UPC-Buzz!

Here at the UPC, we are always looking to provide improved and quicker services for our customers. So we asked ourselves, how can we get faster based on current customer demand? Well the obvious way is to get a new press and that is exactly what we did.

We are proud to announce the newest member of the UPC family, a New Xerox 700 Digital Press. This new press is extremely fast at 70 pages per minute. That is 10 pages more than our previous Xerox 5000 digital press. The quality is unmatched by any other digital press and best of all, it is our newest initiative in advancing our company towards being more eco-friendly.

The Xerox 700 Digital Press uses Xerox’s Patented Emulsion Aggregation Toner or EA Toner for short. This special toner has several advantages over standard toners – it is more efficient, uses less energy and is offers more cost savings. Xerox uses nano technology to grow the toner particles to the rights size as opposed to the traditional method of toner production which uses vast amounts of raw materials that is broken down to size.

EA uses 25% less energy and 50% less toner is needed to produce the same quantity of prints conventional toner would have used. But don’t let the lack of toner fool you. The new Xerox 700 prints out some of the sharpest and most detailed colour prints that you will ever see. The quality of output from this digital press is the closest that any digital press has come to offset presses. These high quality colour prints makes this press ideal for catalogues, manuals, bi and tri-fold brochures, mailers, Variable Prints, postcards, presentations and photo speciality products including photo books and calendars . Also, this technology was developed here in Mississauga and supplies all Xerox customers worldwide providing a much need income into the Canadian economy.

With this new press our capabilities have sky rocketed. We now can run at a combined speed of 192 pages per minute. Now, that is extremely fast. Got a rush job then just send it over to us and watch how fast we can get your job done and back to you so that you can move on to taking care of your customers.

“Focus more on increasing your sales and leave the printing to a company that will augment your business. Ceo & President Zahir Salehmohamed “

Most companies still have investments in internal document print and mail facilities but the tide is rapidly changing. Why is document outsourcing growing so rapidly?

Reduce Cost:

The most obvious reason companies consider document outsourcing is to reduce capital investment and on-going expenses for laser printers, mail machines, software, and personnel – all of which are utilized on a part time basis. Strong outsourcing partners offer state-of-the-art production facilities allowing you to pay only for your company’s usage.

Concentrate on Core Competencies:

In a very competitive world, successful companies have become more focused and specialized than ever before. Sales and revenue growth are imperative – building fixed overhead is not. Today, many organizations recognize there is no competitive advantage in building and managing print and mail operations, especially when print and mail will diminish over time with the future transition to electronic documents.

Lack of Internal Expertise:

Few companies can afford to hire a full time staff to research and stay abreast of technology changes in laser printing, mail production software and equipment and postal regulations. Evaluating, purchasing and implementing electronic document technology raise the bar significantly. Thriving outsourcing companies have that specialized expertise – that’s why they are successful. Continued technology advances, increasing wages for the best people and decreasing talent pool insure outsourcing will grow dramatically.

Comparing Costs: In-House vs. Outsourcing

If the primary goal of outsourcing is to reduce costs then why do most companies fail to accurately assess their internal costs? Certainly capital equipment investments in printers, mail machines, servers, supplies, maintenance contracts and operator salaries are easy numbers to obtain – in fact, most studies stop right there. What’s wrong with this comparison?

The outsourcing company, if properly managed, has the same hidden “soft” costs of running any production operation. Therefore, an accurate comparison to an outsourcing quotation should include true in-house costs, not just hard dollar line items in budgets. An example of soft costs rarely addressed is indirect labor cost, such as accounting, budgeting, interviewing, training, recruiting, payroll, benefi ts administration, mailroom management, temporary labor, IT support, building facilities management, vendor contract management, shipping and receiving, purchasing, and mail delivery. What about hidden expenses that are buried in larger line items – warehouse storage space, delivery vehicle usage for mail delivery, various types of insurance, real estate and utility costs, and so on. All of these costs are included in outsource pricing. If the objective is a true, accurate comparison of in-house versus outsourcing, then be prepared to spend some time analyzing real internal costs.

