One-to-one marketing specialist, Plan-X, demonstrates its enthusiasm for cross-media communication by becoming the first advertising agency in Germany to install DirectSmile Cross Media. Utilising this software, the first campaign has attracted a 10% response rate and many further campaigns are now being developed.

Shortly after DirectSmile’s Cross Media was launched in Germany at Mailingtage 2009, Plan-X purchased this innovative software solution to increase its competitive-edge. The new solution has enabled the company to expand its range of services and introduce new marketing tools that combine the mediums of print and online digital communications. As a result, Plan X has won new business and improved campaign success rates for existing clients.

Malte.C. Bayer, owner of Plan-X, explains, “The future of one-to-one marketing is online, but printed communication still plays an important role in the marketing mix. DirectSmile’s Cross Media has provided us with the perfect tool to link between the world of print and online. We had already recognised the potential for increased success with personalised printed campaigns, but what convinced us to go for Cross Media was the opportunity to easily personalise online images and online content as well.

“Being able to personalise a campaign across all media channels creates a fantastic interaction for the recipient between mailings and personal websites, plus Cross Media enables us to measure the responses and create even more highly-targeted subsequent campaigns.”

In addition, Plan-X prints parts of its mailings digitally and, as Cross Media includes a variable data printing (VDP) solution based on Adobe InDesign, Plan-X also knew that the solution would be easily integrated into its existing workflow.

Saigerhöh Hotel’s Cross Media campaign gets 10.1% response rate

As early as autumn 2009, Plan-X launched its first cross-media campaign powered by DirectSmile Cross Media software. The agency developed a campaign for well-known 4-star hotel, Saigerhöh, consisting of an image-personalised mailing with a personalised URL for each recipient. The campaign was intended to incentivise former customers to make a future visit to the hotel and approximately 8,000 previous guests were targeted. At the same time, Saigerhöh hotel also wanted to use the campaign to collect more information about its customers’ preferences and find out which of its additional hotel services were most desirable.

Recipients of the campaign were asked to respond to questions in the mailing via their own personal website, and, as a thank you, they then received a voucher for dinner at the hotel.

Being the first time that this particular Plan-X client had implemented a cross-media campaign, the expectations were quite high.

“The result of this campaign demonstrated the power of a personalised, integrated approach, with a 10.1% response rate,” says Malte C. Bayer. “A response rate exceeding 10% is a tremendous success and we believe that the image, copy and website personalisation greatly contributed to this. Receiving a direct mail piece and website that is personalised to the individual gives the campaign a uniqueness and longevity in the recipient’s mind that you would not get with standard campaigns.”

The responses collected gave Saigerhöh hotel valuable information about how to improve its range of services and optimise its marketing strategy and the vouchers encouraged hundreds of guests to visit the hotel for the first time in years.

Malte C. Bayer comments, “This fantastic result provided our client with convincing proof that by using Cross Media to create a personalised, integrated marketing campaign, we could increase their return on their investment significantly.”

Malte C. Bayer summarises his experiences with the new system, “As part of the variable data printing process, DirectSmile software provides a good, practical solution that’s easy to use. In comparison to other software we have used before, we were impressed by its stability and reliability – particularly with more challenging documents and higher print runs.

“After only a few months of using DirectSmile Cross Media, we can already say that it has helped us to win new clients, improve campaign success rates and therefore, our turnover with existing clients, and we are confident it will continue to do so in the future. It simply works!”

Pageflex, a division of Bitstream Inc. (NASDAQ: BITS, www.bitstream.com) and a leading developer of enterprise variable data publishing and web-to-print solutions, announced today the release of Pageflex 7.5, which includes more than two dozen customer-requested product enhancements. The vast majority of the Pageflex customer base will benefit from this release with new features being added to Pageflex Campaign Manager, Pageflex Storefront, and Pageflex Studio. Additionally version 7.5 makes available a new module for Pageflex Server that gives customers the option of utilizing Adobe InDesign CS4 Server for their dynamic composition needs while continuing to benefit from the scalable load-balancing and queue-managing capabilities that Pageflex Server provides.

“The Pageflex 7.5 release has been customer driven. We focused on incorporating features and enhancements to make our customers more productive and their businesses more profitable,” comments Anna Magliocco-Chagnon, Bitstream President and CEO. “Many companies use Pageflex directly with their customers, for instance, by using Pageflex Storefront to provide services through a Web-to-print site. This gives us a much more expanded audience. We kept this in mind as we put together version 7.5, and we sought to incorporate enhancements that make our customers’ end users experiences more joyful.”

Pageflex Campaign Manager

Pageflex Campaign Manager enables the creation, execution, and result tracking of multi-channel marketing campaigns that include print, email. pURL, and web microsite components. The 7.5 release expands the scope of Pageflex Campaign Manager with these new features:

Add-a-friend/self opt-in capabilities, including the ability to track opt-in campaign participants, which support creating viral campaigns, construction of trackable Forward To A Friend links for email and websites, or simplifying internal processes for adding fresh leads to a campaign.

· Ability to track undeliverable emails via integration with an SMTP server to better assess campaign response rates and to clean bad addresses from mailing lists.

· Availability of a Campaign Manager API supporting email/job scheduling, automated database updating for synchronizing with CRM systems, and custom report generation

“At AccuLink we’re focused on continuously adding value to the communication solutions we develop for our customers. By offering marketing campaigns that include digital print, email, pURL, and microsite components we enable our clients to better engage with their prospects, strengthen their customer relationships, and measure the results of their campaigns,” explains Rose Ehrecke, E-Commerce Director & Project Manager at AccuLink, a Pageflex customer and solutions-oriented, shortrun printer in Greenville, North Carolina. “The new Campaign Manager capabilities we will get with the Pageflex 7.5 release will allow us to create campaigns that extend our clients’ marketing reach through add-a-friend word-of-mouth distribution and CRM data mining. I am excited to start working with this new functionality.”

Pageflex Storefront

Pageflex Storefront is the company’s award-winning Web-to-print and brand management solution. The popular suite adds new and expanded capabilities enabling customers to:

Ship items in an order to multiple addresses

Create and manage shipping address books

· Implement powerful multi-level approval workflows

· Easily copy or move products, forms, and assets between deployments

· Preview a sampling of the final documents when personalizing using an Integrated data list preview

· Format automated email notifications with rich content using HTML

· Reorder form fields using drag-and-drop in Pageflex Storefront Administrator

· Deploy flexible shopping cart customization options

Mark Sarpa, owner of Frecklebox.com, a business-to-consumer site utilizing Pageflex Storefront to offer personalized gifts for kids, expresses the excitement that many Pageflex customers have about the release of Pageflex 7.5. “Our Frecklebox business has really exploded, so we’re always seeking ways to make our customers’ online experiences more pleasing and our internal processes more efficient,” he explains “I’m looking forward to the new capabilities we’ll get with the 7.5 upgrade. For example, ease-of-use features like the ability for a customer in the shopping cart to impulsively change the quantity of personalized stickers she is ordering or to be able to send gifts to multiple addresses during the check out process are the type of features that help us retain customers and get positive word of mouth promotion.”

