Shelf AppealJanuary 11th, 2012
Packaging plays an important role in a consumer’s purchasing process; giving products shelf appeal and enhancing that all important brand identity in a fast paced market.
Brand owners are able to turn consumer’s heads using print that is full of slick design and inventive ideas. For example, pips from alpha media solutions is totally a unique example of how clever packaging can be. It gives brands more space for promotions, information and any other messages without compromising the exterior of the packaging.
Environmental aspects are also key issues for brand managers and consumers and are becoming an integral part of packaging design and performance. The latest research from Tetra Pak shows that consumers are more environmentally aware than ever when it comes to the packaging of their goods.
Tetra Pak President Dennis Jönsson said: “Packaging with a strong environmental profile is clearly a must-have, not a nice-to-have, for consumers.”
For more information about pips by alpha click here or contact us on 01274 260 900 to discuss any packaging projects alpha can help you with.
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Print’s Place in MarketingNovember 16th, 2011
It is fair to say that print’s place in the marketing mix may be seen to be weakening with the emergence of digital and online mediums. We are in the age of ‘cross-media’, where organisations are using a variety of channels both on and offline to engage consumers – print often gets lost in the enthusiasm for newer ‘sexier’ options.
Print is still however and always has been, trusted in a way that online media finds hard to match given the confidence that comes with its age. Print is the ideal communications medium and a powerful marketing tool. It also has surprisingly strong environmental credentials. Print on paper is recyclable, renewable and sustainable and actually helps promote forests.
With marketing spend being watched closely by Financial Directors – print is all too commonly the first thing to be cut and replaced by electronic mediums which appear to be a cheaper option when in fact, print’s flexibility, proven track record and creativeness should make it the primary choice for organisations wishing to increase ROI.
Perhaps printers aren’t doing enough to promote their medium as one that is effective, especially when used alongside online mediums – online searches are most commonly driven by offline messages. According to an investigation carried out by Print Week, 62% of respondents believed that print is a more effective medium than email, with a staggering 46% saying that print is the most effective medium of them all.
Marketers need the hard facts and statistics to prove to those in charge of the budget that creative print truly does generate ROI and is the best option in the marketing arena.
For more information on how alpha can help you with your marketing requirements, click here
Tags: alpha Media, marketing, marketing mix, marketing print
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‘Tis the season of the calendarOctober 18th, 2011
The next few months will see thousands of calendars run off litho presses in the UK.
The face of the calendars sector is changing with the rise of digital print and personalisation technology, making one-off bespoke calendars more popular. Despite this, both the B2B and consumer stock calendar markets are thriving and there is no reason to believe that they are due to shrink, nor is there reason to believe that a switch to digital should be made to ensure future presence in the market.
The direction this sector will take further down the line remains to be seen however. The question is – will the bespoke digital market remain a niche one or will it eventually overtake its litho counterpart?
alpha has an in house binding facility for the production of calendars, which along with a number of other finishing and coating options eradicates the need to outsource as many other printers do.
alpha also offers Heidelberg ISO12647-2 certified print in addition to its versatile coating press and can quickly and cost effectively produce high quality calendars with coatings and finishes such as:
- Overall and spot UV
- Blister varnish
- Metallics and opaques
- Overall fragrancing
- Scratch & sniff
- Silver latex scratch off
- Gloss UV with hinge scoring
- Kiss cutting with overall UV
- Die cutting, creasing, perforating and spot UV
For more information on how alpha can help you with your calendar requirements please contact us.
Tags: alpha Media, B2B Calendar, Calendar, Christmas Calendar, Print finishing, printing
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Maximise your promotional impactSeptember 21st, 2011
PIPS by alpha, (Promotional Integrated Packaging Solution), is a patent granted technology which was originally developed for a leading supermarket and has spearheaded alpha’s programme of expansion and diversification after it spotted a gap in the market.
This new product is designed to offer more space for promotions, information and advertising in a smaller area which reduces promotional costs and adds value to a variety of open ended, boxed or sleeve packaging in different shapes and sizes. It is set to transform the ways companies communicate with their customers.
