Merry Christmas

On behalf of Artech Graphics, Merry Christmas. May God receive glory for sending His Son to die on the cross for our sins. For while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us and gave Himself for us that we may have life. May God richly bless you with peace and joy in Him this holiday season.

It's Not too Late! Wish your clients a Merry Christmas

It's less than a week to Christmas and no one is really doing a whole lot of work. Co-workers drift away from their desks more frequently, more customers stay for extended visits at your front counter, and the kitchen trimmed in goodies from vendors gets more traffic than the mall on Christmas Eve. Now is a great opportunity to remember your customers who have been faithful through the year. If you missed the boat on ordering fruit baskets, cookie tins, and the like, don't feel defeated. Simply think of a way you can say "Merry Christmas" and "Thank You" that doesn't require advanced ordering or overnight shipping. Here are some ideas:

1. Warm Cup O' Joe
On your way to work, pick up two cups of cappacino and stop and share one with a local customer.

2. Old Fashioned Parchment
Pick up a few greeting cards (they're probably on sale now), actually take the time to write a thoughtful note inside, and hand deliver them to a few customers.

3. Scheduled Fun
Give a client a call and in leiu of holiday gifts, offer to schedule a round of golf, your treat, after the New Year.

4. A Phone Call Away
If all else fails, just pick up the phone and wish your customers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Share your appreciation for them. Don't discuss business or anything work-related. Just glad tidings. That personal call will make a stronger impression than any ink-jetted bulk Christmas card ever would.

If you think of any small but significant ways to say Merry Christmas at the last minute, leave a post to help out a fellow businessman that's short on time.

"Elf Yourself": it's worth the procrastination

Just another brilliant example of creative marketing. Check out the link below for Office Max's newest edge. You'll laugh yourself silly. While you're digging through your desktop for pictures, think about how great this idea is for increased name recognition. This marketing idea is totally unrealated to anything that Office Max offers, but will circulate their name at Christmas time faster than a 5 year old can open his Christmas present. What could be your original idea?
www.elfyourself.com

Is your Small Business Marketing to Wallets or Purses?

I recently read a statistic on MarketingProf.com's website that announced women now spend $0.85 of every dollar. What does this mean for small businesses who are mostly male-owned and operated? It means that small businesses are probably catering to the wrong audience.

When my son was an infant, the grocery store was a nightmare. After I did my shopping, there was rarely room to put his infant carrier back into the buggy with all the bags. I don't know if you've ever tried to steer a heavy buggy single-handidly, but it's NOT easy especially with a 25lb infant carrier in the other hand. The experience would actually ruin my day. Needless to say, I put off grocery shopping until my husband could pinch hit. That is, until I went to Harris Teeter. When I got to checkout, a nice girl asked, "May I walk these out to your car for you?" It was like the Heavens parted and light shined into my dark and sleep-deprived eyes. "YES!, would you?" I cried. I followed her out the car as she placed them in my trunk and waved a happy farewell. "Wow."

This seemingly simple service was a life saver for me, a tired and exhausted mother that lacked the dexterity of an octopus. They converted me into a regular shopper despite their higher prices! Even on a slim budget, I knew it was worth it. I would find a way to pay a little more.

This service was not a coincidence. Someone sat down and evaluated the average grocery buyer. Instead of merely looking at their products and prices, they thought about the needs and problems of their customers. Harris Teeter found that most of their buyers are women with kids who simply need a hand getting back to their car. And they didn't stop there! They now offer an internet service where you can shop online and pick up your bagged orders in your car or have them delivered to your house!

It's time that small businesses develop comprehensive marketing strategies that are designed with the buyer in mind. And the buyer right now, is a woman. It does require taking a step back and looking at the braoder picture. What can your business do to target this audience?

Remember: marketing plans don't have to be burdensome or lengthy. They can be refreshingly simple. Check out Entrepreneur.com (http://entrepreneur.com/marketing/marketingcolumnistkimtgordon/article60000.html). They have some great resources to get you started. And remember, the person that makes the most money isn't always the one that spends it.

