The Latest News in Printing

For Immediate Release

Editorial Contact:

Susan Benjamin

304-876-8488

susan@thegreatvoice.com

PRINTING FRANCHISE OFFERS EXPERTISE IN MARKETING

with QUICK RESPONSE CODES

MARTINSBURG, WV, December 13, 2010. Today, Sir Speedy Printing unveiled an on-line

tool that allows small businesses to interact instantly with consumers, no matter where they

are. The Quick Reference Code, or QRC, is a bar-code in the shape of a small square. It can

be created and printed on anything from a Christmas card to a post card to a real-estate sign.

Mobile tagging blends traditional print media with online media. Smart phones can now scan QR

codes and link to pricing, coupons, video, or web sites instantly. Sir Speedy, an internationally

franchised printing and marketing company, is the first in the Martinsburg area to realize the

potential of this new technology and offer small businesses help in its application.

“For instance, if you are driving around looking at real-estate, you could go up to the sign in

the yard, scan the QRC with your smart phone and get a virtual tour of the house and all it’s

stats. Just point the camera on your phone at a QRC, click, and you have access to information,

coupons, contests; the possibilities are limitless,” said Roberta Chromey, owner of Sir Speedy

Printing.

QRC readers can be downloaded for free onto most smart phones and may soon come already

installed. Sir Speedy offers help engaging and utilizing this amazing new technological tool

which heralds a new age in marketing potential for local businesses.

“This is the hottest thing to come down the pike since texting,” exclaimed Chromey,

“Everyone is going to be doing it!”

About Sir Speedy Sir Speedy Printing, located at 1351 Edwin Miller Boulevard in Old Court

House Square shopping center in Martinsburg, WV, has been on the cutting edge of print media

technology since opening their doors in 1995. Roberta and Jack Chromey are long time residents

of Charles Town but decided to locate their business in Martinsburg because of the larger

business presence there. Jack Chromey has a 35 year history in publishing and graphics; Roberta

Chromey with public relations.

Sir Speedy provides printing and marketing services designed to help small to medium

businesses in the tri-state area. Products and services include traditional printing, copying, bulk

mail services, and value added offerings such as marketing consultation, web design, integrated

direct marketing tools, such as the use of QR codes, and promotional products. Sir Speedy helps

companies meet their marketing objectives from lead generation, to brand management.

Contact: Sir Speedy, 1351 Edwin Miller Blvd., Martinsburg, WV, 25404, 304-267-0703p, 304-

267-0706f, CSR@sirspeedynow.com, www.sirspeedy.com/martinsburg

Try This!

• Download a FREE QR Code Reader

to your Smart Phone

• Open the Application at the top left,  Scan the QRCode

• And Away You Go

Printing Tips / Brochures

Before you start designing a brochure, decide how it is to be used. Are you going to use it as a self mailer? Are you going to mail it inside a business, #10 envelope with other materials? Are you going to leave it in a rack at a hotel or Visitor's Center or the like? 

Is this going to be part of a presentation packet or seminar? In other words, what size does the finished piece need to be?

A typical tri-fold brochure could be 8.5 x 11 folded to 8.5 x 3.666, OR, you could make a simple 8.5 x 3.6 rack card, which would give you “3 Up” on an 8.5 x 11. 

OR- do you need several 8.5 x 11 sheets in a binder, presentation folder, or spiral bound with a clear plastic front and solid back cover? 

If you are working with a folded brochure, such as the 8.5 x 11 tri-fold, organize your material in “panels” - you will have 6. Remember the front panel is essentially your cover. This may be the only thing that anyone looks at- you want to entice them to go inside, but if they don't, you want to be sure the front panel relays the essence of what you are trying to convey. Also remember to leave room on the back panel for addressing, if this is to be a self mailer.

You can also simply collect the information, your logo art, any photos or art you specifically want to use, and give this to the graphic department of your print provider and have them format the brochure for the size you need. It may be easier for them to provide a professional looking piece that will print well on their equipment. Of  course you will be proofing and giving feedback during this process. If you still want to create the brochure yourself, remember to provide a hard copy (if possible) as well as a PDF and the native file – just to be sure the print provider sees what you are seeing. Remember that different programs and different printers can often change color or create “glitches” between your file and the converted file the printer may need to create to produce your piece.

