Numbering by Color!

We just came up with a way to sequentially number documents and forms in any Pantone color ink you would want. Before, like almost all other printers, we could only do black and red.

So now you can let your imagination run wild. We can match your logo color scheme. Also, for security we can print in metallic colors or fluorescent inks to keep people from duplicating your stuff on a color copier.

While it is not earth shaking news, it is one more innovation we can offer you, our clients.

Print/Replant Redux

It is a cool feeling to surprise someone. I had a chance to do that this week. It happened while talking with a new client. I was explaining some of Allegra’s services and benefits. His head snapped to attention when I mentioned our Print/Replant program. Yes, we really do replant our National Forests with seedlings for every sheet of paper we use.

I did some calculating and came up with this statistic. Together, you and Allegra are responsible for planting an acre of forest. It is a drop in a bucket when we hear about hundreds of acres being scorched by wildfires. But, we are one printshop in less than one year into this program.

If you would like more information about Print/Replant, for information on how to get trees planted, or for a guest article for your newsletter, let me know. I would be more than happy to help.

The Best Deal at the Post Office

I was talking to a client the other day about her newsletter mailing. It's a big mailing. Not just in the number of recipients but in the size of the mail piece. It's one of these 12 page newsletters that also includes a return envelope. Their current printer is organized such that the only way to mail this piece is pre-sorted, first-class mail. For two ounces, this is costing them a small fortune.

She was hesitant when I talked about pre-sorted, Standard Mail. She was under the impression there would be all kinds of problems mailing it this way. When I assured her that thousands of companies and organizations send their correspondent out this way every day without a problem, she softened up a bit.

Then I explained something to her she had never heard before. With Standard Mail, the post office allows you to mail up to 3.3 ounces for the same cost of mailing a postcard. What a value! Now that their mailing list has gotten bigger, their total cost of mailing will go down by 25-33%.

Think about how you can use this tremendous value to your benefit. You can send out a larger mailing in an envelope with many pieces in it. This is something we call “lumpy mail.” You can send a promotional product that ties in with the theme of your mailing. You can group a mailing with your neighbors, networking group, or marketing affiliates so you can take advantage of the postage discount.

Give Allegra Print and Imaging of Rolling Meadows a call today at 847-398-2500 to discuss this and other great ways to save money on your direct mail marketing campaign.

Voice Recognition

As an original Mac user (1984), this is a great time to be alive. Because of the growing popularity of the Mac platform, I get to see new stuff come out for the Mac almost every day. One of my favorite new toys is voice recognition software called MacSpeech. It is based on a very popular platform but the software was made specifically for the Mac.

I bought it primarily to help one of my daughters in middle school. After testing it myself, I can see broad applications for business use.

It is much faster than typing. However, it changes the way you put information into a computer. Using a keyboard has been part of my writing process since I was in college. I often tell people that getting my Mac in college raised my grades by one full letter. So this B- student became an A- student almost overnight.

An interesting change this brings is that the stream of consciousness ideas that you can speak will be put onto a page on your computer. You get to sort them out and edit later.

By the way, this blog entry was written using MacSpeech.

Bicycle Shop Bailout Plan Debated in Congress

This is a headline you won’t see anytime soon. Obviously the big story is the financial crisis hitting our country. But there is something to my headline. From one source, about 30% of bike shops in the U.S. have closed in the last 5 years.

I have not studied the problem facing these retailers. So I can’t go into detail on that here. But here is what I think. Bicycle shops are small businesses. Big industry, but small business. Nobody is watching out for small business owners. We are on our own. These shops are also spread out. There might be one or two shops in any town or neighborhood.

Banks are big business. To some degree, banks are in the business business. They provide the gasoline for the economy. They are clearly more important than bike shops. Or corner bakeries. Or (gasp) print shops. So, banks and investment firms get government bailouts. Small business owners don’t get a “do-over.”

This is sad to me. As a small business owner I feel for these shop keepers. As a lifelong biker I am a sad customer. Bike shops and book stores are two of my favorite places to visit. Don’t get me started on book stores. They all but disappeared about 7 years ago.

I understand that the big banks need to be protected. They are too tied into our economy. However, I have not seen anything about consequences. Unless there is clear evidence of theft or fraud, I would not be happy seeing bankers put in jail. But having to pay back their ill gotten gains? Perhaps. But business survival has to make economic sense. Poorly managed businesses should fail or be bought out by smarter business people. Bike shops—the market is speaking. Investments banks—your time has come too. What do you think?