Category: Business Strategies

Meet Lorene Robinson – Stafford Printing Promotions Coordinator

Posted on Posted in Business Strategies, Marketing, Marketing StrategyTagged , , , , ,

As businesses and organizations aim for renewed growth in 2021, marketing and promoting are becoming more important than ever.

Stafford Printing is committed to helping businesses, schools, and other organizations stay connected with customers and employees, and Stafford Printing Promo is our newest service to help you do exactly that.

We offer an extensive range of high-quality promotional products to fit all budgets. Whether you’re looking for shirts, mugs, corporate gifts, or even PPE, we can help. Stafford Printing Promo offers thousands of branded merchandise selections, so you’ll always be able to find the exact products that you need to make a impactful and lasting statement.

Lorene Robinson, our printing promotions coordinator, is ready to assist you in selecting the best items to keep your business in the minds of your clients and working-from-home employees. With her knowledge and expertise, she can help you discover and develop new ideas to grow your business in 2021.

You can browse the branded merchandise on our website, or contact Lorene for customized, relevant recommendations that are tailored for your business or organization.

As always, our number one mission at Stafford Printing and Stafford Printing Promo is to provide solutions to help organizations grow. During this challenging time of less face-to-face interaction, it’s essential to stay connected with employees and customers. We’re excited to help you reach out and strengthen those relationships.

Lorene is ready to help with all your promotional product needs – contact her at lorener@staffordprinting.com or 540-842-4308 for assistance with branded promotional products.

A Range of Printing Ideas for Your Business

Posted on Posted in Business Strategies, custom printing, Marketing, Marketing Strategy, PrintingTagged , , , , ,

The last quarter of the year brings an opportunity for one more big marketing push, and this year businesses need it more than ever! Here are some great ways you can show people what your company is all about and finish 2020 on a strong note.

Brochures

Brochures can be a useful visual guide for potential customers, and they can also provide existing customers with essential product and service information, as demonstrated in this brochure art for Mary Washington Health Care.

For real estate offices like Atlantic Builders, brochures can show off properties, present floor plans, and more. We’re the perfect place to print all your real estate needs!

Business Cards

Is your current business card looking a bit tired? You can follow Pinao Consulting’s lead and design a fresh new card you’ll be excited to hand out to people, complete with custom artwork.

Event Invitations

Whether you’ve got holiday parties, fundraisers, or other events coming up, invitations and envelopes can be custom made at Stafford Printing for any occasion! These invitations were made for the Society of Former FBI Agents.

Custom Signs

These signs for Bryton Homes show just how attention-grabbing a custom yard sign can be! Yard signs can be printed for any business or occasion, with your unique logo, artwork, message, and/or contact information.

Community, Resilience, and Looking toward the Future

Posted on Posted in Business Strategies, Community, leadershipTagged , , , , , , , ,

Over the past six months, things have been tumultuous to say the least. We’ve been lucky to be able to forge a path forward, and we hope your business has been equally fortunate as we all move into the last part of this unexpectedly eventful year.

Howard recently had a birthday, and in this video he reflects on the importance of resilience when navigating through tough times. He also talks about some new exciting additions at Stafford Printing, and there’s a quick check-in to make sure that you’re all doing okay, as well!

Community is so important, and we’re proud that our customers are almost like family to us. They’re our number one priority, through the good times and the bad. This look at the history of Stafford Printing underlines just how far we’ve come over the past 33 years, and how we embrace the values of customer service and accountability to make sure that every printing job is completed to the highest possible standard.

We want to help our customers succeed in whatever they set out to do – let us know exactly how we can assist you in reaching your professional and creative goals!

Increase Your Odds for Success by Finding a Business Mentor

Posted on Posted in Business Strategies

Bill Gates first met his mentor at a dinner organized by his mom.

When his mother suggested the connection, Gates thought he would have nothing in common with him, because this contact was just a “guy who picks stocks.” It turned out that they had more in common than he realized, and over the years, Gates came to view him as a key mentor and advisor.

That man? Billionaire investor Warren Buffett.

Today, Gates has created software that runs in most of the computers on the planet. He is a billionaire philanthropist who has given away more than $28 billion while working to eradicate polio. And Gates says that one of the most important things Buffet taught him is that success is not found through net worth but by “having people you care about loving you back.”

4 Keys for Developing a Powerful Professional Mentorship

Do you have a professional mentor?

If you don’t, this is a great time to get matched with one. The Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) is a non-profit organization with members who provide free consultation services and advice to entrepreneurs. SCORE oversees the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors. This organization helps thousands of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses, to give back to communities, and to allow people to pass on their knowledge to the next generation of leaders.

