Choosing the Best Stationery Supplier for Your Office Needs

Posted on August 6, 2017March 3, 2020 by Andy Stevens

First Impressions Count

Whether we like it or not, first impressions count and clients form an impression of your business based on the brand they can see, hear and touch. So it’s not only about how you speak to them, how reliable you are and the quality of the job or service you provide, but also the tangible things that they can see and feel. Your business stationery is one such tangible, and it’s important to get it right – choosing a quality stationery supplier is the first step.

How do You Choose a Quality Stationery Supplier?

There are a number of things you should consider when making a decision. Firstly, it’s worth considering what you think you might need from them. Are you quite creative and able to design your own logo, letterhead and direct mail pieces or will you need some design input and help with ideas? Do you know your pantones from your fonts or is that all a mystery to you? What about grammes per square metre and the various printing methods? If you have little or no experience in this area it’s worth considering a ‘full service’ stationery supplier, one who can help with your full printed requirements from concept and design, through to production and delivery, who also has branding experience.

Secondly, what sort of relationship do you want with your stationery supplier? Are you happy with a faceless interaction with a web page to keep costs as low as possible or do you want a more personal touch with a dedicated company representative who will see your order through from start to finish? If something goes wrong with your order do you want to be able to speak directly to someone with the knowledge and expertise to put it right or try to rectify things with a series of emails? How important is it to you that your stationery supplier had taken the time to understand your business and what you’re trying to achieve with your brand and budget?

Finally, what about the company itself? Are you simply looking for the cheapest price or does the heritage and reputation of your stationery supplier matter? Most quality stationery suppliers should be able to provide you with a varied range of samples of their work, from business cards and letterheads to direct mail and promotional items, and also be able to share testimonials from other satisfied customers. Do they understand that things don’t always go smoothly in business and sometimes you need them to have a can do attitude and be able to turn things round quickly for you?

Forming a new relationship with any supplier can be a difficult decision to make and it requires you to take a balanced view of what’s important to you versus what the supplier can provide you with. Choosing from the many quality stationery suppliers is a big decision, and if you get it right you will only have to make it once.

The Importance of Professional Business Card Printing

Posted on August 5, 2017August 3, 2017 by Andy Stevens

With digital technology behind so many things in our lives today, you might be forgiven for thinking that a ‘traditional’ business card has had its day, particularly if you are just starting out in business.

We send emails now over ‘snail mail’ and can send documents anywhere in the world at the click of a button, so surely there’s no need for a little card to put in a pocket or wallet?

On the contrary. Here are some very good reasons why you should get some professional cards made and then always carry a stock of them with you.

1. First Impressions Count

A business card might be the first time someone comes into contact with your brand, so make sure it’s a good impression. Look up professional business card printing in Essex, or wherever is local to you, and use quality cards.

It’s worth investing in your cards because anyone could be a potential customer, and you want to be memorable for the right reasons – not for being someone who saved a few quid and got cheap cards. It’s about more than just a mechanism for passing on your phone number.

2. A Personal Touch

Think about when you might have given someone a business card in the past – it’s all about networking. And that is still the same. Even in a digital world and with networking sites like LinkedIn, making connections is far more effective in person.

A genuine conversation, brought to a close by an exchange of contact information, is still the best way to be remembered, and using a professional business card is better than sending an email from your smartphone as you stand in front of someone.

Eye contact is the best way to build a relationship, so avoid ‘screen time’ when someone is talking to you.

3. No Better Direct Marketing Tool

When you set off for a trade show or business conference, you prepare in advance and make sure you have enough product or business collateral with you. The beauty of a business card is that it can help you out when you’re not expecting to meet a lead or make a new contact, perhaps at an airport or even at the pub! Thanks to business card printing in Essex and nationwide, you can be ready to capitalise on any opportunity.

4. Creativity Will Continue to Reward

A professional business card is a must-have, but making it creative and stand-out amongst the others will leave a lasting impact that people might even pass on to their own contacts, making it work harder for you. There are die-cut options beyond the standard white rectangle, and even rounding a single corner will look different. Use your business card to show off your brand, or your personality if your business is you. There is nothing to say you can’t use imagination – and colour or images – to make your business cards unique.

Invest in your business – print some quality cards.

