5 Things That Changed Business in the 2000’s

The aught years have been a strange, exciting, and scary time for many businesses. In the 2000’s business experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. The last ten years have brought scandals (Madoff, Enron), booms and busts (dot coms, housing) technological advances, a global recession, and many important lessons that should guide us into the 2010’s.

With the decade coming to a close let’s take a look at the things that changed business in the 2000’s.

Google

Think back, and try to remember how you used to search the internet before Google. Yep, I can barely remember either. Google single handedly revolutionized the way we all interact with the internet and the tactics we use to get our businesses found on the web. In 2000 Google was a small search engine with a loyal following; by 2006 the word Google was included in both the Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary and the Oxford English Dictionary. In fact, I had to Google, Google just to write this.

BlackBerry

In 1999 the first BlackBerry device was introduced as a two-way pager. By 2002 the first smartphone BlackBerry was rolled out bringing with it a host of biz friendly applications and the business world hasn’t been the same since.

For better or worse many of us are now attached to our work literally at the hip. Where once we had to be by a computer in order to do anything work related, we can now perform any number of tasks right on our phone. The BalckBerry has been great for businesses for sure, maybe not so great for those of us now addicted to our “CrackBerry”.

Social Media

One of the major themes of the decade was a need for instant gratification, nowhere is this better typified then in the explosion of social media applications.

Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, LinkedIn, Wordpress, etc.  whichever one you or your business is on and you’re most likely on all of them, these social media platforms have changed the way we interact with friends, family, and most importantly to businesses…consumers.

Booms, Busts, and Bailouts

First it was the dot com boom. In 1995 buying into dot com’s was all the rage, by 2001 it went from dot com to “dot bomb” as the bottom fell out on the dot com market and investors found out just how shaky many of these companies foundations really were.

Next, it was the housing bubble that burst. In the first half of the decade housing prices were at an all time high with property values around the nation jumping in some places more than 80%.

It wouldn’t last long as the bubble began to burst in 2006 and by 2008 the Case-Shiller home price index reported its largest price drop in history, launching the sub-prime mortgage crisis.

The stock market was no stranger to the wild boom/bust swings of the 2000’s either.

In 2007 the Dow Jones Industrial Average soared to record heights. On April 27, 2007 the Dow closed above the 13,000 mark for the first time in history and continued to surge upward.

On Oct. 9, 2007 the Dow hit an all time high of 14,164.53. Yet, like seemingly everything else in this decade as soon as something reached record heights it was poised to set record lows.

And that’s exactly what happened on Sep. 29, 2008. When word spread on Wall Street that the House had rejected the government’s $700 billion bailout plan, the Dow fell 778 points, its largest single day drop in history.

Speaking of government bailouts the 2000’s saw its share of those as well. It began with the $700 billion Emergency Economic Stabilization Act to help ensure that America’s banking system would not fail. While American institutions like the Lehman Brothers were allowed to go under, other institutions deemed to big to fail, like AIG, were kept afloat by the government’s bailout package.

Then it was the American auto industry which needed a bailout. Though Ford did not take any bailout money Chrysler and GM took billions in tax-payer dollars only to eventually file for bankruptcy anyway. The government then promised billions more to keep the companies afloat.

How did all this change business? Well, it taught us that bad lending practices, and living well beyond our means is simply… bad business.

The Great Recession

Undoubtedly nothing has had a greater impact on business and on many of our lives as the economic recession.

Beginning in the United States in December 2007 and predicted by some to last into 2011 the “Great Recession” has had and will continue to have a profound impact on how we conduct business.

Though the actual origins of the recession are still being debated there is no doubt that it resulted from a confluence of events including: reckless lending practices, sub-prime loans, a sharp increase in oil and food prices, the bursting of the housing bubble and the collapse of the Lehman Brothers.

As a result many businesses were forced to lay off thousands of employees and the unemployment rate in the U.S. went from 4.9% in December 2007 to 10.9% in October 2009.

Though there are signs that the recession is waning the real question for businesses is not when the recession will end, but how can we prevent it from happening again.

The Death of E-Mail and the Wave of the Future

To many of us email plays an integral role in our everyday interactions whether they are business or personal.

For the last decade email has been the essential non-voice communication tool. A study of U.S. workers by Pew Internet & American life found that 88 percent checked their inbox at least once a day. Of those 70 percent checked several times a day.

According to a study by the American Management Association, U.S. workers spend an average of 1 hour and 47 minutes per day dealing with email.

Eight percent spent more than four hours a day dealing with email.

According to the Association for Interactive Marketing, small businesses spend 10% of their time on email management.

With all this time dedicated solely to email one has to wonder how anyone could so boldly claim the death of e-mail.

The reasoning is actually two-fold.

First, as younger people enter the work place they bring with them an appetite for instant gratification. Having lived through the social-media revolution they demand and expect instantaneous, real-time interaction. Their devotion to technologies such as SMS and Instant Messaging has led many of them to turn their backs on the “relic” that is e-mail.

In fact, new research shows that the growth rate of instant messaging through service such as Google, Yahoo and Microsoft is far outpacing the growth in the use of e-mail.

Second, e-mail has several disadvantages and liabilities. Spam and viruses have not only turned off the younger generation of internet users, but have also caused security issues for small businesses and large corporations alike.

Furthermore, compared with the abilities of many Web 2.0 applications such as Facebook, Twitter etc. where interactions occur in the blink of an eye. Email can be ignored, or postponed until the receiver is ready, a huge disadvantage in the eyes of many.

The truth is however, for business people email is still an extremely necessary form of communication and social media services such as Facebook and Twitter while effective for certain types of communication lack a formal tone that is often needed in a business setting.

I don’t know how many people would feel comfortable updating their boss about a project by shooting him a tweet or posting a Facebook status.