Similarly in Helsinki, Finland the team at DMP-Digital Media Partners is anticipating the improvements that version 7.5 will bring to their business-to-business activities. “We are looking forward to upgrading our Pageflex Storefront installations to version 7.5,” comments Pasi Korhonen, CIO at from DMP-Digital Media Partners. “We use Pageflex Storefront to help our customers manage their document customization and brand management processes. The new multi-level approval capabilities will simplify our communications with customers. By automating the review and sign-off communications we will be able to go into production faster and with more assurance that the printed document is acceptable to all stakeholders within a client company.”

Pageflex Server Integration with Adobe InDesign CS4 Server

In conjunction with the release of version 7.5, Pageflex also has integrated Adobe InDesign CS4 Server with its enterprise solution, Pageflex Server. Customers have the option of purchasing a license for the InDesign CS4 Server from Pageflex. Templates can be designed in Pageflex Studio ID, a variable data plug-in for InDesign, and then stored on the server. Pageflex Server manages dynamic composition requests coming from a web site or data file and provides load balancing and queue management. Final output of customized documents is produced by InDesign Server.

“Last spring when we announced the availability of Adobe InDesign CS4 Server for use with Pageflex Storefront, our Pageflex Server customers began calling to ask if they could incorporate InDesign Server into their Pageflex workflows also. Many of these companies receive InDesign files from their customers and expect that they will see productivity savings if they can use InDesign through out their entire document customization workflow,” explains Magliocco-Chagnon. “We are pleased that we can extend our relationship with Adobe to include InDesign Server integration with our enterprise Pageflex Server product.”

Pageflex Studio and Output

Pageflex 7.5 brings production enhancements to Pageflex Studio, the template design tool for all Pageflex server-based products, and the customized output that is generated from these Pageflex products. New capabilities include:

· Overprint can be defined at the item level for a selected text range (including rules if present), object fill, and object border

· A template-level configuration setting for overprint of text, object fills, and object borders

ICC profiles associated with embedded JPEG and TIFF images are preserved (PDFs have previously preserved ICC profiles)

Availability

Pageflex 7.5 is available immediately from Pageflex and its resellers.

When I first saw this wine in the “everyday selections under $15.99” section at South End Formaggio, I might have just passed it by as another one of the bargain Rhones filling up the shelves these days but I turned the bottle around. Reading the back label is like having a second date. Sometimes you’re smitten by the front label and want to know more and, other times, you just want to put it back on the shelf but you go ahead and read the back label because you don’t want to judge too harshly before having all the facts. Turning the bottle, I discovered that this was a Neal Rosenthal wine. Hmmmm….and under $14. Now, I was interested. OK, now it’s like a date that you’re not really sure you’re attracted to but you trust the friend who has set you up. What do they see in this, you think, before diving in? Turning the bottle back around, I notice that it’s called “Cuvee Counoise.” Huh? Counoise is a minor grape of the thirteen varietals permitted in Chateauneuf du Pape. I’ve never seen it bottled on it’s own. Sold!

It’s a food wine. You don’t pour this if you’re expecting lush fruit and soft tannins to sip without a meal. It is structured with earthy flavors and plenty of that southern Rhone herbal bouquet. Big Tim has stopped using the grill pan and has started pan-frying our steaks in butter ever since stealing the Julia Child cookbook from his mother. The pan is deglazed with some of the wine, reduced and thickened with butter and tarragon. The wine is a terrific everyday match.

Technically, it is a Vin du Pays du Gard. The vineyards are out in the countryside away from the area that  would qualify it to be called Chateauneuf or Cotes du Rhone where the winemaker, Paul Jeune, has most of his holdings. For generations, his family has been increasing their holdings so that he now controls 10 acres of vines divided into 32 parcels across Chateauneuf. It is there that he makes his top wines. Julie, the manager at Formaggio, told me that she was trying to get her hands on some of his top wines and I recently saw that they have arrived. In the meantime, we were in Provincetown for Big Tim’s birthday and went to our favorite restaurant for, what we consider to be, the absolute benchmark in French Onion Soup. Ah, Ross Grill. The outstanding food aside, the wine list is terrific and the markup policy is shockingly reasonable. And there I spotted the 2005 Montpertuis Chateauneuf. I do wish that all restaurants could hold bottles for decades and serve them only at their drinking peak. Or that you could call ahead, like peking duck, and order the wine so that it could be opened for a few hours before dinner. Stunning, yes, but just like the men of Provincetown, some things get better with a little age. And they make better dinner companions. My enjoyment was not dimmed in any way and I was delighted to see that Eric Asminov named this wine, from the 2007 vintage, his top Chateauneuf selection in a tasting last week. It has all of the complexity and structure without being overly ripe and jammy like so many rhone wines that are being produced to get big scores.

Pageflex®, a division of Bitstream Inc. (NASDAQ: BITS, www.bitstream.com) and a leading developer of enterprise variable publishing and web-to-print solutions, announced today that Prime Group has utilized Pageflex technology to expand the range of products and services it offers their clients and has become a leading producer of personalized products in the United Kingdom.

Prime Group, based in Nottingham, UK, was founded in 1988 as a traditional lithographic print house. In 2003, the company invested in its first digital press and subsequently began to acquire best-in-breed technology to support their business goals. In June of 2008, they licensed Pageflex Storefront and recently added Pageflex Server to their portfolio of software solutions.

Since then, the company has gone on to become one of the UK’s leading providers of personalized items, combining Pageflex technology and their own innovation to create highly customized marketing, stationery, and promotional items for clients throughout the UK. Recently, working with Pageflex reseller ROI Software Distribution Ltd, Prime Group utilized Pageflex to produce flight maps for DHL Worldwide Air Cargo. Prime Group and ROI Software Distribution replaced the time-consuming manual process of map creation with an automated solution that enables maps to be created instantaneously using Pageflex Storefront. These flight maps graphically display all of the flight plans and routes on which the company operates its worldwide air freight courier service.

Jon Tolley, Director at Prime Group, said, “Innovation has been the driving force of what sets Prime Group apart. To support us in that, we count on the best technology, and that’s why we choose Pageflex. Only Pageflex could gives us the functionality we needed to achieve the level of personalization required for the types of products we produce. As we look to expanding our business partnerships outside of the UK, we know that Pageflex will support us in that growth.”