What Qualities Should You Look for in a Stationery Supplier

Posted on August 4, 2017August 3, 2017 by Andy Stevens

Budgets are tight and getting tighter in the current climate as businesses up and down the country brace themselves for Brexit uncertainty. Stationery is one area where potentially savings can be made, though be aware not to sacrifice efficiency for the sake of a cheap product.

There are quality stationery suppliers out there, but it’s worth completing some research to find one that can meet all your requirements, quality, price, service and efficiency are all key areas to focus on.

Product Range

Of course, if you’re looking to cut costs by reducing the number of suppliers or by getting a bigger discount through placing larger orders, then the range of products a company can supply will be critical. If you regularly order something very specific, be sure to check the company’s ability to supply that before you commit.

Price

Where cost cutting is the name of the game, price will naturally be a factor. Spend some time looking into value rather than cost alone, because the product with the lowest price tag might not suit your needs and could be a false economy, don’t forget service, this always makes a big difference. Quality stationery suppliers will not tend to sell the very cheapest products because they have to guarantee satisfaction to protect their reputation, but they might be able to offer added value in the way of discounted prices or expedited delivery.

Deliveries

Even the most efficient businesses sometimes find they need something immediately or sooner, so having a reliable supplier that can support those emergencies is invaluable. Check whether your supplier can fulfil next day delivery on orders, and if there is a time cut-off for that. There might be restrictions on days, too.

A supplier might be able to deliver next day, but the cost might be more than your business is willing to pay, so do be sure to check it all out beforehand. What about regular delivery charges? Are they free? Maybe free over a certain amount? It doesn’t help much if a supplier can give you the goods at a good price, but then charges over the odds to get them to you.

After Sales Support

Another area where quality stationery suppliers are able to give added value is through offering free returns. If you’re ordering consumables, you probably won’t want to return them, but if you buy a product that isn’t as expected, you’ll want to be able to send it back and receive a refund cheaply and easily.

The best companies to deal with are those that will be able to offer you advice on the products you are buying and have an understanding of the way your business works. They’ll be able to help you choose the right products first time.

In summary, make a list of all the things you would want from a single stationery supplier, and then look around to see how many boxes each is able to tick. You might prefer to create a ‘points’ system and award more points for being able to meet those requirements. Top score wins the business!

Five Must-Have Features for your Business Cards

Posted on August 3, 2017August 3, 2017 by Andy Stevens

If you run a business, then your business card says who you are and what you do. If you are meeting with a potential client or customer and you give them your card, this could help them decide whether they want to do business with you as usually, it’s the first point of contact. So, getting it right is important. Here we look at the five key features that all business cards should include.

Space

It can be tempting to fill the small amount of space on your business card with every single piece of information that you can think of. However, the amount of space left blank is almost as important as the included information. Using too much information can make the card cluttered and difficult to read. It can also look unprofessional, so think carefully about what is essential.

Essential Information

Your business card must include some basic information about what your business is or a short summary of what you do. For example, if you do business card printing in Essex, then make sure you say this on the card. Including your job title can also be useful for potential clients or customers, and you are more likely to be remembered than someone whose card only includes their name.

Your Name

Although it seems obvious, not everyone includes their name on their business card. This can make it difficult if people want to try to get hold of you following a meeting, as filing a card that doesn’t include a name is virtually impossible.

Contact Details

Part of a business card’s value is that it provides all of your contact details so people can immediately see the various ways they can get hold of you, although these needn’t be exhaustive. At the very least, your card should include a phone number and email as well as any social media routes such as Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Good Quality

It is pointless getting the content of a business card exactly right if the quality of the card isn’t really up to much. Your card will help people to decide if they want to work with you, and if the quality isn’t great then they may make their mind up before you even have the meeting. Recommendations are a great way to find good printing services, so if you are looking for business card printing in Essex, for example, then recommendations are a great way to test the quality of the product you will be getting.

If your business card doesn’t include all of these, then maybe it is time for a re-design. Your card will help you create new opportunities and is your ‘shop window’ for new customers and clients at a first face-to-face meeting. This is why making sure it includes all of the key features is important. Hopefully, this has given you some ideas for ways that your business card could be improved and help you to win more business. It’s something that could ultimately add to your success.