Enter Google Wave. An appropriately named application as it is positioned to be the wave of the future and the proverbial noose around e-mail’s neck.

In essence Google Wave is a real time communication platform that combines a number of elements including email, instant messaging, web chat, social networking, wikis, and project management.

Google Wave introduces a host of “game changing” features that can significantly alter the way we conduct business.

Here are just some of the features Google Wave offers:

-Real-time: Every person involved in a Wave can see what someone is typing as they are typing it character by character.

-Extensions and Apps: Google Wave will introduce a number of extensions and applications that can be utilized in a variety of ways. Users can add a game of Sudoku to their wave, or an extension called Trippy in which users can, according to Google “co-create an itinerary including Lonely Planet recommendations organize, share, print or export to My Maps.” For businesses the Conference extension will prove to be extremely useful.

-Open Source: Allows plenty of room for expansion and innovation. Developers will be able to create new extensions and applications as new needs arise providing Google Wave with endless opportunities to improve.

-Embed Waves: If you have a great Wave that you would like to share with others waves can be easily embedded onto any blog or website.

-Real-time editing (Wiki): Every aspect of a Wave can be edited by anyone taking part in the Wave. Users can add items to a list, expand on ideas etc. all in real time.

-Playback: Enables users to go to any point of a wave and see what was said.

-Drag and Drop File Sharing: Take a file from your desktop, drag it into a Wave and each person in the Wave will have instant access to the file.

-Autocorrecting: Google Wave will automatically correct spelling mistakes, and can even decipher the difference between words like there and their.

Google Wave is currently in a preview phase and will certainly undergo many changes before it is released on a mass scale, but I have to admit Wave looks incredibly promising so far.

It seems very likely that in the not too distant future we will all be riding the Wave, and email will be left in its wake.

KDF Announces Free Banners for Troops Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

KDF Announces Free Banners for Troops Program

Rockleigh, NJ (KDF) 12/11/2009: KDF Reprographics, Inc. of Rockleigh, NJ announces the launch of its Free Banners for Troops program. This program will provide the families of troops serving abroad with a free welcome home banner just in time for the holiday season.

To receive the free welcome home banner the families of America’s service men and women can visit KDF’s website located at http://www.kdf-comp.com/ and choose a custom banner created by KDF’s professional graphic design team for each branch of the military service. The free banners for troops program will launch December 14, 2009 and will end December 23, 2009.


“We saw an opportunity to do a small service for these great men and women who serve our country abroad. This is just our way of saying thank you to our troops and their families for all the sacrifices they have made to protect this country. In addition, we will donate a portion of all online banner sales to disabled veterans organizations to show our great respect for all that they have done for this country.”
- Stephen Hoey, President


About KDF

KDF Reprographics, Inc., started in 1995, services include high volume engineering printing and reprographic services for the AEC industry, large and small format document scanning for municipalities, education and healthcare. KDF Color Graphics Division provides large format color printing, vinyl banners, posters, wall murals, canvas prints, vehicle wraps and fleet graphics.

Contact Information:

If you’d like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Stephen Hoey, Please call 201-784-9991 x501 or email Steve@kdf-comp.com.

Stephen Hoey
President
KDF Reprographics, Inc.
10 Volvo Drive
Rockleigh, NJ 07647
Tel. 201-784-9991
Fax. 201-784-9955
(http://www.kdf-comp.com)



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6 Tips Guaranteed to Increase Your Employees Productivity

A successful business is a productive business. These tips will help you to get the most out of your employees by keeping them happy and productive.

1. Nap Time!

Yes I know it sounds incredibly counter-productive to let your employees take a nap, but a study done by NASA showed that a nap of just 26 minutes can boost performance by as much as 34 percent. In fact, studies show that tired workers cost business about $150 billion a year in lost productivity.

2. Set Clear, Defined Goals

Employees are most productive when they have clearly defined goals to work towards. Let your employees have input in what goals their department should be trying to meet. They can offer great insight into problems their departments are facing and the best ways to overcome these problems.

3. Offer Praise and Rewards

You may be surprised how far a simple “pat on the back” will go with your employees. Employees who are told they are doing a good job have a greater incentive to replicate those results.

Establishing some type of reward program can also have a positive influence on productivity. The rewards don’t even have to be large; they can be as simple as a gift certificate to a restaurant, employee of the month award or even an extra day off. All of these rewards can really boost your employee’s incentive to work harder.


4. Let Them Stay Home-

Although this may seem counter-productive as well, employees who stay home actually tend to put in longer hours then employees that are on the clock at the workplace.

A 2008 study done by the Computing Technology Industry Association found that companies who offer their employees the option to telecommute saw increased productivity, lower costs, improved employee health and improved employee retention.

• 67 % of the companies polled said employees were more productive, largely because they spent less time getting to and from work.
• 59% reported seeing cost savings from reduced use of office-related materials and resources.
• 39 % said they have access to a more qualified staff, expanding their options to people who are located in - and not willing to relocate from - other regions.
• 37 % said telecommuting improved employee retention.
• 25% said employee health was improved, largely by reducing stress levels associated with the commute.


5. Give Employees Freedom Over Their Work

Many managers subscribe to the theory that micro-management is an effective and productive way to oversee their employees. The truth is studies suggest that micromanaging actually has a negative impact on employee productivity.

Micromanaging often makes employees feel like their boss does not trust them or their work. This will lead to a disengagement on the employees behalf and he will no longer offer suggestions and will likely harbor resentment towards his manager. At that point it is only a matter of time before he moves on to a different company.

If you delegate a project to an employee that needs to be finished by lets say, Friday, try saying “Here is the project please complete it by Friday and please check in with me if you have any questions or updates.”

Let the employee work out the details of how he wants to accomplish the task and he will be happier and more productive.