PIPS is ideal for a range of promotions including:
- Giveaways
- affiliate marketing
- competitions
- recipes
- vouchers
The principle is simple but highly effective as the printed leaflet slides into a pocket on the inside of the packaging and an adhesive sticker holds it in place on the outside of the packaging. This then draws the buyer’s attention to the additional benefits of purchasing the product.
PIPS not only appeals to supermarkets but also to marketing and advertising agencies and executives who are increasingly looking for new ways to bring their products or their clients’ products to the attention of consumers. The advertising space provided on this new product allows companies to directly reach their target audience in a way that is not usually possible on other packaging products as well as providing the potential for additional revenue streams.
Sales and Marketing Director, Simon Rose, commented:
“We have been able to capitalise on innovation and bring this unique product to market. It’s a very exciting time for the company as this is a completely new packaging solution; we have many partnerships in the pipeline with leading companies who are looking to increase the promotional impact of their packaging.”
Click here for more information
Tags: advertising, alpha, packaging, packaging industry, pips, promotion
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Invest to SurviveSeptember 8th, 2011
Talk
of a double dip recession is on everyone’s lips, so print firms need to do all they can to survive in these trying times.
With bad news coming from the eurozone and the US it isn’t surprising that some printing organisations have put a hold on investments in fear of cash flow problems. However our view is that investment into new machinery should not be dismissed, and organisations need to invest to survive.
Those organisations which have stifled investment and are operating old machinery are also at risk of incurring high running costs when compared with organisations running new machinery. There is an apparent false economy of scale which has seen printers stand by their old machinery instead of investing in flexible machinery that allows for more competitive operation and increased capacity.
Similarly it is important to invest in the rising stars of the machinery world which deliver top performance in every respect, reaping the cost and quality benefits for users and manufacturers alike.
There is a market requirement for flexibility and automation and alpha’s investment into top quality kit ensures this is delivered every time. Our recent investment into a Heidelberg UV coating press sets the organisation apart as we are the only printer in Yorkshire with these new finishing capabilities. Continuous investment into new machinery gives us a leading edge within the industry and allows us to meet the growing needs of clients.
Tags: investment, machinery, print and direct mail industry, printing, recession
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alpha Joins UK’s EliteAugust 26th, 2011
alph
a media has become one of a minority within the UK to be awarded ‘ISO 12647-2 certified print shop’ status from printing press manufacturer, Heidelberg. The accolade from Heidelberg is evidence that the organisation is capable of printing to the stringent and demanding criteria of the ISO12647-2 international colour print standard.
Printing quality colour consistently and reliably, to defined standards, is a key focus for alpha as it strives to set quality standards across the UK industry.
The certification involves both press and prepress calibration and optimisation, culminating in a print test of 4000 sheets, the results of which are ultimately examined in a laboratory in Heidelberg, Germany, where the certificate is issued.
The acknowledgement a testament to perfectly adjusted and calibrated equipment, and the training and educational element of the certification has been a key factor in the on-going maintenance of the standard and the implementation of a wider print quality management system.
Simon Rose, Sales and Marketing Director of alpha said: “We’ve always taken pride in delivering high quality print jobs so printing quality colour consistently and reliably, to defined standards, is a key focus for us, we are delighted to have joined an elite few within the British printing industry”
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Printing with the planet in mindAugust 19th, 2011
The protection of the environment is a 21st Century concern for both the public and, increasingly, businesses and corporations. So, given that print is estimated to be the UK’s 4th most polluting industry, it is undoubtedly a good idea to get a clear picture of what businesses in this sector must consider if they want to print with the planet in mind.
First, it is worth dispelling a couple of rumours that, quite aside from moving people in the direction of environment-friendly decisions, instead pollute the question of ‘What is green?’ with misinformation and myth.
Rumour 1: Recycled paper damages the environment more than non-chlorine bleached paper that is produced from sustainable forests.
This rumour is at best vague and worst, a terribly misleading assertion. The truth is, one tonne of recycled paper saves approximately 6 mature trees and 3.3 cubic yards of fast-disappearing landfill space (Source: Friends of the Earth).
Rumour 2: The inks used in printed materials contain heavy metals that, once removed during the recycling process, pollute the environment.
In fact, fibre that has been de-inked is considered so harmless that it can be used as fertiliser, put into building blocks or burnt to generate energy. What’s more, water used in the de-inking process is fully cleaned before it is returned to the source.