Bitstream President and CEO, Anna Chagnon said, “Prime Group has used Pageflex to produce some to excellent examples of what can be accomplished with variable data technology. Their highly-personalized calendars and their innovative work created for DHL, demonstrate why they Prime Group is a leading provider of personalized products. It is thrilling to have Pageflex be a part of their success and we look forward to seeing what comes next from this industry leader.”

As I work with clients on engineering studies, we often get into a discussion on technologies that deliver picking instructions to picking operators.  Inevitably, when the topic is raised, we are asked “So which is better, Pick-to-Light or Pick-to-Voice?”  And, being a typical consultant, I answer “It depends!”  But, in this case, it really does depend.  It depends on the obvious things like number of facings, number of pickers, amount of travel between picks, etc.  But there are also some other considerations, such as the amount of re-slotting done, the client’s tolerance for errors, desire for common technologies, just to name a few.   However, there are some general guidelines that help to point us in one direction or another when evaluating whether PTL or VDP (or something else) is the best alternative for a picking operation.

The Obvious Ones

Generally, voice picking technology wins over PTL when there is a very large SKU environment over a large amount of real estate.  Because PTL modules are placed physically at the pick location, the cost to place many of these over a large area is usually cost prohibitive.  Also, if there are few order selectors (less than 10-15), VDP is also usually a better choice.  And if the pick locations are constantly being re-configured, voice technology will be a higher consideration.

On the other hand, PTL is chosen for high speed picking for a lower SKU count or if the picking environment is very dense.  It is often a better choice in a zoned picking operation.  As the number of selectors increases, the cost per light module decreases, compared to the cost of every voice unit that must be worn by every picker.

When Accuracy Matters

I don’t really like the title of this section.  I mean, when doesn’t accuracy matter?  But accuracy is a relative term.  Although a 99.5% pick accuracy rate may be acceptable for a DC supplying its own stores (since the inventory never leaves the internal “supply chain”), that would be dismal for a DC distributing high value or critical items to end users.  And, higher levels of accuracy always come at higher costs.

According to testing done by sources independent of the technologies, pickers using VDP technology make fewer errors over those using PTL.  Studies show that a voice picking operation can expect an error rate of 0.2 to 2 errors per 1000 picks (99.8 – 99.98% accuracy).  On the other hand, PTL operations make about 3 to 5 errors per 1000 picks (99.5 – 99.7% accuracy).  At first, this information did not make sense to me.  My initial reaction was that it could not be true.  I would think that if a picker could see a light and the quantity to pick in a PTL operation, they would make fewer errors than an operator who is simply told where to go and how many to pick.  But a few factors come into play here.  First, in order to save capital costs, some PTL installations use simply a light at the pick location, but display the quantity to pick on a bay display that is not directly at the pick location.   Since the lights that do not have the integrated displays are less expensive, the DCs that have installed these have made a trade-off between initial capital cost and long term accuracy.  A second factor that may cause PTL to be less accurate is focus.  Because the picker must change their focus from the pick to the light (to extinguish it), it has been argued that this may introduce an error factor that is not present in a VDP environment.   Also, in a VDP environment the picker can ask the system to repeat the last instruction.  In a PTL environment, once the light is extinguished, the picking information is usually wiped from the display (although there are techniques for leaving this information on until the next pick).  These factors may point to why voice picking is generally more accurate than PTL.

But What About Productivity?

Ah, the heart of the matter.  Well, the same studies that show that PTL is less accurate show that it is also more productive.  Again, depending on the application, PTL operations can have rates of 350 lines per man-hour or more, while voice picking in the same applications run 300 lines per man-hour or less.  Why is that so?  Well in a PTL environment, the picker can “look ahead” and pre-plan their pick movements.  Although this may be a subtle advantage, the benefits of these planned movements can add up over time.

But a word of caution here – there are several issues that can affect the productivity of either system.  These include the balancing of work across a pick zone, the number of cartons worked concurrently by the operator, the ergonomics and slotting of the pick module, and the picking density of the operation.  The key to getting the most out of a PTL system (or any picking equipment) is a proper understanding of the technology and the operation.

Maturing Technologies

Although voice picking is a newer technology, both VDP and PTL are considered mature technologies.  There are more choices of hardware and software for both types of systems than were available just a few years ago.   Also, because of this, integrators and consultants are finding more uses for the technologies and thus increasing the value to the operations who adopt either.  So neither technology is considered state-of-the-art anymore.  But before plunging into a decision to implement either, a serious evaluation by those that understand the benefits of each is highly recommended.

Prisma Graphic has the following services and capabilities.

Equipment List

Electronic Prepress

• (1) Magnus 800 Platesetter with 5 Autoloader/Cassettes
• (1) Creo Trendsetter Spectrum Platesetter
• (9) Mac Work Stations
• (9) PC Work Stations
• (6) PREPS Imposition Stations
• (2) Prinergy JVX 10.4 Ripping & Trapping Systems
• Prinergy Stochastic Screener
• Prinergy – PDF Workflow
• Kodak – FM Staccato Screening
• Canon Color ImpoProofer Automated
• 2-sided proofer with Color Management
• Canon ImagePrograf Contract Color Proofer with Kodak Color Management
• Epson Inkjet Color 9900 Proofer 44”
•  (2) Sherpa 2-Sided Proofers
• HP DesignJet 5500 Proofer
• Pictoral Proofer (11” x 17” max)
• Multiple CD/DVD Burners
• Rimage Premium CD/DVD PlexWriter (6 Unit) High-Speed
• Eversmart Pro2 Flatbed Scanner (11.5” x 17” original input)
• X RITE PlateScope (Plate Quality/Process Control)
• X RITE Spectrodensitometer (Proofing, Plating, Press Profiling Process Control)
• Eye One Color Calibration System
• Profile Maker Pro (Color Profiling system)
• Complete Up to date Software and Font Library
• All files archived on DAT and DVD
• Mirrored 3T Raid Dell Servers & Gigabit Speed Network
• E. Quix & High Speed Network Server
• FTP Server
• (2) CIP3 Servers
• Kodak ColorTune Proofing Server
• Prinergy 1.6 Remote Proofing Server
• Kodak InSite – Customer Job Interface 

