Passionate about printing

At Millfield Media Print Shop,we specialise in high quality full colour on line printing services offering both digital and litho options for affordable cheap printing alternatives without compromising on quality.

Our product range includes business cards, pop up banners, stationery, flyers, postcards, brochures, leaflets, booklets and promotional items. Whatever you are looking for we are sure you will find it on our online print shop.

More importantly,we are passionate about the service we provide, and are confident in our ability to guide and advise you. We specialise in offering a comprehensive range of print solutions, all competitively priced all with free UK delivery.

We will advise how to get the most for your print budget. We aspire to provide a personal service to beat our competition and am therefore proud of our exceptional 5* personal customer service and reputation that we have built up on the services we have provided.

We truly believe that reliability,honesty and trust are paramount in business. We offer specialist advice for bespoke print jobs if we can’t help you we will point you in the direction of a trusted partner who will.. We have been in the print industry for 30 year and understand which type of printing will achieve the best quality at the most competitive price for the finished product.

Please take a look at our website http://www.millfieldmediaprintshop.com/

We understand there is a lot of choice, which can be confusing so if you cant find what you are looking for drop me an email Nicola-millfieldmedia@outlook.com to discuss your requirements or  request a call back and one of our friendly customer service advisors will get in touch at a time convenient to you. Alternatively, you can request a bespoke quote by contacting us here  http://www.millfieldmediaprintshop.com/get-a-quote-p-4.html

We have delivery options which affects your price, if you can give us a longer lead in time choose the economy range, this means we load the printers and can subsequently reduce the price. If you are in a hurry choose urgent, the price will change as you select this function if you need a next day service

To help you with your selection you can order a free sample pack. This will assist you to decide which paper quality that you need for your specific job and compare matt, gloss and silk options, and paper thickness. This also effects the cost

Share Printing is our passion… providing 5*customer service is our priority

Reviewing your customer service

According to the Institute of Customer Service “A tangible product is only one aspect of the supplier/customer relationship. The other aspect is service; indeed, in many businesses, there is no physical product. The only relationship is service”

In today’s competitive business environment, the quality of customer service is paramount. By monitoring the quality of our service we have learned a lot from our customer interactions, which has made us rethink our service and processes. For us to the service quality and managing our customers expectations will always be a priority and challenging. For brands, who want to create and maintain a good reputation it is an essential part of marketing particularly if you are a local business or supplier. Are you scared to do them in case you are faced with a negative or nasty review?

We’ve all been there and lets face it customer expectations are pretty high these days and there are plenty of competitor to entice them away. We all say we provide an excellent service, but what if you just didn’t on this one occasion for whatever reason ? Lets face it things do go wrong.

As a small business it is now a necessity to encourage customers to leave a review to manage our reputation effectively. Although it is quick and easy to do not all customers take up the chalice. I must say that I always give feedback or reviews where ever possible.

The first step is dealing with the customer complaint or low review quickly, if it is on social media for all to see. What is really bothering them, and what were their initial expectations ?

• low quality service
• low quality product
• Delivery problems

My aim is to regain their trust and understand their frustrations in the first place, if they are angry I would still remain calm to diffuse the situation. A good customer experience is crucial to the success of any business. When it isn’t delivered, it’s then becomes a problem. Accepting responsibility is the first step in turning a negative into a positive and if they are unhappy with the product they will leave being happy with the customer service and the solution you have provided.

I always thank the customer for their feedback, then validate their experience putting myself in their shoes. If they’ve experienced a low quality product / service, I would show an understanding of the issue and explain how im going to ensure it wont happen again. If their complaint is more general I would get as much detail as possible then take the discussion offline and ring to speak to them. Sometimes it is just a lack of understanding or information. Usually for us it is the delivery or production time has been interpreted wrongly. I try to supply the correct and appropriate information and direct them to that source (maybe your website or a link). In one instance our 3/4 day turnaround didn’t happen because of two bank holidays. We learned from this and adjusted the timescale accordingly.

