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How do I start a plumbing business?

Posted on by Posted in Printer's Advice, Tutorials

Starting a plumbing business is probably easier than finding a slab leak and much more rewarding. You get to make your own decisions, decide what kind of jobs to do and you get to delegate who cleans out the clogged pipes! It’s a dirty job but someone else can do it! 

However, when you’re the boss you are now responsible for every aspect of the business. Failure depends on how well you’re able to plan ahead, your understanding of finances and laws, ability to market yourself and your skills and experiences.

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4 Things to Get Printed Before Opening a Contracting Business

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Opening a new business is stressful. You’ve probably already checked off some very important things to do before starting your business like find an office location or mulling over your business plan at least a hundred times.

There are so many little details to gather before you open your doors. But what about those small but very important printed materials that are essential in day to day operations? Forgetting you needed a specific invoice or something as important as business envelopes could add unnecessary stress.

Before you open your doors, there are 4 things to get printed before opening a contracting business:

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4 Tips for starting your HVAC business

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Being business owners ourselves, we want to take time to help our customers get the most out of their work experience. Printit4less is a leading source of HVAC forms, maintenance contracts, business cards & printed supplies. As a result of years of working & helping HVAC contractors, we have gained some valuable insight that we would like to share with you.

Consider these 4 tips for starting your HVAC business before jumping in and acquiring that office space you’ve had your eyes on:

  1. Get Your License
  2. Take Business Courses
  3. Learn How to Give Estimates
  4. Get a Marketing Plan

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How to start an electrical contracting business

Posted on by Posted in Printer's Advice

Starting an electrical contracting business from the ground up takes bravery, passion, money and a message you want to deliver. No matter what industry it is, you’re probably branching out on your own because you see a need for something and you feel you have the answer clients are seeking.

Whatever that need is, it’s probably also got a lot to do with being your own boss. Creating your own business is going to take a lot of focus and whether or not you fail will depend on your business ethics.

Starting an electrical business requires a license and training, learning about permits, insurance, tools of the trade and a business plan.

Obtaining a Electrician’s License

If you’re thinking about starting an electrical business, odds are you already have a license and the years of experience and apprenticeship required. If not, then now is the time to start working toward your license. Licensed electricians are required to know how to read blueprints, install electrical wiring and fixtures, using specialized equipment, and knowing building codes and the proper safety protocol.

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5 Steps Before Starting a Business

Posted on by Posted in Printer's Advice

Planning to open your own business

Starting your own business is a life changing decision that doesn’t happen overnight. This process will take time, money, dedication, commitment and a strong will to succeed. There are many things to consider and many more steps to take once you have a good foothold. Lets take a look at a few things you should think about before starting a business.

  1. Choosing the right profession
  2. Education and Training
  3. Where will your office be?
  4. Create a business plan
  5. Get a lawyer’s advice

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The 5 Benefits of Work Uniforms for Your Business

Posted on by Posted in Marketing, Printer's Advice

Work uniforms aren’t just t-shirts. They project a professional image and, quite effortlessly, promote your company at the same time. At PrintIT4less.com, our work t-shirts are designed with your specific needs in mind, made with the highest quality of screen printing standards. Why? Because we believe every employee deserves to feel comfortable, and your business deserves to stand out. What makes work uniforms so special, you ask? Read on! Continue reading →

The Benefits of Workflow Automation to the Printing Industry

Posted on by Posted in Printer's Advice

With media consumption at an all-time high, it is no surprise that businesses are in high demand of not only office supplies, but marketing materials that help keep their brands alive. Competitive pressures continue to rise, forcing the printing industry to adapt its methods to achieve superior efficacy. Workflow automation has proven highly effective to printing companies catering to the needs of a diverse clientele.

What is workflow automation exactly? It refers to a process (automation software) that replaces manual and paper-based processes by incorporating automated tools to help with repetitive tasks–such as digital or content output. Essentially, it gives humans a break. Workflow automation is not just about replacing manual labor, it’s also faster, cheaper, and increases efficiency by reducing errors.

