FAQ Archives - Cascade Print Media

You will receive an email notifying you that your job went into our production queue, with an estimated date of completion. While this can sometimes get delayed with art submission and proof approvals, it helps you plan on when you can expect your projects.

You will receive an email notifying you that your job is out for delivery and when it gets delivered. Not only is this feature available for our trusted shipping partners, but also with our local delivery team. It even allows us to attach a photo of where the package(s) were dropped so you know exactly where to find it!

Different Ways to Bind Booklets

FAQ, Marketing, New, Print Marketing, Tips and Tricks

Looking to make a handbook, workbook, and other marketing piece to help show your customers all your products? Binding helps to make larger presentations or other large pieces of information look professional, clean and organized. There are several different binding options – the biggest factors to influence this are usually the use, budget and look you want to go for. See our list below of different binding options to see what the best fit for your project might be.

Saddle Stitch:

Saddle stitch works very well for smaller page booklets and is usually your most economical option. These types of projects usually have the fastest turnaround time as well. A saddle stitched book can be as few as 8 pages, and then increases in 4-page increments. Saddle stitched books will lay flat when opened and flipping through the pages. Most examples you see of saddle stitch in daily life are school workbooks, weekly magazines, or grocery flyers and often times calendars.

Perfect Bound:

Usually, the most popular and luxurious of binding options. They are durable, high quality and ideal for publications with higher page counts. You can start with anything from 28 pages, and added in page increments of 2, up to 2 inches thick with pages (paper type often varies with thickness). If the spine is thick enough, many people put designs on the spines to further attract customers. The most common examples of these are soft cover books and some luxury magazines.

Spiral Bound:

Plastic coil that is typical seen in reference material or workbooks. The nice thing about spiral bound is you can usually choose from different spiral coil colors, and it works great for any sized booklets. Usually there is a fairly quick turnaround time on spiral bound books as well. You can have any size page count and usually stops around 2 inches in thickness (again, paper type varies in thickness). Most examples of these books are some handbooks or company manuals.

Wire-O:

Very similar to spiral binding, only metal wires and looped, giving it another dimension. This type of binding can start with any page count, and go up to about 1.25 inches thick usually, depending on paper type. This often costs a bit more than spiral bound books but does look more professional and lavish than spiral bound books.

Still have some questions about your binding options? We can help! Contact us today, we would be happy to talk to you about different options and best uses!

example of wire o binding

example of spiral binding

example of perfect binding

example of saddle stich

Embossing vs. Debossing

FAQ, Marketing, Print Marketing, Tips and Tricks

What is the different between embossing and debossing? They are basically the same thing, just stamped paper, but the difference is in the location from where it is stamped. Both are created using metal plates to essentially stamp the paper. Debossing means the paper is stamped on the front, making the image, text or graphic indent and make a depression down, or away from the front. Embossing is taking a metal plate and being stamped from the back back of the text, image or graphic. This raises or elevates the graphics.

Both embossing and debossing a great way to create a 3D effect and enhance certain texts or simple graphics that you want to highlight on your project. To further increase effect, many people add colored ink or foil stamping to certain words and images, as well as various depths of the embossing or debossing. This is a great way to make certain things stand out.

You usually see embossing and debossing on business cards, invitations (especially to weddings and other formal events) and sometimes on letterhead and greeting cards, among other marketing material. These help to add a feel and look of luxury and add a special touch to help you stand out, with very little expense.

Almost anything can be embossed or debossed, along with foil stamped. There are only a few restrictions such as paper type, certain graphics, and time allowed for completion.

Contact us today to learn more about embossing, debossing and foil stamping for your next project.

Example of Embossing

photo courtesy of wristbands.com.uk

Example of Debossing

photo courtesy of elito.com

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How We Can Help You Go Green

Direct Mail, Eco-Friendly, FAQ, Tips and Tricks

Looking for ways to go green, while still getting your message out there? We can help! From direct mail campaigns to environmentally friendly paper and inks, we are here to help every step of the way. Check out some tips below on just a few of the ways we can help you go green!

Mail invitations directly from us:

Did you know we can help with direct mailing? All we need is you list (or we can provide for you) and you’re all set! How does this help go green? One less delivery for us, one less thing on your to do list. Let us take the burden off you of having to go to the post office to mail everything out, ‘cause we are already going there. Plus, we may be able to help save you money on bulk postage rates!

Electronic proofs:

Electronic proofs are standard with all our jobs. We are happy to provide a hard copy proof, but delivery and mailing put stress on the environment with every step of the way. You will be able to see and fix any glaring mistakes, all from the comfort of your office or home. While the colors will not match exactly (colors on screen are different than on paper), they are similar enough that you will be able to spot any big mistakes.

Eco-Friendly Inks & Paper

Paper Facts: Paper is biodegradable and unlike water bottles, cell phones, computers and other electronic devices, it decomposes in a landfill.

Paper is made from cellulose fiber – that can come from pulped wood, rags, cotton, grasses, sugar cane, rice and waste paper. An estimated 4 million trees are planted daily and due to reforestation, forests in the U.S. have actually grown over the past century.