6. Enhance Your Office Space

A 1999 study done by the American Society of Interior Designers entitled “Recruiting and Retaining Qualified Employees By Design” found some very interesting facts.
-Employees who were pleased with their physical workplaces were 31% more likely to say they were satisfied with their jobs.
-The physical workplace would impact 41% of employees and job seekers to accept a position.
-The quality of their physical workplace would influence 51% to leave a company.
-Employees ranked aesthetic appearance of their workplace second in importance behind only monetary compensation and in a virtual second place tie with company benefits package.
73% of employees are not satisfied with their current offices’ appearance.
Imagine how much more appealing your office would be if instead of staring up at a blank wall your employees could look at a picturesque scene. Wall murals are a relatively cheap and effective way to liven up your office space and can have a tremendous positive impact on your employee’s mood and productivity.

Wall murals have additional benefits because they also make your office more appealing to potential employees, clients and visitors which can result in a boost to your profit margin. You should make your office space as inviting as possible, I’ve never heard a client say, “Wow their office is so plain and boring we should definitely do business with them.”

Humans are visual creatures what they see in an environment can have a direct impact on decisions they make in that environment. Remember your office space plays a huge role in the image your company is projecting. Take a look around at your office…is it sending the right message to your employees and clients? If not find ways to improve it and it will improve your profits and productivity.

7 Tips on How to Wrap a Vehicle for Your Business

Tip 1: Find a Reputable Vehicle Wrap Business

Installing a vehicle wrap can be a daunting process, and while these 7 tips will certainly help you sometimes it is better to let a professional do the work for you. It is highly recommended that you seek a professional and knowledgeable vehicle wrap business to perform the vehicle wrap installation and vehicle wrap design. With that said, it is not impossible to wrap a vehicle on your own if you follow these tips.

Tip 2: Choose the Right Vehicle Wrap Material

There are a number of materials that can be used in the design and installation of a custom vehicle graphics. Aluminum, Acrylic, PVC, wood, polystyrene, foam and other plastics, can all be used to create custom vehicle graphics. However, the most commonly used and the material most highly recommended is Vinyl. Vinyl vehicle wraps are cost effective, durable, and maintain their look and feel for up to 5 years.

Tip 3: Use the Correct Vehicle Wrap Equipment

If you are going to install a car wrap whether it is for race car graphics, or you are just wrapping the company van, you are going to need the proper tools to do so effectively.

• a tape measure - for positioning
• a squeegee - adheres vinyl to vehicle
• a razor-knife - remove excess vinyl
• an air release tool - removes air bubbles
• masking tape - holds vehicle wrap in position
• a heat gun or propane torch - heating the vinyl to make sure it goes into curves, crevasses etc.



Tip 4: Clean the Vehicle

Once you have the proper tools you are going to need to thoroughly clean the vehicle. This is an extremely important step. If you want the vinyl vehicle graphics to adhere properly to the vehicle it must be completely free of dirt, grime, and whatever else may hinder proper adhesion.

First, wash the vehicle with soap and water. Do not use any surface finishing such as wax as this will severely hamper adhesion. After the vehicle is completely dry you should clean it with alcohol and solvent prep liquid. I recommend paying special attention to any areas on the vehicle that may have excess dirt and grime build up such as cracks around the hood, trunk or windows. Use a lint free towel to dry the solvent before it evaporates.

Tip 5: Prepare Your Vehicle Wrap

Before you move on to installing the vinyl vehicle wrap make sure the positioning of the wrap is what you desired. You can position the wrap on the vehicle before installation simply by using some masking tape. This will ensure that when you begin to install your vehicle wrap or fleet graphics everything will be in the exact place you wanted it.

Tip 6: Find a Friend

An experienced wrap installer can apply a wrap on their own. Otherwise, I recommend having another person assist you in the process as this will make positioning the vehicle graphics much easier. Each wrap installation is different depending on the vehicle. The amount of curves, cracks, and crevasses on a particular vehicle all determine how difficult or easy an installation will be.

Tip 7: Proper Installation of Your Custom Vehicle Graphics

Make sure you apply an adhesive to all edges and surfaces where the vinyl panel will need to be cut. Once you have applied the panel to the vehicle, work your squeegee to adhere the vinyl to the vehicles surface.

The most important things to avoid while performing the vehicle graphic installation are bubbles, and wrinkles. To avoid this, try changing the angle at which you are using the squeegee and never chop at the material because this will only make the wrinkles worse.

If wrinkles are becoming a major issue use your heat gun or torch to relax the vinyl. Be sure to let the vinyl film cool down before starting to squeegee again to prevent excess stretching.

These basic tips should guide you on your way to a successful vehicle wrap installation. Keep in mind that there are businesses that specialize in vehicle wrap installation that can do an excellent job and have your car back to you in approximately three days for a very fair price (depending on the company). Search around for some quotes, and preview any companies design before you make a final decision, should you decide that wrapping a vehicle on your own is not an option.

10 Tips on Getting the most out of your next trade show

1. Plan ahead and set your goal
- Why are you doing this trade show? Is it to sell product, get leads, create top of mind awareness, to preempt your competition? Be sure to have a very specific goal in mind, write it out and track your results as the show progresses. If you go without a specific goal in mind you will not know if the show is a success.

2. Know your target market – needs assessment
- Who will attend this show? Contact the show coordinator who can provide a report from the previous year that will contain a lot of good information as to your target market. Once you know who the market you’ll want to know what their needs are.

- Get a list of vendors from the previous year and call them – ask them who showed up, what the show was like and what to expect.

3. Touch them 3 times
- When prospects attend a show they rarely know who they will be visiting – less than 15% of exhibitors do a pre-show promotion. You are now in that group! Attendees only spend time at 15% to 20% of the exhibits so if you want their time, you need to invite them to your booth before thy get there. If you want to generate “guaranteed” prospects – this is how to do it!

