Maui Printing Company

"Design can be art. Design can be aesthetics. Design is so simple, that's why it is so complicated." ( Paul Rand, graphic designer) Never does a page seem so bleak as when you experience a creative rut in design. Design ruts are the graphic artist’s equivalent of writer’s block. And everyone has been there! The world’s most imaginative people have experienced this obstacle and found a way to battle through. One benefit of getting stuck is that you’re forced to rediscover your own creativity! Need help getting started? Here are some different ways to break out of stagnation when you’re stuck on a design: 1. Think laterally Designs are ultimately problems waiting to be solved. When you are stymied by the project at hand, come at the problem from a different angle , no matter how extreme it might seem. One way to do this is to temporarily focus your thinking around individual parts of a message, like why a client might need your product...

Greg Goetzman, 58, isn’t much of a gambler, but when COVID-19 sent people home in March, he placed his odds on a new small business model: assigning half his staff to work from home permanently. With nearly 100 employees, this was a huge shift for the California-based financial consulting firm . Goetzman realized that success would hinge on his ability to carefully outfit employees with equipment and systems to seamlessly communicate. Team members appreciated the flexibility, and this large-scale investment is paying off : “I haven’t seen a drop in work quality,” Goetzman said, “We are fortunate that our consultants are flexible and accustomed to working from different locations, therefore, they were prepared and there were no issues transitioning to working remotely.” The novel coronavirus forced strategic business pivots and rapid innovation for many companies, but small businesses have certainly been forced to improvise. And that may be a goo...

When you choose a new book or movie, what influences your decision? According to Nielsen, one of the most persuasive elements is a recommendation from your family and friends. Sixty-six percent of respondents said that, beyond the availability of a show or movie, the endorsement of others was the second biggest factor in their personal media selection. Create Catalysts for Conversation As social creatures, we trust the opinions of others. But did you know word-of-mouth marketing drives $6 trillion of annual consumer spending and is estimated to account for 13% of consumer sales ? That’s why word-of-mouth marketing (WOMM) is vital to your business success. Traditionally, WOMM was spread from one person to another based on recommendations. But today, WOMM describes both targeted efforts and naturally occurring instances where users share their satisfaction with a brand. This means anything from print testimonials and oversized displays to live events and social media sharin...

Have you ever judged a book by its cover? You’re not alone! First impressions are essential to how people judge a person, a product, or a business. And when you’re going for visual impact, research suggests visitors will form an impression in as little as 50 milliseconds ! Once you’ve invested all the hard work and planning into your print marketing materials, it is important to go the extra mile on quality. Want a simple technique that beautifully enhances your impact and appeal? For a budget-friendly bonus, try adding a varnish! Know Your Options Just as varnish on a dresser or table protects the wood and gives it a nice finished look, the varnish used on printed pieces enhances their look and durability. Adding a print varnish brings a transparent coating to your printed page. Varnish can add a unique, creative element to get that five-star appearance, so make sure you choose the one that best fits with the look and tone you’re trying to communicat...

In a world where digital advertising screams for attention, print ads need a little extra spice to compete. Ads that evoke emotion, add humor, or spark curiosity have extra impact. Need inspiration? Here are three imaginative print campaigns to consider. Opel: A Road Safety Campaign Opel, a German automobile manufacturer, wanted to draw attention to the danger of texting while driving.   Opel’s message is distinct because it uses nothing more than the black background and a short line of text that packs a big punch: “Your typjng whille you drive is asbad as your drivinh whilr yoou typr.” Sharp, memorable, and humorous, this ad immediately shows why texting driving is a bad idea. Opel paired this with gigantic black and white sidewalk banners of a person pushing a 7-meter-long baby stroller. The banners included this caption, highlighted in yellow: “1 second on your phone are 7 meters on the street. Don’t text and drive.” Vodol: S...