Bindery

• (2) Heidelberg Cylinder Press; Sheet Size: 22 x 30”
• Brausse – 22 1/2 x 29” Die Cut, Emboss and Foil Stamp
• Kluge EHD – 14 x 20” Die Cut, Emboss and Foil Stamp
• Baum Lawson MPU, 47” Paper Cutter (Micro-cut)
• Polar 52” EMC Paper Cutter (Micro-cut)
• (2) Saber^® 54” Cutter w/ Baumann Jogger
• Mueller Martini Saddle Stitcher   10 Stations w/ Cover Feeder & 3-Knife Trimmer
• (2) Mueller Martini Saddle Stitcher   6 Stations /Cover Feeder w/ 3-Knife Trimmer
• Perfect Binder 18”
• Rollem TR, 35” Perforating & Scoring
• Rollem TR, 40” Perforating & Scoring
• MBO B26S Perfection Folder 26 x 40”; 32-Page
• MBO B23 Folder 20 x 26”; 8-Page
• MBO B32 S Perfection Folder 32 x 40”; 8-Page
• Stahl Folder 30 x 40” 16-Page Folder
• Kluge Pocket Folder Gluer w/Final Fold Ability
• Challenge Paper Drill, 5-Hole
• (1) Auto Shrink Wrap Packager
• (3) Semi-Auto Shrink Wrap Packager

Presses (Web, Sheetfed & Digital)

• M-130 Heidelberg 38 inch, 5 Color Heatset Web with Color Control System CCS Loop
• Combo Folder – Sheeter – Pattern Perforator    Maximum Sheet:  22.75 x 38 inches, Maximum Image Area:  22.5 x 37.5 inches
• Color King 36 inch, 2 Color Web Press / Combo Folder  Maximum Sheet:  22.75 x 36 inches, Maximum Image Area:  22.5 x 35.5 inches
• Akiyama 40 inch, 5 Color Perfector with Color Control System CCS Loop Maximum Sheet:  28 x 40 inches,  Maximum Image Area: 27.5 x 39.5 inches
•  (2) Akiyama 40 inch, 6 Color w/ Aqueous Coater,  Maximum Sheet:  28 x 40 inches,   Maximum Image Area:  27.5.  X 39.5 inches
• Mitsubishi 28 inch, 6 Color w/ Aqueous Coater,    Maximum Sheet:  20 x 28 inches,    Maximum Image Area:  19.5 x 27.5 inches
• Ryobi True 2 Color (Best for Registration and Solids),  Maximum Sheet:  12 x 18 inches,  Maximum Image Area: 11.5 x 17.5 inches
• (2) AB Dick 2 Color Replicator,  Maximum Sheet:  12 x 18 inches,  Maximum Image Area: 11.5 x 17.5 inches
• Halm Jet 2C Color Perfector Envelope Press,    Maximum Sheet:  13 x 18 inches, Maximum Image Area: 11 x 17 inches
• HP Indigo 5000 4 Color Press   Maximum Sheet:  12 x 18 inches,  Maximum Image Area: 11.6 x 17.2 inches
• C6500 Digital 4 Color Copier/Press,   Maximum Sheet:  12 x 18 inches,  Maximum Image Area: 11.6 x 17.2 inches

Fulfillment

• Pick and Pack
• Package and Distribution
• On-line Customized Inventory Management
• Cycle Count

 Mailing Services

Our Mailing Department offers a fully integrated service, which
is completely in-house, and configured to suit any requirements.
These services include data acquisition and management, CASS
certification, NCOA service, DPV validation. Prisma can customize
any mailing program to satisfy the needs of our clients.

 Dokshop.com (Web-to-Print Solution)

A unique business-to-business product that enables users to order,
personalize, proof and manage print materials online.  Its parameter-
based programming allows customization with various user options
and controls. Each site can be specifically tailored to fulfill any client’s
needs.

____________________________________________________

 Offset Printing Services:

•  Sheetfed: Medium Quantity Print Runs
•  Jprint 5C Perfector Press with Color Control System CCL
• Sheetfed: Large Quantity Print Runs with our new Control System CCL
•  Heatset Web: Large Quantity Print runs with Color
• Open Web: Short and Large Print runs

  Digital Printing:

•  Including Variable Data
•  Indigo Short Quantity Print runs, Up to 12”x18”, Including Variable Data with Inline Finishing
•  Konica Minolta Quantity Print runs, Up to 12”x18″
•  41”X72” Large Format-Short Quantity Print runs

•  State-of-the-Art Computer Hardware,
•  Software & Color Correction & Image Manipulation
•  Hi-res Canon Kodak Proofs
•  HP Ink Jet & Laser Proofs, Sherpa Digital Proofs
•  Prinergy Ripping & Trapping
•  Prinergy –FM Segundo Stochastic Screening
•  Kodak Remote Proofing
•  Kodak-FM Staccato Screening
•  Prinergy PDF Workflow
• SSL Secured FTP Site
• Direct-to-Plate Magnus 800

  Design & Production 

•  Outside agency support
•  Supplement In-house Creative Staff
• Develop Original Concepts 
• Follow Existing Corporate Graphic Standards

 CD/DVD Duplicating

•  Data Duplication 
• Thermal Label Printing

Bindery

• Folding 
• Scoring 
• Perforating 
• Stitching 
• Perfect Bind 
• Die Cutting 
• Embossing 
• Foil Stamping 
• Gluing
• Drilling
• Mounting
• Sequential Numbering

  DOKSHOP: Online e-Commerce Website

• Pre-approved Products
•  Brand consistency
• Static and Dynamic Fields
• Instant Online PDF ApprovalView Order Status and History
• Customizable Shipping

State-of-the-Art Warehouse Facility

• Product Inventory Storage
• Clearly Labeled Product with Scannable Bar Codes

 Fulfillment  

• Computerized Pick & Pac
• Build Kits of Various Configurations Requirements
• Bulk or Custom Packaging to Fit your Unique
• Ship to Single or Multiple Locations

Mailing, Shipping & Receiving

• CASS Certified Mailing Services
• Database Management
• Inserting
• 1st Class, Standard Presort
• Bulk Mail with FedEx Overnight
• 2-day or Ground Shipping
• Common Carrier

Contact Prisma Graphic for a quote on all your printing, design and mailing needs.

Prisma Graphic:   Paving the Way to a marketing solutions provider.

To compete as a traditional commercial printer in today’s economic climate and evolving market takes vision. For Prisma Graphic, that vision has been to provide unmatched customer service, consider every client a partner and offer economical marketing solutions beyond ink on paper.

 Prisma started as a boutique print shop over 29 years ago, and in 2000 the privately-held company transferred ownership to Bob Anderson. Rather than remaining a great traditional printer, Bob has worked to transform Prisma into an all-inclusive print and marketing solutions provider to help clients improve, implement and execute their marketing efforts. Ever since the transition, the company has experienced 15-20% annual growth each year.