Printing companies can now achieve superior productivity and reduce cost by streamlining their workflow, creating a seamless process that delivers quality services to clients while using less resources. Of course, workflow automation depends on the integration of web-based submissions, a component PrintIT4less.com uses for our customers satisfaction and ease. Web-based submissions allow the user to specify their print needs right from their desktop–but it’s up to the automation software and printer to ensure the correct print job specifications, preferences and information.

The automation software used for workflow automation receives and compartmentalizes data from both the customer and print job. The software carries job specifications, i.e color schemes, draft or final versions, file preferences, and more. It also stores customers information such as name, address, and phone number. Once all the data is received, the software organizes the files and sends it into production.

Of course, the ideal printing process involves both external (customer) and internal (website/printer) cooperation. It’s completely normal for clients to not be aware of the correct specifications, files, or templates–which is where workflow automation steps in to help make the print order a smooth one. At PrintIT4less.com, you don’t have to rely solely on the computer screen for assistance. We’re on standby to receive any calls with your questions or concerns. After all, you can’t remove the human aspect out of everything!

How to Make Your Company Stand Out in a Drastically Digital World

Posted on by Posted in Printer's Advice

With continuous advances in technolog Social Media Advertising y, industries of all kinds are working hard to stay up-to-date with the latest trends in order to remain a top contender. More so than ever before, businesses are using digital marketing techniques to promote their brand–and while the printing industry may seem like an ancient concept, according to recent reports, print is not only coming back with a bang, it’s also trending.

A 2017 article published by PrintingImpressions stated that Idealliance is anticipating that commercial printing industry sales will grow 1.5% to 3.0% in 2018. Why the sudden increase in sales? For one, successful marketing (in this day and age) is largely equated with how well a company can advertise through personalization and visualization. In fact, the marketing realm relies heavily on visually communicating with the customer. More and more businesses are coming up with creative ways to use digital media to spread their message and raise brand awareness. With the revival of print, you don’t only have to stand out online, there’s an entire offline world ready to be explored. Equipped with some pointers from our fellow Vistaprint Corporate, and thorough research of our own, we’re here to tell you what your company can do to not get lost in the digital crowd.

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Visuals: How do They Influence the Consumer?

Posted on by Posted in Printer's Advice

We live in a world that is inundated with visuals. Everywhere we look, there is a billboard, a sign, an ad, or a commercial. It almost seems like you just can’t escape. With technological advancements and companies constantly competing to unveil the latest, trendiest apps, we have unlimited access to visuals–right from screens of our cell phones. Over the years it has become evident, especially in sales and marketing, that the more visual, the more powerful the message. Companies are increasingly using all kinds of visuals and image-based platforms to set their brands apart.

Social MediaSocial media sites such as Pinterest, Etsy, Tumblr, Instagram, Facebook, and many more are all about visuals. In a way, visual marketing is an entire language on its own–a universe of colors and images that elicit emotion, action, and communication. So, how do visuals actually affect the consumer? Is there a part of our human brains that are wired to be drawn to aesthetics? There are certainly studies to back this theory. From color psychology to emotional design–there are undoubtedly factors that influence how a consumer views a product. Have you ever been in a store and wanted to buy a product that you don’t really need, but feel compelled to because it’s just “so pretty”? Have you ever watched a food channel and drooled over the presentation of certain meals? You can’t actually smell or taste it–but you can visualize how delicious it must be.

As human beings, we rely heavily on our sense of sight–for many common sense reasons. There is one reason though, that companies should take into account when marketing. We like to connect through visuals. Think of Pinterest. This site is a visual blogging platform with a customer base driven solely by visualization. It also brings consumers directly to company websites. There are reasons why clothing stores put certain apparel in the front of the store, with certain colors, and at deliberate levels–just like there is purpose behind customized website designs–you are telling a story about your brand through images (colors, patterns, designs, messages). You entice through visuals–and you sell through visuals.

