Business Cards Digital and Litho

Business card printing these days is cheap, fast and effortless. Although cards can be ordered online, the printing is still best done using professional printing machines – either traditional lithographic, or the newer digital presses.


Litho printing is a two stage process which involves offsetting the ink from plates onto rubber rollers, and then onto card. Unlike web-fed presses, which use rolls of paper, card presses are sheet-fed, making them slower. Added to this, they are complex to set up. For this reason, digital printers are preferred for business card printing. They have several advantages over the traditional method. For a start they are fast and easy to set up, requiring no printing plates. The card is created in digital form, using templates or an existing card design, and saved as digital file. This information is then uploaded to an ink-jet or laser-jet printing machine, which prints the cards direct using heat or UV-cured inks or toners.

Digital business card printing allows an on-demand service to be offered, with short print runs and a rapid turnaround time. It’s the ideal answer for small businesses, as card details can be altered with just a few clicks, and multiple designs can be stored – for example, a single design can be customised with the details of each member of a sales team. Cards may be single or double-sided – the latter being the ideal way to portray extra information in an uncluttered manner. With modern businesses having web, e-mail and postal addresses, as well as landline, mobile and fax numbers, this has become a necessity.

Although there are internet-commerce firms specialising in business cards which the customers design themselves from online templates, the best quality business card printing is that offered by “clicks-and-mortar” companies, such as us at Minuteman Press Bath.

The Minuteman Press Bath 2010
Personalised Greeting Card Brochure is out now

We can make your greeting cards personal...

Your company logo added
Your company colours used
Your personalised greeting
Your signature scanned

You name it, we'll do it

Prices start from just £45+VAT

Have your own design?
Well we can print that too!

Order the full brochure to be posted to you or emailed as a pdf today
Email: christmas@minutemanbath.co.uk

Web: www.minutemanbath.co.uk
Tel: 01225 442000

We are feeling the love.

Minuteman Press Bath are the most loved printer in the UK as voted by local people on The Best of!

Check out what our customers have to say here.

50% Extra Free - Special Offer - Minuteman Press

http://www.45walcot.minutemanpress.co.uk/companyinfo/offers.html

- The very best digital presses in Bath -
- 24 hour turnaround available at no extra cost -
- Fixed pricing -

Look at this example price:

 1000x A5 Leaflets
Printed full colour single side
on 140gsm Silk
£125

we will then add in 500 extra free leaflets, giving you 1500 full colour leaflets for £125!

Contact us today for a copy of our full colour digital printing price list

Email: info@minutemanbath.co.uk
Tel: 01225 44 2000
Web:  www.minutemanbath.co.uk

THE SMALLS PRINT:

* Offer available on full colour digitally printed leaflets and folded brochures placed in July and August 2010.

Offer applies to quantities of 250, 500 or 1000 maximum.  48 hour turnaround - 24 hours on request, from signing off your proof.

Printed on 140sm FSC Silk or Gloss

Boxer shorts are for illustrative purposes only and are not included in this offer.

 

Hot hot hot.. deal of the week!

Our presses are running hot today and if the weather is anything to go by will be hot all week.

So come and get your flyers this week, literally hot off the press and we will discount 20% off our usual price.

How does this sound?

1000x A6 Flyers
Full colour double side
on 140gsm Silk
£99 (usually sold at £125)


Turned around within 24 hours! Sign off your proof by 2pm and these will be ready by 2pm the following day!

Offer valid until Friday 28th May 2010. On all digitally printed full colour flyers. Quote HOTFLYER when ordering!

Print Deadlines

When producing company literature such as newsletters or magazines, meeting printing deadlines is essential in order to avoid costly mistakes, but in some situations your company may be working right up to the wire and there is a fine balance between having the most up to date information in your company literature and missing the printing press deadlines. You only need to look at the newspaper headlines on the morning after the election to see that the deadlines of the country’s printing press meant that the newspapers struggled to meet the public’s need for the most up to date information possible. Headlines were uncertain as Britain faced a hung parliament but, as results were still trickling in, the newspapers could not call for certain what was happening before they had to go to press and some relied on speculation.

Businesses in Bath should know the benefits of working with a local printing company in Bath, rather than a larger printing house, when looking to get their news out to consumers in order to build up a strong relationship and receive a more personal service. You may not be on such tight deadlines as the national press with the whole nation hanging on your written word and expectations high for the most newsworthy scoop, however, for a professional appearance, your company information must be as accurate as possible. Building a close relationship with a local printer will ensure co-operation should you need to work to extend deadlines or negotiate on costs.