 Our staff views every project as an opportunity to further the success of our clients’ image, initiatives and marketing  goals. From our 82,000 square foot facility in Phoenix, we provide design support, heat-set web, sheetfed, variable data printing, full bindery, fulfillment services and complete direct mailing. Additionally, Prisma has a proprietary online product called dokshop – a dynamic online solution enabling our clients to brand manage, distribute products worldwide and print on demand at their convenience. We are also very proud of our green initiatives, which include recycling paper, cardboard, ink cans and drums and printing with vegetable and soy-based inks.

 We know you have many choices when it comes to printing. Give Prisma a call today at 800 379-5777 to discuss your next print marketing solution – See firsthand what it really means to Print Smart.

Why printing?  The ways printing helps your company prosper.

   At one time or another we all have taken printing for granted. Perhaps because print has been the world’s number one communication medium for so long, we tend to overlook its impact and power. That oversight could be detrimental to the success of a marketing campaign, a product launch or a branding initiative trying to make connections. Consumers trust print, feel comfortable using it and are unable to fast forward past it. Electronic content comes and goes and when it’s gone, your message disappears with it. Print, on the other hand, is there for the long run.

 According to a recent survey by the Magazine Publishers of America 24% of readers will pass along an interesting article to someone else, 23% will save it for future reference and 13% will visit a relevant website; giving advertisers double and triple bonuses on their marketing investments.

This magazine is dedicated to the persuasive power of print and how it continues to evolve and play an important role in the marketing mix. Along with several informative articles throughout, we have included the advantages of using print. We hope you find this blog informative, inspiring and ultimately beneficial to your marketing efforts.

 Sincerely,

The Prisma Graphic Team

Prisma Graphic is Proof to Print- G7 Master Qualified by IDEAlliance.  For more information about Prisma Graphic and the G7 Master rating please contact us at Prisma Graphic.

WEB TO PRINT: The DokShop Solution

 For some years now discerning print buyers have been charged with reducing costs, saving time and improving results, all the while saddled with tight marketing budgets based on revenue generation. While some marketers have turned towards alternative media to help meet their defined objectives, others simply started cutting back their efforts altogether. Those that have experimented with multi-channel communications, especially the integration of print and the Internet, have found they did not need to stray too far to get results. And really, with so many companies falling well short of their sales objectives today, no one can afford to scale back any part of their marketing efforts.

 A September 2008 Epsilon survey of top Chief Marketing Officers reported that over 94% of the respondents said they feel “a tough economic period is precisely the time when marketing plays a key role.” By investing in proven strategies and collateral-based marketing materials, companies can sustain basic marketing efforts that continue revenue flowing even through economic downturns. This notion can be substantiated considering the CMO Council’s 2008 Marketing Outlook that said events and trade shows, direct marketing, sales support materials, and online marketing were at the top of marketers’ investment lists.

 Generally speaking, collateral-based materials have always been centered in corporate marketing departments where brand standards, timing, costs and other critical aspects of marketing campaigns can be closely monitored. With the time, expense and headcount required to maintain this control, however, many have looked to their vendors for solutions. Meeting these demands on time, with ease, and at reasonable prices can be difficult; especially for those vendors unwilling to evolve. Many traditional printers have yet to embrace the web-to-print relationship, maybe for fear of losing the customer to the convenience of the Internet, or simply due to a lack of technological confidence or knowledge.

 “In today’s business environment, being able to provide traditional print, as well as a robust web-to-print solution, is crucial to the future success of any commercial printer,” according to Bob Anderson, President of Prisma Graphic Corporation. Launched almost 9 years ago, Prisma’s industry-leading, online solution called dokshop has become an integral part of the company’s business and appeal. “Most of our clients really understand the importance of an online application like this right from the start,” says Anderson. “Our dokshop system alleviates the majority of the day-to-day costs and headaches of corporately-managed marketing efforts; helps to explain why it has become the fastest growing component of our company.”

 Dokshop Defined

 Prisma Graphic developed dokshop.com as an online solution to support company-specific ordering sites that are tailored and personalized to meet the individual needs of each client. More specifically, dokshop sites enable clients to easily manage and distribute valuable corporate marketing assets; direct mailers, sales sheets, brochures, image or logo libraries, advertisements and email blasts, for example. These products can be produced statically or variably and either printed on demand and/or distributed electronically or by any common carrier. More importantly, the basic functionality of these sites gives complete control to the client to decide who can order, how often, how much and how each order is cost accounted.

 Prisma Graphic promotes these fully-customizable, web-to-print solution sites to clients looking to save time and money in the marketing process. With complete personalization options, dokshop can mirror a corporation’s centralized marketing department and help to lower basic administrative costs. Ultimately, dokshop’s very existence is to help marketers maintain brand standards, manage multiple location orders and total inventory, minimize collateral waste and economically distribute assets quickly and efficiently.

 Orders placed through dokshop typically ship within 1-to-4 working days from the time of receipt – a fraction of the time needed for a traditional order. Since introduced in 2001, dokshop has enabled businesses around the country to launch worldwide marketing campaigns much more efficiently. Today, dokshop supports nearly 235 clients with over 32,000 users and continues to grow.

 Simply put, dokshop allows Prisma Graphic to offer their clients the products and services they need, when they need it and how they need it. Please contact your current Prisma Sales Representative, or Bob Anderson now to find out how this dynamic web-to-print solution can benefit your company (800 379-5777 or  roberta@prismagraphic.com ).

  “What brought Avnet to Prisma in 2000 was the need for a quick turnaround on a specialty order of embossed business cards. I am pleased to say we have been married like ink to paper with them ever since. Prisma not only upholds our project deadlines but also meets our time, cost and quality standards. Needless to say, when they launched their dynamic online ordering site, we were the first in line. Their dokshop system has helped us control brand consistency across our 300 world-wide locations, streamline our print buying process and manage our company collateral; supporting our company-wide green initiative. Our business relationship has significantly grown and strengthened over the years, as they continue to work with us and our ever-evolving needs. The key to their success is their friendly service, ideas and consistent effort to support our programs.”

 Al Maag,   Chief Communications Officer, Avnet

With operations in 73 countries, Avnet has become one of the world’s largest technology distributors of electronic components, embedded subsystems, enterprise computing products and solutions. Their corporate social responsibility strives to make a difference in their employees, community, industry and the environment.

In 2008, Avnet was recognized in the list of “America’s Most Admired Companies” by Fortune magazine – ranking first in many categories and second overall.

 “As a large organization, one of the biggest struggles we face, as do many large organizations, is maintaining brand consistency. We also have the added challenge of supporting multiple locations throughout the country, which can be both time consuming and costly. A couple of years ago, Prisma set us up with a dokshop site, which streamlined our ordering process while allowing us to maintain our brand throughout our nearly 200 locations. Our dokshop site has made it easy for our locations to utilize corporate-approved materials, rather than relying on their own collateral.”

