Rather than think of the Verizon Wireless famous television advertisement campaign "Test Man" ads as an ultimate failure you need to remember that nearly all ad campaigns are old and stale well under a one year run.  The fact that hundreds of ads ran for a five year period with positive results is an extraordinary achievement.

Keeping in mind the idiom “Familiarity Breeds Contempt” it is a catch 22 for most television ads.  Think about most commercials that get your attention.  You soon tire of seeing the same old ad over and over again.  You consciously or un-consciously tune out the ad and the message.

While many ads tend to very short term in nature.  Weekly grocery ads are a great example.  These type of advertisements feature needed consumables that rotate on a weekly basis with trigger prices used as the hook.  Business also use slogans and catch phrase ads that run for very long periods.

Some folks feel that these “phrases” are part of the brand.  In reality people tend to ignore phrases that are repeated over time.  They simply lose their effectiveness.

Is it time to review, revamp and renew your message and advertisements?

You can start by contacting MI Printing for help with you new business flyer or brochure.  Just give us a call at 623.582.1302.

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

You Can Sell Anything! But?

OK, but, just a minute, before you dismiss this with, “Sure, I agree, What’s the point?”  Right now there are business owners who are ready to give up because they aren’t successful in selling their product or service. 

Marketing’s goal is bringing in enough people to buy a product or service with enough volume to make the operation profitable. Sounds both very simple and desirable.  A single pass is not enough to keep a business going.

Are you not sure what I mean by that?  Fair enough. Marketing brings the customer in for the first taste of the business.  Keeping that customer coming back for more is the next step in the life of that business.

Marketing is not meant to retain the customer.  Bring the customer in, yes, retention no.

For long term success and customer must be “retained.”  The only, I repeat, the only way to retain a customer is … SATISFACTION!

You must satisfy a customer need to keep that customer coming back.  A return customer means great profit margins and continued sales.  Return customer added to new customer is the basic business need, growth.

What is the reason customers return? When they are satisfied with what happens when they visit your business.  It can be simply stated, you have what they need.  Going to your business results in the customer needs being meet.

It is simple to understand when we look at a restaurant.  The food satisfies a basic need to eat to keep your body running.  The plus is when the customer likes, really likes what they eat.

Marketing brings the customer to the door, what happens next is the most important aspect of any business.  What would happen if you went to a grocery store and found that every item you needed was out of stock?  Would you make another trip to that store?  What if half the items you needed were out of stock?

If your customer needs to go to a competitor to finish their shopping what happens if at the next store they find all of their needs are meet.  What if they also find that the clerk(s) are more helpful and friendly?  Which business retains that customer?

Selling is easy… customer retention is the hard part and the necessary goal.

Give us a call at 623.582.1302.  We can help with your everyday business printing needs..

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

Is Procrastination or Motivation Running Your Business

When it comes to running your business what is the biggest struggle you have?  Hiring the right people? Or is it how you manage day-to-day tasks.

Are you a motivated owner?  Or is procrastination and crisis management your supervision style?

Forced motivation entails struggle; natural motivation entails ease. When you hear these two words...struggle and ease...which one sounds more natural? Which one sounds more motivating?

Struggle is a bit like trying to drive a car while having one foot on the gas and the other foot on the brakes. Tremendous energy is lost in friction making it highly unlikely that we'll get very far.

The ease of inspirational motivation is to feel the smooth acceleration of the car as we step on the gas, without the breaks getting in the way. For this kind of performance, willpower alone, just isn't enough. Subconscious resistance needs to be cleared out of the way.

When we want to motivate ourselves towards a goal or task it is useful to have a working knowledge of the three aspects of self and mind. Understanding the different aspects of the self helps clarify what it is that we are actually trying to accomplish. This knowledge empowers us to then go out and do it.

A big part of self help motivation is overcoming resistance to change. In the face of change or challenge there will be resistance that will need to be overcome. Developing self motivation for change comes from knowing ourselves inside-out. Armed with self-knowledge we can work on change not just harder but smarter. Overcoming resistance to change helps us take a look inside to see what self-change is really about.
Self change begins with conscious intent. We need to be intent on the changes we want. This is where we start.

Successful self-change or transformation itself is the next step. This happens at a deeper level. To really form new actions or habitual ways of relating to ourselves and others, we need to reach deep into our subconscious mind so that our intentions for change can stick.

Conscious intent and subconscious integration represent the one-two for change.

Generally we are not 100% motivated or a 100% procrastinator, but a mixture of both.  You will find that you can move to the motivated side with just a little bit of planning and work.  Are you going to try that today or … tomorrow?

We can only hope that one of your life's lessons learned is that MI Printing does a great job doing all types of printing for small and medium sized businesses in the Phoenix, AZ metro area.

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

Made In The USA – La-Z-Boy

Born in the USA

In 1927 two young cousins from Monroe, Mich. – Edward M. Knabusch and Edwin J. Shoemaker – created a wood-slat chair with a reclining back that allowed hardworking families to relax after a long day – and the world’s first recliner was born!  The La-Z-Boy recliner was a big hit in Monroe and soon, the nation.  Over the years, La-Z-Boy has expanded beyond recliners and now offers comfortable furniture in all shapes and sizes.  With factories and employees across the nation and world, this homegrown family business certainly has come a long way from its humble roots in a Michigan cornfield.

Committed to America!

Today, La-Z-Boy is hard at work building an all-American invention right here on American soil.  With the corporate headquarters still based in Monroe, Mich., five U.S. manufacturing plants, four distribution centers and nearly 70 company-owned retail stores, La-Z-Boy employs more than 5,000 people nationwide in the pursuit of comfortable, long-lasting furniture.  Every day, we proudly produce recliners, sofas, chairs and more by hardworking, dedicated employees who are driven by the same determination and commitment to quality and comfort that set us on the road to success more than 80 years ago.  

A lot has changed in the furniture industry since 1927.  Recent developments, such as the closing of major textile plants in the U.S., have forced us to go overseas for products like fabrics and leathers that are no longer available here in mass quantities.  The covers on our products may be made elsewhere, but for nearly all of our products, employees in our American factories build the frames and apply the cover.  While many of our components, including our famous recliner mechanisms, are fabricated by our dedicated employees in this country, we also consider international suppliers and laborers for some parts, such as handles and swivel bases, in order to build long-lasting furniture at an accessible price. 

At La-Z-Boy, we are investing in our plants and doing everything we can to remain a trusted, strong and competitive employer in the U.S.  We recently launched a new “cellular manufacturing” process that increases efficiency and gives our American employees more job satisfaction and ownership of the products they craft on our behalf.  Our American-made advantage allows us to provide the fastest custom-order furniture delivery possible, a feat none of our competitors with outsourced production facilities can match.  At La-Z-Boy, we are extremely proud of our roots and we look forward to providing you with American-made comfort and quality for many more years to come!

Do you want your business printing made in the U.S.A.?  Then please contact MI Printing and tell us your printing needs.

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