Get Sold: Realtors Stand Out against a Slow Market

"Traditional marketing techniques are failing"...this is the consistent message in each trade and marketing magazine I've read lately. What's changing? Why do ads in magazines and generic fliers not deliver the same results that they once did 30 years ago? The public has spoken and their message is, "Give us what we want, when we want it and how we want it." Our buyers are becoming more and more picky about their consumption and their reponses to marketing techniques are following suit. Buyers are submursed in an instant culture where need meets satisfaction in an instant. Now, more than ever, marketing material must be timely, pertinent, targeted, and personal.

What does this mean for realtors as they face a slowing market? You must stand out. Here is a short list of ways you can begin setting your marketing plan in motion so that you can emerge as an industry leader.

1. Blog about it.
Blogs are everywhere and you should be there too. Go to blogger.com, choose a template and start creating your world where you can send potential clients to learn more about you, your products, and your valuable advice. Treat it like a service, not a selling tool. Put anything on your blog that makes you a valuable source to the buying community. Remember to "sell your blog" in all your communications with your clients (emails, mailings, phone calls, etc). Have fun with it and it will draw active readers.

2. Use Targeted Mailing Lists
Stop generic mail outs. Mail lists are available that are separated by zip code, housing districts, buying habits, etc. Then plan smaller mailings to correspond with each audience. (www.artechgraphicsinc.com).Targeted mailings have proven themselves to increase response rates by as much as 30%!

3. Enhance your Listings
It's time you invest in your clients. It's a known stastic that virtual tours and multiple photographs draw more attention and sell a house faster. Besides, you are not selling a number, you are selling a home--One of the largest investments that a person can ever make. Embrace technology and the revenue stream it can provide.

4. Focus on your Sphere
Outline the individuals that are in your sphere of influence. Friends, past co-workers, recent and old aquaintances, and neighbors. Decide which ones are likely buyers and which ones you may need to facilitate a relationship with before they are ready to buy. Once you pinpoint these individuals, plan a weekly contact with them, send them valuable information, and educate them about your services. Having a realtor you can trust is everything-thus making the people you already know your most valuable potential clients.

Monitoring Customer Touchpoints Generates Efficiency- (A whiter smile helps too)

When you go to the grocery to get toothpaste, your only interaction is not with the check-out girl. When you drove up to the grocery, you saw the cart boy in the parking lot who offered you a buggy, then you exchanged pleasantries with the produce manager who was straightening the melons and misting the veggies. That's where you picked up a sale sheet that was designed by corporate diplaying the giant coupon for Deluxe LT Extra White Toothpaste (normally the most expensive brand, but with $1.00 off, it would be hard to resist). Walking over to the personal hygiene isle, you see an endcap for detergent which reminds you that your socks are piling up and the last time you did laundry, you had to flip the detergent bottle for an hour allowing it to drain in a small cup to get enough for suds. So you pick one up. On you go to the toothpaste where you splurge on the Deluxe LT Extra White but also notice a grocery coupon on the shelf that boasts a buy-one, get-one offer for toothbrushes. Who doesn't need a healthy stock of toothbrushes, you ask yourself. So you pick up two for the sake of convenience. Off you go the the checkout where you are greeted with a lovely smile and a short pitch on the point system that could win you a brand new set of All-Clad cookware that you know your wife would love to have for Christmas. Picking up your bag you dash out to your car feeling warm fuzzies and planning the next trip so that you can have something to put under the tree for the Mrs. You have become a great example of touchpoint marketing and didn't even know it.

Touchpoint marketing is simply identifing every interaction (every touch) that a customer has with your company and maximizing those interactions in a way that creates more customer satisfaction and generates larger sales. Every interaction from the flier they get in the mail and the buggy-boy's smile to the strategically placed coupon and attractive end-cap display has an overall effect on the consumer.

List out each time your customers are touched by your company. Take stock, assess, and evaluate to see if your company is doing it's best with the opportunities it already has. Make changes and see what happens. I'm sure you will be delighted with the results.

Tasty Loss Leaders Make for Satisfying Revenues

Everyone has seen a fish bowl sitting on the local deli's counter boasting a "FREE LUNCH" to the lucky winner of a business card drawing. I'm sure you've tried your hand at one of these contests and maybe even folded a card corner or two to increase your chances. What appears to be a harmless little giveaway designed to make a restaraunt more friendly and fun is actually a genius marketing plan in disguise. Not only do they get the customer excited about their lunch and create instant word of mouth marketing but this little collection of voluntarily dropped business cards contains the coveted ingredients for a qualified marketing list.

