Learn how to Attract 5000 Targeted Customers to your Business!

July 21st, 2010

Do you know the difference between business cards and drop cards? 90% of people DO NOT know the difference, and we can’t blame you if you don’t know, because not many people make use of an amazing marketing potential.

Here is the answer: business cards contain your contact and business details, fantastic for giving out at conferences, networking events, and to clients. Drop cards on the other hand are used to market your business, which you can drop everywhere you go – supermarket, conferences, bus stops, pubs, sports clubs, bars, and anywhere else you visit. Instead of focusing the card on your business details, you use it to grab attention quickly, and enticing the person who picked it up to keep hold of the card so they can check out your website or call you for more details.

Here’s an example. A Business Card will contain something like “XYZ Marketing. Name, Telephone, Address, and a list of services.” This is great, just what you need when you visit a professional networking event and to hand to prospects. Here at Print Empire, we have those exact same cards, and they’re vital. However, imagine also having a mass set of cards which say…

Want to Attract 5000 New Clients to your Business…in just 7 Days?
XYZ Marketing have come up with a system which can help you do this quickly and cost-efficiently. Learn FREE how to use this system in your own business, for FREE, if you visit our website at demoxyz.co.uk or call 0800 123 456. Register in the next 7 days and also receive a FREE Marketing Report.”

That, is a drop card created purely for enticement, and to get a response to your business quickly. Now, if you found 2 cards lying on the floor, a business card like the one above, or a drop card like the one above… which would YOU most likely pick up and keep? Hopefully you said the drop card, right? Think about it, the drop card is giving you a reason to read it: an attractive headline, a free offer, and a call-to-action … just like an effective advertisement for your business. However, rather than a big advert, this is a small card which someone can find, read quickly, and more importantly they can EASILY fit in their wallet for when they get home!

You’re probably wondering why you would carelessly drop these cards around in random places… that couldn’t possibly work, could it? Well, are you saying that your target market and your ideal customers do NOT visit the supermarket, go to sports clubs, go to the gym, or walk past bus stops? If so, then you’re right, this probably isn’t for you. The fact is, drop cards are so inexpensive when you work out the cost of per card, that even if you had 100 enquiries from your cards per 5000, that would give you an incredible return on your investment, even when you do ‘drop’ them everywhere you go.

And are you wondering whether this method can work for YOUR industry? Whether you’re in the finance sector, a solicitor, restaurant owner, hairdresser, retail sector… literally any industry, you can apply this method and you will get immediate results. At Print Empire, we guarantee this – if you buy these drop cards from us, design it so it works to grab attention and trigger response, and after dropping 5000 cards you can honestly say you did not get many responses, call us and we’ll refund you £20 from your order. However, we do ask that you drop these cards in all the places you walk past or visit, and try to drop all the cards within a couple of weeks of receiving your order, rather than just dropping a few per day. Of course, you will NOT receive 5000 enquiries for every 5000 cards; but the point is, the people who do enquire are those who are interested enough to keep your card and are targeted enough to contact you!

Below are just a few examples of what to write on drop cards, for different industries – try to think of one that would suit your business and feel free to contact us at Print Empire before you order, and we’ll help you to perfect it for maximum response, using our experience and knowledge:

Restaurant: “A FREE Bottle of Wine when you book a table of 4 at the finest restaurant in town, the XYZ Restaurant. Call us on xxxxx or visit our website to book today. The latest testimonial from a customer …. the food here was fantastic, the service was superb, and I will be recommending all my friends to visit XYZ Restaurant.”

Hairdresser: “50% OFF your first hair cut at XYZ Hairdressers. Call us now on xxxxxxx to book an appointment, and we’ll take 50% off your first hair cut at our newly refurbished hair salon. We offer cuts, colours and beauty treatments to men and women, and we’re renowned for our fantastic service.”

Solicitors: “Have YOU had a trip or a fall, that wasn’t your fault? Call XYZ Solicitors today on xxxxxx and we’ll handle your claim, providing a No-Win-No-Fee service.”

Accountant: “Local Accountancy seeking Businesses to save money for. XYZ Accountant, established 15 years, is looking for businesses in the local area, which we can help to save costs. Offering affordable bookkeeping, tax returns, and financial services. Call today on xxxxxxx or visit our website at xxxxxxx to receive a FREE Guide to slashing your tax bill.”

