Postal Presorting

Our mail-presorting services save you money on postage and speed up delivery time.

Our advanced mail presort technology lets us barcode and presort your mail according to a 3- and 5-digit ZIP code. Presorted mail is easier and faster for the USPS to process. The ease of processing allows the postal service to charge us, and you, less postage. Whether it's first-class or standard mail, we get you the best possible postage rates. To accurately process mail and integrate it into the mail stream, we use high-speed sorting machines and recognition systems that are very similar to the ones used by the Postal Service. We can CASS certify your mail, spray barcodes (if necessary), and sort mail into the most accurate 'final destination' ZIP code. Once sorted by ZIP, the mail is put into trays and presented to the USPS for mailing at a discounted rate on your behalf.

CASS Certification

CASS is a United States Postal Service (USPS) acronym for Coding Accuracy Support System. The term CASS is widely used by the USPS to refer to the verification status of an address list. For an address list to receive CASS certification, it must be checked against the USPS Address Matching System (AMS) CD-ROM, and the 11-digit delivery point ZIP code and corresponding barcode must be added. Only addresses with the delivery point ZIP code and barcode are eligible for "automation" bulk mailing rates. A mailing list must undergo address verification every six months (every three months for carrier route mailings) and is particularly important to mailers because of the difference between the "automation" and "non-automation" mailing rates, which is about $.05 per piece. For a 10,000-piece mailing, CASS certification of the address list could save the mailer approximately $500.

Our mailing services department uses the latest CASS certification technology (in-house) to help our customers keep the cost of their mailings as low as possible and to ensure a high percentage of delivery success.

Database Management

Keeping your mailing list organized and up-to-date can be challenging. Let us manage and maintain it for you. We'll store your customer data securely in our database—updating it, weeding out bad addresses, and ensuring its accuracy every time. Our database management solution is designed to optimize delivery and ensure the best rate possible for all your mailings. It also makes it easy to personalize your materials and target your mailings based on predefined criteria. So before you try to go it alone with your mailings, give us a call. We're here to help.

INKJET address

Personalization can play a key role in the success of your direct mail marketing campaigns. Even something as simple as a personalized headline or greeting can have a significant impact on response. That's where our state-of-the-art inkjet address service comes into play. Once we print your mailer, we can personalize it as we address it, all in one easy step. Choose any font you'd like, any size, and any ink color. Our equipment can even add a personalized or static headline or ad line anywhere on the mailer at the same time it's applying the address.

Prefer address labels instead? We can do that, too. We can even barcode and live stamp your pieces as they're being addressed, saving time and ensuring better accuracy. Our equipment can print on virtually any surface, including coated papers designed to withstand the wear and tear of automated postal service sorting equipment. It's just one of the many services our mailing department provides to ensure better results for you.

Inserting

Whether a simple, one-page sales letter in an envelope or a multi-piece marketing kit (letter, several brochures, training CD, reply form, etc.), our printing firm can put it all together for you accurately and quickly. Our high-speed automatic inserters allow us to handle very large mailings. We've also perfected a fast and accurate method of hand insertion for those projects that cannot be done by machine.

Post-Office Delivery

When your mailing is completed, you are welcome to pick it up at our office, or we can deliver it directly to the post office for you. We are experts at completing USPS paperwork (which is often complicated and confusing), and we have a lot of experience working with the bulk mail department at the post office. We strongly suggest you allow us to work with the post office on your behalf. There is a small cost for our service, but we can save you a lot of time and possible frustration. Allowing us to handle your mailing project from concept to post office delivery is a smooth, one-step process that saves you time, money, and stress.

Postage Discounts

The United States Postal Service (USPS) offers significant discounts for volume business mailings and nonprofit organizations. These discounts apply to basically all types of business mail and can significantly reduce the cost of postage at your company.

When you work with a mailing services specialist at our printing firm, you can be sure you'll receive the lowest postage rate and the best possible delivery times.

Unlike traditional mailing houses, we're unique because we can take your mailing piece from design through delivery to the post office. We specialize in mailing service project management. Why would you want to have your mailing project designed at one place, printed at another, and then mailed at a third place? We can save you significant time—and hassles—when you let us manage the entire print and mail process for you.

Qualifying for discounts

To qualify for mailing discounts, your mailer must meet certain guidelines set by the USPS. Generally speaking, your piece must meet size restrictions (length, width, and thickness), weight restrictions, and design/layout requirements.