Use your creativity and see what kind of loss leaders you could use to get the names you know will be interested in your product. Just remember the rules: no SPAM, no annoying phone calls, and no list sharing. Have fun with it and remember that a $5 loss could lead to a big win!

Marketing from Within

Do your employees know your marketing plan? So many times, small businesses focus so much on the outside, that they foget who's making it happen on the inside. Inform your employees of your marketing strategies so that they too can be valuable sales people on your team. Each employee, from President to Maintenance should know your company's vision, mission, marketing goals and events. Your customers most likely interact with different employees at different times. Each interaction is an opportunity for another sale or at least a small chance for your employees to talk positively about your company. Ways to include your employees are:
1. Weekly Meetings
These can be brief 5-10 min. meetings on Monday mornings that serve as a sort of "State of the Business Address." Keep it brief so that your production is not inhibited.
2. Internal Newsletter
Is email the best way to reach your employees? Type out a short weekly or bi-weekly newsletter announcing any new strategies or events being planned. Encourage them to talk up your company with their friends and professional connections. This is a great way to increase excitement and personalize your work environment. Remember to add fun photos and graphics.
3. Stick it Up
Simply post a flier on the corkboard in the coffee room making employees aware of your marketing efforts. Announce changes to the website, new products being launched, and events or expos being promoted.

Christmas Marketing- 5 Quick Tips

There's always a quickening of the pace when Halloween fades away revealing the quick sprint to Christmas. Your business is in gear-up mode now that everyone is back from summer vacations and the kids are expecting their first report card. How did Christmas sneak up so quickly...again? It's time to think marketing for the holiday season. Actually, it was time to think about it yesterday. But because so many of us are playing catch up, it's good to know it's not too late to start planning. Here's a quick list of Christmas Marketing Ideas for Small Businesses.

1. Get Down Write Personal
Prepare your Christmas mailing list now, find a card you like and get early-bird ordering rates. And please, take time to sign them yourself. A personal touch goes a long way in our new digital society.

2. Standing Out is a Good Thing
Find a unique customer appreciation gift that says thank-you for another year of business. Try goodie baskets, peronalized notepads, homemade coffee cakes, tins of cookies,or a gift card to a nice restaraunt.

3. Create Mountains out of Mole Hills
Take inventory of your products and services. Can any of them be tailored for the holidays? (ex. could a simple change in packaging make your product more appealing to Christmas shoppers?)

4. Deck the Halls
There's something about seeing Christmas lights that makes you more prone to open your wallet. While you don't want to turn your business into something off of "Chevy Chase's Christmas Vacation," a few little holiday touches may inspire larger orders.

5. Be a Sneaky Elf
Everyone is looking for Christmas ideas for Johnny's stocking or for Rose, the twice removed cousin. If you have a product that could be a gift, remind your customer to not only buy one for themselves, but add a few more to their cart. They'll brighten up as you solve their gifting delimma and you'll brighten up because you made another sale.

Add Google to Payroll

The internet is where it's at. Or so people keep telling us. Small businesses are often slow on change and frankly a little behind the times when it comes to technology. However, more and more of us locals are trying to figure out how to harness the power of the internet to bring more business through our doors. I've done some research and it seems that a great and cost-effective avenue to try is GoogleAdWords. Information can be found at www.adwords.google.com. Here's how it works: You choose the keywords that best describe your business in the most unique way. When people search google for your keywords, then your ad appears (the one you create yourself). When you set up your account, you bid for an amount of money you will pay when a person clicks your ad. For instance, you can decide you want to spend no more than 2 cent a click. Everytime someone clicks your ad, it will only cost 2 cent, and in return, you get a qualified lead and hopefully a sale leading to cash in your pocket. Go to the website and check it out. Remember to come back to our blog and tell us how it went.

Recent Educational Land Transaction Promises more Mint Hill Growth

The Charlotte Business Journal released a short statement that caught my eye because it had to do with MORE building projects for our town. On October 8, the Journal reported that Charlotte Meck Schools bought 65 acres in Mint Hill at the Clear Creek Business Park. This new dirt will be home to a new high school capable of holding 2,500 students. If you are like me, you are excited about the growth but sick of seeing construction and orange barrels at every turn of Albemarle Rd. I guess you can't have progress without a little mess.

