Holidays are a great time to say thank you or remind a client or customer that you appreciate them, but often times, businesses end up sending gifts with a short shelf life, like candy or fruit. Here at BPC, we like to think that the best kind of corporate holiday gifts are unique gifts – ones that serve a purpose, no matter what month it is, and, in turn, keep your business top of mind all year round!

Here’s a quick roundup of our favorite gifts to give:

  • Calendars: Whether you choose to send a wall, desk, or perpetual calendar, you know your name will stick around for at least a year and is likely something customers or clients will look at almost daily. Plus, calendars are super customizable and come in many different shapes and sizes to ensure the one you create makes a statement.
  • Coasters: We said these would be unique corporate gifts! Anyone who has ever had a water bottle or cup of coffee on their desk knows about the condensation rings that are left behind. Coasters are perfect way to solve a common workplace problem while giving customers or clients something to look at every day (your company logo)
  • Coffee Mugs: As noted above, a staple of almost every desk is a coffee mug. Sending mugs as a gift definitely ensures prominent placement around your customer’s or client’s office. There are so many different shapes, sizes, types, and colors to choose from, so while a coffee mug may not seem very special, you and your team can create one that’s really unique and stands out among all the others.
  • Blankets: We know this one sounds out there, but sending a nice, cozy blanket as a holiday gift feels really personal, as well as thoughtful and inviting. The blankets may not stay at the office all year, but a quality blanket will end up going home with your client or customer. This means every time they cuddle up with it, they’re going to be thankful for you!

These are just a few of our favorite unique corporate gift ideas; check out our Pinterest board for more ideas!

We know what you’re thinking… it’s September, why are you talking to us about our holiday cards already?! But, the reality is, football season has started, Halloween candy is already on the shelves, and Thanksgiving is around the corner. If you’re planning to send corporate holiday cards, now is the time to start thinking about them!

Here are a few quick tips to get your team started!

  1. Plan ahead. It takes time to design, proof, and print your cards. If you wait too long to get started, you can end up paying for rush printing and shipping. While you should think of your corporate holiday cards as an investment in your business, extra fees always sting.

    Additionally, printers get extremely busy this time of year, so the further out you schedule your project, the less you have to worry about tight deadlines and setbacks.

  1. Don’t skimp. Your holiday cards are a direct reflection of your business. Printing them on low-quality paper or with low-grade ink can send the wrong message. The investment in quality can make the difference between a throwaway holiday card or one that is remembered and kept throughout the season and beyond.
  1. Personalize. Each card should contain a handwritten personal message from your team. Adding these personal touches to your card shows clients that you value their business as well as the relationship you have with them.
  1. Add in something extra. If you can, send a little something in each corporate holiday card. It could be simple, like a desk item – a 2018 calendar, a nice pen, a notebook or it could be something a bit bigger – chocolates, padfolio, leather bound journal, or wine. The extra gift will be appreciated and keep you top of mind moving into the New Year.

So what are you waiting for? Time to get moving, before you know it, the holidays will be here!

And don’t forget, BPC is the perfect go-to partner for corporate holiday cards and executive gifts!

In the world of printing, there are a lot of terms thrown around: stock, foil stamping, Pantone, coated, uncoated… it’s difficult to know what will best meet your particular printing needs.

While Pantone has become the standard in color matching systems for printers and designers, the color you get in the end depends on the type of paper you’re printing on. Deciding when to use coated or uncoated paper can make all the difference when printing collateral for your business.

The difference between coated and uncoated paper

Coated paper, just like is sounds, has been treated with a coating compound in order to reveal qualities of the paper, such as weight or gloss. Coated paper has a smooth finish, and like a pane of glass, absorbs less ink while being more durable.

Uncoated, conversely, has no coating. Generally speaking, uncoated paper is not as smooth, and, like a sponge, soaks up more ink. It’s available in a variety of textures and finishes, making it a little more versatile.

It is also important to note that different paper colors can affect the end-color. Since ink is not opaque, ink on a yellow sheet of paper will look different than a bright white sheet. This may sound like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how different an ink can look based on the paper color.

When to use coated versus uncoated paper

So, how do you know what type of paper is right for you? It depends on your particular printing project. Pantone colors are mainly used in offset printing, which uses ink instead of toner. You can print on both a coated and uncoated sheet in digital printing as well, but not all digital printers can handle pantone colors.