Nonprofit mail

A qualified nonprofit organization is entitled to significant mailing discounts over standard mailing rates.

Presorting: DPBC (Delivery Point Barcode)

Presorted mail that is sorted by ZIP code and imprinted with a barcode before delivery to the post office can save you money. The USPS gives discounts to companies that participate in their "revenue sharing program" (that's really what they call it). To receive these discounts, your mail must be CASS-certified, sorted, trayed, tagged, sleeved, and strapped—all services we provide.

To learn more about postage discounts and designing an effective mailer, visit the USPS's helpful Business Mail 101 resource page.

Print-Then-Distribute

Ever feel like there aren't enough hours in the day to accomplish everything you need to do? You're busy enough already. The last thing you need to worry about is finding the time to swing by your printer, pick up your mail pieces, and deliver them to the post office for distribution. Let us handle that for you. The folks in our mailing services department work closely with the Postal Service. We know all the ins and outs and can make sure your materials go out when you want them to, without any hassles, headaches, or delays. So relax. We have you covered.

Tab Sealing

Tabs, sometimes called wafer seals, are a USPS requirement that must be applied to all self-mailers. Tabs prevent the open edge of your mailer from jamming the Postal Service's high-speed processing equipment. Our mailing services department can apply one or two tab seals easily as part of our inline mail processing capabilities. Choose clear plastic, paper, or customized tabs to complement the design of your mailing piece.

X-date Fulfillment

Need your mailer to go out on a specific date? Just let us know, and we'll make sure it gets printed in time, then work with the Postal Service to ensure it's distributed on the date you request.

Graphic Design

Our professionally trained graphic designers are computer artists who know how to use their creative abilities to improve the look of your printed projects.

Creative use of color, typography, photos, and illustration can dramatically improve the effectiveness of your project. Good design can help create a favorable impression that makes your company and its products stand out in the crowd.

Our designers are skilled at creating attention-getting brochures, sales sheets, booklets, manuals, and newsletters. They also specialize in the creation of business forms and all types of workplace documents.

Logo Design

Your company's logo communicates with your customers and prospects in a silent but extremely powerful way. In many cases, your logo is the first thing people will notice about your company, and the impression they get at first glance may determine their future interest in your company.

The bottom line is that if you are a professional company, you need a professional logo. Our innovative team of designers would love to work with you to refine or recreate a logo for your company that is sure to send the right message.

Newsletter Content

One of the challenges of publishing a newsletter is finding enough interesting, relevant, and well-crafted content to fill each issue. If you're running out of ideas for your company newsletter—or just want a fresh perspective from time to time—we can help. Newsletter content is one of our specialties, and we can provide you with polished, professional material that is well-researched, well-written and well-suited to your publication.

Proofreading

Misspelled words, poor punctuation, and glaring grammatical errors can damage your credibility and hurt your professional image. While software spellcheckers can catch many simple mistakes, others require a keen eye and an expert understanding of proper English grammar and usage. These are traits you'll find in the proofreaders at our printing firm.

Affectionately referred to as our "word nerds," our proofreaders are meticulous in what they do. Whether editing a multi-page newsletter or reviewing a single-page sales letter, we make sure our customers look—and sound—their best before they go to press.

Booklet Binding

We have many, many options to choose from when you need to bind your booklets, manuals, or catalogs.

Here are some of the more popular binding products and services we offer:

• Our booklet-making machine is a truly amazing piece of equipment that collates, staples and folds loose sheets into very nice and professional-looking booklets.
• Comb binding: the classic round plastic bindings that require nineteen little square holes in each sheet of paper. This process can be used for books up to 400 pages. Pages can be added or removed easily. And the finished book lies flat when opened.
• Tape bindings: Known for their strength and durability, tape bindings are frequently the choice of librarians and graduate school professors. It works best with documents up to 300 pages.
• We also provide printed or plain covers, clear acetate covers, and other types of bindings for specialty projects.

Coil Binding

Coil binding, also known as spiral binding, is a commonly used bookbinding style for creating documents, reports, presentations, and proposals. This binding style is known by several names, including spiral coil, color coil, ez-coil, plastic coil, spiral binding, plastikoil, and coil bind. Documents bound with spiral coils can open flat on the desk or table and offer 360° rotation for easier note-taking. Durable and strong, this binding method is often used for documents that need to be mailed. Spiral-coil-bound spines are available in more colors and sizes than other binding styles. Please call us to learn about the many options we have available.