 Lastly, don't forget your print provider may be able to provide mailing services. In which case they probably have a bulk mail indicia (if you don't) that they can print directly onto your piece. Be sure to included this discussion at the initial design stage and be clear what post office the mailing is going out of, so it matches the indicia. 

Tips for Ordering Business Cards, Letterhead & Envelopes

If you are just starting out in business, (or even if you aren't) step back and think of the long-range picture of what you doing. You want your business card, letterhead and envelope to match. That means colors of ink, and for the letterhead and envelope, color and type of paper. 

More and more these days, business cards are going to be full color, which means they will probably be printed on a gloss white paper. Letterhead and envelopes are usually still printed on a white or cream, smooth or textured paper, in one or two ink colors. So how do we get them to match?

When you are working up your logo, think of the color or colors that you want people to associate with your business. The font you use to spell your business name is as much a part of your logo as any symbol you may choose or design. Some logos are simply the color and font style used to print the business name, no fancy design or symbol needed. Consistency is the key. So even though your business card may be full color with a photo or background graphic, your business name and colors are going to be carried over to your letterhead and envelopes. It may also be wise to have a black and white version as well as a color version of your logo. It's the style that needs to stay the same.

The most common and economical quantity to order for business cards is 1000. Most of the cost of cards is in the setup. Once the press is running, a few more sheets of paper cost hardly anything; 500 cards are about $5 less than 1000. 

#10 Business Envelopes come in boxes of 500. Most people order 500 or 1000 envelopes at a time. However, if you really use them a lot, 5 boxes come in a case, so 2500 may be a better deal. 

Letterhead, especially if it's printed with a colored ink, is most affordable in quantities of at least 500 or 1000.

  A Note on 3 or more ink colors for envelopes: More people are asking for full color envelopes and the prices are beginning to come down, but they are still much more costly than full color business cards or letterhead.

Printing Tips- about paper...

How to Order Printing

Paper? OMG!

Besides knowing something about paper size, know:

● Text weight is “regular” paper:

○ 20lb bond is light weight copy paper

○ 24-60lb is good for 2-sided B&W printing

○ 80lb-100lb text is best for color printing

● Card Stock is heavier paper:

○ 67lb Vellum Bristol is good for booklet covers or light weight cards

○ 65lb Vellum Bristol is heavier (don't ask me why)

○ 80-100lb cover is good for postcards or “rack” cards (i.e. 8.5 x 3.666 brochures you put in a “rack” in a hotel or visitor's center)

● White vs Colored Paper:

○ White or cream is always nice for text documents like resumes or booklets.

○ Gloss white is preferable for full color printing-  the paper doesn't “drink” the ink and make it look dull. 

○ On the other hand, Britehue colored paper is great for black ink as it makes it “pop” - an affordable way to do flyers, or simple brochures or posters. Pastel paper is less expensive than Britehue if you just want to print on a colored paper background.

● Textured paper vs smooth paper: 

○ Linen or laid paper (either in text or cover) have traditionally been used for formal presentations and come in varieties of white, cream and ivory.

○ There are other papers with less texture, but that still have “tooth” as opposed to a smooth finish. Some “writing” papers fall into this category, with percentages of cotton or fiber in the weave, and often have a watermark. These are also good for formal letterhead or printed resumes. A felt finish would also be in this category and makes a nice invitation.

○ Textured paper is great for projects that you want to be noticed with touch.

○ Most paper is going to have a smooth finish and is good for anything from reports to booklets, to color copies, brochures, signs, posters, etc.

Your Print Provider will most likely have particular kinds of  paper he likes or would recommend for your job, as that is what runs best on his equipment and he keeps stocked or knows he can order easily. 

Printing Tips

How to Order Printing

about paper...

• ○ Know the paper size you are starting with: 

8.5 x 11 is the regular size that fits in a home or office printer

11 x 17 is twice as big 

8.5 x 14 is Legal size

• oKnow the finished size of your piece (take a blank piece of paper and fold or cut it)

For instance, a newsletter is typically an 11 x 17 folded to 8.5 x 11

If it gets mailed, it's folded again to 5.5 x 8.5.