A Great Day Out

We had a great day out the the Bath Business Show yesterday and met lots of very interesting people and picked up some great print orders.

We have over 200 people enter our business card draw - the results will be announced later today!

One of the Bath's Most Loved

Last night was yet again a great Best of Bath Networking Event hosted at Inigo Serviced Offices on Queen Square.

Minuteman Press were very pleased to have picked up an Award for the 7th Most Loved Business in Bath as voted during the 14 Days of Love by local Bath companies.

Don't forget to check out what our clients have said about us at on our Best of Bath testimonial page.

A Welcome Addition to the MMP Team!

We would like to welcome Andy Trollope to the Minuteman Press Team!

Andy joins the team with 26 years years of litho and digital print experience, he takes up the role of Production Manager and will certainly help raise the game in print quality and finish at Minuteman Press.

Andy's role is to head up digital print print production and pre press.

Marketing is not monkey business

One thing is constant in marketing—it’s constantly changing. Once limited to traditional media like television, radio and print advertising, a company has more options to get their name out there. So let’s talk about the 200-pound gorilla in the room, and no, we’re not talking about King Kong. It’s Guerrilla Marketing that may make your company a giant in your market.

What is Guerrilla Marketing?
Jay Conrad Levinson gave birth to the concept in 1984. Ever since then, this fringe movement in the world of advertising has gained some steam. Specifically geared towards the small business, Levinson argued that instead of money, investments in marketing should be time, energy and imagination. Much of that energy should be expended on building relationships with customers to get more referrals, and focusing on larger transactions, rather than on gaining new customers.

Guerrilla Marketing may encompass a number of tactics but each campaign should be laser-focused to one technique. Other terms associated with this movement are viral marketing (engaging social networks), buzz marketing (generating word of mouth), undercover marketing (subtle product placement) and experiential marketing (getting consumers to interact with your product).

Memorable examples from well-known companies
Nikon used a billboard at a subway station that had images of paparazzi on it. As you would walk by on the red carpet that led to a Nikon store the cameras would flash making you the celebrity.

Ikea decided to show that their furniture can brighten up any setting. They put some of their furniture at bus stops in New York.

Red Bull has relied heavily on Guerrilla Marketing through their soapbox races, Flugtag (building human-powered flying machines) contests, or driving around in a Mini Cooper handing out samples of Red Bull.

What can you do with Guerilla Marketing?
These are some pretty big examples of how to generate buzz for a product. If you’re looking for something a little less monumental but equally effective, consider tactics along these lines to make a statement about your company.

Send out an empty envelope with an enticing headline on the outside. Make sure your contact information is in the return address. This should generate calls that can turn into an opportunity to talk about your products.

Get away from the windshields and find other relevant places to stuff a flier such as with a complimentary product at another company (in return for you doing the same), at a public transportation stop or other creative locale.

Include some candy and a comment card with each order and watch the cards and repeat customers come back in.

Dream up an inexpensive but creative event associated with your business. Start the buzz and get the press involved. Include a charity component. Give proceeds to a charity and watch your pockets grow.

Order an interesting specialty advertising item that you can distribute with a clever message to pique your customers’ interest about a particular product or your service.

One last piece of advice, when planning your Guerilla Marketing campaign, do your homework. Cartoon Network’s Aqua Teen Hungerforce placed light up boxes around Boston that were intended to generate publicity. They got it in the form of generating bomb threat calls from around the city.

Buy One Get One Free on Leaflets in February

 Buy one get one free on full colour printed leaflets*
 Order litho printed leaflets this February and we will double your order for free.

Offer applies to orders of 250, 500, 1250 and 2500 leaflets giving a maximum required
quantity of up to 5000 leaflets.
 Offer includes folding of leaflets if required.

Take advantage of this very special offer and contact us today.
for a quote email

 info@minutemanbath.co.uk

Tel: 01225 44 2000
Web: www.minutemanbath.co.uk

* Offer available on 115gsm, 150gsm, 200gsm and 280gsm Silk or Gloss litho printed
leaflets. Maximum order quantity is 2500x to receive 5000x leaflets. Offer includes
folding where requested. Litho printed leaflets require 5 working days turnaround.
Offer ends February 28th 2010
All prices are plus VAT if applicable and from print ready pdfs being supplied.
 