Perfect Binding

Perfect binding provides a result similar to that of a paperback book. The phone directory on your desktop is a common example. National Geographic would be another. At our printing firm, we get many requests to bind software manuals, instruction manuals, and many varieties of soft-covered books using perfect binding. We print the heavy-duty covers separately and attach them to the spine with strong, flexible glue. We then trim the books on three sides to make them look clean and professional.

Stapling

Stapling is one of the simplest and most effective methods of binding used today. In addition to stapling loose sheets together through the front of the page, we can saddle-stitch (staple through the spine) magazines and other multi-page items such as catalogs, annual reports, and newsletters.

Saddle-stitching is a sturdy, durable, and attractive binding option. The number of pages our saddle-stitching equipment can bind together varies depending on the weight of the paper used, but the results are the same every time: nice, clean, and professional.

Wire Binding

Wire binding is one of the most popular commercial bookbinding methods used in business today. Known by several different names, including spiral notebook binding, twin loop wire, Wire-o, and double loop wire, wire-bound materials can look extremely creative when a colorful wire is used. We offer several different processes for wire binding. Although it is difficult to add or delete pages once a document has been wire-bound, almost everyone agrees that wire-bound documents look very, very nice.

Color Printing

The demand for full-color printing is exploding, and why not? Studies have repeatedly shown that full-color printed materials are more "influential" and promote higher response rates than two-color or black-and-white materials. This holds whether those print pieces are used for sales, marketing, or educational purposes. Adding color will cost more, but it serves a useful purpose. If you're considering moving up to full-color printing, give us a call. We're experts at color printing and look forward to putting our knowledge to work for you.

Spot color printing

Spot printing adds depth to your project by adding one or two additional colors in key locations on the page. Spot colors can be added to any standard one--, two-, or four-color project. They're great for overprinting logos, company colors, and other key elements that require exceptional color accuracy.

Two-Color Printing

Two-color printing uses two colors of ink (most often black and a second color) to create a dramatic contrast for a variety of printing needs. Less expensive than full-color printing, two-color printing is often used for business cards, flyers, brochures, letterhead, stationery, envelopes, and other similar office or business documents to produce an eye-catching image at a competitive price.

Studies show that two-color printing is more effective at attracting attention than its one-color counterpart. We have hundreds of ink colors to choose from and can even create a custom mix for you.

Debossing

Debossing works the same as embossing, except the surface of the page is recessed rather than raised by the effect. The process involves the same types of dies and takes place on a letterpress.

Debossing and embossing are distinctive touches most commonly used for "showpieces," such as announcements, invitations, postcards, business cards, and stationery. But they're just as useful for brochures, annual reports, and any other printed piece you want to stand out from the crowd.

Die Cut

Not all printing projects require a nice, straight cut along the edge of the page. Some need curved cuts, odd-shaped cuts, fancy cuts, or internal cuts. When your design calls for a specialty cut, call on the experts at our print shop.

Our binding department can handle any cutting needs. With access to state-of-the-art die-cutting equipment, we'll work hard to ensure the perfect cut every time. Choose from hundreds of specialty dies, or have one custom-made to your unique specifications. Call for details.

Our die-cutting services are great for:

• Table tents
• Door hangers
• Die-cut postcards
• Rounded corners
• Keyhole cuts
• And more

Embossing

Embossing is an art as old as printing itself. The process involves pressing paper between specially cast metal dies attached to a letterpress. The result is a raised impression on the page that matches the design of the die.

Embossing dies can range from very simple shapes with flat, smooth surfaces to more elaborate creations with contours, depth, and intricate detail. In either case, the result is a crisp, elegant effect that is well-suited to any printed piece.

Foil Stamp

Looking for a unique and classy way to spice up your printing? Consider adding a foil-stamped line, logo, or other design element to the page. Use foil stamping to dress up your stationery, letterhead, business cards, booklet covers, report covers, presentation folders, and specialty print jobs.

Our commercial-quality foil stamping equipment uses heat to apply a thin layer of metal foil to a printed sheet of paper. Gold, silver, and a variety of other colors are available. We can help you choose the right foil or combination of foils, as well as the right placement on the page, to give your piece the perfect feel.

Scoring and slitting

When you need to fold a printed project that is on heavier cardstock paper, we suggest you have it scored.

Scoring puts a groove in the paper that ensures the fold is accurate and doesn't damage the ink or paper.