Is the color psychology a myth? Well, it is true that no one customer is the same as the next. One person might love dark and Visual Colors on a buildingsomber colors, another might prefer bright and vivacious ones. If it were that simple, every company would be master-mind marketers. Successful marketing is very much about thorough research on your target demographic, taking calculated risks, and studying emerging trends. Nonetheless, don’t forget: customers can make a snap decision on a product in less than 30 seconds based solely on colors. You might notice that some companies provide customers with the option to view what a product will look like in different colors online. It’s not something you give too much thought to on a daily basis, but it definitely makes a difference when potentially making a sale.

Visuals are especially important when it comes to impulse shopping–and some companies have mastered this art with displays. These kinds of displays are also called point-of-purchase (POP) displays and are most commonly at checkout lines. The purpose of these displays is drive a customers to make a last-minute decision on a product. Waiting in line and being close to the register ignites a sort of urge to buy. You’ve already bought what you came for, so how will one more item hurt? Of course, presentation and colors of the display play a role. The Internet is also skilled in this method. When you purchase an item on Amazon, several items come up that “you might be interested in.” If you’re like most, you probably click on at least a few of them. The power of visuals.

Not only do effective visuals make it more likely your company will land a sale, but it also makes customers less concerned about pricing. Yes, you heard right. According to a study by Elsevier, a global information and analytics company that conducts studies for scientific, technical, and medical industries, there is a direct link between product aesthetics and consumers price sensitivity. After data collected from 510 subjects/consumers, the report concluded that “…there is a strong negative relationship between visual product aesthetics and price sensitivity. In other words, when a product’s design is impressive and powerful, consumers will be less sensitive to the price of the product. Therefore, impressive product design will be able to decrease the level of price sensitivity” (Elsevier, 2015). That being said, it’s safe to say that powerful visuals have the potential to increase company revenue.

How can your company hop on the visual train to successful marketing?

Printed Posters and FlyersFor one, you can let us help you! At PrintIT4less.com, we offer a range of services that maximize visual marketing. From posters (seen on the left) and flyers, to business card labels and vinyl banners–we bring your brand to life. All you have to do is give us your idea, place an order, and we deliver.

Successful digital marketing may take trial and error: the key is having a clear brand image. This includes your mission, your products, and the kind of messages you want to share with your audience. When this is established, start curating content that tells your story. Get creative. When you have an idea, think about ways you can express it without using words. Make sure your social media sites have high resolution, branded images. When a customer looks at your page, they should know exactly who you are and what kind of “vibe” you want to give off. In addition, incorporate more pictures, videos, and infographics. While the traditional path may be tempting, don’t forget to think outside the box. Companies rely heavily on human behavior for successful marketing. Do your homework and get visual!

Source: Science Direct

Going Green in a World of White

Posted on by Posted in Printer's Advice

Paper industry impact on Forestry The printing industry has not been known to have a friendly relationship with our environment. For decades, paper has come from the demolition of nature’s very own trees–among other materials. While the damage to our environment may have seemed inevitable, in recent years printing companies have taken measures to ensure they minimize the harm on our surroundings. At PrintIT4Less.com, we are proud to be one of the companies that tries to lessen the effects printing has on our environment.

What exactly is paper and how did it become a mass industry product?

 In our early days of school, we were taught that paper comes from trees. However, from the beginning of time, ancient civilizations used a variety of materials for writing and inscriptions–from cotton and bamboo to silk. The word “paper” is actually derived from the term papyrus, which is the Ancient Greek word for the Cyperus papyrus plant. Papyrus is a thick, paper-like material produced from the Cyperus papyrus plant. This writing material was widely used by the Ancient Egyptians and early Mediterranean societies. Interestingly enough, the first paper-making process was recorded in China during the Eastern Han period. In the 8th century, paper-making had spread from China to the Islamic nations, where pulp mills and paper mills were used to make what most of the world is after today: money. When the 11th century came around, paper making was introduced to medieval Europe, where it received an upgrade by using paper mills with waterwheels. Yet, it was up to the Western World to improve the paper making process in the 19th century when we invented wood-based products, using the fibers from wood pulp.