Make sure your Business Card hits the mark

You’re starting your business and of course you’re excited to talk about it. While out networking you get a bite. Someone wants your contact information and you’re stuck holding a napkin and asking to borrow a pen. Business cards should be one of the first items you print as you’re building your business.

Business cards are an affordable way to make you look professional and legitimise your company. Business cards are convenient. You should carry them on your person at all times. You never know where or when you’ll meet your next customer.

What should be on your business card? A pitfall of first-time business owners is to attempt to cram absolutely everything you do on your card—after all you want to conserve your budget. Remember the primary goal of your business card is to provide your contact information. Let a brochure, sales sheet or website do the work of listing your services.

Consider how you want to be contacted. Your name, e-mail, primary phone numbers and website address should suffice for most. Some may want to select their Twitter or other social media account if that’s more conducive to the business model.

If you must, include just a service or two as a reminder of what you do. But remember you run the risk of looking less professional. The more you add, the smaller the type and the more cluttered your card will appear, rendering it nearly impossible to read.

When you’re ready to print your cards, you may want to head to a printing company. Spend the little extra and ask for about various options available. An impressive weight, or laminating will will surely get good comments and screams professionalism.

Minuteman Press offers the whole range of business cards printing and also designers who can really make your card work for you.

Now that you have your new business cards you’re ready to go out and get new clients. So use that napkin to wipe your hands and give them that confident handshake.

Direct mail can still work!

There’s something about Royal Mail that is a little romantic. There’s still a little anticipation in your heart as you head when the post arrives. You still wonder, "Did I get anything cool in the mail today?".

Even special offers from companies get people excited.

Direct mail is still a powerful tool and here is why:
Reach your target market. Direct mail gets its name because of the likelihood of your message reaching the intended audience. It has far greater odds than the shot gun approach of mass media (also aptly named). Even Millennials (consumers aged 18-24) are into receiving direct mail. BIGresearch reported in 2007 that 26% appreciated and responded to direct mail.

Get one-on-one attention.
Mail is personal. People open the mail on their time, when they’re ready to engage. Pitney Bowes reported in a 2008 Direct Mail Survey that 85% of people will open, sort and read mail; and 75% of those consumers look more closely for special sales.

Spend less.
With a more selective target, your cost per client acquisition is relatively low compared to other marketing channels. For a postcard and a stamp, oftentimes you can reach a prospect for under a dollar each.

Get action.
After your direct mail piece is sent out you will know whether the campaign was successful in a short amount of time. According to the DMA, 33% of consumers will respond to direct mail by going to your website. If your target is going to make a purchase, they will do so shortly after receiving the mailing piece. This is important for tracking your ROI. When cash is tight, it is nice to know how effective your message was so you can adjust.

Make it personal.
OK so you can send out a standard mailer, may be with their name on the envelope and then leave your prospective client disappointed when they see it's a random mailshot. At Minuteman Press our digital press and variable data software can bring your mailings to life through customising them. Why not give one of our team a call on 01225 442000 or email Dave on info@minutemanbath.co.uk tell us what message you want to send and who you want to send it to, and we will help you get a better return on your investment.

Go Green with Minuteman Press

At Minuteman Press Bath we believe in sustainability and do more than just say it.

As a printer we get through a great deal of paper and other waste materials as part of the printing process, so controlling what we use and where it goes is important to us.

All of the paper stocks we buy are either FSC or PEFC certified paper. Further more the toners we use on our Xerox 7000AP Digital Press are recyclable as is the toner that ends up on the paper.


You can find out more about that environmental credentials of the standard Xerox paper we use here.

Xerox printer toner employed in digital printing is manufactured using an embrittling agent with the result that a reduction of 25% - 35% in energy employed per kilogram is made. The toner creates no hazards, exposure issues, toxicological complications and requires no special precautions. Ecotoxicity is zero and no special disposal actions are required.


No inks are used in the digital print process. Xerox toner composition is >60% Resin, <15% Frits, 5 - 10% Polyethylene wax, 3 - 8% Pigment (CMYK), <15% other additives.


100% of toner cartridges and bottles are recyclable. All toner is non-toxic and non-hazardous.


We also send all of our waste paper goes off for recycling through Evergreen for secure shredding and recycling.