In all cases, I try to defend my brand publicly and let people know how the issue has been resolved which will gain the trust of your customers and lets them know that you value them. Apologise and offer them a goodwill gesture such as their money back, a future discount or freebies. Above all I learn from it and try to ensure it dosent happen again 🙂

The many options available are growing and it would be unreasonable to ask them to leave a review on all of them. So, which one is optimum for your business and easiest for your customers ? Google My Business, allows reviews, comments, and pictures. Because it is Google, it can give you a boost in a search. Do you opt for your own website perhaps, an email or text direct to the customer ? Do you use a social site like Twitter which is so fast paced it would be difficult to find (unless you had a review hashtag, perhaps), but the tweets can still be found in search results. Facebook is now moving up the ranks as the first place potential customers visit and seems to be working for us. I send a link direct to our Facebook Reviews section of our Page, they then have to click the grey stars to choose a rating, and then write an optional review. They can make that review public, visible to friends, or visible only to them. This for us seems to be the quickest and easiest solution for our customers.

Each provides customers with opinions and reassurance from people just like them.

I would be interested what experiences have you learned from and which platform do you use ?

Tips to consider when designing a brochure

Having a great brochure/leaflet is fundamental to your brand. There are so many options available. The first step is choosing what sort of brochure or leaflet your business needs and what it will say about your brand. This could be one of your bestselling marketing tools but remember it must grab your customer’s attention so concentrate on key messages, decide what you are wanting to say or sell. Keep it simple but try to be different from all the other flyers that are posted though your customers door.

Then it is about getting your design right. You could use the skill and flair from a graphic designer, who will be able to advise and guide you. They will sit down with you to understand your brand, what your key message are and the tone of voice you use as a business. They will take you through their work for other brands. Throw some ideas round together perhaps using mood boards, brainstorming with other team members to discuss what your business needs are. You don’t want to go to the trouble of spending a lot of time and money in designing your brochure only to get it wrong at the print stage, follow our step by step guide

Choosing your paper quality and weight is fundamental to your finished product so we think you should choose wisely. Paper quality or Grams per square meter (GSM) as it is known, means the higher the number the heavier the paper. When it comes to finalising the requirements of your print job, be sure to consider the weight of paper on the inside as well as the cover. I would suggest that if you want to provide a professional quality finish then opting for heavier paper for the outer covers. Although deciding on the paper quality will impact both the cost and quality of your brochure, please remember that this will provide the first impression for your potential customer and will say a lot about your business, your printer will advise and guide you.

TIPS

• Decide what your objectives are and what you are trying to achieve.

• Who is your target audience and what are you selling?

• This will then determine whether you need a brochure, booklet, flyer or tri fold leaflet?

• What size do you think it should be A4 A5 and how many pages? (remember printers need it to be a multiple of 4)

• Choosing the right paper weight and quality and finish is just as important as the design itself. It will add value to the service or goods that you are selling. Opt for a nice coated finish. Remember customers like the feel of things, so if you get the quality right you may get a better return on your investment.

• Have you got your brand colours and codes?

• Will your printing be folded, collated, stapled or bound?

• Is the cost of finishing included in the quote?

• Decide on the amount, this will affect the cost as larger amounts will be done lithographically, smaller amounts will be done digitally.

• When do you need them by as this may well affect the cost?

• One thing to stress is you cannot compromise when it comes to good quality images. Particularly if you are looking to showcase your brand. Getting it right first time, will save you money in the long run. Which is why using a professional photographer will bring your brand to life, the photos will be exclusive to you and your business and you will have the edge over your competitors.

• Get a quote for a couple of different amounts and finishing options from your printer

• Allow time for it to be checked for clarity and for errors by other people in your group. Paying attention to spelling, numbers etc. Your printer will not do this.

• Make sure the artwork is in the agreed format and get it to your printer on time

If you would like some help advice or a quote please contact us

SPOT UV – Simply Stunning

What is SPOT UV I hear you say…. well it is an area of Ultra Violet gloss coating that creates a glossy finish to a targeted areas on top of your printed job to make your business cards , postcards and flyers stand out from your competition.