- Start early send a postcard inviting your prospects to your booth – give them a strong reason to visit, specials, information, raffle, etc.
- Call prospects if possible and invite them personally, set appointments with them – “stop by our booth we have a special gift and presentation just for our VIPs –print the name of those that confirm on a sheet that says VIP LIST across the top. When they arrive take out the list, check off their name, give them a gift then pitch them! (keep the list confidential so as not to insult any other prospects visiting your booth).

- Send a formal letter. Send tickets, a flyer with raffle information, a testimonial and handwritten note, a product sheet with come see us at the show! Make sure you hit them at least 3 times before they get there. Even if they did not respond to your mailings you are now in their mind – you have increased the likelihood that they will stop at your booth.

4. The 1 minute pitch
- You only have 6 seconds to capture a prospects attention when walking past your booth. If your booth design and message are great and the prospect stops – you better be ready – the clock is ticking still! Have a condensed 1 minute pitch that covers everything you need to qualify the lead and meet your goal (that’s right, no matter how giddy you get that someone stops by – don’t forget your goal) - remember your job is not to sell your whole company – you have developed a clear focused goals i.e.: create 25 qualified leads for our ABC Service. Once your have clearly met that goal – let your prospect go – your follow up procedure will do the rest.

- Your pitch should be all about the prospect – NOT YOUR COMPANY that comes later. If you are a financial services company, talk about the financial challenges people have today and the need people have to develop a strong financial plan including savings, insurance, college and retirement – Do not start out with facts about your company which was founded in 1912 by some old guys with beards! Once you developed that pitch – rehearse it – a lot. In the mirror, on the phone, to friends, to your dog! Rehearse it.


5. The invitation – Have a good Great reason to visit your booth
- This is simple - come up with a reason for your prospects to visit your booth – then invite them. Whether it’s your giveaway, raffle, new product, a demonstration, discount on services for all VIP visitors or an announcement of a merger or partnership, you must have a compelling reason to come. Then as I mentioned before – mail it, e-mail it and call with the invitation. If your reason is compelling enough they will make plans to visit your booth.

6. Giveaways, “the raffle”, and interested prospects
- Giveaways are good but they do not get you business. Pens, flashlights, scrunchy balls are nice and these days expected however the key is the raffle. The raffle is a great way to “qualify” the prospects and weed out the people that are there for the FREE stuff. Most exhibitors understand this concept but rarely implement it. Exhibitors typically hold a raffle then giveaway the prize – maybe send a postcard to the rest of the list then do it all over again the following year. To get the most out of the raffle you must ASK some qualifying questions. When you do your review later on you will know exactly who is interested in your product or service, and who is not.

- Nobody wants to fumble through 200 sheets of unqualified leads and deal with the frustration of calling each one of them only to hear “not interested”. Do the work upfront and save yourself the aggravation. Qualify all entries – they must fill out ALL information on a form to enter the raffle. You should ask for E-MAIL so you can build your opt-in e-mail list, be sure to let them know that you will be e-mailing them from time to time with specials and promotions – get their interest level, purchase timeframe and decision makers in the process and whatever else you need to create a REAL, QUALIFIED LEAD.

- The information you will be collecting on the raffle sheet should be the same information you collect when someone approaches you to discuss your product or service. This keeps everything consistent and lets you know – once you have all the information – you can let the qualified prospect go. Remember the goal – qualify them then set them free.



7. The booth message
- Capture their attention. Don’t tell them who you are!!! Usually the biggest mistake when designing a booth. The name scrawled across the top of the booth – the most precious piece of real estate at a trade show. Nice design is nice design – a good message is powerful. Your prospects are walking right past you – you can’t afford not to have a message that CAPTURES them. Your message needs to be prominent to the point of trade show graphics do not need to be expensive, they do not need to be flashy they need to communicate your message clearly, and quickly. How quick – you have 6 seconds to capture their attention.

8. The booth graphics
- Great trade show graphics will convey your GREAT message. If they are beat up, mismatched with different materials and sizes your message will be just as confusing. Having your graphics produced by a qualified professional will make the difference between a “decent” show and a “blowout”!

- So when your graphics are being designed and produced you want to keep some things in mind.
o Message, Message, Message
o Colors and images that convey your message
o If your designer doesn’t know the emotions elicited by different colors – get a new designer. (remember the 6 seconds rule)
o Your booth and graphics are a big investment and should be designed and produced by a qualified professional who will consult with you on developing your message within your budget.
o A good trade show booth does not have to be expensive and an expensive trade show booth does not have to be good.



9. FOLLOW UP, FOLLOW UP, FOLLOW UP
- Follow up right away – give a discount for all visitors at the show – get them interested in your product or service again. Remember when they leave your booth they will most likely go to another – the prospect has a lot of information to digest now – you need to stay fresh in their mind with a timely follow up.
-

- We did a recent show in which we received over 60 leads of varying interest levels. All leads went into our database, follow ups were scheduled and the process began. Within the first two weeks we had no response to any e-mails or phone calls (there were two e-mails and one phone call). In week three we sent a third e-mail – 5 responses 3 orders. Week four produced 4 orders with no e-mails or calls.


- Remember you need to touch your prospects up to 12 times. Three times before the show. Once at the show. Then at least 4 follow ups send useful information each time, ads, newspaper mentions etc. Don’t give up – you will be surprised at the power of consistent “informational” follow ups.



