Amidst the troubling times we are experiencing at present resulting from the spread of the Covid-19 virus, we would like to update you on how we at St Andrews Press are responding to this issue, whilst reassuring you that we are currently still very much open for business.

The wellbeing of our staff and customers is of utmost importance to us at this time. We are thankful to say that our team are currently all safe and sound, and we have adopted rigorous prevention measures to ensure we keep things this way and minimise the risk of contagion. To that end, we are reducing physical contact with customers to a minimum and communicating by email, video-call and telephone. We are however still open for customers to collect their orders whilst maintaining safe distances! Equally, we are (as always) very happy to arrange local deliveries free of charge and courier deliveries further afield.

Otherwise, we are still here to meet your print needs!

For those in isolation, perhaps now is a great time to get to work on that project that you’ve always wanted the time to pursue, be it an idea for a novel, children’s story, your family history or memoirs?

For those working from home, we can assist in getting your materials printed and delivered to where they need to be. Looking forward optimistically for your business, perhaps now is the time to get ready for with those offers and publicity for when life begins to return to normal and you want to attract your customers back! It could be the ideal time to complete that Staff Handbook, design a new logo, or sort that new website.

We can help you with all this and more, and of course, can do so safely and remotely.

In the meantime, stay safe, and remember we are here for you!

Best Wishes from all at St Andrews Press.

What is DPI?

When creating printed materials, it’s likely that you will have seen these three letters written in various places, however, many people may not fully understand what they mean. Here’s out short guide in which we attempt to explain the mysteries of DPI and why it is important when it comes to creating print.

Plainly speaking, DPI stands for ‘dots per inch’ – the number of little printed dots there is in an inch of your printed document. The larger the DPI, the larger the number of dots and therefore the clearer the print, rather like the resolution on your TV, computer or smartphone screen.

View fullsize

Usually, the higher the DPI, the higher quality the print. However, it is not always necessary to print at the highest DPI possible. If the image you are printing is intended to be small, then a really high DPI would just be a waste of ink. As a rule of thumb, when printing letters or documents, 300 dpi will be fine.

Likewise, when it comes to branded stationery such as business cards, we would advise opting for a resolution between 300 and 400 dpi. Very high DPIs are usually only used for professional photography or large advertisements.

DPI or PPI?

In a digital file, image resolution is usually referred to as PPI (pixels per inch). This number lets the printer know the intended size of the printed image. To find out the PPI your image is set to, find the file in Windows Explorer, right-click and select ‘Properties’. Then click on the ‘Details’ tab and scroll down to see the image information.

View fullsize

You can also open the file in Photoshop and go to Image > Image Size. The Image Size window in Photoshop will show you the dimensions of your image as well as the resolution (PPI). You can also change the resolution here by typing a number into the resolution box and clicking ‘save’.

However, increasing the resolution of an image after it has been created can make it look blurry. This is because the existing pixels will be stretched out, and Photoshop will then do it’s best to fill in the blanks. As good as Photoshop is, this often results in a not-so-sharp image. Therefore, the DPI of the image should be set to the blank document at the beginning of the design process.

View fullsize

Computer Monitors and DPI

Your computer monitor also has its own DPI. When you first unbox your monitor, it will be set to a default resolution, usually around 96 or 120 DPI. This means an image set to 300 DPI will not be displayed properly on most screens with a default resolution. The default resolution is usually perfect for viewing webpages and using software, but most digital designers will opt to set their screen resolution higher so they can effectively do their work.

Understanding the DPI of your image is incredibly important when it comes to creating high-quality printed materials. Ensure you have your resolution set to the correct value for the purpose and you will avoid blur and achieve a professional looking print.

We hope this has helped you to gain a better understanding of DPI. However, if you have any further questions or queries please do not hesitate to contact your designer or one of our studio team.

Here at St Andrews Press, we provide Loyalty Cards for a number of local businesses and are always interested to hear how such schemes improve business. Loyalty Cards are usually printed the same size as Business Cards, making them the perfect fit for purses and wallets, and making them cheap to produce. If your business doesn’t yet have a Loyalty Scheme then we think you should be asking yourself, why not?! If you need a bit more convincing then please read on!

Loyalty Cards may be invaluable for your business and the figures seem to prove it! According to a study by YouGov, 75% of British consumers are now signed onto a loyalty scheme.

So, what is the secret to the loyalty scheme success? And why should you use them? The answer to both is simple - by rewarding the customer for shopping with you with a loyalty programme, you increase the chances of them remaining loyal to your business – helping to drive repeat business.

These aren’t the only benefits though. There is a wealth of reasons why you should consider creating a scheme for your business.

Here are our Top 5:

• Establishes a customer relationship

The premise of a loyalty scheme is to attract customers back to your business for repeat custom, using offers and deals to forge a long-lasting relationship. This practise is not only highly effective at retaining customers, but also creates a better engagement across the wider business, as customers become more invested in the brand.

• An opportunity to surprise and delight your customers

No longer do customers just want to collect points. Instead they want something new, exciting and dynamic when they choose to enrol in a loyalty scheme. Many brands have responded to this shift and are introducing a more personalised loyalty card experience. They use data on a customers’ individual interests and past purchases to create targeted offers that are unique to them. Forging a deeper relationship with consumers like this can build a deeper relationship with them.

• An excellent customer experience

The ever-changing customer demand landscape means consumers are now seeking instant rewards from their loyalty schemes – rather than the traditional long-term, build-up system. Finding the perfect balance is crucial. Loyalty programmes that provide a reward closer to purchase – such as a signup bonus or instant money off their next shop – can encourage them to return. This can set your business above the rest, avoiding sign-up fees or membership costs.