Selecting an Outsourcing Partner:

What selection criteria should you use when all your outsourcing candidates appear equally qualifi ed to perform your work and the pricing is close? How many times have you heard “they are all about the same so I went with my gut feeling”? Basically that means the vendors did a poor job of educating the customer or the customer didn’t put enough effort into understanding the differences in the vendors. Either way, the decision becomes a gamble on future satisfaction. There should be two major considerations in selecting a document outsourcing company. First, the usual outsourcing price quotation is based on what your company is doing currently. A great outsourcing company will ask questions, understanding if you have requirements that are not being met and what you would like to improve. A great outsourcing company will produce two quotes one that compares apples to apples and one with recommendations for improvements and related costs, demonstrating how to reduce production costs.

Secondly, understand the values of the outsourcing company by listening to how they represent their company. Is the sales presentation based on the number of laser printers and mail machines or do they focus more on satisfied customers, quality, and solving your business problems. Is the outsourcing company flexible, willing to make changes as the customers’ needs change or do you get the feeling you have to conform to them. Do their customers really speak highly about the relationship and provide strong recommendations? Has the outsourcing company honored all commitments on service and turnaround with their customers or does support drop after contracts are signed?

The extra investment in looking beyond pricing and capabilities will pay off handsomely insuring a mutually successful outsourcing relationship. Rest assured, all outsourcing companies are not created equal.

Photo books are the new way to cherish moments in time, present your product line or many other fun filled items that

What Are Photo Books?

Photo Books are unique printed pieces that display high quality images in the form of a book. With current print technology, high resolution digital files can be translated in hi-res prints that create one-of-a-kind printed and bound books.

Be your own Publisher

One of the many advantages of Photo books is that you can be your own publisher. Put your own content in your own books and show it to the world. Photo books provide a unique opportunity for aspiring authors, photographers, publishers to begin getting their books out there a few at a time. It is a great way to build up the popularity of your books while keeping your costs down.

Hi Quality Catalogues

Photo books are also a great way to showcase your products. Create high stylized catalogues for your clients that they can look through or take away with them. Not only do they become an easy to reference catalogue of your products but also extends itself as a marketing tool for your company. These are great for fashion, accessories, sportswear, and other similar types of businesses with multiple product lines.

Presentation Books

Photo Books create great presentation books for projects, presentations and other related material. Got a proposal coming up? Why not create a lasting impression with a photo book for your prospects. Not only is it something different from the everyday sell sheets and price lists but it provides a new opportunity for your company to stand out from your competitors.

At the UPC, we have several options for your photo books available. Please see below for options and contact us for cover templates and prices.

Sizes Available

Binding Options Available

Call us now for you next projects and make it one to stand out with the UPC.

To be profitable in any business you need a successful sales and marketing strategy that maximizes revenue and minimizes costs. It needs to provide a good Return on Investment for the business. Direct Marketing coupled with variable data printing provides a very cost effective way to personally approach customers and gain that return.

Variable Data Printing and Response Rates

The biggest benefit of Variable Data is the increase in response rates to your marketing products. A standard mailing piece, which is generalized for the mass public gets approximately a 2% response rate. When you add Variable Data elements into the mix you boost that number from 2 to 15 times the regular rate. While the rates will vary across different industries and sectors, the general consensus is that Variable Data will 9 out of 10 times produce significantly better rates that age old mass mailings.

How’s it Work?

The effectiveness of Variable data printing lies in its ability to communicate to customers on a personal level because it combines the power of databases with digital printing to create customized marketing pieces efficiently and in large quantities. What you have then is mass customization marketing.

There are two ways to printing Variable Data pieces:

• A shell is pre-printed in large quantities to gain the efficiencies of full-colour offset printing. This shell is then run through an digital press to print the variable elements such as names, addresses and other custom information.
• The entire finished piece becomes a custom document run on a digital press which can translate into custom colours, graphics and text content in every piece.

Variable data can essentially be broken down into three levels:

• Basic Variable Data: this involves changing just the name and address of the piece
• Version Variable Data: A more detailed level of customization, with text and graphics ganging for groups based on marketing segment
• Full Variable Data: Fully customized pieces change for each individual on the database.

Picking a Variable Data Printing Supplier

When partnering with a printer, consider their knowledge of variable data printing as well as other services they offer.

They should know:

- Graphic specifications for best outcome and production efficiency

- Paper stock

- Limitations of large blocks of solid or gradient colour

- Images resolution and gradient colour

- How the design is affects the final product.