It is an unavoidable fact that print creates a lot of waste and pollution, but with the ever-increasing use of recycled paper, better general environmental awareness and the scientific standards of forestry-certification, the print industry is sure to keep tight control of its environmental footprint.
alpha’s environmental policy consists of several combined methods of minimizing the impact our print and packaging has on the environment, including the use of recycled materials wherever possible and the planting of new trees.
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Investment Expands alpha’s Service OfferingJuly 29th, 2011
We are proud to announce a significant investment into a UV coating press which will enable us to provide a niche service to all of our clients clients, from creative agencies to trade printers and publishing houses.
The UV coating machine from Heidelberg, one of the world’s leading solution providers for the print media industry, redefines the way in which printed items are coated and lends itself to a wide range of applications for creating innovative print products. For example, the ability to produce high gloss, spot UV coatings and gold or silver metallic effects.
The other benefits in investing in this machine will be reduced make-ready times, improved performance and enhanced product quality. For us, it provides flexibility and increased capabilities that will lead to an increase in orders for high-end, multicolour print and packaging.
Sales and Marketing Director, Simon Rose, commented:
“We are delighted to have been in the position to invest in this new machinery. As the only printer in the Yorkshire region with these new finishing capabilities, it will allow us to meet the growing needs of our existing clients for longer run lengths and the ability to create unique new products. This will provide us with a leading edge within the industry.”
Tags: Heidelberg, UV coating press
Posted in Finishing, News, Uncategorized, alpha, packaging, printing | 1 Comment »
The Origins of PrintJuly 28th, 2011
Print media is said to have been invented in China over 5000 years ago in the form of writing ink which was used to blacken stone-carved images. The ink was made from mixing soot with glue made from animal hides and then moulded into sticks, dried and mixed with water ready for use. The earliest known paper also originated in China where it was introduced it in its modern form, having been developed from the ancient Egyptian’s method of using papyrus strips in around 3500 BC.
Up until the invention of paper, documents in China were generally written on bamboo, bone and silk which were difficult to transport and too expensive to use in vast amounts. The first paper was invented by Tsai Lun, an official attached to the Imperial Han court, when he mixed the bark of mulberry trees, hemp, silk and fishing nets to create the paper.
It was in 1456 that Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press and was the first to create type pieces from an alloy of lead, tin and antimony – the same components used in printing today. His invention of mechanical movable type started the printing revolution and played a major role in the development of the Renaissance, Reformation and the Scientific Revolution, enabling the spread of learning to the masses.
The rest, as they say, is history and print continues to be an important medium for communication across the world.
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The Future of Print in a Digital AgeJuly 15th, 2011
The print industry is often said to act as a bellwether for the economy, when economic activity slumps, so too does the demand for the print industry’s products. Figures for the past 5 years bear out this fact – employee numbers have fallen by 20% and the number of companies has reduced by 15%.
The question on everybody’s lips is whether the industry is merely riding on the seas of a perpetually temperamental business sector? The answer, it seems, may depend on the rivalling influence of digital media.
The internet is a sphere that has showed no signs of slowing down, both in growth and popularity, since it went from being a gadget for the technology obsessed, to the everyday tool it is today.
Its uses have multiplied and as they’ve done so, the ways in which the Internet rivals traditional print media have seemingly accumulated too. That’s not to say, of course, that print is the only form of media under threat, DVD sales, TV ratings, cinema visits and newspaper circulations are all feeling the strain since blogs, TV catch up services, online papers and digital piracy have become so widespread.
The print industry’s saving grace – and the asset that is predicted to act as its main tool in the fight against the digital age – is that it is loved for what it is, a tangible, physical medium. Photos and text online may have the benefit of convenience, but they arguably lack the impact of a perfectly printed brochure that can be kept, flicked through, passed around, written on and generally used as an object, as opposed to being two dimensional.
It seems likely that if companies keep up with ever-advancing print technology, and integrate wherever possible with emerging digital media, they will continue to advance and grow.
Tags: machinery, print industry, printers, printing, UK
Posted in Finishing, News, alpha, packaging, printing | No Comments »
Packaging plays an important role in a consumer’s purchasing process; giving products shelf appeal and enhancing that all important brand identity in a fast paced market.
