Smaller businesses are sometimes at a disadvantage when competing with larger businesses. Their printed stationery, brochures and marketing materials have to stand comparison with companies who may have a much larger print budget and can benefit from larger order quantities.
So when submitting a tender, some information or a proposal how can they present the information in the best way possible?
You may like to include a brochure, leaflet, specification sheet, quotation and even a business card - so the potential client has all the key information to hand to help the decision-making process.
One thing that people often use to contain all these items in one place is a presentation folder.
A presentation folder may need to contain a large amount of information – so they can come in different sizes and thickness for the enclosures.
This type of folder is also quite popular to use at an exhibition, or on a training course or when a meeting requires the distribution of different types of printed material.
What options are available?
We can always supply you with unprinted standard folders or ring binders in a standard range of colours and styles - but are they likely to impress and will they be discarded after the materials are presented or used for other purposes?
We can even get folders, ring binders and carrier bags with a clear sleeve on the front and the spine – so we can digitally print and insert your own covers. But these covers can also be removed and so the folders and ring binders can be used again.
On the other hand, printed presentation folders can stand out and do not require you to have any binding equipment to hand.
You simply insert all your business communication into the glued flap.
The truly unique ones are those printed with their own branding and design.
They help draw the eye to the company name and identity and help you keep all the important information to hand at the same time.
And nothing says “organised professional” like coordinated presentation stationery.
If your inserts and business cards all look the same and are printed on high quality materials they cannot fail to impress.
So, as a small business make sure everything carries your corporate identity and it will then have even greater impact.
The Traditional Printed Option
Presentation folders have been traditionally printed on large offset litho commercial printing presses that have been able to accommodate the extra size needed for the flap.
They may then have a seal or gloss or matt laminate finish applied to make the surface feel smooth and provide extra protection.
The folder is then die cut and creased with a cutting tool and then folded and glued so the flap forms the wallet holder. Some of these cutting tools have a business card sized slots added to allow for inserting the card into the folder.
The main disadvantages are the high unit costs and slower delivery.
The high unit cost associated with these folders relates to the size of flat printed sheet and all the finishing that is usually required.
And this is can be even higher if the folders are given a spot-UV finish or any form of embossing.
Then there is the time factor. As we all need printing as a matter of urgency you would need to plan well in advance. Delivery would normally be about ten working days.
So to make the order economically viable you would normally need to order at least 1000 and you would not usually be able to get them if you needed them quickly.
The Digital Alternative
Now digital presses can offer some pretty good alternatives for printed folders without the need to order such large quantities.
And with small format digital printing even the smallest companies can now offer good quality and professional presentation folders if you need only a handful of folders.
At Direct2Print we can print oversized A4 or A5 folders on various types of card and can provide an optional gloss or matt laminate finish.
The minimum online print order quantity is just 20 – although in some situations we have printed just one or two for some really important sales presentations.
We print on a single side or on both sides – depending upon the amount of information you need to communicate.
However, we do not print or supply folders with a glued flap. Instead we simply add a clear self-adhesive plastic pockets at a fraction of the cost.
Plastic pockets are available in various sizes to accommodate different quantities of loose sheets of paper. They are also available as special sizes for inserting a CD or a business card.
And these solutions are totally flexible. In some cases the customer purchases the pockets separately and can add them according to the needs of each presentation or meeting.
Some prefer to “mix and match” different sized corner pockets on each of the inner sides of the folder.
You could even staple or clip the information to the inner cover for an even simpler solution.
Remember it’s not only the first impression that makes the difference in these situations.
You also you’re your audience or clients to remember you and what you do after the event.
Whether you’re presenting to a board of directors or giving out free samples – a fully branded and customised folder will work wonders for you.
An impressive folder will be something they don’t want to just throw away – and they will be a slightly smaller size to make them easier to file away and keep in a safe place.
So for those important occasions when you need to present important business information, the digital presentation folders are now within the budget of any business.
Giving people a presentation in high quality, well designed folders improves the image or your company. So whether you are a self-employed tradesman or a small business – your chances of converting the sale will increase with a professional presentation.
And being able to order small quantities and in a couple of days from Direct2Print now opens up a whole new range of opportunities and possible applications.
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