Adding new customers to your sales funnel is essential for growth, and lead generation is vital. For many industries, generating a lead can cost anywhere from $25 to $300. So, after you’ve made an initial contact or pushed for a commitment, what should you do when prospects disengage? Don’t give up! When leads stop responding, hope is not lost. Smart entrepreneurs can use many strategies to rekindle interest. Here are a few options to consider: Prime the Pump Leads go cold for a variety of reasons, but that doesn’t mean you should abandon them. According to Jim Obermayer , author of Managing Sales Leads: Turning Cold Prospects Into Hot Customers, 56% of people who indicated they might like to buy a product are still in play six months later, and 35% percent are still in the market after one year. “Leads do not go cold as much as it is not yet their time to buy in the one-year cycle,” Obermayer said. “A rep may approach them before they a...

On January 15, 2009, US Airways flight 1549 ascended from LaGuardia Airport and had a chance encounter with an unexpected adversary. Shortly after take-off, the Airbus struck a flock of Canadian geese. Flames exploded before an eerie silence, and an odor of fuel filled the cabin. Both engines had shut down, and Captain Chesley Sullenberger and his team tried unsuccessfully to restart them. After turning back toward LaGuardia, the pilots quickly realized their only option was an emergency water landing in the Hudson River. As they passed less than 900 feet above the George Washington Bride, Sullenberger radioed the coast guard for assistance and barked “brace for impact!” Ninety seconds later, the plane crashed into the water with no bounce, followed by a gradual deceleration and a speedy deboarding. All 150 passengers were saved, and Sullenberger was the last to deplane after walking the cabin twice to ensure it was empty. Later, the crew was presented with “key...

Have you recently won an award, reached a milestone, or done something pretty incredible? Whether you’re launching a product or expanding to a new market, your business or organization can share the news far and wide with printed announcement cards. In a world of digital noise, the medium is just as important as the message , so why not opt for something more personal and pristine with gorgeous custom announcements? Share Something Special and Significant Announcement cards offer a wonderful way to market your events, products, achievements, or stay in touch with your clients. These stylish notes are more than just fluff; they denote something of significance that boosts your brand and business. Want to put your news at their fingertips? Here are just a few catchy headers: Launching SOON Coming to a neighborhood near you We’re Hiring The Future is HERE You asked, we answered . . . Save 20% more time with _____! We’re growing. Find us at our new ...

The more technology advances, the more it is integrated into our daily lives. From customized print ads to apps that help you find the kitchen section in your favorite IKEA store, customers are no longer confined to a single channel or platform as they interact with a brand. And as entrepreneurs become increasingly responsive to individual customers' needs, the lines between what we do on- and offline will continue to blur. Omnichannel Marketing in Action An omnichannel experience is a multichannel approach to marketing, selling, and serving customers that unifies many mediums to work together. Here your print marketing, onsite displays, mobile marketing, and testimonials all tell a consistent story while providing an integrated shopping experience. The focus is on building a stronger relationship between consumers and the brand by smoothing the customer experience, generating consistent content, and multiplying conversions. What might this look like? The possibilities ar...

Were you forced to work from home in 2020? What were your biggest challenges? Perhaps it was learning the necessary technology – or teaching it to others. Maybe it was forming a new business plan. Or perhaps you struggled to meet the workday demands while homeschooling your kids. If you weren’t stretched this year, you were probably in the minority! And as you reached the end of your abilities, you probably faced a question most people prefer to avoid: “How can I ask for help without looking weak?” Though an independent attitude is great, at some point, everyone needs to lean on others. And sometimes, a can-do spirit can push you to take on more than you can reasonably handle, leading to failure or burnout. According to a 2018 Gallup study , 23% of full-time workers reported feeling burned out at work very often or always. And one major reason for this burnout was an unmanageable workload. Examples of How to Ask for Help Do you need more help but stru...

Ready to open doors and grab leads for your business? Direct mail brochures are a great piece of any marketing plan and are especially useful in building consumer confidence. According to the Direct Mail Association, 56 percent of consumers consider print marketing the most trustworthy form of advertising, and 65 percent of consumers have bought something from a direct-mail piece. When considering your next direct mail campaign, here are some reasons brochures might be best: Clear Comprehension The human brain is designed to understand more when something looks “real.” As a time-tested commodity, brochures offer an easy-to-follow layout that builds instant connections with all types of people. Brochures also connect well with memory because they engage people’s spatial memory networks. Increased Brain Response In this busy age of low attention spans, physical materials increase the brain response of every viewer. There’s something blissful in phy...