10. BONUS: here are 4 minitips in one!!!!
- Killer mini tip #1 - Don’t EVER sit down in your booth - Studies show that people will pay 26% more for the exact same product if the vendor is standing!
- Killer mini tip #2 - Smile, always be smiling, don’t frown, and smile (get it?) If you can smile at the prospect then say their name, you have successfully opened the door – now just apply your 1 minute pitch!
- Killer mini tip #3 - Look relaxed / be relaxed – Body language is extremely important – many prospects walking by are actually “nervous” about stopping because you might ask them a question they don’t know the answer to. If you are relaxed then you are approachable and they are more likely to engage you.
- Killer mini tip #4 - Make them feel important – BECAUSE THEY ARE! Make every discussion about them, not you. Which approach will be more effective?
- Example 1: “Hi we are XYC carpet cleaners, we have been in business for 22 years, I’m sure you’ve heard about us. We are so great and better than everyone and blah, blah, blah.”
- Example 2: “So are you enjoying your day so far – let me ask your advice – have you ever used a carpet cleaning service? What would you like to see in a cleaning service if it was up to you?”

8 Reasons you should be Using Barricade Graphics

Reason 1:
Barricade murals and retail graphics conceal construction from the outside world.

Reason 2:
A shopping mall barricade or construction barricade wraps can turn a vacant store front into an advertisement. Custom Vinyl Wallpaper can take an empty store and turn it into something customers can actually get excited about.

Reason 3:
Storefront graphics and vinyl wall graphics are the perfect way to promote new stores, products & services, grand openings and construction sites. Instead of staring at a blank wall let your customers know what’s coming.

Reason 4:
You will generate buzz and increase brand exposure with vinyl barricade wraps and retail signs.



Reason 5:
Out of home advertising delivers immediate results for advertisers. 29% say out of home advertising caused them to visit a retail store within a week.

Reason 6:
Barricade graphics perform several key functions- they can identify, inform, direct, advertise, promote or create a business image while simultaneously enhancing your coming or existing stores aesthetics.

Reason 7:
A major, multipart study, “Research on Signage Performance,” conducted between 1995 and 1997 by the University of San Diego looked at the effects of on-premise signage on the financial performance of retail sites. The conclusion of the study was that “on-premise signage has a statistically significant and financially substantive impact on the revenues of a site.

Reason 8:
Storefront murals and barricade graphics enhances the product or service recognition. This will aid in the recall of other media messages and give your business a huge market advantage.

BONUS:
Storefront graphics provide consistent and repeated exposure over an extended period of time. The average shopping mall barricade is up for 12 weeks. Utilize the opportunity to deliver a message that satisfies your branding and marketing strategy instead of having consumers walk by an ugly construction site or blank dry wall.

The 5 Most Costly Mistakes When Purchasing a Banner

1. You Choose a Printer That Does Not Offer a Guarantee

The best printers guarantee their work. It’s really that simple. The reason the best printers guarantee their work is because they are confident in their abilities to complete the job to the customer’s satisfaction. If they make a mistake they are willing to fix their errors at no extra charge.



Ensure that you select a printer who guarantees their work. They usually offer the best quality and service, and any mistakes made by them will be fixed at no additional cost to you!

2. You Choose a Printer That Does Not Offer Free Proofs

Any printer worth his salt will supply you with a proof for no additional charge. Whether you are providing a digital file, or the printer is responsible for the design and layout of the banner receiving a proof is extremely important.
A good printer not only wants the job done, but wants the job done right! A printer who doesn’t provide a proof is doing so for several reasons. Either they don’t want to incur any extra cost, or they don’t want to be blamed for any potential mistakes.

Many things can go wrong before a banner is completed. Assuming a job will be completed to your standards without seeing it first could be a costly mistake. The best printers will provide you with a proof no matter the circumstance. Choose a vendor that can provide a hard copy proof, as well as an electronic proof (e-proof) just in case you can’t physically make it to the printer’s location.


3. You Choose a Printer Based Solely on Price and Location

There are numerous reasons why one banner may be less expensive then the other, but the fact is, more often then not, the real reason banner x is cheaper then banner y is quality, or a lack there of. It’s that simple old adage “you get what you pay for”. Confirm that you’ve chosen a vendor who uses the highest quality materials that will guarantee visibility and durability for years to come.
You shouldn’t feel like you have to choose a printer that is near you unless time is your greatest concern. Basing a buying decision on geography as opposed to quality and service could be a costly decision that you don’t have to make.

4. Understanding Your Needs

Purchasing a banner is a business decision and an investment that has many factors to consider before making a choice. Ask yourself the following questions: How big should my banner be? Can my banner hold up in harsh weather? How long will I use this banner? Size, style, design, material, and finishing are just some of the factors to consider before purchasing your banner. Picking the wrong type, size, or style of banner could end up costing you in the long run.

For many smaller businesses this is the way you will advertise to your community. Make sure that you understand your needs when buying a banner and if you are still unsure, choose a vendor that is reputable and knowledgeable so that they can tell you exactly what type of banner will best meet your requirements.

5. Choosing the Right Design

The design of a banner is the single most important factor in determining how effective that banner will be. Choosing the wrong design for your banner can lead to a sign that creates zero buzz and zero profit for your business. When you decide on a printer for your custom banner check out their website, or brochure to see how successful their previous designs are. Call the printer to ensure that they employ professional graphic designers who can assist you in creating the perfect design.

If you choose to use your own design follow these basic tips for success.

- Do not clutter your banner with useless or misleading information.
- Stick with contrasting colors to ensure your banner is aesthetically pleasing.
- Make the message concise and appealing. 3-5 words are ideal, but 5-7 is acceptable.
- Make sure to emphasize the most important message on your vinyl banner.
Keeping these tips in mind helps ensure high-quality and presentable vinyl banners for your business.

Stephen Hoey is President of KDF Reprographics, Inc. located in Rockleigh, New Jersey. KDF specializes in wide format services including banners, posters, wall murals and vehicle wraps. Stephen Hoey can be reached at 888-533-2667, Steve@kdf-comp.com or on the web at http://www.kdf-comp.com

KDF is Now on Facebook!