Cafe: “FREE Tea or Coffee for picking up this card! If you have this card in your hand, get yourself over to XYZ Cafe NOW and receive a FREE cup of your favourite tea or coffee, with every sandwich you buy. Limited time only, so get yourself over to us on xxxxx Street, and try out for yourself our amazing hot drinks.” Can you imagine how many of the local business people around your cafe would visit YOU rather than your competitors, for a FREE cuppa!

The fact is, this method can be applied to any business:- cleaning companies, butchers, jewellery store, clothes shop, web designers, authors etc. The key here is that you drop the cards everywhere in your area, AND you make sure you provide the best service or product to that customer. The mission of the drop card is to draw customers in quickly, but the aim for you is to get that customer to KEEP COMING BACK. And they will only do that if you back up your initial offer with a great service or product. It’s no good offering a free cup of coffee to every customer, but then make an awful cup of coffee or treat the customer poorly. If you can back up your offer with a great service, these customers WILL keep coming back to you rather than to your competitors. You can also give out these cards to your customers; give them several cards each, and they will instinctively give them out to THEIR friends and family, effectively referring them to you also – without any effort from you.

This is what we always strive to do at PrintEmpire.co.uk, we provide a good reason for a customer to visit us in the first place, then we ensure we provide a great service or a great product in order for that client to KEEP coming back to us, and to KEEP referring their friends to us. And this is the reason for the amazing success we have attained over the last 5 years, and with over 8000 satisfied clients in our database. Yes, we do get the odd occasional problem where a delivery is late or a customer is unhappy; and you will have the same problems (we’re only human after all), but we still strive for the best we can provide.

If you’re not convinced that ‘drop cards’ are for you, not a problem. We hope we can help you with any other printing you require for your business such as flyers, letterheads, business cards, booklets, folders, or anything else you need printing. We also offer professional website design services, animation, and marketing; so get in touch with us if we can answer any of your questions.

We also hope that if you know of any friends, family or colleagues who could benefit from reading this and learning more about Print Empire, that you can pass on our details to them – or share this page on your Facebook or Twitter and pass on the message!

All the best, and the best of success for you and your business in the future!

Total Vehicle Makeover…

July 12th, 2010

Vehicle Wrapping – a total vehicle makeover…

We all want a total car makeover every once in a while to see our vehicles come to life, whether for our own personal pleasure or for business and marketing purposes. By sticking large sheets of printed customised designs, or plain coloured vinyl sheets to your vehicle we create a totally different, attractive design, which technically wraps your car or van. A neat, attractive and professional looking vehicle wrap can do just the trick. Vehicle Wrapping turns around any vehicle 180 degrees for a low cost and little time. The fashion of sticking little logos or phrases on your rear windshield is wearing off; the revolutionary vehicle wrapping makeover is here!

Print Empire are a vehicle vinyl wrapping company based in Berkshire. We turn around all types of vehicles, such as vans, cars, fleet, motorbikes, double deckers and golf carts. Our vehicle wraps protect the paintwork of your vehicle which keeps the resale price of your vehicle as high as it can be.

Vehicle wraps makes a faultless first impression, especially if you are displaying your corporate identity which would make your vehicle stand out in the crowd and spread the word about your business. All eyes will be caught by your vehicle wrap increasing awareness about your business to the max, as if you are conducting your own marketing campaign on a low budget and reaching the best results. It is cost-effective as you will be displaying your advertisement everywhere you go, to meet your client, to the shops, or any personal errand. You can display your new product, promotion, business events, sale or simply your company’s logo. Professional vehicle wraps maintains the connection between you and your target market by keeping your business news and promotions fresh by the day.

The majority of consumers employ a company’s services based on its look; they would judge your office, vehicles and stationary. With our Vehicle Wrapping service, everywhere you drive we would raise awareness for your business using the Print Empire car wraps. Advertisement display on vehicles is a technique used by many leading companies nowadays, which we will offer you for a fraction of the cost paid by those companies for their marketing campaigns.