- Etc

Variable Data Printing is just one step in your marketing process. Look for a printer who encompasses fulfilment services such as mailing, order fulfilment, and kit assemble etc. You want a Print Partner that will cater to your needs today as well as adapt to your needs in the future.

For help with your Variable Printing Project contact the Ultimate Printing Company .

The challenging economy is putting consumer companies such as airlines, banks, and retailers in the difficult position of cutting back the service levels that customers have come to expect in recent years. These companies are closing retail locations, reducing hours of operation, and making do with less staff in stores and call centers. Meanwhile, faced with rising costs, they are also increasing prices, either overtly or through fees. As a result, our customer experience research shows that satisfaction scores are reversing the upward trend of the past few years and actually dropping in a number of industries.

At the UPC, we strive to improve our customer experience. We know the value of time and strive to get you your product in the fastest possible time. Our business cards are turned over in just 2-3 business days and 3-4 days for our 4×6 and 5×7 postcards. We recently completed a major booklet order of 6 booklets with 2100 copies each within just 1 week. So for your next major or minor order, get the satisfaction you deserve with the UPC

It’s All About the Fine Print

The print materials used to promote and coordinate an event may very well be the glue that keeps the production together.

Sounds a bit dramatic, right?

Dramatic but true. You can have the perfect venue, book the perfect act, and make sure that all the right people know what’s going down, but in the end, success is in the details, and when it comes to putting on a big production, this means your print material!

Start Strong

Consider getting started by making a list of all the stuff you’re going to need to get printed:

• Posters

• Flyers / Club cards

• Tickets

• Table tent displays

• Hang Tags

• Banners

• Signs with information and directions to help people find their way around the event.

The list can go on and on. If you’re working with a sponsor, you’ll want to consult with them to make sure you cover everything that’s important to them. They might be providing you with their own print material, OR they might just assume that since they’re coughing up the cash, you’re going to deal with everything else. Crossed wires in this regard can be event-planner suicide, so beware!

The benefit of planning for your print materials early on is that you can send them all to your printer at the same time, and the larger the order, the more likely you are to swing a sweet deal. If your printer can, for example, print your posters and your tickets in the same run, then they can pass the savings in ink and paper on to you.

Printing all your event advertising and facilitating material at the same time also means that you design it all simultaneously. Your print material can help to define the style of your entire event, so it never hurts to have a consistent theme running throughout.

For example, having event tickets that look like mini versions of your advertising posters ensures that ticket-buyers carry a little ad for your event with them wherever they go. A colorful ticket that sends out the right kind of vibe can actually sell itself.

In fact, most print materials that are basically informative can be designed to reflect the style of your event and hence to help sell – not just tickets – but the particular mood or mindset that you’re hoping people will attend with.

Again, as an example, a slick, sexy design theme on all your print material makes sure that everyone will attend dressed to the nines and ready to party, while a tongue-in-cheek vintage design theme will encourage ticket-holders to show up strutting their own unique style and ready for anything.

Follow Through To the Big Night

Once you settle on a great design concept for all of your print material, you might even want to expand the range of influence that it can provide.

For example, instead of printing just one standard flyer, consider having a new design for every week leading up to the event. These flyers can act almost like mini news bulletins, offering ticket-buyers new information and building excitement surrounding your production to a fevered pitch.

Stickers can also be money in the publicity bank. Regardless of the subject matter, people love stickers. They want to have a bunch of them, and they want to stick them up all over the place.

Print companies like The UPC specialize in design and as well as a one stop shop for all your print needs. We can be an immense help in this area. So give us a call for your next event.

Key ideas from the Harvard Business Review article by Teresa M. Amabile, Mukti Khaire

Quality marketing is important to any business and one sure-fire way of promoting your business is through the use of wide format posters. Posters are a very flexible advertising tool that is intended for viewe rs on the move. Sizes can range from a regular 11”x17” to 42”x80”. Since posters have many different uses, there are numerous benefits to them. Below are examples of common uses:

• To publicize an event
• To promote a service
• To sell a product
• To develop an attitude

There are however a few basic differences between posters and other advertising media. The main difference being that a poster speaks to the audience “on the move.” Newspaper ads, magazine ads, and mailing pieces such brochures, flyers, and pamphlets are designed for the reader who has time to sit and take in a lot of information. An effective poster can capture a viewer’s attention immediately and then spark them to react.