SPOT UV works well on larger or smaller areas and as a pattern on a flat background. The varnish is applied using a process similar to screen printing,. We would advise that it is not suitable for small text as it can make it difficult to read. At Millfield Media Print Shop we can help and guide you with your artwork to create a business  card that your customers wont forget. We also have a help hub on our website to assist you when you are creating and uploading your artwork, not to mention our 5* customer service.

Our advice for designers is that when you are supplying files for print you must also supply artwork for the spot UV itself. The SPOT UV artwork should consist of solid black shapes – 100% K only and in the exact position on the page where the spot UV is required, ideally in vector as opposed to bitmap formula.

HELPFUL TIP: The Spot UV must be on a separate page and have the same dimensions and crop marks in the same position as the printed file.To do this firstly create a blank PDF that is 85 x 55mm, then insert it in one of the two following ways. Either combine your files using Acrobat Combine PDF function, or insert the blank page into the PDF by using Acrobat Insert Page function. Please then ensure that the page order is as described above.

These business cards are proving to be more and more popular. Printed on superb quality 450gsm Silk stock, full colour, double sided then matt laminated to both sides. We then add the Spot UV Varnish to any part of your design; such as logo, pattern or name.This highlights aspects of your design and gives a truly luxury feel they start from just £24 all with free delivery, you can choose delivery options which allows you to budget and save money if you can wait for a couple of weeks.

 

Worth your weight in …. paper

In the print world its all about the paper, and as you would expect we are pretty clued up on this subject. Choosing your paper quality and weight is fundamental to your finished product so we think you should choose wisely. Paper quality or Grams per square meter (GSM) as it is known, means the higher the number the heavier the paper. When it comes to finalising the requirements of your print job, be sure to consider the weight of paper on the inside as well as the cover. We would suggest that if you want to provide a professional quality finish then opting for heavier paper is your best choice.

The first thing you decide will be getting your design, content and brand right by ensuring that the images etc are first class which is absolutely right. You will then decide the size and how many pages it will have. (Remember this is a multiple of 4). Next you will be deciding how many you want printed which will perhaps decide on the budget that you are working within.

You don’t want to go to the trouble of spending a lot of time and money in designing your brochure only to print it on really light, thin paper. So deciding on the right paper weight for your brochure is just as important and it will add value to what it is you are offering if you opt for a nice coated finish. Remember customers like the feel of things, so if you get the quality right you may get a better return on your investment.

Although deciding on the paper quality will impact the cost and quality of your brochure, remember that this will provide the first impression for your potential customer. Another point to consider that if you allow a longer lead in time, this will give you the opportunity to keep some cost down. If you need it urgently you will pay a premium for this privilege.

All paper starts its life as uncoated then the preferred finish is added to your job.  Choosing what you need and what it will say about your brand is the first port of call.  Gloss paper comes in 130gsm 150gsm and 170gsm which is normally used for flyers and leaflets as it has a high shine. As the ink dries well there is no need for a seal varnish as the ink does not rub off. Matt paper isn’t shiny because it is coated with a matt lamination which prevents glare. This type of paper is also suitable for reports, brochures and leaflets particularity as it is available in heavier paper.

Silk coated paper is the in betweener, it has a beautiful smooth silky coating which is smooth to touch without the shine. This type of paper is suitable for magazines, books, catalogues and flyers.

Uncoated paper has no coating, making it excellent to absorb the ink receptivity which makes it ideal for forms, appointment cards letterheads and memo paper because it is ideal to write on. This specialist paper can also be used for invoice pads, receipt books and order pads using carbonated paper, as it has a coating on the surface which transfers the written image onto the paper below, so you dont need a carbon sheet. Lamination provides extra durability, strength and style so that you really make an impression, because they look and feel amazing and can be either matt or gloss.