Typically, coated paper is used to convey more vibrant color production. Common uses for coated paper include:

  • Sell sheets and other advertising materials
  • Magazines
  • Photography
  • Catalogs
  • Book covers

Uncoated paper is used for more everyday use, but can also give off a more prestigious and distinguished look. Common uses include:

  • Business cards
  • Envelopes and other stationary
  • Brochures
  • Invitations

Some rules of thumb

  • Coating restricts how ink bleeds into the paper. When printing sharp and complex images, a coated paper is advantageous.
  • Uncoated paper takes longer to dry.
  • Coated paper offers more finishings, from gloss and satin to matte or even dull.
  • Uncoated paper soaks up ink more than coated, leaving a darker color in its wake. Below is a Pantone guide set for the same color, but you’ll notice the coated (C) is lighter that uncoated (U):

    Source: https://graphicdesign.stackexchange.com/questions/36137/how-do-pantone-coated-and-uncoated-colors-relate

Hopefully, these tips will help make paper selection a less daunting task. Whether you’re printing a glossy magazine or company letterhead, BPC has the paper perfect for your every business need.

Trade shows, expos, and conventions are a great way to build brand awareness, make connections, and generate new business. Unfortunately, it can sometimes be hard to stand out from the crowd, especially at larger events. Luckily, there are ways you can help make both your booth and your business memorable at these events. Here are four quick tips to help you get started.

  1. Hand out the best swag. Think a little outside the box when it comes to the promotional items you hand out at your events. You know every business is likely going to be handing out pens or key chains, so try to avoid the more obvious (and, frankly, boring) choices. Pick swag that can be useful for attendees so you know they’ll hold onto it and therefore keep your business top of mind a little longer. Need ideas?
    1. Smart wallets
    2. Stainless steel water bottles
    3. Stain remover sticks
    4. Bluetooth speakers
    5. Desk puzzles
  2. Wear fun event attire. Most vendors are going to be dressed business casual or similar. Help your booth stand out by having your team dress in custom designed, colorful shirts or uniforms.
  3. Use high quality marketing materials. Make sure your marketing materials are relevant to the event you’re attending. Print your materials on high quality paper or stock. Be creative with your messaging and shapes! Anything to differentiate you from other vendors is a win.
  4. Make your signage stand out. Your booth signage is what attracts attendees to your booth. Use eye-catching colors. Don’t be afraid to use die-cuts for your signs and banners. Use special lighting to highlight your banners and booth. Brand your tablecloth and use it as its own display. Making your booth signage and messaging unique is going to increase your traffic flow and help generate new business.

Key takeaways? Think outside the box. Events are usually a lot of the same. Be different and memorable in all facets of your event marketing. As always, Team BPC is here to help you craft the perfect event marketing strategy. Reach out today to get started!

Let’s face it, when it comes to marketing and promotional items it’s hard to eliminate printing and paper – and that’s OK! There’s nothing to feel guilty about. There are many different ways to be eco-friendly when it comes to printing besides kicking paper to curb.

Here are few quick eco-friendly printing ideas to get you started:

  1. Choose recycled paper.

    One of the easiest ways you can go green is selecting recycled paper when printing your marketing collateral. Recycled paper saves trees, uses less energy and water, and produces lower carbon emissions than non-recycled papers. Recycled paper also reduces the amount of landfill waste, as paper can be recycled up to 5 times.

  2. Print double-sided, whenever possible.

    Ask your print vendor to print double-sided when it makes sense. This is a quick, simple thing to do to reduce the amount of paper you’re using. This, in turn, leads to less overall waste.

  3. Select eco-friendly inks.

    There are many different eco-friendly printing inks to turn your regular print job into a green print job. When quoting a job with your printer, ask if they have any of the following ink types available: vegetable-based inks, soy-based inks, apparel water-based inks, UV inks, or eco solvent inks.  All of these inks create less toxic chemicals when they dry, compared to the standard petroleum-based inks we are used to.

  4. Ship using biodegradable packing materials.

    If you need to have promotional items printed for an event, consider working with a vendor who uses using biodegradable packing materials instead of the typical plastic or petroleum-based foam materials. This eliminates excess waste and the substitute materials produce less harmful chemicals when they’re created.

These are just a few of the options you have when it comes to green printing. If you’re really interested in ensuring your printing is as eco-friendly as possible, give us a call. BPC can give you all the information you need to make the most informed decisions for all your printing needs.

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