This Vehicle Wrapping service provided by Print Empire is a family-run business, so our utmost goal is the end result and its quality. We can design your wrap in any way you like, signage, logo, full color wraps, partial wraps, special finishes like carbon fibre or reflective silver or gold, or any other personalisation you prefer. Our designs are not standard, they are customised, so you will have your own unique look and your business would be exceptionally presented.

The vinyl Car Wrapping service is for personal pleasure, as well. If you would like to express yourself and display your photo or any design over your car – provide us with the brief, and our professional design team will bring it to life for you! Just personalise your vehicle to suit your taste, as you personalise your home or room. Show your friends and neighbours your personal taste and unique touch, and stand out in any crowd.

Who could believe that all these benefits are merely from having a whole new look to your car that is affordable and quick? Applying a vehicle wrap is quicker than painting and can be as short-term or long-term as you like. If you choose to remove your vehicle wrap you would see that your original paintwork is as perfect as the day we applied the vinyl. We use safe vinyl equipment, unlike the harmful and costly sprays. Vehicle Wrapping service has its special equipment and guarantees the best quality, with a warranty on our wraps. We offer you free consultation before applying your vehicle wrap to customise your design and make it as unique as you like.

To see what Vehicle Wrapping Service can do to your car, please visit: www.PrintEmpire.co.uk

vehicle wrapping beetle

Print Empire announces new initiative to fight rising unemployment rates

May 19th, 2010

While government bureaus employ experimental measures in an attempt to unfreeze job markets, some private companies are also working to fix the problems caused by contemporary economic busts. Berkshire-based company Print Empire recently launched a new initiative aimed at reducing unemployment rates.

According to the latest assessment by the Office for National Statistics, there are 2.5 million unemployed people in the United Kingdom. Most experts agree that these recent figures demonstrate a continuing unemployment crisis.

Furthermore, industry-wide failures have forced skilled workers to retrain. New technological advancements continue to drive yesterday’s careers into obsolescence. Corporations are reducing labor costs in order to compete in the global economy. While government programs employ targeted measures to retrain individuals hurt by recent lay-offs, innovation is the key to increasing the number of available employment opportunities. Many economists suggest that small businesses are the most reliable engines of a successful economic recovery.

Print Empire’s new Mini-Franchise Package extends business ownership technologies to people of all economic backgrounds.

In recognition of the need for upstart commercial enterprises, Print Empire has created a new Mini-Franchise package to reduce the costs associated with starting a small business. In the past, entrepreneurs have launched successful companies by purchasing franchise packages. However, these arrangements are often very costly. Print Empire’s Mini-Franchise initiative was designed with the average person’s budget in mind. “With a minimal annual fee of £575 to cover the setup and maintenance of their new ventures, the daunting idea of having to invest huge sums of money upfront has also been removed, with many Franchisers charging more than £6000 per year,” says Deren Stevens, General Manager of Print Empire.

Entrepreneurs often choose to purchase franchises when starting new businesses. Since these arrangements include the necessary paperwork, branding, and infrastructure to begin operations, investors may find them less risky than alternatives. However, the typical unemployed individual does not have sufficient funds to purchase a franchise. Print Empire’s Mini-Franchise initiative seeks to extend the dream of business ownership to people of all economic backgrounds. An innovative pricing system allows laid-off workers to buy a business franchise using minimal funds from savings or a redundancy package.

Deren Stevens of Print Empire recently explained the motivation of the initiative, “The aim of our Mini-Franchise system is to give people a chance to run their own business, for a minimal fee. They can run the business full-time, or part-time to fit around their current jobs; and it is an easy and affordable way to get a business started with help from experienced professionals. With 2.5 million people currently unemployed in the UK, many of whom have lost their jobs recently due to companies making cut-backs, this is an ideal opportunity for them to get back into the workplace and also to run their own venture.”
How it works

With this Mini-Franchise system, participants receive a fully operational E-commerce website designed with features similar to those found on Print Empire’s own website, PrintEmpire.co.uk. However, entrepreneurs are encouraged to come up with a distinct name for each business. In order to assist with the promotion of every new company, Print Empire offers customized stationery and promotional items as a part of the package.