Whether you connect with an organization like SCORE or pursue a mentorship opportunity of your own, here are four things you might look for in a mentor.

1. Compatibility

Your mentor is someone who you will be working closely with, so it’s important that you have a sense of compatibility with this person, so the relationship doesn’t feel awkward or forced.

If you sense cues that could indicate long term tension, it’s ok to voice your concerns or end the relationship. Assigning the initial stage of the relationship as a short-term trial period might make a potential termination seem more natural.

2. Contrast

A mentor helps you stretch yourself, so it’s good if your mentor seems a bit outside of your comfort zone.

Don’t pick a carbon copy of yourself or look for a best buddy in a mentor. Diversity helps you get a better perspective on things, and it may be good if your mentor is from a different industry, age group, or geographical area.

3. Expertise

Mentorship isn’t about following someone with the most experience or the biggest title; it’s about finding someone with the knowledge to help you on your journey.

Look for a mentor who has unique expertise or one who has worked through similar challenges as you face rather than focusing on someone with a long career or a resume that matches yours.

4. Trust

Because you will share intimate business details with your mentor, trust is of utmost importance.

And this trust should go both ways. When trust is mutual, both parties can confide in each other in specific, vulnerable ways. Build trust by learning each other’s communication styles, setting expectations up front, and asking deeper questions as you grow. Once a solid level of trust is established, you’ll be able to glean the best insights from this relationship.

Bouncing Back After COVID-19

This unique time of economic recovery is probably unlike any crisis your business has faced.

But entrepreneurs are nothing if not resilient, and you can get through this. The key is to take quick action and to lean on the wisdom of others. Why not pursue a mentoring relationship today?

How to Reopen Responsibly

Posted on Posted in Business Strategies, Community, Marketing, Marketing StrategyTagged , , , , , , , ,

It’s a very mixed time in the business world. Business owners are eager to get their doors open again, but of course the goal is to do so in a way that keeps employees and customers safe and healthy. If you and your team were working for home or closed entirely during the lockdowns, you may be feeling somewhat unsure of where to start when it comes to tackling the huge task of reopening.

To help your small business get started again in the right way, we’ve put together a package to assist you in safely reconnecting with your customers.

The package includes the following:

  • opening signage
  • social distancing signage
  • a marketing email campaign
  • a direct mail campaign
  • a banner
  • floor graphics
  • labels
  • digital creative assets for your social media advertising

Packages can be tailored for individual businesses, so if you’re looking for something that’s not listed above, let us know exactly what you need and we’ll be happy to help.

We want you to feel comfortable and confident in reopening your business as the lockdown restrictions ease! Contact us here for a consultation and we will help create a plan that works for you.

How to Determine Optimal Pricing for Your Products or Services

Posted on Posted in Business Strategies, Marketing StrategyTagged , , , , , , , ,
In September of 2019, Apple unveiled the iPhone 11, featuring a dual-lens rear camera, automated night mode, and built-in support for vision, hearing, and mobility.
One of the biggest surprises of the iPhone 11 was not its technical features, but its price. The iPhone 11 started at $699, down from the iPhone XR’s previous price of $749, and signaling one of the biggest year-on-year reductions in iPhone history. Apple also implemented $150 cuts on products like the iPhone 8 and the Apple Watch. Tech specialists were quick to comment:
“The biggest news from the Apple launch was the price cut for iPhone 11,” Chris Caso, an analyst at Raymond James and Associates, wrote in a note to investors. “We view this as an admission that Apple stretched too far with the price points at last year’s launch.”
Apple executives were not afraid to adjust pricing to current customers, especially knowing it may encourage upgrades or woo digital streaming subscribers. Lowering prices also increased the likelihood of up-selling related products: people who buy iPhones are far more likely to purchase iPads or AirPods.

Pricing that is “Just Right”

What is the best strategy for pricing the products or services you sell?
At first glance, this question seems pretty straightforward. But in reality, pricing is an art. Pricing well can enhance sales and create a prospering business, while the wrong approach can alienate customers and give competitors the edge.
There are a variety of pricing strategies in business, with some psychological influences in the approach you take. Here are four models to consider.

1. Cost-Based Pricing

The most straightforward pricing strategy is “cost-plus” pricing.
This involves calculating the total costs it takes to make your product, then adding a markup to determine the final price. This method is simple, fast, and lets you quickly add a profit margin to any product.

