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Forum - logo, business cards, letter head etc
logo, business cards, letter head etc
Tue, 01/09/2009 - 12:54 — Forilion
Hi,
I am in the process of starting up a photography studio. Of course I am on a limited budget but I need to have logo, business cards, stationery such as letterhead, invoice, quotation etc... where can I get these... do I have to go to the expense of a design company?
Regards
Spencer
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Avoid Vista Print like the plague! :o)
We are about to launch a new version of our site at www.printrepublic.co.uk where you will be able to choose from dozens of free templates for business cards, letterheads and flyers, personalise online and order high quality printed items (much better quality than vista and we won't send you a million promotional emails for years to come!!)
250 high quality, colour, laminated business cards are only £35
www.printrepublic.co.uk
I advise that a brand identity is very important and needs to be memorable - a business should be proud of the creative identity and the quality print created. Business cards are often the first point or the last point of contact with potential clients and gatekeepers.
Small businesses support each other and developing a business relationship and a strategic alliance with a sole trader graphic designer or a small graphics shop will result in business for you.
In short, get as many local quotations as possible.
With best wishes.
Alison
I use a company called PSTD Printing they do a very good job they are running a 50% off business card special right now. You can get front and back full color offset printing done for around $30 for 250 cards. The nice thing about having a lot of cards is you can always keep a few with you so if you meet some one you can give them one. You also will be less possessive and there is no reason not just hand them out like candy. Also they'll help with logo, letter head and so on....
Hi Spencer,
You can get a custom design for about £100 off Google and I can supply you with excellent value stationery that's very good quality. You can see from other comments it's not always worth skimping on your branding. It can be the very first thing a potential client gets to 'touch'. If you give a Vistaprint card which feels cheap and flimsy what does that say about you (especially if your trying to charge premium prices).
I have Heavy weight 400gsm matt laminated business cards that are printed full colour both sides then matt laminated both sides.
These are true lithographic business cards printed in glorious full colour with a matt lamination that gives your finished printing a soft ‘satin’ finish that is really smooth to the touch and provides a luxurious feel.
500 for £49.95 + VAT. Includes delivery to 1 UK address but excludes artwork. Artwork for b/card is normally £30 + VAT.
Visit http://collateit.co.uk/collections/promotions for latest offers.
Hope this help.
I used VistaPrint when I first started out, but I would warn you that some of their items - including business cards - are not standard size. I went to a networking event in London recently and a printer was mocking everyone who had VistaPrint cards! It was gentle mocking, but all the same, it made a friend of mine rethink her cards.
If you have an idea about what you want, you could try one of the online logo design places. There's a UK one that I can't seem to find now, and a US one called Logo Yes (www.logoyes.com). It's $69 (about £42 or £43) for a logo you design yourself. If you're a bit creative, you could produce a nice design.
I'd then recommend www.moo.com for lower cost business cards. I can't recall the exact price, but they're less than £16 for 50 - and you design them yourself again. They don't do stationery like compliment slips or letterheaded paper, but you could easily do those yourself if you have a colour laser printer. Most of my letters and quotations I actually send out by email (converted to pdf) so I hardly ever use any letterhead or comp slips.
Claire
www.kerrmunications.co.uk (logo designed on Logo Yes!!)
Spencer,
Think about what your business card says about you and your business. The most valuable asset and advertising medium you can have is your business card. To hand a potential customer a low quality card that says free business cards on the back says volumes about how serious you are about business.
When you present a business card to a potential customer they will have already met you. When they touch the card they will immediately feel the quality and make assumptions about you as a business and as a person. Poor quality cards say poor quality business.
If you pride yourself and your skills as a photographer invest in good design and print of a quality business card.
Try http://www.creativeincolour.co.uk They charge less £65 for 1000 cards plus vat and postage. I believe the design is extra
Best of luck with your new enterprise
Kind regards
Nigel
You could search the web for "logo design cheap" that will yield a fair few results for you, then add the art work to either a word template - or if you use photoshop then you can grab templates from the web. You can then normally send the PSD/PDF or DOC direct to the printers. Or, you could get the printers to do everything (as the majority now offer full design services) - this can save a lot of hassle as you won't suddenly find a charge for "preparation" i.e. they didn't like your template as it included the bleed so they had to crop it etc etc.
* Edit * - Found this while looking at the results for the search I suggested http://www.vistaprint.co.uk/logo-design/add-text.aspx?tabJump=8&logo_id=...
I've just got pretty slick results with a generic image and our business name.
Just got my cards from them too and there turn around was pretty quick, even though they stated 14 days, I got mine within 5 days. (working days that is)
Try this link http://www.vistaprint.co.uk/frfuk?frf=539701831638
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