By choosing to start a Mini-Franchise, an individual gains the ability to resell the products and services offered by Print Empire. This Print and Marketing company delivers a broad variety of popular services including graphic design, animation, and marketing. Print Empire is also considered a leader in the provision of new media technologies; franchisees will be able to offer advanced web design and press release writing services.

Traditionally, franchise owners are required to share a percentage of annual profits. For Print Empire’s Mini-Franchise system, this is not the case. The annual fee is the only cost associated with managing each business. As a result, entrepreneurs are free to grow their companies without such worrisome disincentives.

Franchisers receive insider prices on all of the services offered by Print Empire. From these base rates, each Mini-Franchise owner is allowed to set his or her own prices. Successful businesses need price flexibility; when market conditions change, consumers may have more or less money to spend on printing services. In response to this, Print Empire empowers Mini-Franchise owners by enabling them to compete on their own terms.

While government officials debate job growth policies, the private sector responds with new initiatives.

Economies exist to satisfy the needs of consumers and labourers. Unfortunately, recent events have driven the global economy into a state of chaos. Countless hard-working people are forced to turn to government assistance as companies deal with redundancies. Few investors are willing to commit funds to risky and expensive enterprises.

However, E-commerce has experienced a recent boom. With the growing popularity of wireless technology, more consumers are beating the recession by shopping for deals online. An E-commerce website can be run at a fraction of the cost of a brick-and-mortar store. Since companies are working to provide products and services at a lower price to the end-user, the latest initiative by Print Empire allows the printing industry to reduce costs while simultaneously adding new companies and creating jobs.

More detailed information is available at Print Empire’s official website, www.PrintEmpire.co.uk. Since the printing company offers free consultancy, interested parties are encouraged to make contact immediately.

Print and Marketing Competition…

April 26th, 2010

PrintEmpire.co.uk – latest Press Release (26-04-2010)….


Small Businesses who have Invested in Marketing throughout the Recession now Reaping the Rewards

For many small companies during the recession, cutting marketing budgets and keeping overheads to a bare minimum seemed to be the sensible strategy for survival. Sadly however, many businesses could not see that a little investment in marketing can be crucial and to dismiss it as yet another ‘expense’ could be a costly mistake. It now appears that those businesses who did invest in marketing have proved to be the smart ones and are now reaping the rewards.

This is a view shared by one of the UK’s leading online print and marketing companies PrintEmpire.co.uk (www.PrintEmpire.co.uk) who have worked with hundreds of small businesses over the past year and seen for themselves how small and new businesses can flourish during even the very toughest economic climate.

PrintEmpire.co.uk are so sure that even a modest spend on marketing can turn the fortunes of a business around that they have this week launched a new initiative by way of a competition to highlight the importance of marketing. The competition is open to any small or new businesses, and PrintEmpire.co.uk will work with the winning business over the course of the next twelve months providing £8000 worth of print and marketing services.

One of the main objectives of the competition is for other businesses to have the opportunity to follow the journey of the winner throughout the twelve month period via an interactive ‘online diary’ on the website; giving all businesses a chance to see what marketing strategies are put in place, and how well they have worked. They will clearly be able to see just how important marketing is and that even a small budget can dramatically turn around the fortunes of a business. It is vital that businesses, especially during a poor economy, view marketing as an ‘investment’ and not an ‘expense.’

Deren Stevens, Manager of Berkshire-based PrintEmpire.co.uk explains “This competition is our way of showing businesses in the UK that with just a small budget they can still grow their revenues tremendously, even during a global economic crisis such as the one we are currently in. Although there will be only one main winner, we have increased our marketing staff in order to to give all businesses free advice on their marketing, just by visiting www.PrintEmpire.co.uk. The interactive Online Diary system is a new development; most marketing companies keep their strategies a secret, but we’re going to reveal to everyone exactly what we do for the winning company, and exactly what returns are had, so others can implement them into their own businesses.”

Since its launch in 2005 PrintEmpire.co.uk has been one of the pioneers in championing low cost online printing services offering high quality print and design work at a fraction of the cost of traditional printers. The company has now firmly established itself as one of the market leaders with services which include Print, Web Design, Animation, SEO, Viral Advertising and PR.