Paper is recyclable – 37% of the U.S. pulp is produced from recovered paper. Most recovered paper is used to make new copy and writing paper, as well as corrugated boxes, fruit cartons, egg cartons and wall insulation.

Ink – we use soy based inks that are compatible with the environment. This means less harsh chemicals in the environment and on your printed materials.

Economy Growth:

The forest products industry accounts for about 6% of the total us manufacturing output and employs more than one million people. It ranks among the top 10 manufacturing employers in 42 states. There are almost 175,000 establishments in this segment that employ over 2.9 million people. For comparison, the auto manufacturing industry only employs about 1.2 million

Efficiency:

Did you know that reading something on paper is 20-30% faster than reading something on a screen? Reading from paper results in deeper understanding of text and most end users prefer it. People are more likely to visit your store and buy something from a direct mail campaign then a simple email. If they can see it, touch it and read it, you have a bigger ROI than a simple email, which according to a survey, 80% of receivers automatically delete before ever opening the email.

Looking for more facts and ways to reach more customers? Check out some of our tips and tricks here and here.

References:

Whattheythink.com

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Cascade Print Media voted one of Washington’s Best Companies to Work For

FAQ, Marketing, Print Marketing, Promotional Products

We are so excited to be ranked as one of Washington’s Best Companies to Work For by Seattle Business Magazine. 2020 has thrown us a ton of curve-balls, but we are happy to adapt and change with the ever transforming needs of our customers.

How we do it? Our Employees! We look for the best people during the hiring process – those who are willing to go above and beyond, every day to get the job done. We look for people who are passionate about what the do, and are ready to dive into each and every project with the same enthusiasm as the last! We look for people who want to work hard, and have fun doing it! Thank to you our amazing employees, without you we would not be where we are today. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Interested To Know More?

Marketing Materials to Attract Customers

Eco-Friendly, FAQ, Marketing, Print Marketing, Wall, Window and Floor Graphics

Wondering what marketing materials are useful in attracting customers to your brand or services? Check out our list below with helpful and proven pieces that attract new and existing customers to your brand.

Posters: Get the word out about products, events and other business pursuits with posters.
Postcards: Send out postcards to the neighborhood and current customers to let them know about special deals, new products and other services you offer.
Brochures: A well put together brochure outlining all your services and offers help further promote your business and are a great resource for cross selling.
Promotional products: Did you know that most people keep promotional products for over a year, sometimes over two? And if they don’t keep it, they pass it on to others? Useful promotional products help promote your brand, well after the meeting or transaction has occurred.
Wall graphics: Help get the word out about your business with wall graphics. They are able to be applied on almost any surface, both indoor and outdoor!
Window clings: Place clings on your car, home, business or almost any window you can find!
Floor graphics: Floor graphics help direct people through an experience, help to promote your services, and can be applied on almost any surface.
Catalogs: Have lots to offer that you want to showcase to your clients? Catalogs pack a big punch and offer all your products at your clients’ fingertips.
Notepads: Need to jot down ideas? A great and budget friendly option to leave with clients to brainstorm and write down notes.
Labels/Decals: Labels on branded products are fantastic and can also act as reminders to get a repeat service done. Often used as a reminder, labels can help remind people of your awesome service as well as when they need to reorder or get a service redone.
Vehicle graphics: Want to promote your brand to as many people as possible with very little investment? Vehicle graphics are the way to go!
Stickers: Stickers can be handed out as promotions, to seal invitations and envelopes, and much more!
Banners: Banners are great to promote your business to the masses, especially when shown in a major thoroughfare or high traffic area.
Magnets: Stay top of mind for customers by creating fridge, locker or car magnets!
Coasters: Remind people of some of your services while they are sipping their favorite beverage! Its always good to be playful and fun while promoting your brand with coasters.
Envelopes: Envelopes are seen not only by the intended recipient, but also everyone that handles the mail!
Folders: Folders help keep your brand information clean, neat and tidy, while also giving a polished look to any presentation.
Cards: Thank you cards, invitation cards, recipe cards… you can promote your services in several ways to get your ideas heard.
Coupon/punch cards: Create loyal guests and clients with coupon cards or punch cards. It helps build up brand awareness, and also offers your loyal guests a nice treat!
Apparel: Staff apparel not only creates a streamlined and more tailored look, but also helps to promote your services.
Calendars: Want to have your customers focus for 365 days a year? What better way to do it that with a yearly calendar?! Promote various products and services all year long and help your audience stay organized and on track.
Bumper stickers: Let others help promote your business! Provide bumper stickers for your staff and clients alike to help promote your business all around town!
Newsletters: Sent directly to your customers and also available at your locations, newsletters are a great tool to educate and market to your select customers with deals, information and other necessary information about your products and company.
Business cards: What better way to promote and attract customers, while also giving away vital information as how to contact you for the best deals at any time.
Letterhead: Writing sales proposals and letters on company letterhead are a great way to drive home your commitment to your brand and show a professional look to your customers and potential clients.
BONUS! Food: who doesn’t look a good logo’d cookie! Put your logo on a cookie, lollipop, mints and more!

Did you know that Cascade Print Media can assist with everything on this list, and more? We are the leading print provider in the Pacific Northwest for over 55 years. We would love to partner with you to make your brand shine!