If you grew up in the early eighties, you’re probably familiar with the “ Mikey likes it ” Life cereal campaign. This capstone commercial centered on three young brothers eating breakfast. Before them sits a heaping bowl of Life. Two brothers question each other about it, noting that it is supposed to be healthy. Neither has any desire to taste it (“I’m not gonna try it— you  try it”), so they test it on their brother (“Let’s get Mikey . . . he won’t eat it, he hates everything !”). Mikey briefly stares at the bowl, then starts devouring the cereal, as his brothers excitedly exclaim, “He likes it!”  Strategically Shaping the Internal Narrative If you are a professional marketer, your job exists to do one key thing: to make change happen. Finding an agent to trigger change – like Mikey demonstrating healthy cereal is delicious – is the key to persuasion. But this can be hard...

Trust builds confidence. That is why a strong corporate brand identity can make or break a business. Brand identity is more than key values or approved color palettes; it is the collection of all elements that a company creates to portray the right image to its consumer. When a company has a strong brand, it is easily recognized, which grows people’s trust. Trust builds confidence, and confidence begets loyalty. When a business has built superiority in a particular niche, repeat customers are more willing to buy in other areas. When you have loyalty from your base, you have space to increase prices or ask for bigger commitments.  Want to craft a style that is timely and relevant to your audience? Here are three inspiring examples of brands who have nailed it: Tesla Tesla is an electric vehicle and clean energy company with long-range, eco-friendly electric cars.  They are also very expensive. To build customer confidence, Tesla leaves price out of their brand...

If a picture paints a thousand words, then brand imagery is one of the most dynamic means for communicating with your customers. From stained-glass church windows to the world-renowned Nike swoosh, images add immediacy, power, and clarity to your ideas, with a transformative effect on a brand’s overall impact. Colors and graphic metaphors have surprising staying power, so it’s important to consider every element you include in your brand imagery. Brand Identity vs. Brand Imagery So, what is the difference between brand identity and brand imagery? Brand identity is the image or character of your business as people relate to it. For example, the BMW image of elite luxury has grown naturally from customers’ repeated exposure to BMW’s ads, endorsements, and products. Brand imagery is the aesthetic appearance of your brand’s core identity and messaging. This is a result of all the visuals that represent your brand’s identity. These visuals may in...

Your product is perfectly aligned to meet customer needs. Your doors are open, the sales team is ready, and your marketing is top-notch. Your employees believe in your mission and are passionate about coming to work each day, but . . . sales still seem a bit sluggish. Why? When people aren’t buying, you could have a range of possible problems. Here are four potential snags with tweaks that could make the difference: Problem: They Think the Price is Too High Solution: Sell the Value Is the price of your product too high? This is a subjective opinion. An item is only worth the price someone is willing to pay for it, and if some people are willing to pay your price, there must be a good reason. If you don’t make the cheapest product on the market, it’s your job to figure out why it is worth more. Do your homework. Find out in advance what your competitors’ prices are like, and what advantages your company brings. Instead of focusing on price, draw atte...

It’s a small world, after all. Though global population continues to expand, our connectivity is growing even faster. In 2019, the number of internet users worldwide stood at 4.13 billion , which means more than half of the global population is connected to the world wide web. The percentage of US adults who use social media increased from 5% in 2005 to 79% in 2019. And experts estimate most Americans are exposed to around 4,000 to 10,000 ads each day. While the internet is a lifeline, it has also exposed the misbehavior and greed of many of the pillars we count on, leading to a unique paradox: today, more people are connected and fewer are trusted. The Benefits of Trust In this vacuum of mistrust, marketers find themselves on one of three paths: 1 -- Ignored 2 -- Sneaking around 3 -- Trusted If you’re ignored, you can’t get far because you won’t earn much attention OR trust. If you’re sneaky, you may gain followers, but not for long. Th...