KDF would like to announce that we have just added a Facebook page! Take a look at some of the photos and videos we have posted and will continue to post in the future of vehicle wraps, banners, posters, wall murals, and trade show designs.

If you like what you see, become a fan, it would be appreciated. Make sure to stay tuned to KDF's Facebook page for some excellent deals on all your reprographic needs. Right now you can receive $100 if you refer someone for a full vinyl vehicle wrap!

Thanks and stay tuned for more great deals from KDF Reprographics, Inc.

The Most Effective Way for Small Business Owners to Spend Their Advertising Dollars

By Stephen Hoey

These days the single greatest challenge facing every small business owner is the economic recession. The simple fact is small businesses have been hit hardest by the recession. According to The Small Business Economy: A Report to the President produced by the U.S. Small Business Administration, “more than half of the 763,000 jobs lost in the first two quarters of 2008 were lost in small firms.”

This has made finding ways to spend money more efficiently and effectively paramount for a small business to remain successful. While most people will continue to talk about the damaging effects the recession has had on their business, a savvy business owner will recognize the recession as an opportunity to grow their business.
In the past 60 years America has been through nine recessions and recovered from every one. While it may sound strange to think of the recession as an opportunity, if the right investments are made you can easily increase your profits and outpace your competition.

That’s because during a recession most small business owners cut back on spending and especially on advertising. Yet, numerous studies have shown that this is a mistake. In a joint study done by Oregon State University and Western Oregon University dated April 19, 2009 they found that:

“Firms that are able to increase advertising during recessions are likely to have stronger future earnings.” The researchers studied data from five recessionary periods since 1971, sampling data from more than 3,000 firms listed on the public stock exchange.

Another study done by MarketSense compared 101 household name brands that increased ad spending during the recessionary period 1989-1991. For those who cut spending on advertising, it took 2 years after the end of the recession to regain their original position. By that time, aggressive competitors had almost tripled their market share, while less than 30% of those who cut advertising ever regained their market share in the following expansion period.

The question becomes how should a small business owner invest their advertising dollars? Many small business owners will turn to traditional forms of advertising such as: television, radio, newspaper or the Yellow Pages. The fact is however, that these forms of advertising are cost prohibitive and simply not as effective as they once were.

Reaching an audience through traditional forms of media is harder today then ever before. According to Arbitron only 1 out 3 three Americans read a daily newspaper, Ohio-based BIGresearch found that just 1 in 20 people actually watch television commercials. Bill Gates stated: “The Yellow Pages are going to be used less and less… These things always take time, but Yellow Page usage among people, say, below 50, will drop to zero — near zero — over the next five years.” As for radio, according to the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA) advertisers must buy deep (multiple stations and formats) to accumulate audience reach of over 50%, offsetting the cost effectiveness of radio if the target is a large, broad group of consumers.

Traditional forms of advertising are also cost prohibitive for a small business owner looking to reach the widest audience with a limited budget. Advertising in a regional or local newspaper for a 3 x 5¼ ad running twice per week for 52 weeks can cost as much as $792 a week. At those rates one year of advertising in the paper twice per week would cost $41,184.

A twenty six week sponsorship of a local news program with a thirty second spot running once a week and four additional thirty second spots, one in each locally produced sporting event (high school and college) would cost $2,000 per month. Meaning a twenty six week sponsorship would cost $11,000.

A 2½” x 6” ad in the Yellow Pages for one year is $3,447.00. A half-page ad would cost $7,567.20 for the year. In the top 100 Radio Markets a 60 second drive time ad would cost $8.61 per 1,000 customers reached.

The most effective way for a small business owner to reach a large consumer base on a limited budget is a “non-traditional” form of advertising known as a vehicle wrap. A vehicle wrap is the marketing practice of completely or partially covering a vehicle in an advertisement or livery, thus turning it into a mobile billboard.
A vehicle wrap and fleet graphics is the most cost effective form of advertising that exists today. An average vehicle wrap is a one time fee of around $3,500. A wrap produced by a company with expertise and experience should last at least 5 years, that’s a cost of just $700 a year.

Studies have shown that vehicle wraps have numerous advantages over traditional forms of advertising. In a survey done by the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA) 96% of survey respondents said vehicle wraps method of mobile advertising is more effective than advertising through traditional methods. 91% of the people surveyed by the American Trucking Association (ATA) reported that they do notice words and pictures on vehicles. Add to that the fact that a vehicle wrap works around the clock, 24-7 and there is no tuning out, changing the station, or turning the page.

Vehicle wraps and Vehicle graphics also generate far more impressions for far less money then any other form of traditional advertising. According to the Traffic Audit Bureau for Media Measurement, a vehicle wrap generates anywhere between 30,000 and 70,000 impressions daily, that’s more then 11,000,000 impressions a year at a cost of just $0.77 per thousand impressions. The next closest form of advertising (billboard advertising) costs more then twice as much ($2.18) to generate the same amount of impressions.

There are additional benefits to purchasing a vehicle wrap as well. A vehicle wrap is a powerful visual message that will reach audiences of all ages, gender, backgrounds, income, profession and families and it will reach them where they are, with 96% of Americans traveling in a vehicle each week as either a driver or passenger.

Most small business owners are already commuting to work in their own vehicle while paying for ever increasing gas prices. Vehicle wraps and fleet graphics can easily offset this cost with the sales it generates. Studies have shown that the vehicle wrap has increased the sales of advertisement in the range of 107%.
If small business owners are looking for a smart investment in these tough economic times a vehicle wrap provides the perfect solution.