Billboards and Posters have become one of the widest forms of advertising being used in today’s marketplace. A well-designed poster is eye-catching, attractive, and communicates information effectively and economically. Make it easy for your viewer to read and react to your poster by clearly labelling your product, service, or event causing your advertising dollars to stretch further.

We at the UPC have a very unique Cannon IPF-8000 12-colour plotter (wide format printer) that can print at a very high 2400×1200 dpi resolution. This means crisp, clean and eye popping visual images printed on glossy or matte paper. On top of the quality, the plotter can print at exceptional speeds allowing for a higher volume of work and a faster turnaround.

At the moment, The UPC is offering a free upgrade on your paper stock to Platinum Heavyweight Glossy for your next set of printed posters. This offer won’t last long so contact us now at 416-203-3186 or email [email protected]

Get agency quality design at a fraction of the cost with the UPC. Why send design work to a designer and also a printer when you could bundle the job and save big. Did you know that the UPC has the creative talent and resources to create eye catching and professional designs. We are more than just a printer.

We know how important it is for your business to look good visually in the public eye so our creative team can offer you branding and design solutions such as logo design, corporate identity, brochure and PowerPoint designs that are unique and eye catching.

It makes sense to understand that good design is not about attracting your target market to choose you over the competition, but it is about getting your prospects to see you as the only one with the professionalism and insight to provide a solution to their problem.

The objectives that a good design will achieve include:

· Delivers the message clearly

· Confirms your credibility

· Connects your target prospects emotionally

· Motivates the buyer

· Concretes User Loyalty

To succeed in promoting your business you must understand the needs and wants of your customers and prospects. You do this by integrating your design strategies through your company at every point of public contact such as corporate stationary, business cards etc.

A good design should leave a lasting impression within the hearts and minds of customers, clients, and prospects. It is the sum total of their experiences and perceptions, some of which you can influence, and some that you cannot.

A strong visual identity is invaluable as the battle for customers intensifies day by day. It’s important now more that ever to spend time investing in researching, defining, and building your look. It’s a foundational piece in your marketing communication and one you do not want to be without.

When you take your business on the road, The UPC also has the capabilities to create unique tradeshow displays, POP signs, Graphic Panels and banners to make your company stand out from among the hundreds. As we are usually the final step in the creative process, why not skip over the confusion of communications between different parties and start with the streamlined process right from The UPC. We can take your ideas and make them come alive.

Let talk about the biggest topic on everyone’s mind at the moment; the recession. The economic situation of not just Canada but the entire world is putting a strain on every kind of business. So in order to balance out the situation we need to cut budgets, jobs, marketing etc? Right. Well, not exactly.

According to a 2005 report out of Penn State’s Smeal College of Business, “ Turning adversity into advantage: Does proactive marketing during a recession pay off ?” , for a company to be well positioned, an economic recession should not dictate cuts to the marketing budget but rather a more aggressive increase in marketing spending to establish superior business performance in the marketplace. The report surveyed 154 senior marketing executives to see why some firms boost their marketing especially during a downturn. “The study finds that firms entering a recession with a pre-established strategic emphasis on marketing; an entrepreneurial culture; and a sufficient reserve of under-utilized workers, cash, and spare production capacity are best positioned to approach recessions as opportunities to strengthen their competitive advantage.”
Reasons to Market More:

• If your competitors reduce their marketing then there’s less noise to compete with, and your campaigns will gain a louder, clearer voice
• Customers will be looking for those businesses who are still actively engaging with them, and delivering messages that are relevant to their changing needs
• Lowering brand awareness loses market share that’s hard to win back
• With customers spending less, every sale will be harder to win. Therefore it makes sense to market more rather than less

Four UPC Products to establish a competitive advantage through aggressive marketing.

1 . Variable Data.
a. Our Variable data solutions can create a personalized piece to initiate that point of contact between you and your customer. As well, set up online trackback options to check the status of your products. Email or Call us for more information.

2. Flyers, Postcards & Brochures
a. These timeless products will always keep your product or business at the forefront of customer minds.

3. Poster & Banners
a. Boost your company’s culture through positive message posters within your work centers. People are very conscious of the times and positive messages go a long way to improve productivity and creativity.

4. Branding Your Company .
a. Print all your business cards , letterheads ,& presentation folders with congruent themes to project a unified idea to your customers.