What have we printed the most throughout lockdown?
Despite a downturn in sales, we decided to stay open throughout lockdown, not just to fulfil any orders that might come our way, but to support our clients with general business help and advice.
Looking at the products we sold, we were surprised by the findings. Here are our top ten printed products during lockdown in reverse order:
In…….10. Artwork.
OK, not so much a product but a service. Many clients asked us to create graphics to use now but to print post-lockdown. This is a good idea because clients can post the graphics online and on social media and as soon they are ready, we can press the ‘print button’. It helps spread the cost too.
In ninth place: Letterheads.
Many professional services still require hard-copy documents and we’ve been on-hand to despatch urgent letterheads, compliment slips and forms throughout lockdown.
What’s great at eight? Stickers.
A great way to make your marketing message stick! With many companies changing from a restaurant to a take-away or a gift shop to online sales, stickers are a quick and cost-effective way to brand letterbox-friendly packaging and seal food bags.
SEVEN! Roller Banners.
Who knew that our backgrounds at home would become so important? Roller banners hide a multitude of sins! Roller banners are available in a range of sizes from 800mm wide right to 2m wide.
In Six: Magazines and Newsletters.
Pre-lockdown, one particular customer used email marketing to send internal newsletters to colleagues and stakeholders. Soon after lockdown, they switched to a printed newsletter, which they commissioned us to print and post on their behalf. Here is what they said; “since switching to printed newsletters, we’ve experienced a higher level of engagement from staff and stakeholders alike. Staff morale is boosted when they see stories about themselves and their colleagues in print. It feels more real than an email. It has certainly improved communication and the number of stories we receive from staff has increased.”
In an article by TwoSides, Ffion Turner, Business Intelligence Board Director at MediaCom said; “trust is high on the agenda for clients right now, so it’s key to be able to distinguish the elements that make a brand trustworthy in the eyes of the consumer.”*
Our very own Yvonne Gorman added. “people are bombarded with online advertising; social media notifications, junk mail in their inbox and remarketing campaigns following them around the internet. Print cuts through all this and makes the message feel tangible and real. Readers trust information in print more than when its read in digital form. Blogs and web pages can be changed in an instant, whereas companies who use print to communicate are committing themselves to the information. When personalised print lands on your desk, people feel valued. After all, to get that printed piece of direct mail to you, someone has invested their time, effort and money to tell you something”.
High Five: Pens.
In a world of digital communication, printed pens remain one of our most popular items. Many orders for pens formed part of clients’ gift packs. One client wanted a pen to give to every customer who completed a form in their showroom to avoid them being used again in store. The benefit; not just for hygiene reasons but, the company logo on the pen will be a subtle reminder of the customers’ experience even after they leave the showroom.
What’s fab at four? Notepads and Notebooks.
Clients who ordered printed notepads and notebooks used them as part of a ‘work from home’ pack. One client, Karen from Busy Lives, ordered note pads and pens to post to her customers and prospects as part of a Happy New Year gift – a great idea!
Here is what Karen had to say, “Just wanted to thanks Essential Print Services for all their help, support and advice. I don’t know about you, but with not networking in person but still virtually, new leads and clients have dropped off for me. Adapting as we do, a postal campaign is part of my next strategy and way forward. I’m been so excited about this delivery – always top quality – always of a high professional standard and finish, always Essential Print Services.”
Three is the magic number: Flyers.
Post is not a thing of the past. When someone sees an advert online, it is too easy to scroll by. If someone receives a leaflet or printed flyer through the door for a service they need now or in the future, they are more likely to keep it.
According to a report by the Royal Mail’s Market Reach; “results show that mail activates areas of the brain responsible for long-term memory encoding 49% more than email and 35% more than social media advertising. This reveals the pivotal role mail can play within the media mix to boost memorability and potentially increase purchase intent.”** If you have never tried a printed mailing campaign, get in touch with us about how it can help your business. If you have no data of your own, then ask us about our Essential Data Service.
In……..two: Printed Brochures.
Orders included reports and booklets needed for online events and company-wide meetings. Since lockdown began, we regularly post individual brochures to offices and home addresses. Many clients still prefer printed brochures because it cuts through the digital noise and helps bring online meetings to life. Printed brochures provide ‘alone-time’ for the customer to absorb the information and helps convert the client to the purchase stage.
Our number one most popular printed item is…..Business Cards.
YES! The humble business card was the top printed product at Essential Print Services. Clients who continued to recruit asked us to print business cards and deliver direct to employees’ homes – not a problem! We received many business card orders from clients not only in industries that remained open but those who were closed too. When asked, one client replied, “I’ll need them one day, so why not order them now?” Why not indeed!
Unsurprisingly, the areas of our business that were hit the worst were products associated with events and exhibitions. These included portable display stands, large indoor graphics, printed event tickets, wristbands and printed programmes. Some products in our printed promotional item range saw a decline in sales too, which included printed balloons, badges and bags.
So there you have it. our top ten printed items during lockdown 1.0-3.0.
Whether you printed something or nothing throughout lockdown, let us know, we would love to hear from you.
If you would like an informal chat about any of these products or opinions, feel free to contact us.
Sources: *https://www.marketreach.co.uk/sites/default/files/RM_MarketReach_Mail-Cuts-Through-Report_0.pdf
**https://www.twosides.info/UK/a-question-of-trust/