Stephen Hoey is the President of KDF Reprographics, Inc. providers of Large Format Printing, Vehicle Wraps, Fleet Graphics, Color Scanning, Posters, Banners and Trade Show Displays. To contact Stephen or setup an interview please call 888-533-2667 or visit our website @ http://www.kdf-comp.com/

KDF Endorses the Naked Cowboy for Mayor of NYC

http://www.kdf-comp.com
Who did the Naked Cowboy choose to wrap his most important asset? (well… second most important asset.)


We just got back from the Times Square Press Conference where the Naked Cowboy announced his run for Mayor of NYC. It was a zoo! - Steve



KDF provided all the large format printing, wraps, and graphics. We also wrapped the Naked Cowboys guitar. Check out the video below.











KDF Reprographics, Inc., Since 1995, providing the best in innovative large format graphic solutions. Get noticed with a vehicle wrap, banner, mural or custom large format graphics by KDF!

And for a chance to win a vehicle wrap click this link http://www.kdf-comp.com/naked.html

CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION OF HUDSON VALLEY AND KDF PARTNER TO OFFER NEW TECHNOLOGY TO ASSIST LOCAL CONTRACTORS

CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION OF HUDSON VALLEY AND KDF PARTNER TO OFFER NEW TECHNOLOGY TO ASSIST LOCAL CONTRACTORS

Rockleigh, NJ / Newburgh, NY (KDF-CCAHV) 6/1/09: KDF Reprographics, Inc. of Rockleigh, NJ announces it’s partnership with the Construction Contractors Association to offer planroom services to local contractors giving them easy on-line access to preview plans and specifications for public construction projects.

An on-line planroom is a website that stores construction plans and specifications. Contractors can login to the planroom and preview the documents and project details from their PC. The new service allows access to these documents that were previously only available at the physical planroom located in the CCA offices in Newburgh, NY.

“This service was developed so the contractors have a simple way to preview jobs and give them faster access to this time sensitive information. We look forward to making this process easier for them. We believe this will be a great tool and a much needed one in this competitive environment. “

- Stephen Hoey, President.

About KDF

KDF Reprographics, Inc., started in 1995, services include high volume engineering printing, large and small format document scanning, wide format color printing and digital planroom services. KDF services the construction management, AEC, education, manufacturing, utilities and municipal markets throughout the northeast United States.


About the Construction Contractors Association of the Hudson Valley

The Construction Contractors Association of the Hudson Valley is a 50 year old trade association of commercial and industrial building contractors in Delaware, Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, Rockland, Putnam, Sullivan, Columbia and Greene counties. Over the last five decades, CCA members have played a leading role in every major construction project in Hudson Valley. C.C.A.’s mission is to connect owners with responsible contractors who have demonstrated the ability to complete projects on time and within budget, and to provide contractors with the resources, skills and support they need to be competitive in the 21st Century construction business.



Contact Information:

If you’d like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Stephen Hoey, Please call 201-784-9991 x501 or email Steve@kdf-comp.com.


KDF Reprographics, Inc.
Stephen Hoey
President
10 Volvo Drive
Rockleigh, NJ 07647
Tel. 201-784-9991 x501
Fax. 201-784-9955
www.kdf-comp.com





Construction Contractors Association
of the Hudson Valley
Patricia E. Dalton
Executive Assistant
330 Meadow Avenue
Newburgh, NY 12550
Tel. (845)562-4280
Fax.(845)562-1448
Website: www.ccahv.com
Planroom: ccahv-planroom.com

PORT AUTHORITY CHOOSES KDF REPROGRAPHICS

Rockleigh, NJ (KDF) 6/1/09: KDF Reprographics, Inc. of Rockleigh, NJ announces the award of a two year contract with the Port Authority of NY & NJ to provide wide-format engineering printing. KDF will provide these services from its production facility headquartered in Rockleigh, NJ.

From their Rockleigh facility KDF provides color printing, scanning, reprographic, and distribution services.

The KDF Reprographics department provides high speed, high volume production for regional construction and engineering projects. KDF’s digital archiving department scans paper documents from office records to blueprints and designs database applications for storage and retrieval of these scanned documents. KDF’s wide-format color graphics department provides tradeshow graphics & displays, corporate presentation, posters, retail graphics, fleet & vehicle graphics, mounting & laminating services.

“We are fortunate in this tough business climate to have won this contract and to have this opportunity to work with the Port Authority of NY & NJ. Our reprographics department has been providing architectural & engineering printing for tri-state area construction projects for the last 14 years and we are honored to be adding the Port Authority to our client list.”

- Stephen Hoey, President.

About KDF

KDF Reprographics, Inc., started in 1995, services include high volume engineering printing, large and small format document scanning, wide format color printing and digital planroom services. KDF services the construction management, AEC, education, manufacturing, utilities and municipal markets throughout the northeast United States.

Contact Information:

If you’d like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Stephen Hoey, Please call 201-784-9991 x501 or email Steve@kdf-comp.com.

Stephen Hoey
President
KDF Reprographics, Inc.
10 Volvo Drive
Rockleigh, NJ 07647
Tel. 201-784-9991
Fax. 201-784-9955
http://www.kdf-comp.com

For Immediate Release: KDF to Sponsor Chocolate World Expo

Rockleigh, NJ (KDF) 03/18/09: KDF Reprographics, Inc. of Rockleigh, NJ, Warwick, NY is proud to announce its sponsorship of the 2009 Chocolate World Expo, a Baum Image Group Event presented by the Venture Foundation to be held on Sunday, March 29th from 11:00am to 7:00pm at the Palisades Center, 4th Floor. KDF joins the list of sponsors which include The Palisades Center, The Journal News, Viva Paper Towels and Best Western.

KDF, a long time friend of Camp Venture, has donated the design, printing and installation of wall murals at the Palisades Center promoting the event along with vehicle graphics for 10 Camp Venture vans.