2. Market-Oriented Pricing

Market-oriented pricing starts from a cost-based perspective but adjusts pricing up or down with an eye on the competition and the customer.
For example, after comparing your products to similar items on the market, you can consciously price your products higher and brand your products as “best-quality” or “better performing.” Conversely, companies that price products low can lure more customers or sell large volumes that easily compensate for slim profit margins.

3. Discounts and Markdowns

Discount pricing is a strategy where items are initially marked high but then sold at a seemingly reduced cost to the consumer.
This can be especially effective during seasonal demand, inventory liquidation, or when marketing to value-oriented purchasers.

4. Flex Pricing

Flex pricing (or dynamic pricing) allows businesses to manipulate sales based on current market demands.
Flex pricing is at its best on big retail days like Black Friday or Cyber Monday, but can also be linked to timebound marketing strategies. Similar to what many sports teams and airlines do with ticket prices, you can manipulate prices up or down in a timebound fashion.
Coupons are another way to discretely provide dynamic pricing to a subset of prospects or customers. This allows you to attract new users or build momentum during seasonal promotions while remaining profitable.
Dynamic pricing can be challenging but worthwhile. In 2013, Walmart used flex pricing to change the prices of its products almost 50,000 times a month, and with this pricing model, its global sales grew by 30 percent!

Adjust as You Go

You have a great deal of flexibility in how you set prices.
And the good news is this: there is no surefire method to pricing things “just right.” Consider the current pandemic situation, your target customers, eyeball the competition, and hone your marketing to match the pricing strategy you pursue. Experiment, adjust, and see what works for your business.

Five Strategies to Use Your “Quaran-TIME” Effectively

Posted on Posted in Business Strategies, custom printingTagged , , , , , , , ,
Mike Turner founded the Front Street Brokers real estate firm in 2005, with a desire to offer distinctive client experiences, to equip agents for the maximum efficiency and profitability, and to devote significant firm resources to a local, philanthropic focus.
After three years, Turner’s firm experienced a significant slowdown during the 2008 financial crisis. This was a time of immense strain, especially when scheduled closings dried up before his eyes:
“In that time period, we had 10 real estate transactions scheduled to close, and nine of them fell through for unforeseeable reasons,” Turner said. “All of a sudden, $100,000 worth of business income that we were dependent upon [was] gone.”
Turner faced difficult choices in this season, and many of us are facing similar decisions in today’s COVID-19 crisis. Today, Turner says that while change is inevitable, he knows we still have a choice. Will we allow unforeseen challenges to drag us downstream, or will we improvise to find a way across the river?

Five Strategies to Use Your “Quaran-TIME” Effectively

Anyone can become a victim when change comes fast and forcefully.
Sudden change is scary, and though we may not be able to swim upstream, we can still strategize and seek active growth. What are some ways your business can grow during this difficult period?

Use Social Media to Connect with Customers

Try a more animated touch through social media. If subscribers are opening your emails, they are expressing genuine interest. Take these customer relationships to the next level by including embedded videos or links to caring content you’ve posted on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube.

Answer Questions or Position Yourself as a Helper

As you reach out to subscribers, ask if they have any questions or respond to challenges you know they have. Take an interest in the content they post as well – comment on it, share it with your followers, or start real conversations. Connecting to clients now will form a personal bond that lasts longer than the COVID-19 crisis.

Stretch Your Team’s Skills

When activity wanes, morale often follows. Invigorate employees by offering on-going education tools, professional mentoring within your team, or problem-solving workshops that mobilize groups to tackle some of your most ambitious goals. If your company lacks online meeting capabilities, this is a great chance to preview options like Zoom or Google Hangouts.

Do Some Spring Cleaning

While the pace is reduced, give focused attention to your internal atmosphere. Whether you need to spruce up workspaces or sort through old files, redeem the time by getting organized. This may also be a great time to refresh decor, business cards, or your website, or to involve your team in designing new content for newsletters and videos.

Express Gratitude

In hard times, a warm word goes a long way, and this can shift your own perspective from negativity to hope. Take time to say thanks to customers with handwritten notes, personal videos, or future discount options. Whether you plan a summer reunion party or make appreciation phone calls, prioritizing gratitude will make you a better entrepreneur in the long run.

Change Course, but Don’t Quit!

They say that genius is just persistence in disguise.
In tough times it’s ok to be discouraged, but it’s not ok to quit. Be proactive in this season, and keep taking the steps you can to inch ahead. New paths are, by definition, uncleared. But persistence and positivity are your most valuable assets as you journey toward hope.