Do you have a favorite catalog? In days past, the Sears Christmas edition or the Lana Lobell fashion catalogs were the birthplace of many shopping addictions. But though these nostalgic beauties hold a special place in many hearts, catalogs certainly haven’t disappeared from today’s marketing landscape. Companies like L.L. Bean, Ikea, J. Crew, and Athleta continue to dominate sales through the distribution of printed catalogs. And people enjoy reading them. According to USPS, 47% of people set aside catalogs to read later, and 84% of consumers said they genuinely enjoyed receiving unexpected catalogs from places they had previously shopped. Enthusiasm has soared – response rates from catalogs has increased 170% from 2004 to 2018!  Using Hard Copy Catalogs in Your Omnichannel Marketing With a decrease in printed mail, today’s paper catalog is primarily a marketing tool – one of maximum potential during the holiday season. The most sophistic...

Looking to add some finishing flair to your next marketing piece? Unique, eye-catching folds offer so much room to flex your creativity! When creating your next masterpiece, here are some fun print folds to consider: Sliding Message Sleeve Mailers To fuel engagement with your prospects, try a die-cut envelope that peaks through to a sleeve mailer inside. Upon first glance, readers see one message or image. But when they slip the inner card out of the envelope, a brilliant reveal appears from the back panel.   Accordion Folds Accordion folds are great because they fold down small but hold a great deal of information. Accordion folds resemble the letter “Z” and zig-zag back and forth, dividing a page into thirds (or even sixths!). Use them for brochures, mini-booklets, or sticker-sealed mailers. The average accordion-folded sheet includes two folds and six panels of design space (front and back). Make the most of your real estate with this flexible, engaging...

In a noisy marketplace, businesses must work smarter to grab prospects and lock in loyalty. But the desire for relationship is mutual. According to Cheetah Mobile marketing director Josh Ong, customers don’t just want to buy, they want to buy into something: “Millennials are more likely than any other demographic to be brand loyal. But millennials don’t choose which brand to be loyal to at random, instead, they are highly attuned to the story that a brand tells, as well as the values that brand exhibits.” No one can resist a good story! Need proof? Here’s a fun brand story from eyewear retailer Warby Parker : Warby was founded as a rebellious upstart to tackle the problem of expensive eyewear because of a frustrating personal experience. During a backpacking trip, one of Warby’s founders lost his glasses. Since he was a broke grad student, he couldn’t afford to replace them, and he spent the rest of the semester squinting. By circumven...

With the oldest of Generation Z graduating and entering the workforce, it’s time to set your sights on this powerful consumer demographic. Who are these Gen Z individuals, and what is the most effective way to reach them? While many media companies have written them off as “screen addicts,” Gen Z is actually very nimble, engaged, and unique. Here are a few facts to consider: As of 2020, Gen Z makes up more than 40% of U.S. consumers. Born after 1996 , most members of this generation are not yet old enough to vote. Generation Z represents the leading edge of the country’s changing racial and ethnic makeup. 52% are non-Hispanic white, 25% are Hispanic, 14% are black, 6% are Asian. Gen Z logs on to social media for roughly two hours and 55 minutes each day. This is almost an hour longer than the average millennial. Want to engage younger prospects? Here are five tips to consider: 1. Diverse images are extremely impactful Gen Z has a natural awar...

Have you exited a bathroom without realizing there was toilet paper on your shoe? Or awkwardly tried to make conversation with someone who had food on their face? Whether someone is clumsy in conversation or they have really bad breath, a lack of self-awareness can profoundly hinder their reputation or influence. Success Starts in Relationships What is self-awareness? Self-awareness involves being aware of different aspects of the self: including traits, behaviors, appearance, and feelings. Researchers find two areas of self-awareness to be especially important in leadership: Internal self-awareness:  This represents how clearly you see your values, passions, aspirations, fit with your environment, reactions (including thoughts, feelings, behaviors, strengths, and weaknesses), and impact on others. Internal self-awareness is associated with higher job and relationship satisfaction, personal and social control, and happiness. It is negatively related to anxiety, stress,...