Businesses wishing to take part in the competition can do so by visiting the company’s website at www.PrintEmpire.co.uk and completing a simple online competition form. Closing date for entries is 15th of June 2010, and winner will be announced on the website on 18th June 2010. Follow the progress of the winner online to see how Print Empire have transformed the fortunes of one lucky business…and copy the strategies for your own business.

New Look Website!

April 24th, 2010

As you may have noticed, we’ve changed the look of the Print Empire website slightly. Our main aim is to continually make the navigation of the website more user-friendly, and make the whole website experience a little better for our customers and visitors.

www.PrintEmpire.co.uk now also has links to this blog, our Twitter account, and also our ‘livehelp’ system. You can also sign up to our FREE Newsletter on the site, which will give you access to our news, as well as lots of exclusive offers and deals.

With more products and services having been added to the site, so we can cater for ALL your Print and Marketing needs, we hope you find the information on our website helpful to you. If you have any questions about our services, just get in touch via the blogs, twitter, email, phone, or using the various contact forms on our website – we’d be happy to help!

Back on the blogs

April 24th, 2010

After a ’slight’ delay on us getting on to our blog, we’re finally here again. Due to some technical issues with the software, we didn’t have access to this blog for a while; but we’re back here now and will be updating you on the news and offers from the world of Print Empire!

Christmas Closing Date

December 1st, 2009

Yes, Christmas is approaching … fast! And, like every other business, we have to close our doors so our staff can get some time to spend with their families. With Royal Mail and other couriers also not taking collections of parcels during this period, we will be closing from the 18th of December, and resuming as normal from the 4th of January.

All orders taken up until the 15th will still be processed and dispatched with our couriers; but all orders taken after the 15th of December are likely to be delivered in the New Year. If you are after digital orders (i.e. letterheads and compliment slips), we will still aim to dispatch orders that have been placed after the 15th – please check with us before ordering, however, especially if they are required for a deadline.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for making 2009 another successful and enjoyable year for Print Empire; and we wish you and your families a very happy Christmas, and prosperous New Year. Look forward to working with you in 2010 !

Vehicle and Car Wrapping Service

December 1st, 2009

It’s incredible how far technology has come in such a short space of time.  Only 5 years ago you would have struggled to grasp the idea of having full colour graphics printed all over your car or van.  Best you could hope for was simple shapes and text cut-outs, being placed over your vehicle; with information such as company name, phone number – basic signwriting really.

As technology has progressed and new machines have entered the market, from the likes of Roland, HP, Mutoh, and Mimaki; it is now possible to print on large format vinyl using specialised eco-solvent inks.  You can literally take any design idea and concept, create it in a design suite, and within just a few hours that design can be plastered all over your vehicle.  Car Wrapping, Vehicle Wrapping, Vinyl Wraps – these are now the most sought after ways of getting your brand out there, cost-effectively.

Imagine, most people drive on average 1000 miles per month, sometimes up to 5000 miles if it’s a commercial vehicle – and with over 3000 other people seeing your vehicle each day, is it not worth investing in making your vehicle stand out – rather than driving a plain looking van, with no indication of what your business can offer.  Having full colour vinyl vehicle graphics, covering some or all of your vehicle is a cost-effective marketing/advertising exercise; you can show off your offers, services, contact details all over your vehicle….it also protects the paintwork underneath so it is in pristine condition when the vinyl wrap is removed in future.

There are many common questions we get asked when it comes to vehicle wrapping, and it is completely understandable as it is a fairly new and unexplored printing method.  We have noted below some of the most common FAQ’s with regards to vinyl vehicle wraps, to help clear a few things up…

1) Does the vinyl ruin the paintwork?

:: No.  In fact, it protects the paintwork underneath from rain and sun damage; when the vinyl is taken off and the car is rinsed, the finish is immaculate – perfect if the car needs to be returned to the dealer after its lease period or you want to sell the vehicle.

2) What is the cost of a full car wrap?  Is it expensive?

:: You can view the prices on the www.PrintEmpire.co.uk website; as an example, a full car wrap for an estate car is £855+VAT.  Yes, its not exactly cheap for a one-off payment, but if you think about it, that works out at only £25 per month (if you consider most wraps are left on a vehicle for 3 years)!  And over that 3 years, your car will be seen by thousands of other drivers who may be interested in the services/products that your Company provides.  It is basically one of the cheapest and most cost-effective marketing methods currently out there – you already drive your vehicle, so why not properly advertise your business with eye-catching designs.  You can view the vehicle wrapping page by going to this link on our website, and viewing the details/prices:  VEHICLE WRAPPING / CUSTOM CAR WRAPPING

3) How long will you need my car, and where do I drop it off?

