Internal Comms Toolkit: Print That Builds Company Culture

Internal Comms Toolkit: Print That Builds Company Culture

Internal communication is more than HR emails and Slack threads — it’s how your team experiences who you are as a company. And while digital channels are necessary for speed, reminders, and updates… print creates emotional imprint. Print reinforces identity and makes culture visible — everywhere people actually work.

If you want your internal brand to feel lived, not just written — print is one of the fastest, most impactful tools you have. Here are 6 print pieces that elevate culture, connection, and employee engagement inside your walls:

 

1) Welcome Packets for New Hires

First impressions matter — and onboarding sets the tone. Printed welcome kits make the start feel official and intentional.

Include things like:

  • Company overview booklet
  • Core values one-sheet
  • Quick start process cards
  • Branded notebook + pen
  • Team roster or contact cheat sheet

Make day one feel like lift-off — not chaos.

 

2) Branded Posters + Signage for Core Values

Values shouldn’t live in a Google Doc. Values should live where people see them DAILY. Poster sets, banners, desk cards, wall art — these keep the company mission front + center.

It’s subconscious leadership reinforcement every single day.

 

3) Employee Recognition Certificates

Recognition is a powerful culture multiplier.

Printed certificates for monthly wins, project completions, peer nominations, and on-the-spot appreciation moments make achievements feel tangible.

This is especially powerful when combined with department meetings or quarterly all-hands.

 

4) Company Event Invites or Flyers

Internal events deserve internal hype. Instead of just sending an email — build anticipation with print:

  • holiday party cards
  • leadership breakfast invites
  • lunch + learns
  • team challenges
  • wellness week

Physical reminders increase attendance — and make events feel special.

 

5) Wall Graphics for Shared Spaces

Shared spaces = culture reinforcement zones. Breakrooms, conference rooms, hallways, team collaboration zones — these are prime places to bring brand personality to life with impactful environmental graphics.

It signals that culture isn’t accidental — it’s curated.

 

6) Swag Kits for Milestones + Anniversaries

Celebrate the humans behind the brand.

  • 1-year, 3-year, 5-year milestone kits
  • Big project touchdown kits
  • Promotion celebration packs

Branded merch is not just “more stuff.”

When chosen intentionally — it signals: you matter here. Strong cultures don’t happen by accident — they’re designed. Print is the physical reinforcement system that turns internal brand intention into internal brand experience. If your team sees, touches, and interacts with your values daily — you don’t have to work as hard repeating them. They become real.

How is Offset Ink Manufactured?

How is Offset Ink Manufactured?

Ever been curious about the steps that go into making offset printing inks? Here we will go over the multitude of steps needed to make the vibrant colorful ink we use here during the printing process:

Step 1: A carrier oil, usually an ecofriendly soy bean based oil, is heated up to reduce viscosity and help thin the oil for processing. Refined pigments are then added and blended together to help disperse the pigments throughout evenly.

powdered ultramarine pigment

Step 2: This warm mixture is next diverted and runs through a bead mill. This is a process whereby small metal balls and the oil are tumbled inside a cylinder. This helps reduce the size of the pigments further and ensure that all the pigments are incorporated. While the pigments are ground even finer than before, this is still considered a rough grind at this point.

Step 3: The ink is now transferred to a 3-roller mill. This machine consists of several large steel rollers that run in opposite directions against one another at extremely tight tolerances. This further reduces the pigment particles down to their final and smallest size to help provide the best and most even coverage. It also helps ensure total and complete mixing.

Step 4: After the 3-roller process the ink now undergoes several quality checks. These are designed to verify that the pigments have all been ground down sufficiently and are evenly dispersed. If they are not the ink is put back into the 3-roller mill and further processed until testing confirms it meets quality standards needed.

Step 5: Once quality control agrees the semi-processed ink meets quality standards it moves back to the mixers. Here it gets various binders and modifiers that transform it from a simple pigment and oil mix into a proper ink suitable for offset use.

Step 6: Additional quality control checks occur again. Now that all the ingredients have been added testing must be done to confirm various physical traits show the proper values. Here they would be testing things like the ink tack value or opacity of the inks against expected performance values.

Step 7: The ink is routed back into the 3-roller mill. This ensures sufficient mixing and helps remove any trapped air from the mixing process that might affect final performance.

Step 8: The completed ink is now packaged and sent out for use on your printed pieces. These can range from smaller 5lb tins commonly used in printshops or pumped into 55-gallon drums for larger printing runs at large shops.

As you can see there are a multitude of steps required to manufacture a high quality ink for use in printing. Here at Cascade Print Media we use only the best inks matched to the needs of your jobs to ensure a quality piece we can be proud of.