UV Gloss coating is a premium coating that makes aspects of your design really stand out. It provides a much greater shine than gloss paper, particularly when added to a laminated finish as the Spot UV Varnish will make your logo, pattern or name stand out. I recently saw on on a musicians business card, as he had the black of the piano keys with a SPOT UV and it really stood out which is what will get you remembered if you get it right.

If you want to make an amazing impression and add a little bit of luxury to your design consider adding some metallic silver or gold foil highlights and stand out with something really special.

We can help with any advice and guidance, or you would like a free sample pack, please get in touch for details Millfield Media Print Shop

Stuck on you

A label or sticker is the first thing that catches a customers eye. In those first few moments they could decide whether or not they want your product. Customising labels or stickers gives you the opportunity to add text or graphics to a surface, promoting your brand and getting key information in front of your potential customers

When it comes to marketing Sticker advertising is cheap, versatile and effective as it allows you to print hundreds of any size in a variety of shapes. If you are a smaller business, on a low budget you have an amazing opportunity to brand all your products, parcels, envelopes and brochures with this really cost effective solution. Dont be afraid to do something different as your business will stand out more if you go with your brand and instinct. Dont copy what everyone else is doing.

Have you just won an award or brought out a new product? Put that award on a sticker to let your customers know how good you are and how proud you are that you won. If you have a new product or service shout about it. For example if you are a cupcake company, add a new variety cupcake image of your sticker and put onto your boxes, when customers see it they will be tempted to buy it next time.

Stickers and labels are becoming more and more necessary for advertising or promoting products and offers, because they catch peoples eyes and imagination. Brands want to be different but need to stand out. How you make this work on a budget depends on the type of stickers or labels that will help your brand to stand out. We can help you to create your artwork then all you do is stick them on. The choices are endless. . .

Digital Sticker Sheets give you the option to have multiple designs or colours die cut to intricate shapes. They can be supplied as circles, ovals, rectangles or squares. They come on rolls, sheets or individual labels for different uses perfect for highlighting your brand and product.

Transfer stickers are made from black vinyl with a Matt finish on the backing and transfer paper. They are easily applied to any smooth surface such as glass, metal or plastic, they come in a range of sizes, and are suitable for indoor or outdoor because they are opaque.

Clear stickers and Round Corner Stickers and are printed full colour on clear vinyl, they are a thick and durable vinyl with a UV laminate that protects from scratching, rain and sunlight. Our Kiss Cut Stickers are easy peel with the same specification

The Clear Cling Stickers are made of polypropylene which is environmentally friendly, recyclable and non-toxic.These are different to self Clings or vinyl Clings as they are electro static which allows these to stick to almost any surface including wood, plaster, glass and brick and have either a clear or white background.They can be peeled off and re-positioned and are reuse-able. They are adhesive free and leave no sticky residue so are perfect to create a temporary display.

Contact us for a bespoke quote or advice on how to get your brand out there and see what your options are for the type of business you are.

Exhibiting on a budget if you are an SME

Exhibitions are designed to help  you to meet the people that matter to your business under one roof, and networking with your potential customers. Or you may be organising your very own launch party or a product demonstration. Whatever the reason they can be daunting to organise, expensive to attend and it can be a stressful time. However,  if you plan in advance, take time to decide what you need we can help you keep your print spend down and remove a little bit of that stress.

If you’re exhibiting in the next couple of months, you need to show off what your business is capable of.  Do you know which products or services you going to promote ? Are you there to launch a new product , service or special offer for people signing up on the day perhaps? or are you just building your brand. Is this your first exhibition in your new business ?

If you have a  marketing strategy you will already have identified your best customers, understand their needs and how you can persuade them to buy from you. People buy from people they like and trust.

Whatever the message you are trying to give out at your stand , make sure you have all the relevant information, materials and giveaways to hand so that you can advise and impress  your visitors and potential customers, and that you order enough to go around. Take time to network and feel confident when customers approach your stand. Have a bowl of chocolate or sweets as often people dont get time to have any lunch so it gives you the opportunity to talk to people even if they only want a sugar rush.