• Turns your customers into brand advocates

Word-of-mouth-marketing is one of the most powerful tools to promote your branding. Schemes such as loyalty cards give your business an increased chance that members will go out and spread the word to their family and friends about your business. This gets more people talking about your brand, more consumers enrolling in your scheme and potential benefits like increased sales as well.

• Loyalty Cards build a community

Existing customers spend on average 67% more than new ones, illustrating the importance of keeping your customers loyal. In addition, people are much more likely to stay loyal to a business based on their beliefs and values, rather than the products themselves. Businesses are capitalising on this by teaming up with other local companies to create joint-loyalty schemes that provide all-inclusive offers that can be redeemed at all retailers in that group. It’s a fantastic way of forging a mini-community where loyalty is shared.

Convinced yet?! If so, click here to get a printing quote. And don’t forget that we can help you with the design too if you haven’t got one ready to go.

A well-designed flyer can make your promotional campaign a roaring success. However, it must have a strong design that:

1. Instantly grabs your reader’s attention;

2. Presents your information clearly;

3. Keeps your readers interested;

4. Encourages your audience to act.

Here are our top tips to help you turn your latest campaign into a marketing triumph.

Size Matters
We print flyers and leaflets in a variety of sizes, each is suited to different purposes. The standard sizes are:

A7 – Small enough to fit in your pocket and popular for on-street flyer distribution.
A6 – Standard postcard size; ideal for handing out or delivering through letterboxes.
A5 – The most common size. Good for letterbox distribution such as takeaway menus and invitations.
DL - The standard popular ‘slim’ flyers that fir neatly in a suit pocket or handbag.
Square - At either 148mm or 210mm these unusually-shaped flyers stand out from the crowd.

Look the Part
A high-quality, professionally designed flyer or leaflet can make all the difference between gaining a new customer or losing one. Unprofessional looking flyers and leaflets which are overloaded with information, badly designed or unreflective of your branding can have a negative effect on your brand. Spending a little time and money on professional design (try our very affordable design service) and professional printing can enhance your image and build customer confidence.

Be Attention-Grabbing
Most people will pick up a flyers and leaflet that comes through their door and only give it a quick glance. Those few seconds are your only chance to grab their attention. Create a headline that generates some interest, don’t just use your company or product name. Find out what’s important to your customers and incorporate that into your leading line, and remember that discounts or sales work well at making that potential customer read your leaflet or flyer in more detail.

Watch Your Language!
The language you choose should evoke certain feelings in your audience and communicate how your company or product is best suited to them. The right copy can be the difference between a sale and a fail. Whether your want them to order dinner, purchase a product, or vote at the next election – use the wording that places you as the solution. And don’t forget those attention-grabbing words that you might want to use: exclusive, free, bargain or earn.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
As the old saying goes, a picture says a thousand words. Studies show that information displayed in images is digested faster by the reader, and images and logos in your flyer and leaflet design also help break up any text you may have. It sounds obvious, but make sure the images are relevant to what you’re trying to say, or the brand image you want to portray.

Less is More
These days, content needs to be easy to read and concise. Getting your message across in as short a way as possible is your best chance of a successful campaign. Displaying information in an easily readable manner is a sure way to get your point across quickly. For instance, bullet points are a good start.

Make sure that you have a clear Call-to-Action (CTA) – What do you want people to do after reading your leaflet? And don’t forget the crucial: include a phone number for your business, or information on how to get involved in your scheme or event!

Stand Out from the Crowd!
Wanting to try something new to make your flyer or leaflet really jump out at your customers? Look no further than our 5-colour print options. You can add extra impact to your print, whether adding a clear varnish to accentuate designs, printing white ink directly onto coloured media, or using neon yellow and neon pink to create greater impact to your print and extend the colour gamut.

We can also print on a range of eye-catching materials ranging from standard papers and boards through to pearlescents and metallics, and even magnetic and synthetic non-tear materials. Contact us to find out more.

Flyers & Leaflets

Firstly, what is a Table Talker? Table talkers are a multi-faced point of sale self-standing printed display items. Usually with three or four faces, they are most often used as counter or tabletop displays and made from card so they stand up independently. We usually supply them flat so they’re less likely to get damaged in transit and they have a peel-off sticky tab to assemble easily on arrival.

Table talkers are one of our most popular PoS (Point of Sale) promotional tools. You’ve probably seen them used in many different ways, but what’s the best way to use them for your business? Below are some suggested uses for our Table Talkers to try and provide you with some inspiration!

• Price Lists - Thanks to their slender shape, table talkers are also often used as price lists and work well in salons, spas and other businesses that have set prices for different services. They can be placed in full view on a counter or reception desk, so customers can review prices before making a decision. With three sides, you could keep your prices on one side and any special deals on the other two to entice customers into spending a little more.

• Advertise Events - A great way to tell your customers about your upcoming events: you can list all the need-to-know details on the three panels to show off your event, or use each panel to showcase a different forthcoming event.

• Restaurant Table Talkers - Table talkers are also a great way to showcase things such as set menus and special offers in your café or restaurant. You could use each ‘face’ for one dish and use high quality photographs of the food to tempt customers into ordering specific meals. They’re also a great choice for bar menus as multiple people can view them at once, unlike a standard flat menu.

• Wedding Table Talkers - Table talkers are a great and novel way to number your tables to help guests find their way to their seats before a wedding breakfast or other wedding meal. You can also use wedding table talkers to detail each course of the meal, show a the drinks list, put the table’s guest names on, etc.