Chocolate World Expo includes chocolates, baked goods, cheeses, wines, beers, entertainment and more. After last years great success they have expanded vendors, the exhibit area and have added a very simple admission process.

Camp Venture is a premiere Rockland County organization providing community homes and services for more than 1500 people with developmental disabilities. Proceeds from the event will boost the campaign to construct an Indoor Equestrian Center for Venture's riding program.

“Camp Venture is a wonderful organization and such an important part of our community. I hope everyone comes to support them at this event. Get there early to enjoy all the vendors and the chocolate!” Stephen Hoey said.

About KDF

KDF Reprographics, Inc., started in 1995, services include reprographics, scanning and color printing. KDF’s Wide Format Color division provides murals, vehicle wraps, decals, posters, and outdoor banners up to 8’ wide. KDF services corporate clients, marketing & advertising, AEC, education, manufacturing, utilities and municipal markets throughout the northeast United States.

For more information about the Chocolate World Expo please visit their website at chocolateworldexpo.com or call the Venture Foundation at (845) 624-5402.

Contact Information:

Stephen Hoey
President
KDF Reprographics, Inc.
10 Volvo Drive
Rockleigh, NJ 07647

221 Cascade Road
Warwick, NY 10990
Tel. 201-784-9991
Fax. 201-784-9955
(www.kdf-comp.com)

Article: Vehicle Wraps, Vehicle Graphics, Fleet Graphics

Move Your Message with Vehicle Wraps

For businesses looking to reach a broad audience with a vibrant, cutting-edge message, vehicle wraps are a perfect solution. You've seen them before—you're driving down the street or strolling along the sidewalk and you see a car, truck, or bus that looks as though it has been given a very expensive and mind-boggling custom paint job. Then you notice the design carries an advertising message, emblazoned in bright bold colors, encompassing every inch of the vehicle, even the windows.

It's not an expensive custom paint job. It's a vehicle wrap—a high-resolution, custom-made vinyl graphic that is applied to a truck, car, bus, or just about anything that moves. Wrapping a vehicle is like applying a big durable sticker over the vehicle’s exterior surface. The full-color printed vinyl is applied directly over the existing paint. The wrap is very durable, but is removable when it’s time for a new message or the vehicle is to be sold.

Wraps are designed by professional graphic designers working closely with the client. The wrap is printed on a solvent inkjet printer using a digital CMYK process that prints full color images onto premium wrap vinyl. The inks are specially designed not to fade for up to three years. Once the vinyl wrap is printed, it’s laminated with a gloss or matte overlaminate to help protect the surface from scratches and other damage.

It usually takes about three or four days to apply the wrap to the vehicle. This allows enough time for detailing the vehicle, applying the wrap, and allowing it to cure prior to the vehicle returning to service on the street.

Increase Your Exposure With Vehicle, Fleet, or Bus Graphics

Why go with a vehicle wrap? It’s a highly cost-effective moving billboard. Nothing gets your message before the public more clearly or more quickly than company vehicle wraps. Mobile advertising can be a highly effective form of outdoor advertising, reaching more consumers at a lower Cost Per Thousand Impressions (CPM) than any other form of outdoor advertising. Just one delivery truck with an attention-getting vehicle wrap has the ability to generate millions of marketing impressions per year! The United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration reports there are seven million miles of roads and highways in the U.S. Every mile can be yours with a mobile graphic message.

The consumer demographics are impressive. More than 95% of Americans can be reached by media targeting vehicle drivers and passengers. According to the Arbitron Outdoor Study, heavy commuters and people who drive a lot of miles have attractive socioeconomic profiles, including higher incomes, higher education, and higher numbers of children in the family.

Drivers and passengers are just some of the people who see and remember vehicle wraps. The other big target group is pedestrians. Imagine you wanted to target only people who shop at high-end stores. To reach this audience, just have your wrapped vehicle cruise down the most exclusive shopping street in town. How about racing fans? Send the vehicle to the racetrack, or better yet, follow the race circuit from town to town. College students? Send the wrapped vehicle on a tour of college campuses. With a mobile graphic message, there is no better way to target and reach a specific consumer demographic.

With a vehicle wrap, each and every day a company’s message is seen by thousands of potential customers. There's no spam filter for vehicle wrap. Consumers can't turn it off, fast forward, or change the channel. There are no pop-up blockers, and consumers don't have to click on a link to view it. Unlike junk mail, it can’t be thrown in the garbage, and unlike a telemarketer, customers can’t hang up on it. It’s right there in plain sight, and most people can’t help but look.

Billboards are stationary. On a highway location, chances are the same commuters will see the same message over and over again. With mobile graphics, the message travels and is seen by new prospects every day. Businesses can target special events, audience segments, or locations at a fraction of the cost of other advertising media. The flexibility and mobility of mobile graphics provides for a cost-effective and broad-reaching advertising and marketing message.

Flexibility is key. The message can be sent almost anywhere, anytime. When marketing requirements change, the vinyl can be removed and a new wrap applied. The information can be updated at any time with a partial patch or a replacement panel.

For Businesses, Non-profits, Civic Organizations

A sole proprietor could place a car wrap on his or her company car—the one they drive home every night. Retail stores wrap their delivery trucks so that every delivery reinforces their message. Fleets provide maximum coverage throughout a market area. Those looking to advertise while hauling goods or equipment choose a trailer wrap.

No other form of advertising offers a lower cost per impression than mobile graphics.

Stephen Hoey is President of KDF Reprographics, Inc. located in Rockleigh, New Jersey, and Warwick, NY. KDF's Color Graphics Division specializes in wide format services including banners, posters, wall murals and vehicle graphics, cut vinyl, trade show displays and more. He can be reached 888-533-2667, Steve@kdf-comp.com or on the web at http://www.kdf-comp.com/.