Auction in Mint Hill

"Did I hear $120?" Grab an early dinner and head on down to the Mint Hill Masonic Lodge on Lawyers for the Mint Hill Women's Club annual auction on October 29th at 6pm. The event is free of charge and will boast gifts from handmade crafts to specialty high-end items. One of our long-time customers, Ernest Perry, of Perry's Jewelry at Southpark will be the featured auctioneer. There will also be a silent auction for the majority of the items being sold. Grab your spouse and make it a date. Support your locals and grab some early Christmas gifts at the Women's Club Auction. Proceeds go straight to our community!

3 FREE Customized Scratch Pads for Churches!

FREE STUFF FOR CHURCHES!
Place an order, ANY order to qualify for 3 customized notepads. This is a $20.00 value! We don't mind if you just come by to ship UPS with us or make some copies, ANY ORDER COUNTS. We'd just like the opportunity to meet you. See our mailer above for more details about our FREE offer and read a list of our simplified services for churches. You can also visit us on the web at www.artechgraphicsinc/org. Take a moment to register on our site to use our ONLINE QUOTING FEATURE and to receive emails with special offers like this one!

Do your weekend plans include Madness?

The small town of Mint Hill is all a-buzz today preparing for the much anticipated annual event, Mint Hill Madness. With carnival rides, booths, good food, and games, families everywhere have cleared their weekend schedules to take part in the fun. Mint Hill Park, the destination site, is located on the right on HWY 218 coming from the town square of Mint Hill. You'll pass our shop on the right about a half mile before the park and 485. Thow up a wave or honk a horn. Too bad we won't be there to hear it. You can get more information about Mint Hill Madness at http://www.minthillchamberofcommerce.com/madnesSchedule.html.

Tamper-Proof Rx Paper Required by Federal Law

Effective October 1, 2007, Federal Law requires that all medical prescription pads be printed on tamper proof paper.

To be considered tamper resistant on October 1, 2007,
a prescription must contain at least one of the following three characteristics:

1) one or more industry-recognized features designed to prevent unauthorized copying of a completed or blank prescription form;
2) one or more industry-recognized features designed to prevent the erasure or modification of information written on the prescription by the prescriber;
3) one or more industry-recognized features designed to prevent the use of counterfeit prescription forms.

Artech carries the required paper that meets federal regulations. Just call us to place your pad order.

free rockin' music

It was two years ago when my husband brought home a TIME magazine featuring an article on the top 20 internet sites. We stumbled on one of the best websites of all time. You may have found it already, but for those of you who haven't rocked out while working, check out www.pandora.com. It's a website that allows you to customize your own commercial-free radio station while introducing new music in your favorite genre. Check it out, I know you'll be a fan. Besides, it makes working a heck of a lot more fun.

irregular shipping made easy- "you pack what in your golf bag?"

A few years ago, we became an "Authorized UPS Shipping Outlet." At the time, I anticipated letter-sized, bubbled-lined envelopes coming in by the droves, mixed in with a few 3x5 cardboard boxes of course. But much to my suprise, Artech attracted the strangest shipment requests.

There is an avid golfer who comes in nearly every month to ship his golf clubs to a course destination instead of paying airline luggage fees. The first time I took the order, I had to work out the logistics of return-shipment to our shop. When I tried to estimate the weight for the return trip, he indicated that the bag would be heavier. I silently wondered why. "Would he be buying a new club at the pro shop? Maybe some more balls? Or would the clubs join in on eating a hot dog and beer at the turn?" No, to our suprise, he would be shipping his dirty clothes stuffed between the irons and woods of his golf bag. Needless to say, I had to hold back a few giggles. This was only the beginning. We have shipped 20 foot oriental rugs, a car transmission, Samurai swords, and someone even paid to ship dirt.

Now that my eyes are open to the regular shipping patterns of the world...or at least Mint Hill, NC., I thought many of you could benefit from the tips that UPS provides on shipping irregular shaped items. Check out http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/prepare/guidelines/pack_irregular.html?WT.svl=SubNav.

You'd be suprised how much packaging is needed around a Samurai sword.

