123Print's Tips for Your Small Business

19Jul 2013 by Cindy Berrier 1 Comment

Small Business Spotlight – Re:Find Vintage

Small Business Info, Small Business Spotlight

This week, 123Print is shining its Small Business Spotlight on ... Re:Find Vintage! Re:Find Vintage finds new uses for all things vintage! The company is backed by two former antique dealers who have turned their love of vintage into something they can share. They transform the stories of their unique pieces into a one-of-a-kind space for your event. Re:Find is all about the "re": recycling, re-purposing and re-using. Whether it be digging in old barns, shopping at antique stores, or going to flea markets and yard sales, Re:Find Vintage can help you "infuse a little vintage" into your life or event! [caption id="attachment_4777" align="aligncenter" width="942"] © Re:Find Vintage[/caption] (more…)

18Jul 2013 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Water Cooler Talk and the Web

Small Business Info

Five Tips for Companies Dealing with Social Media Oversharing [caption id="attachment_4760" align="alignleft" width="300"] [credit: quinn.anya][/caption]Social media sharing has changed almost every aspect of the workplace. Acting as the great equalizer, employees may have just as much visibility on the web (and sometimes more) as their employer. Now that younger workers are entering the workforce – a generation that grew up with these social media tools and personal transparency as the norm – HR departments that have traditionally kept a tight lid on sensitive information are faced with a new challenge: how to keep confidential and proprietary information under wraps. Now more than ever, employers need to have a plan in place to deal with office gossip and complaints that, in the past, were confined to the relative obscurity of the break room.…

17Jul 2013 by Cindy Berrier 2 Comments

How to Plan an Affordable Wedding

3rd Wednesday Weddings, Wedding & Family, Wedding Inspiration, Wedding Lounge

Receiving USA Today updates on our iPhones that say the economy is doing better doesn’t necessarily mean the positive financial news is reflected in everyone’s bank accounts. Planning a wedding should be such a joyous time, but it can certainly add a lot of stress to the fiscally challenged. According to WeddingChannel.com’s 2012 “Real Weddings Survey,”the average cost of an American wedding is $28,427. That’s quite a bill to foot! However, there are ways to cut costs and plan a budget-friendly wedding. How do you do that? Follow this guide. 1. Don’t budge it. Perhaps one of the most important things to do when you plan a budget-friendly wedding is to create your budget with your partner and stick to it. Do this before you purchase anything. Also talk to…

16Jul 2013 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Coming Soon! More Raised-Ink Products To Give Your Brand A Sophisticated Edge

123Print News, All Other, Small Business Info

Hold on to your hats, guys and gals. 123Print is getting ready to round off our Raised-Ink line! Remember when Raised-Ink Business Cards came out earlier this summer? To help maintain your brand’s sophisticated look and feel, we have expanded Raised-Ink printing across two more of our most popular products – Letterhead and Envelopes. Raised-Ink Envelopes: Overview: We will be offering Raised-Ink/Thermography #10 standard Envelopes. Paper Stock: 24# Strathmore® Ultimate White Design Options: Designs will be available for selection. Black or one color imprint only. Raised-Ink Letterhead: Overview: We will be offering Raised-Ink/Thermography Letterhead. This product will allow for logo uploads. Limited color/design options will be available. Paper Stock: 24# Strathmore® Ultimate White Design Options: Designs will be available for selection. Single color logo uploads available. Black or one color…

15Jul 2013 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Customer Retention Strategies: What Is Customer Relationship Management?

Monday Marketing Minutes, Small Business, Small Business Info

[caption id="attachment_4669" align="alignleft" width="300"] Are your customers coming, staying or going?[/caption] First, a couple of customer-retention statistics, via New North, to get your marketing blood pumping! Attracting a new customer costs 5 times as much as keeping an existing one. — Lee Resources 2010 Companies that prioritize customer experience generate 60% higher profits. — Customer Thermometer 2012 Now that we have your attention … are your customers coming, staying or going? One of, if not your number-one, marketing focuses should be on learning how to keep your current customers happy so they come back for more. In order to do that, first you need to find out what your customers want. RightNow Technologies says that 73 percent of clients leave because they are dissatisfied with customer service, but the company…

13Jul 2013 by Cindy Berrier 5 Comments

SBA Loans – The Benefits and How to Apply

Small Business Info

The Small Business Association (SBA) works in favor of small businesses by providing them with various support programs and extending them financing help to set up their units. Financing support through SBA loans is a major assistance extended to promote the growth of small businesses in America and in turn to drive the US economy. Realizing that small businesses are integral to the economy, SBA extends training, counseling and other valuable resources besides funding assistance. Start-ups and businesses with lower capital base can seek help from SBA to set up their units and carve a niche for themselves. How Do SBA Loans Work? (more…)

12Jul 2013 by Cindy Berrier 1 Comment

Small Business Spotlight — Pink Zebra Consultant Emily Jumonville

Small Business Info, Small Business Spotlight

This week, 123Print is shining it's Small Business Spotlight on ... Pink Zebra Consultant Emily Jumonville! Pink Zebra is a new and exciting home fragrance company! They specialize in their famous wax chip sprinkles where you can mix and match to create your own fragrance, moisturizing lotion, reed diffusers and more. [caption id="attachment_4687" align="aligncenter" width="271"] Pink Zebra © 2013[/caption] (more…)

09Jul 2013 by Cindy Berrier 2 Comments

How to Prep for Summer Vacation

2nd Tuesday Tune-Up Your Life, Life Insight

The fourth of July was last week and now you're scrambling trying to get ready for vacation. If you’re anything like me, you’re usually running around crazy trying to get everything organized at home and wrap up work to-dos before leaving for summer vacation. In that frenzied state — the opposite of how you hope to be on your break — it’s easy to let an important home safety measure slip through the cracks. Following is a checklist and guide of things to do before you leave for summer vacation. That way you can kick back and relax without a care in the world. Plus, there are a couple of things you can do (or not do) while you are away to further put your mind at ease. Read on, and…

08Jul 2013 by Cindy Berrier 3 Comments

Using Social Media for Market Research

Marketing Info, Monday Marketing Minutes, Small Business, Small Business Info

Market research has gone social. In the past, marketers relied heavily on focus groups and surveys. Why was this somewhat of an inefficient method of obtaining information? People lie. Not in a conscious or vengeful way, of course, but what people say that they do and what they actually do are often very different. In this digital era, there is no better way to do market research than to watch and listen to consumers’ activities online. The old idiom that actions speak louder than words is certainly true here. 1. Track the trends. According to Nielsen State of the Media: The Social Media Report (Q3 2011), consumers spend one out of every five minutes that they are online on social networks and blogs. That means that 60 percent of people learn…

06Jul 2013 by Cindy Berrier 4 Comments

How to Find the Perfect Men’s Business Suit

1st Saturday Style, Small Business, Small Business Info

Shopping for a suit seems simple enough at first — I mean, you’ve seen them your whole life on your father, on the TV screen, on guys walking down the block to work. But now it’s your turn as you’re headed for a job interview or the first day in a profession that actually requires dressing up for the office place. Faced with so many options, the selection process can be daunting. How do you know what’s in style and what’s going to look good on you? There are a few key things to know when buying a new suit, including the fabric, cut, tailoring and how to accessorize it, says TSBmen.com. Follow this guide to finding the perfect men’s business suit. Now you’re stylin’! (more…)