How to Choose the Right Promo Products for Your Brand

How to Choose the Right Promo Products for Your Brand

Promotional products are a powerful marketing tool—but only if they’re the right fit for your brand and audience. Use this guide to select items that make a lasting impact.

Define Your Goals

Before selecting a promo product, ask yourself:

  • What is the purpose? (Brand awareness, lead generation, client appreciation, employee engagement, etc.)
  • Who is the target audience? (Customers, prospects, employees, event attendees?)
  • What action do you want recipients to take after receiving the item?

Know Your Audience

Choose products that align with your audience’s lifestyle and interests:

  • Tech-Savvy Crowd? Custom USB drives, wireless chargers, or branded power banks.
  • Office Professionals? High-quality notebooks, pens, or desk organizers.
  • Outdoor Enthusiasts? Water bottles, tote bags, or portable coolers.
  • Eco-Conscious Customers? Reusable shopping bags, bamboo utensils, or recycled notebooks.

 

Prioritize Quality & Usefulness

A great promo item should be something people actually use. Cheap, throwaway items won’t leave a lasting impression. Ask yourself:

  • Is this something recipients will use regularly?
  • Does it reflect the quality of my brand?
  • Will it stand out from competitors’ giveaways?

 

Keep Branding Subtle Yet Memorable

Your logo should be visible but not overwhelming. Consider:

  • Elegant, minimal designs for a high-end look.
  • Custom colors and messaging that align with your brand voice.
  • Personalization options (e.g., name engraving for VIP clients).

 

Consider Event Relevance

If you’re choosing promo items for a trade show or event, make sure they’re easy to transport and relevant to the occasion:

  • Conferences? Notebooks, pens, and tote bags are always a hit.
  • Outdoor Events? Sunglasses, sunscreen, and collapsible water bottles work well.
  • Virtual Events? Branded digital gift cards or downloadable resources can be a creative alternative.

 

Plan for Longevity

Think beyond one-time giveaways. Items with long shelf lives—like drinkware, apparel, or high-quality office supplies—keep your brand in front of customers for months or even years.

Budget Wisely

Promo products come in all price ranges. Consider:

  • Bulk pricing for large giveaways.
  • Premium gifts for high-value clients.
  • A mix of low-cost items (stickers, pens) and premium items (jackets, Bluetooth speakers) for different tiers of engagement.

 

Order Early & Work with a Trusted Provider

Avoid last-minute stress! Order ahead to ensure:

  • Customization is done right (proof everything before finalizing!).
  • You get the best selection of products.
  • There’s time for shipping and distribution.

 

Need Help Selecting the Perfect Promo Products?

Cascade Print Media can help you find high-quality, custom-branded items that leave a lasting impression. Contact us today to explore your options!

Designing for Direct Mail: 6 Things Every Designer Should Remember

Designing for Direct Mail: 6 Things Every Designer Should Remember

Direct mail hits differently. It’s physical. It’s interruptive. It lands in a moment where someone is not scrolling — they’re holding your brand in their hands.

But because it’s physical, there are a few design rules that matter more here than they do in digital. Here’s your designer checklist for creating direct mail that doesn’t just get delivered… it gets attention, action, and response.

 

1) Make the Headline Bold + Benefit-Driven

Your headline is the gravitational pull. Skip clever for clever’s sake. Lead with clarity + immediate value. Think: What’s in it for them?

Examples:

  • Save time on annual reporting.
  • Upgrade your trade show presence.
  • Refresh your brand for 2026.

Benefit > feature. Every time.

 

2) Use Imagery That Grabs (Fast)

Direct mail gets about a half-second visual scan before a decision happens: toss or keep.

Choose imagery that:

  • instantly communicates relevance
  • emotionally connects to the offer
  • looks bold, modern, clean — not stocky and generic

Your primary image should earn its real estate.

 

3) Leave Room for Mailing Area + Postal Barcode

This is where designers accidentally sabotage print production the most. The USPS needs space. Postage + addressing areas have mandatory clear zones.

Don’t overdesign this area — it WILL get covered. And if you aren’t sure how much clear space you need → just ask your print partner (Cascade Print Media 😉) before locking your layout.

 

4) Add a Compelling CTA (with a Deadline!)

Direct mail without a clear CTA is just a pretty rectangle. Tell them what to do — and why to do it now.

Examples:

  • Book a free 20-minute strategy session before Dec 31.
  • Claim your early launch pricing — expires in 14 days.
  • Scan to unlock your VIP QR code for holiday campaigns.

Urgency = conversion fuel.

 

5) Use Personalization Strategically

Personalization increases response and relevance. You can personalize:

  • name
  • location
  • nearest branch
  • product category
  • industry segment
  • seasonal tie-ins

The more “this is clearly for ME” it feels — the more action you get.