50 FREE direct mailers, act now!

Time is running out to take advantage of our special promotional offer for 50 FREE full-color direct mailers (minimum order 500). Direct mail is a cost-efficient, easy-to-use and effective marketing tool for your small business or organization. Get the word out and order your mailers TODAY! Simply email mbartech@bellsouth.net to receive the promtoional code. Call with this code and start the short process of bringing more customers through your door!

mixing fonts

A few weeks ago, I found myself designing a bridal shower invitation for a close friend of mine. I finally found the artwork I wanted to use and had all the copy approved and ready to go. As I scrolled through the 200+ fonts, I slowly became overwhelmed at the possibilities. Would Times be too boring? Would Beautiful be to scripty? How about Georgia? Being a project coordinator by trade does not lend itself to choosing fonts with great success. So I did what most people do and what I certainly have done in the past...trial and error. Two hours later, I had finally found a nice match, Berthold Script and Garamond Regular. Happy with my selection, I printed them up and stuck them in the mail and had a wonderful shower as a result. Now in the aftermath, I'm left to wonder, does picking fonts have to be such a stab in the dark? I googled some font solutions and stumbled upon a blog entry that had a handy pdf form for picking fonts. Boy was this a find. Not only does it cross reference complimentary fonts, but also tells you in what degree they agree! I simply had to post this in our blog so that all you out there struggling for great matches, may save yourself an hour or two. Download the pdf at http://www.thethinkingblog.com/2007/08/how-to-mix-fonts-typeface-cheat-sheet.html.

going mainstream: a turn toward tech

Marking an important turning point, Artech lauched its new website on Tuesday, August 14th. What makes this seemingly simple addition such a huge deal? The printing and design industry once was marked by manufacturering plants, the-larger-the-better presses, manual typesetting and low price bidding. The industry has evolved over the years and so have we. Wanting to reflect our internal changes, we developed a marketing plan that would communicate to our customers what it is, exactly, that we do. The website design was a large part of this plan to become more mainstream. Check out our new specialization categories (solutions, golf, spa, and .org). The solutions category covers all general work we do each and every day. The other categories are speicalized for particular customers and offer products unique to their respective industries. We are adding to our content and tweaking website issues daily. Come visit us and see how we've changed. http://www.artechgraphicsinc.com/

6 reasons why direct mail works

I recently read an article that caught my eye with its clever title, "Going Postal" by Bob Hall featured in the magazine "Quick Printing" (Aug. 2007). It highlighted 6 key advantages to using direct mail. I have found each point to be compelling and I thought you may benefit from the list. Here they are... Direct mail is: "1. Targeted: you can focus on a specific audience, 2. Personal: You can address customers by name, 3. Flexible: It can be sent in a variety of formats, 4. Tangible: You can hold it in your hand, 5. Measurable: You can track responses, and 6. Cost Effective: It reaches who you want to reach. You can read the helpful article in its entirety at http://quickprinting.com/print/Quick-Printing/Going-Postal/1$3101. Remember that Artech can assist you in designing, producing and mailing your direct mail pieces. Happy Mailing!

50 FREE mailers

This week Artech has taken some of its own advice and sent out a direct mailer to local Mint Hill business owners. We are announcing our kickoff by offering a special promotion to mailer recipients. Mentioning the promotion code will ensure 50 FREE mailers (min. order of 500) that you can design yourself or ask us to help. If you'd like to take advantage of this special offer, just drop me an email (mbartech@bellsouth.net) and I'll let you in on the code. Market with direct mail and see an increase in your revenues!

introducing amos

Artech Grahpics would like to introduce the friendliest and hungriest member of our team. Amos. Come on by and see the fearless wonder who begs for everything from cape cod potato chips to pretty much any object wrapped in cellophane. Amos is a big fan of our new blog and he hopes that you will be too.

the beginning of a new graphic era

It's hard to believe that Artech Graphics began as a small mailing business over 30 years ago. Good ol' 1960's...a decade when computers were new, the internet obsolete, and bloggers nowhere to be found.

2007 has found us making changes, adapting to the market, and enhancing our customer service by launching a new website complete with company makeover. So while this is our first official blog post, we do not lament over times gone by but look forward with great expectation to the graphic world of tomorrow.

We have much to look forward to as the fall approaches. We plan to launch our golf series of products fall '07 followed by a spa series and organization series later this year. Keep updated by viewing our website and blog so that you too can be a part of the excitement.