You may get a lot of leads but to make sure that you stand out have a really impressive business card or giveaway for your potential customer to insure a return on investment and that they remember you for all the right reasons. Be helpful and knowledgeable about your brand, while being warm and approachable.

Roller banners 0r Pop-Up Banners are an ideal way to present your business at an exhibition or event giving out your key messages, and helping you stand out. Using the latest digital printing technology we can print your images to a very high standard which will give your business the edge. At Millfield Media Print Shop our banners start from £36 so they are suitably priced for SMEs. They are printed on 610gsm Stoplight Maxflat Media, they are made to last and they are supplied with a black, padded carry case to prevent damage in transit and start from £36 with free delivery and are easily put up.

Have you thought about being a little different and are you brave enough to stand out and highlight an aspect of your design. If the answer is yes then you need  a SPOT UV business card . They are printed on 450gsm Silk stock, full colour, double sided then matt laminated to both sides, we then add the Spot UV Varnish to any part of your design; such as logo, pattern or name.

What about a bookmark for a giveaway everyone reads, or has a diary. These are really inexpensive and could match your SPOT UV business cards. Click on the link  if you would like a bespoke quote

What is SPOT UV

SPOT UV is an area of Ultra Violet gloss coating that creates a glossy finish to the targeted areas on top of your printed job as illustrated above, to make your business cards stand out from your competition. These business cards are proving to be more and more popular. Printed on 450gsm Silk stock, which is superb quality full colour, double sided then matt laminated to both sides. We then add the Spot UV Varnish to any part of your design; such as logo, pattern or name.This highlights aspects of your design and gives a truly luxury feel they start from just £24 all with free delivery, you can choose delivery options which allows you to budget and save money if you can wait for a couple of weeks.

We suggest that SPOT UV works well on larger areas and as a pattern on a flat background. The varnish is applied using a process similar to screen printing, and has registration tolerances of approximately ±0.5 mm. We would suggest that it is not suitable for small text or thin lines. At Millfield Media Print Shop we can help you with your artwork, we also have a help hub on our website to guide you when you are uploading your artwork, not to mention our 5* customer rating.

Our advice for designers is that when you are supplying files for print you must also supply artwork for the spot UV itself. The SPOT UV artwork should consist of solid black shapes – 100% K only and in the exact position on the page where the spot UV is required, ideally in vector as opposed to bitmap formula. The Spot UV must be on a separate page and have the same dimensions and crop marks in the same position as the printed file.

If you would like an further information please dont hesitate to contact us at millfieldmedia@outlook.com

 

48 Hours in Valencia

 

Having booked time off for a long weekend from my job as the Business Manager for Millfield Media Print Shop, we decided to book a city break by train from Alicante. The destination we chose was Valencia which is Spain’s 3^rd biggest city coming second to Madrid and Barcelona.  The journey took under two hours, and the scenery was lovely. The stations were easy to navigate.

We stayed at Hotel Zenit  http://valencia.zenithoteles.com/en which was literally 200 yards from the station. An excellent choice of Hotel, which was boutique style, immaculate and friendly

Our view from the room was spectacular at night when the city came to life

 

We choose to have their breakfast which was 12€ each and well worth the money with an amazing choice. The view from our window was lovely and even more so at night when all the building was lit up

The architecture style and atmosphere of the city is simply breath taking…. So much to choose from to visit that 48 hours just wasn’t enough, museums, oceanographic, excellent shops, amazing restaurants with a buzzing night life and miles of sandy beaches.

We didn’t know where to start first, but decided on a little walk round to get bearings. First stop was the amazing art Nouveau market, fruit vegetables and fish in abundance. As you would expect it was bursting with atmosphere and true Spanish style they were all shouting out trying to encourage you to buy from them. A lovely experience to see the Valencian culture in full flow.

 

The next visit was the bull ring.  This amazing building was adjacent to the station. Whatever your views it is a cultural thing yes I have mixed feelings about this tradition however when in Rome as they say.