 

6) Consider Tactile Enhancements

Direct mail is the one channel where your design can be felt. Options like:

  • Soft-touch
  • Spot UV
  • Emboss/deboss
  • Foils
  • Textured stocks
  • Raised gloss

…all elevate perceived value and make the piece memorable in literally one touch. Print is physical. Lean into that advantage.

 

Direct mail works best when you combine strong creative, strategic timing, targeted messaging — and smart physical design. And when your mail piece is designed with intention from the beginning, you maximize ROI, response rate, and brand lift all at once.

Need help concepting, designing, or coordinating your next direct mail drop? Cascade Print Media partners with brands from concept → data → print → delivery.
We can help you make your next campaign actually move the needle.

 

Catalog Marketing

Catalog Marketing

Reach and Engage

Catalogs are a great way for businesses to reach and engage with their target audience because they provide a tangible piece of print media that can be felt, flipped through, and saved for future reference. This interaction between the physical catalog and the consumer creates a meaningful connection, increasing the likelihood that the consumer will remember the brand and its offerings, and engage with them further in the future. Studies have shown that direct mail, including catalogs, brochures, and promotional items moves more customers to make purchasing decisions than online marketing alone.

Educate About Product Offerings

Catalogs are a persuasive marketing tool because they educate consumers about product offerings and allow consumers to visualize the products or services being offered in a vivid way. Catalogs are most successful when they present products or services in a visually appealing, aspirational, yet attainable way. In other words, catalogs work best when they can convince consumers that making a purchase will enhance their lifestyle or make their life more enjoyable. Because consumers typically peruse catalogs in their homes, a connection is formed between the products being offered and the place where those products will be used, and consumers can then easily visualize themselves using the catalog’s product offerings in their homes.

There are many benefits to creating a catalog mailing campaign. Firstly, catalog mailings can be focused on specific demographics and targeted at those that are most likely to make a purchase. Secondly, catalogs can be seasonal and can reach consumers to coincide with seasonal weather, events, and holidays. Just when consumers are actively searching for gifts or experiences to match the season, a catalog can arrive that takes advantage of this period of need. During these periods, consumers also love to take advantage of a printed catalog’s shareability. This sharing of holiday gift ideas expands the reach of catalogs significantly.

Want more information about developing, printing, and mailing a catalog for your business or company? Visit our contact page or send us an email at info@cascadeprintmedia.com to learn more about creating a compelling catalog or direct mail campaign!

 

Sources:

https://blog.psprint.com/marketing-printing/how-much-does-catalog-marketing-really-cost/

https://www.publishingxpress.com/blog/catalog-marketing-strategy/#:~:text=Catalog%20Marketing%20Can%20Boost%20Your,look%20their%20best%20in%20print.

https://www.conquestgraphics.com/blog/conquest-graphics/2016/12/14/why-catalogs-work-and-how-they-are-an-effective-communication-tool#:~:text=Catalogs%20work%20as%20a%20powerful,businesses%20that%20use%20them%20effectively.

How Color Psychology Impacts Your Printed Materials

How Color Psychology Impacts Your Printed Materials

Have you ever wondered what colors tend to have customers reaching for one product over another? Or how the palette of your reception area leaves your guests feeling? Color impacts perception, both visual and emotional, and can be used to your brand’s advantage. Here’s a list of how your palette may influence your audience:

Red

Red has been shown to both speed up and intensify our reactions, making it ideal for fast and energetic visual communication. Positive traits associated are power, passion, energy, and excitement. It is often used in advertising for clearance sale tags, and stop signs to capture attention quickly.

 

Orange

The color of autumn leaves and pumpkins, orange is often associated with feelings of warmth and food. Its balance of red and yellow also lend use to drawing attention, but invoking a feeling of value with customers – making it a great choice for vouchers or coupons.

Yellow

Yellow, like red, is a color with a long wavelength and is often used as an attention-grabbing hue – such as for traffic signs or post-it notes. It is linked to feelings of optimism, happiness, and creativity.

Green

Green is the easiest on our eyes due to wavelength on the light spectrum, and thus it is associated with rest and calmness. We also associate it with nature and growth – brands that are eco-conscious could also be simply be referred to as being “green”.

Blue

Blue is another color associated with nature (think clear sky and calm waters), but it also evokes customer perception of trustworthiness. It’s no wonder that 33% of brands use it as a primary color in their branding packages!

Purple

Due to its uncommon appearance in nature and the historical rarity of natural purple pigments – like Tyrian purple—purple is a color associated with royalty, luxury, and sophistication.

Do the colors in your printed marketing materials convey the message you want to communicate to your customers? Contact our Launchpad design team today to perfect your palette!