:: Once we have approved the design ideas with you over email and phone, we will book in a date for you to drop the car off with us.  We usually need the car for 2 days maximum, unless it is a fleet of vehicles in which case we can give you an exact duration beforehand.  We can do you car wrapping / vehicle wrapping over weekends also if it is more convenient for you.  We will confirm details with you on booking – we have a secure warehouse in Bracknell (Berkshire) which we ask you to drop your vehicle off to; once completed, we give you a call to come collect…simple!

4) Can you do vehicle wrapping at my premises?

:: We would prefer you to drop your vehicle off with us, but if you need us to come to you that is not a problem, we can bring our equipment to you, although there will be additional costs to incur due to travel/time etc.  Also, your premises needs to have good lighting, and be clean to work in.

5) What does the car wrapping service involve?

:: Consultation with client on what they require … design concept created by us or the client … designs approved … print on to specialist vehicle vinyl … apply to the vehicle ensuring there are no creases or bubbles … client approves and signs off final work … vehicle is taken away by the client.

6) What print equipment do you use for the vinyl wraps?

:: We use a Roland SolJet, quite likely the best large format vinyl printing machine on the market. It uses vibrant and rich eco-solvent inks which won’t fade. We’ll soon be putting a video of the machine in action, but you can search it online too – it really is a very impressive piece of kit … with no compromises on print quality and speed!

7) Rather than printing on vinyl, can I have solid colour vinyls over my car?

:: This is something we do very often – clients who want a car wrap on a personal vehicle – with the new ‘matt black,’ ‘reflective gold,’ and ‘reflective silver mirror’ vinyls. We also offer about 80 other shades/colours you can choose from (i.e. have the car wrapped in red vinyl, and the centre section bonnet and hood wrapped in stealthy matt black). You can choose any combination of colour(s) and we can make your car stand out from the rest when you’re driving.

8; Is vehicle vinyl more expensive to buy than normal vinyl?

:: Many people are not aware of the differences between ‘vehicle grade cast vinyl’ and ‘calendered vinyl.’ Ordinary vinyl is usually about 100 microns thick, and is used for sign-writing on vehicles and mainly for making signs (i.e. sign boards, shop front boards etc). It is ideal for this use as the vinyl is used on flat surfaces and can be applied easily without any problems. On the the other hand, we all know that vehicles do not have many ‘flat surfaces’ – they’re made up of rivets, curves, and some flat areas. For this, we use special vehicle grade cast vinyl, which is only 50 microns thick, allowing us to place over curves without any creasing or bubbling. We are aware of some companies still using normal vinyl for car wrapping (as it is a lot cheaper and saves them money), so whatever company you decide to use make sure you ask what vinyl they use; we have colour swatches and vinyl in stock, so you can confirm for yourself that we only use vehicle vinyl … for the best results. Also, be aware that calendered vinyl only has 1-3 year life indoors (around 1 year on vehicles); and specialised vehicle vinyl has a 7-9 year outdoor life!

We hope the questions/answers above help with any of your own queries. You may have your own question on custom car wrapping, so please feel free to leave your comments/questions below for us to answer.

We will soon add more photo of car wrapping we have carried out, as well as videos on the process, so keep an eye out for those!

Many thanks,

The Print Empire Team



Bookmark & Share

Print Empire Blog – New

December 1st, 2009

Yes, we have finally decided to add a blog to our website.

With investments into new machinery, new systems, and more staff; we thought it’s best we now focus on investing time into the Internet too.

We thought it would be a nice idea to add all of our News and Upcoming Products to one area on our website, where clients such as yourself can be kept up-to-date on Print Empire.

Future blogs will include new products that are going to be launched, news on machinery we have bought, and anything else that we believe could be of benefit to our clients.

Take care; feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions at all.  You can also comment on our blogs, we’d love to hear your views!

The Print Empire team