 Darin Hancock,  Marketing Manager, University of Phoenix

In the past 30 years, University of Phoenix has helped transform the landscape of higher education by making it easily accessible for working students. The University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association (ncahlc.org). University of Phoenix offers a wide variety of degree programs at the Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorial levels and in fields such as business, technology, health care and education to name a few.

Making the Most of Marketing Dollars, Planning & Prepress Addressed

Although it seems fairly straight forward, there are many decisions leading up to and within each print project that directly affect its bottom-line and overall impact. Proper planning and specific attention to detail can save thousands of dollars. Working with a reliable and knowledgeable print solutions representative is a great start; a partner willing to provide practical solutions to make the most of your marketing dollars.

 The options to save during planning are endless with a little creative flexibility. And, below are just a few examples.

 Removing bleed on an 8.5 x 11 flyer allows for 10, rather than 8, to print at a time and on the same parent-sized sheet; paper is normally 30 to 50% of the total job cost.

 Think about using a self-cover format for multiple-page products. Removing the heavier cover eliminates the cost of an extra press form and may allow the project to fold in-line; every off-line process adds to the bottom line.

When preparing for a direct mail project consider the following:

•            Processing the mailing list(s) in advance will establish the actual quantity needed and potentially reduce waste by 7% or more.

•            Sticking to a maximum finished size of 11.5 wide x 6.125 tall, and staying under 3.3 oz, can save roughly $0.12 per piece in postage; a $2,400 savings with just 20,000 mailers.

•            Fugitive glue dot closures can be applied during the folding process for a small set-up fee, while the wafer seal application adds $17 to $20 per thousand in each direction; new USPS regulations require closures on all “open” sides.

 Once the final specs are established, a second place to prevent additional costs is in the final file set-up and content review stages. Utilizing each software application correctly and carefully reviewing projects before file release are critical steps in this process. Below are just a few examples of ways to retain cost controls.

 Using a document size larger than the actual trim size of the piece, forgetting to include 1/8″ bleeds or building multiple-page products in spreads, rather than single pages, can all add considerable time and costs in to the prepress process.

 Correctly specifying inks, throughout software utilized, has never been more important. Using PANTONE’s COLOR BRIDGE® profiles to establish your 4-color process builds will ensure color accuracy and avoid second and even third rounds of color proofs. To download free support tools, including the latest color libraries and PANTONE® Color Bridge Tutorials visit www.pantone.com. You will be asked to create a user account, then you can click on the “helpCenter” in the menu bar to select the “Color Library Updates” page.

 Running a quick spell check and having an “outside” set of eyes review the overall content, before final file release, will also help avoid costly mistakes. Discovering grammatical and layout issues beforehand will help to keep projects on track and on budget.

 To find out more about minimizing costs or about proper file set-up, please contact a Prisma Sales Representative, or Kyle Cardinal by calling 800 379-5777 or emailing  kylec@prismagraphic.com.

Loyalty Marketing  by Jessica Grosse

 As consumers, we are constantly exposed to loyalty marketing programs. Think about how many times a day you insert your debit card, scan a key fob or provide your phone number or zip code at the check-out counter. We have become so accustomed to these routines that most of us now consider them just part of the purchase process, regardless of the personal benefit or reward. Whether we opt-in or not, our spending patterns and product preferences are easily attainable. Considering how prevalent transactional data has become, companies willing to invest the time and resources to collect this data have a distinct advantage in their respective industries. This data provides clear customer profiles, helps to predict product trends and can also be used as the foundation of a successful loyalty marketing program.

 I recently had the opportunity to sit down for a brief Q&A session with Stacee Amos who is the Owner of SEEK-Consultants, an advertising and branding firm. The goal was to capture the essence of a loyalty program, what it entails and how it can work for any brand.

 Q:         How do you define loyalty marketing?

A:            Loyalty marketing can be defined as a program that helps a company retain and expand their existing customer base by identifying the purchasing habits, preferences and then translating that data into relevant incentives to increase sales.

 Q:         What is a successful loyalty program?

A:         You must keep it simple and sweet or “KISS.” A successful loyalty program offers: (1) a clear list of expectations, (2) valuable rewards/perks that are relevant to its members’ needs and (3) attracts new customers with compelling opportunities that are only provided through the program.

 Q:         How does one start a loyalty program?

A:         A few top-line points in starting a loyalty program.

•          Get to know your customers intimately. Try to gather enough information during enrollment to learn about their preferences, which will in turn allow you to define their needs, wants and wishes. After all, the program is all about them.

•          If you can offer multiple points of communication, find out how they prefer to be contacted (online, direct mail, social media, mobile, etc.) and how often (1x a day, 1x a week, 1x a month). This investment will keep loyalty customers engaged on their terms, and allow your business to better understand what methods and promotions are working best.

•            Tracking. A loyalty program must have a tracking component within each communication. Implement an online tracking code, personalized URL (PURL), vanity phone number or bar code within all communications to determine what works and what needs improvement.

 Q:         What types of rewards are appropriate in loyalty programs?

A:         In most cases, the bargain hunters are not loyal customers. Ideally, your loyalty program will have rewards based more on products and less on discounts. If you are a restaurant, consider offering members one of your most popular or newest appetizers the next time they dine in. Or, if you are an online or retail store, offer an exclusive opportunity to purchase new products prior to the general public. Reward your loyal customers with your product as the incentive, not a discount. These customers become “loyal” over time by choosing your brand over price.

 Q:         And lastly, how do you sustain a loyalty program?

A:            Sustaining a loyalty program is simple if you continually support your existing customers with relevant promotional opportunities, entice new customers with members-only rewards and consistently track all communications; ensuring you target the right person, with the right message and at the right time.

  To learn more about the benefits of loyalty marketing, or discuss ways to get started using transactional data to increase sales, contact a Prisma Sales Representative, or Chad Carmody at 800 379-5777 or   chadc@prismagraphic.com.

Leveraging the Internet’s Power with the Impact of Print.  Some are convinced the Internet will one day rule the marketing world. Experienced marketers know that it is just a tool, albeit a powerful one, that works best when it is combined with other mediums, particularly print.

According to a recent InfoTrends study, companies that launch multi-media campaigns reported an average improvement of 35% (using print, web landing pages and email) over single channel print-only campaigns. Moreover, using personalization pushes that average closer to 50%.

Current marketing trends depict that no one vehicle will win out soon, as top response rates continue to be the result of a combination of media. The Internet has proven to be an extremely efficient way to gather information, while direct mail is best at driving traffic to storefronts and websites. By providing a variety of touch points, to maintain visibility, the consumer ultimately decides how to receive your message.