An invitation is often 5.5 x 8.5 folded to 4.25 x 5.5 (which fits nicely into a small A2 envelope.

Postcards can be anything from 4.25 x 5.5 to 5.5 x 8.5 or larger, but they should not be square- (the post office doesn't like that)

Your Print Provider will want to know the flat size of the piece to be printed as well as the final folded size, if it gets folded.

•  tKnow the quantity – how many do you want to end up with? If asking for a quote, What's the least amount you can use – What is the most ? 

Do Not try to “help” your Print Provider by telling him how many pieces of  paper you want- if you set something up and are getting 4 on a page, unless you are doing the cutting, stick to the number of finished pieces as the quantity to ask for. What the Printer wants to know, is how many of the finished size you want. He will take your file and set it up to run on his equipment, which might mean he's using a larger piece of paper and getting more “up” on a sheet. 

Sir Speedy Celebrates 15th Anniversary

After 15 years we are still going strong- economy not withstanding. On Wednesday, May 26th, we celebrated with an Open House for customers (and now friends) from 6:00 PM- 8:00 PM. Most participated in our "Scavenger Hunt," scouring the shop, peering at large pieces of equipment and trying to guess what they were. It was fun and instructive. Everyone who participated also won a gift by picking a numbered ball out of a hat- anything from 100 B&W copies to Business Cards. Those who didn't choose to play games, had a good time eating, drinking and visiting with other attendees. So did we.

A special thanks goes out to Eileen Hollibaugh for coming out of retirement to be our Greeter and helper for the evening- Thank you Eileen!

The Special we are offering as a Thank You to our customers is a set of 1000 full color Business Cards for only $45.00, or 1000 Post cards for $65.00  (setup not included). This offer is good through July 4th, 2010. To take advantage of this offer contact us at csr@sirspeedynow.com

Happy 15th Anniversary Sir Speedy!!

Sir Speedy "Moment" at the Home Show

 At the EPHB Martinsburg Home Show this past weekend, I had a truly "Sir Speedy" printing moment:
      While walking down the isles, I ran into an old BNI networking friend, Larry Linkens, who was at his booth selling tankless hot water heaters for a company out of Delaware. His boss was home sick and Larry had come to the show without an important flyer.
      Sir Speedy Printing came to the rescue. While Larry texted his ill boss, I called Jack on my cell phone at the shop. We were able to send the file with the needed text change to Jack, who set it up electronically and then ran 250 copies on our digital color press. Larry and I ate lunch and then I drove back to the shop, picked up the job and delivered it. All with in a couple of hours.
     Sir Speedy does it again, and don't forget- Roberta Delivers!!

Home Show Preparedness

Now that the snow is beginning to melt and the roads are more passable, business is getting back on track. The annual Martinsburg HOME SHOW is just around the corner, March 12-14. We are great at helping get those, "oops! I forgot to think of this," items for your display table - like extra business cards, order forms, product flyers or brochures, and the usual logo imprinted give-aways like pens, rulers, keychains, etc. We can also produce your banners, posters, table-tents, or other display signage. Even if it's last minute- we've been known to deliver right to your booth at the Home Show!  But now is the time to get your ducks in a row- don't wait for the flood, call

Sir Speedy Printing 304-267-0703 or

use our Send A File at www.sirspeedy.com/martinsburg

Working in the Snow

  So here is my first Blog ever-it's 4:20PM  in the afternoon and Jack made it into Sir Speedy Printing this morning despite the (i think we're up to 42" or so of snow).  He's dedicated- no one else made it in. For myself- I created this blog from home, instead of braving his driving in the snow. But here we are- ready to get into the electronic "in your face" mode of communicating-
  By the way, spread the news- we are now Sir Speedy, printing AND marketing (instead of Sir Speedy, printing, copying, digital network. SO THERE. that's the new news- we are creating a team to expand our services to not only help output your marketing materials, but to help you BRAIN STORM what those materials could/should be. Let me know if I can help you-

  Stay Safe in this weather it really is creating some beautiful images.