In order to make paper using trees, the raw bark is brought to a paper mill where it is turned into wood pulp (which is made up of cellulose fibers). Paper isn’t just made from wood. In short, it’s a combination of water, filler, and chemicals. Each piece of paper is produced in a certain way depending on the desired properties. The chemicals found in paper are used to ensure correct color, consistency and strength. Both hardwood and softwood trees are sought after for their frequently used paper products. Some examples are Aspen, Acacia, Pine, Eucalyptus, Spruce, Birch and Fir trees.

Naturally, the popularity of paper has remained steady throughout time. Can you imagine a world without paper? Probably not. An even less thought of concept is what we are doing to the environment each time we cut down a strong tree and turn it into a vulnerable piece of paper. From removing precious resources to creating large factories for its production (while using gallons of fresh water for manufacturing), the printing process takes a toll on Mother Nature.

The printing industry’s negative effects on the environment occur at three stages in the life cycle of paper. It begins with the harvesting of trees for their fiber (where chemicals and herbicides are put in soil), continues with the processing of wood fiber into pulp for the production of paper, and ends with the disposal of paper products. In an ideal paper making process, fiber would come from sustainable managed forests and recycled old paper–which saves trees (CO2) and forests, and reduces all the waste in landfills. Unfortunately, this environmentally-safe scenario only applies to some paper products.

In addition, over the years, printers have used toxic inks and solvents in the production process, and most of the toxicity ends up in the sewer systems and are released into the environment untreated. As the copy machine became cheaper and more readily available, problems with toner cartridges, toner ink, ink cartridges, and copier toner became a bigger issue–and the ability to recycle these materials were limited. Not to mention that printing/copying machines were generally used in a closed-door environment with little attention to air circulation, consequently emitting toxic chemicals into the air and causing unhealthy reactions in office spaces.

Where are we now?

Paper Fast forward 20 years. Due to new environmental regulation, high cost of fuel and electricity and limited resources of raw materials, such as suitable trees for producing papers–paper mills have exponentially changed their paper production methods. For every tree harvested, mills plant a tree. Almost 100% of the water used for producing paper is recycled and reclaimed for treatment before being released into the environment. Most paper produced in the U.S. consists of recycled content. Printers have also cleaned up their acts. Most inks and solvents used are soy based, and MOST printers have a recycling program. Easier access to natural and biodegradable materials have made the printing industry a much friendlier acquaintance to our environment.

At Printit4less.com, we do our share by:

  • Using soy & vegetable based inks.
  • Recycling 100% of our waste paper.
  • Only using recycled paper in production.
  • Printing NCR forms using 100% recycled paper
  • Reduced the use of solvents by 95% in printing all forms and the little we use are not only biodegradable, but is removed from our facility and retreated.
  • All toners used at our plant are recycled, refilled and reused. Empty cans are sent to manufacturers for proper recycling

We do this for the environment and for future generations. We do this because it is the right thing to do. Today businesses are forced to think outside of the box and find new ways to compete in mass industries. Today PrintIt4Less.com is listed as one of the top 100 small businesses in our regent for growth and attention to our clients’ needs and our environment. For more information, visit printit4less.com.

Printit4Less Chooses Green

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_paper

https://wonderopolis.org/wonder/how-do-you-make-paper-from-a-tree

http://www.paper.org.uk/information/factsheets/trees.pdf

http://www.aafdutm.ro/revista/nr-1-mai-2011/revista-nr-1-mai-2011/reducing-the-impact-the-printing-industry-has-on-the-environment