An easy way to integrate the Internet and print into a campaign launch is by utilizing both variable data printing (VDP) and online one-to-one messaging (such as personalized URLs and emails). Marketers are now enlisting both mediums to individualize each and every piece of a campaign; right down to the images shown, every word of pitch and even the specific product offerings.

 Where to begin?

 Chase Granberry, Founder of AuthorityLabs, suggests exploiting the strengths of both mediums. “When you are ready to expand your client base, purchase a prospect list that mirrors your best customers and send out a general direct mail that drives interest to an informational online landing page.” As we all know, consumers will provide contact information to receive something of value – special promotions, contests with great prizes, networking event notifications and even monthly newsletters.

Using this “opt-in” approach helps to qualify the leads, complies with recent legislation and provides all the contact info needed to dig a little deeper. “The more information you can gather, the more you can make your product or service relevant to the consumer,” explains Granberry. “And, the better you are in this process, the higher your response rates will be in return.”

In fact, some marketers have gotten extremely advanced at employing the one-to-one messaging technique. Granberry says, “A friend of mine recently received a windshield wiper offer on a day it happened to rain in Phoenix and from a national retailer he had patronized a few months prior. And to think, some might call that a coincidence.”

To learn more about the options that integrate your marketing efforts and help improve results, call your current Prisma Sales Representative, or Shelly Sheldahl at 800 377-5777 or email shellys@prismagraphic.com.

 University of Phoenix

Integrated Marketing Case Study

Client Objective/Goal:  To successfully integrate client-supplied initial contact information, gathered through mail-in, call-in and on-line sources, into follow-up direct mail pieces customized for each prospect; including name, gender, nearest campuses and programs of interest. The ultimate goal is to increase interest and enrollment opportunities by making each message more relevant to the individual.

Prisma Graphic Solution:  Developed web-to-print products that incorporate the initial contact information into a variable data print (VDP) direct mail application, to individually address each prospect and provide multiple communication methods to further the relationship. This dynamic approach has not only provided the client with a substantial cost-savings through automation, it has allowed them to make their message relevant to each prospect. Moreover, it has expanded the client’s ability to provide and gather more information to help satisfy demand through traditional and/or online course offerings.

Printing Industries of America and the Digital Printing Council are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2009 web2awards. In its inaugural year, the web2awards are the industry’s first and only contest established for printing industry websites worldwide.

“These awards highlight the role the Internet has come to play in the printing industry. By recognizing excellence in print-related websites, the Digital Printing Council helps to encourage each printer’s advancement in doing some portion of their business in the ‘cloud,” said Julie Shaffer, vice president, digital technologies for Printing Industries of America.

An independent panel of undisclosed judges deliberated over dozens of print-centric websites. They evaluated the each website’s entire experience based on six scoring criteria. For each company sales range, the highest score in a given category won Best of Category. All Best of Category winners were evaluated to select this year’s Best in Show. “I was impressed with the quality and diversity of the entries. Obviously some were better than others, but overall they all demonstrated how they are embracing the Web and using it as a tool to advance their print-related business,” commented one of this year’s judges.

The winners will be presented with their prestigious awards at the 2009 Converge Conference, on November 8, 2009, in Orlando, Florida. We are delighted to welcome recipients from as far away as the Netherlands to the awards ceremony, including Voorzet-Training, Advice, Research from Flevoland, Netherlands, a Best of Category winner.

The 2009 web2award recipients are listed below by category. There were also 16 Exceptional Website certificates awarded this year. These were given to high scores regardless of category. For a full listing, please visit www.printing.org/web2awards.

Best of Category Winners

Category: Homegrown/Under 10 million

Company: Voorzet-Training, Advice, Research

Title of Winning Entry: VoorWeb www.voorweb.info

Category: Homegrown/10-20 million

Company: Action Envelope

Title of Winning Entry: Action Envelope www.actionenvelope.com

Category: Homegrown/Over 20 million

Company: Mimeo.com

Title of Winning Entry: Mimeo Marketplace https://marketplace.mimeo.com/gtc

Category: Static/Under 10 million

Company: Point Imaging

Title of Winning Entry: Point Imaging website www.pointimaging.com

Category: Static/Over 20 million

Company: Mimeo.com

Title of Winning Entry: Mimeo WWW site www.mimeo.com

Category: Licensed/Under 10 million (TIE)

Company: Supreme Graphics

Title of Winning Entry: Supreme Graphics Online Print Center www.supremegraphics.com

Company: RESCO

Title of Winning Entry: Dole Print-on-Demand www.doleprintondemand.com

Best of Show

Company: Mimeo.com

Title of Winning Entry: Mimeo WWW site www.mimeo.com

Visit www.abgusa.com for more information

Xerox DocuColor 5000 - High Quality Digital Printing Press with Fiery RIP Server

When you need 50 or 100 presentations printed for an important meeting tomorrow morning, and you are dealing with highly sensitive information, Advanced Business Group has the equipment, the know-how and the experience to get the job done, on time, and confidentially. With a staff working 24/7, we are continually accessible in our Midtown facility.

Our Equipment – The Xerox DocuColor 5000 with Fiery RIP Server

The combination of three Xerox DocuColor 5000 Digital Printing Presses allows us to comfortably produce up to 15,000 full color pages every hour, which equates to 360,000 pages every 24 hours – now that’s a lot of copies. The DocuColor Digital Press supports a wide range of paper weights, from lighter presentation grade paper, to heavy card stock for tent cards and high-end promotional pieces, giving us the flexibility to print anything from Instruction Manuals to Name Badges. The Press also allows for Variable Data Printing and Personalization, without slowing down print speeds, so anything we can print, we can also personalize: With a name, with an address, with images, or any other data – all in the same time. Since 1992, our performance in New York City is unmatched. We routinely print, bind and deliver in NYC, all in the same day, even for the most demanding deadlines. Our quality printing is only a part of what we do. Binding in multiple formats, with point to point accountability. We take responsibility for both the finished product and accurate distribution. We get results without excuses.

Variable Data Printing with the Xerox DocuColor 5000

Variable Data Printing in New York City

When you have a Direct Mail Campaign as a part of your marketing strategy, the key to its success is Personalization and 1-to-1 Communication. When you address a person directly, by their first name, and when you can suggest a product which adheres to their taste, they will be more than likely to respond to your offer. The question is: “How Do I Get Started, and Where Do I Begin?”. With our Digital Printing Equipment, and our Variable Data Printing (VDP) Software, all we need to get started is a design template and a data source. We then connect the dynamic text and image elements with the supplied data source using our VDP Software, preparing the supplied template for variable printing. Once setup is completed, we are ready to print and mail out your postcards.

