Hi All!
Okay, I got my banner on! Hehe! So, success finally, and we are printing for Customers! Yay! Just starting with Banners and Posters since we have plenty of that.
Pricing Posters is pretty easy, but banners, there are quite a few variables. I won't go over price, not the place for it.
My research the past couple of days has brought me to both Vista Prints website, and also to the Staples Print website. I figure that most people are familiar with both of those and I thought it was a good place to start, just to see how they are marketing their banners and what the features are. They both look to be offering just a 10 oz and you have the option of 15 oz for more $$$. Vista Prints charges a fee to upload your own design or logo, but Staples Prints online does not. But they both have plenty of templates you can use no charge that can be edited or added to.
I called my local(ist) Staples to see what their prices were at the store. They were using an HP Aqueous "Z" series printer, and they said "powder" inks. The person I spoke with said that this was waterproof and good for outdoor use. She did not say it was laminated. She did not say how long the banner would hold up. Their prices (although not listing them here) were more than double what Staples Printing online had. I was glad to see that as I know that they do interact with Customers quite a bit, as I do. This is the only place I'm going to list a price.... Here goes: the local STAPLES does charge $1.00 per grommet and they are brass. They could not tell me the size of the grommet. Oh, and they could not even tell me the weight or the ounces of the banner material. They offer cut edges, or folded and taped. They do not offer sewn edges. If you do not have a graphic or layout to give them, they do offer help with your graphics, for a fee. I was glad to see that too. Their turn around time is roughly 2 days for one banner.
So, I feel that Staples on-line is really not my competition, nor is Vista Press. Buyers are pretty much on their own on those websites and they can be tedious when the internet is slow. Heck, the waiting times on shipping are very long and I think I can blow them out of the water there, as long as my machine cooperates!
What I want to know is....
Do you cut the edges of your banners? Sew? Tape?
If sewing or taping, is there an "additional fee" that you are adding?
Not asking what the fee is, just asking if you are adding a fee.
If sewing, do you do in-house, or do you sub it out to local seamstress/seamster?
Are you using 13 oz Banner material? 15 oz Banner material? Do your Customers order more Matte Banner, or more Gloss Banner?
Since this is in the HP Forum, which HP Printer are you using? Which banner weights are you using most?
Will 15 oz banner material run in the L25500 Latex machine? I've only had good results with the 13 oz so far.
Do you use nickel or brass grommets? Do you use plastic adhesive hangers, like Vista Prints offers? Also, is this just included in your sq. ft. print price, or do you have and "additional" fee per grommet (?)
Do you offer standard sizes for banners? If so, do you charge extra if Customer wants a Custom Size which is not on your standard banner size list?
Thanks so much for your input!
Okay, I got my banner on! Hehe! So, success finally, and we are printing for Customers! Yay! Just starting with Banners and Posters since we have plenty of that.
Pricing Posters is pretty easy, but banners, there are quite a few variables. I won't go over price, not the place for it.
My research the past couple of days has brought me to both Vista Prints website, and also to the Staples Print website. I figure that most people are familiar with both of those and I thought it was a good place to start, just to see how they are marketing their banners and what the features are. They both look to be offering just a 10 oz and you have the option of 15 oz for more $$$. Vista Prints charges a fee to upload your own design or logo, but Staples Prints online does not. But they both have plenty of templates you can use no charge that can be edited or added to.
I called my local(ist) Staples to see what their prices were at the store. They were using an HP Aqueous "Z" series printer, and they said "powder" inks. The person I spoke with said that this was waterproof and good for outdoor use. She did not say it was laminated. She did not say how long the banner would hold up. Their prices (although not listing them here) were more than double what Staples Printing online had. I was glad to see that as I know that they do interact with Customers quite a bit, as I do. This is the only place I'm going to list a price.... Here goes: the local STAPLES does charge $1.00 per grommet and they are brass. They could not tell me the size of the grommet. Oh, and they could not even tell me the weight or the ounces of the banner material. They offer cut edges, or folded and taped. They do not offer sewn edges. If you do not have a graphic or layout to give them, they do offer help with your graphics, for a fee. I was glad to see that too. Their turn around time is roughly 2 days for one banner.
So, I feel that Staples on-line is really not my competition, nor is Vista Press. Buyers are pretty much on their own on those websites and they can be tedious when the internet is slow. Heck, the waiting times on shipping are very long and I think I can blow them out of the water there, as long as my machine cooperates!
What I want to know is....
Do you cut the edges of your banners? Sew? Tape?
If sewing or taping, is there an "additional fee" that you are adding?
Not asking what the fee is, just asking if you are adding a fee.
If sewing, do you do in-house, or do you sub it out to local seamstress/seamster?
Are you using 13 oz Banner material? 15 oz Banner material? Do your Customers order more Matte Banner, or more Gloss Banner?
Since this is in the HP Forum, which HP Printer are you using? Which banner weights are you using most?
Will 15 oz banner material run in the L25500 Latex machine? I've only had good results with the 13 oz so far.
Do you use nickel or brass grommets? Do you use plastic adhesive hangers, like Vista Prints offers? Also, is this just included in your sq. ft. print price, or do you have and "additional" fee per grommet (?)
Do you offer standard sizes for banners? If so, do you charge extra if Customer wants a Custom Size which is not on your standard banner size list?
Thanks so much for your input!