We decided that the best way to see such a big city was to buy a 24-hour ticket on the open top hop on hop off tourist bus. Which had two routes to choose from,maritima and monumental taking an hour and a half for each one.  We paid €17 for 24 hours starting and ending at the Plaza de la Reina and took the monumental tour. There are two bus companies to choose from Red or Green. The green company Turistico is slightly less expensive but apparently not as reliable as we found out when we had to wait over an hour as it didn’t turn up.

 

In their defence when I rang they were really helpful and sent one straight away to pick us up and offered to extend our ticket for a further 23 hours to compensate us

After a busy first day we went back to the room to change and look for somewhere suitable to have our evening meal. We chose Mexican which didn’t disappoint, a lovely small restaurant on the main street.

We did the marine tour on our second day.We jumped off Oceanografic at which is the largest aquarium in Europe. According to their website the place faithfully reproduces the most important marine ecosystems.  It was an amazing day and the dolphin show was spectacular and brought tears to my eyes. The staff were amazing and the crowd were buzzing and singing throughout the whole show. The price was included in the admission fee.

Our next stop was the beach, which didn’t disappoint, miles of sandy beaches, restaurants and a marina. Absolutely beautiful and relaxing where we took advantage and spent some time on the beach reading our books, then had a couple of drinks watching the world go buy as we waited for our bus.

 

The city came alive at night. In the evening we soaked up the atmosphere and sampled some Spanish quinine of Paella and Fish which was delicious.

This break is ideal for couples and families, there is something for everyone. wherever you found yourself. Everyone was friendly and welcoming wherever you went.People congregated around the fountain chatting and just generally enjoying life.

Valencia has a lovely atmosphere, plenty of restaurants on the main street and in back streets where the prices were a bit cheaper and the locals happy that you had chosen their restaurant.We sampled paella, Mexican, tapas and Italian street food.

Totally magical we had an amazing city break and we will certainly return.

 

 

 

 

 

Not all business cards are the same

At Millfield Media Print Shop as you would expect we offer a range of finishing options on our vast range of business cards with different prices. Our  most popular business cards start from £11, they are printed on 400gsm and 450gsm silk art board such as matt laminated , velvet lamination and  Spot Uv varnish and silk unlaminated now they may sound cheap but but I can assure you that they are quality paper and a classic as far as we are concerned.  We cater for all budgets but we wont compromise on quality.

However, I understand its all down to personal choice and what appeals to you.  Our Velvet Laminated business card and it’s fast becoming one of our best sellers. Printed on the thickest card stock we offer a luxurious 450gsm board then a soft-touch lamination is applied to both sides as standard. These cards look great and feel amazing and start from only £17 !!

If you want to give your business card the edge try our luxurious paper stock combined with our hand finishing option such as hot foil , Deboss or Hot Foil & Deboss. Our most decadent business card is  foil uncoated  where we take a super thick 600gsm uncoated card and embellish it with gold of silver foil highlights. We have a huge selection of foil colours ensuring you can match the foil to suit your brand.

Our  luxury range includes the 540gsm Colorplan range, first developed in 1972, is the cornerstone of the GFSmith portfolio. This iconic range of premium coloured papers and boards is generally considered to be indispensable within the design industry. Colorplan is 100% Virgin ECF Fibre which is available in the  350gsm, 540gsm and 700gsm paper stock.

Duplex is a choice of 2 colours of 270gsm Colorplan bonded together to become 540gsm. If you would like to order a sample pack to check out the quality.

Our Spot UV Varnish business cards are proving to be more and more popular. Printed on 400gsm Silk stock, full colour, double sided then matt laminated to both sides, we then add the Spot UV Varnish to any part of your design; such as logo, pattern or name. This highlights aspects of your design and gives a truly luxurious feel.

Whatever you need we have a card to suit you to help your business shine, in a very competitive world. Let us help you to let is shine.

If you would like a personalised quote please contact me direct nicola-millfieldmedia@outlook.com or visit our website to see what is available