High Print Quality for Advertising, Promotional, and other Marketing Campaigns

Our Xerox Digital Presses print at an astounding 2400 x 2400 DPI, enhancing the look and feel of any imagery, whether it be a Logo, a Landscape, or Fashion Photography. Give your Presentations, Look Books, Media Kits, and Promotional Brochures that professional look, with High Quality Digital Printing in New York from ABG. We provide speed, quality, and superior customer support, all at a price you can afford.

Call us at (212) 398-1010 for more information, or visit www.abgusa.com to request a quick print quote.

Michael J. Mulligan
Advanced Business Group, Inc.
266 West 37th Street
New York, NY 10018
(212) 398-1010
www.abgusa.com

The UK’s first demonstration of DirectSmile Cross Media will take centre stage on the DirectSmile stand

Berlin, 13th October, 2009 – At mediaPro 09 (stand 81), 4-5 November, DirectSmile, a launch partner of the new show, will be providing live demonstrations of its new integrated Cross Media solution, designed for agencies, enterprises and printers.

At mediaPro, visitors to the DirectSmile stand will have the chance to explore DirectSmile Cross Media in detail and see how to boost response rates, track campaign results and win new customer data for even more targeted follow-up campaigns.

The inventor of image personalisation, DirectSmile is one of the leading suppliers of software for one-to-one marketing and variable data printing. Its array of award-winning solutions allows users to implement sophisticated personalisation tasks with ease, efficiency and smooth workflows, and leverage the power of personalised communications across all media. Axel Marciniak, managing director of DirectSmile, comments, “Our solutions are designed for true mass-personalisation, allowing million-volume database-driven communications, both in print and digital media with the ability to track campaign feedback in detail.”

With Cross Media, DirectSmile takes the concept of one-to-one marketing to a new level by offering a central campaign platform, which hosts the data for a multitude of media including print, web, e-mail and mobile media. Users can build their own personal URL websites, send personalised e-mailings and create and produce their personalised mail pieces, all from one database and by using one solution. The user can establish a broad variety of mechanisms for automated customer feedback, such as response e-mails or SMS. Personalised images can easily be integrated into all media.

mediaPro is a unique event for all those involved in the creation, production, procurement and distribution of media and marketing communications. “The concept of this newly launched event fits perfectly with the philosophy of our latest product, DirectSmile Cross Media, which brings together data, design concepts and multiple media channels for highly targeted communications” adds Axel Marciniak. “Our new solution is designed for agencies as well as for printers and marketing departments. For us it was an ideal platform to talk to our key markets.”

Businesses with true marketing savvy use direct mail regularly. They know that it’s still the most powerful medium available. In fact, few other marketing tools can deliver your message with such impact, focus, and customization… and at such a low cost. The amount of mail your business receives every day is a testament to the ongoing effectiveness of direct mail. Let’s face it, if direct mail didn’t work, you’d have stopped receiving it a long time ago.

Following are seven compelling reasons to ensure direct mail is always an integral part of your marketing mix:

Reason # 1
Direct Mail gets you up close and personal – especially when you take advantage of Variable Data Printing (VDP) which customizes each piece with the addressee’s name. Everyone instinctively notices his or her name. Combine that with a reliable database of addresses and you’ve captured the attention of your target audience. In fact, one of the best things about direct mail is that it gets one-on-one attention from your specific prospect. 

Reason # 2
Direct Mail leverages your time and money – and helps you avoid a colossal waste of resources. Giving a great sales presentation to one prospect at a time is inefficient and therefore counterproductive. Sales is a numbers game by its very nature. Send out thousands of direct mail pieces and you’ve expanded your reach exponentially. That’s leveraging at its best. 

Reason # 3
Direct mail demands attention – an oversized, colorful postcard is going to stand out from the clutter of mail received everyday. So will a cleverly designed package or envelope. Direct mail lets you be as creative as you need. It is read one piece at a time. Ultimately, it gives you the best chance of catching your prospect’s attention and maintaining it. 

Reason # 4
Direct Mail secures a quick response – once you send out your direct mail piece it doesn’t take long to learn the results. Usually, you’ll receive the vast majority of responses within a week or two. You can even further control response time by offering a limited time offer as an incentive.

Reason # 5
Direct Mail makes it easy to track your return on investment – every business needs to secure the best ROI possible in these challenging economic times. With direct mail marketing you can code your mail pieces to determine the exact number of responses you received from each campaign using different offers, incentives and lists. Once you know what worked and what didn’t, you can immediately start to “tweak” your message to increase your response rate.

Reason # 6
Direct Mail remains one of the most cost effective means of marketing – you can send out a direct mail piece that includes a comprehensive marketing proposition and imaginative inserts for pennies apiece. You can further reduce expenses by utilizing cost effective postcards.

Reason # 7
Direct Mail is tangible – it is something your client can touch and feel. It has a long shelf life, especially if it’s something creative like a calendar or attractive motivational poster. Direct mail is something that the recipient can keep. It’s not just an electronic image or message with an ephemeral existence. It is physical. It has a “lingering” marketing impact.

Here is a sample of a personalized holiday postcard that utilized Graphical Variable Data.

Visit www.ThePrintConcierge.com to get your direct marketing campaign started today!

Press manufacturer chooses ixPressia to complement new digital press and access new markets

At Labelexpo in Brussels this week Delta Industrial, designer and manufacturer of specialised web converting and packaging equipment, demonstrates its new inkjet label printer module driven by the ixPressia Print Engine Colour Label software. The full colour, fully variable, digital inkjet label printer unit is the latest addition to the Delta Mod-Tech portfolio. It can be custom engineered and incorporated into manufacturing and packaging lines for quick-change barcodes, sequential numbering and date coding on packaging lines.

The ixPressia Print Engine Colour Label software is optimised to process full colour, greyscale quality variable content in real time to match the press print speed. Advance features include transparency and ICC colour profile support for accurate reproduction. The software enables users to print any combination of static or variable images to give a high level of flexibility for printing high quality ID cards and labels.

Delta President, Dave Schiebout, said “ixPressia’s Colour Label software is ideal for our label printer. As well as controlling the printer, the software has a front end that allows us to print variable data, text and images on the fly, with minimal processing time. Customers can add last minute text such as dates, or full colour images and bar codes. It’s a full and very flexible solution.”

Delta now plans to use ixPressia Print Engine software to upgrade from printing at a width of 70mm to 280mm whilst maintaining a throughput of 0.5 m/sec.

“The partnership with Delta Industrial is a significant endorsement for ixPressia,” says Jim Taylor, Director of ixPressia. “This software provides a complete production-ready, variable data software front-end for on-demand inkjet systems, allowing companies to realise the full potential of their technology and fulfil the strong demand for personalised products.”