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If you work in any sector of the print industry; including labels, leaflets or banners, you would have heard this bold statement many times…

“Print is dead“

Many people do believe that print has died a very sudden death. There’s no wonder why the popularity of emails, social media and TV marketing is increasing daily; but would you believe us if we told you that they’re wrong?

According to researchers a very high percentage of people said that given the choice, they would prefer to read on paper. This is true across a mass range of age brackets too. Who knew?!

Dry Eyes?

Doctors and specialists have linked “dry eyes” to the use of computers, tablets and mobile phones. This is because our blinking times decrease while looking at screens, compared to reading a physical book. But having the ability to zoom in easier on digital documents as well as enabling different modes for colour blindness, partial blindness and dyslexia; you can see why it’s still widely popular too.

Is that the postman?

Think back to 10/15 years ago… As emails were few and far between as they were quite new and exciting, you would have taken a notification ‘ding’ of a new email over a stack of physical mail any day of the week. In this day and age, it’s quite a different story! With spam and junk emails being an everyday occurrence, or nuisance, most people prefer the spark of excitement when a physical letter is posted. Okay, maybe not when it’s bills…

Piece by piece:

Ferris Jabr explained in an article for Scientific American called ‘Why the Brain Prefers Paper’ that reading information that has physically been printed on a piece of paper is easier to interpret and retain than its newer, updated counterpart. Here’s a quote from the mentioned article above: “When we read, we construct a mental representation of the text. Most digital devices interfere with intuitive navigation of a text and inhibit people from mapping the journey in their mind”. So, what do you prefer? Personally, we like printed. But we’re slightly biased, being print specialists and all that!

What about the environment?

We all need to make changes towards a healthier, safe planet. So, using paper instead of screens can feel like you’re taking a step backward. Recycling has now become the norm in our everyday lives which means consumers know how to rightfully reutilize their printed paper. You could enhance your impact by using FSC paper as well as showing people what your company does to save the planet. Staying on the eco-friendly track, a high percentage of consumers admit the main reason companies shift to electronic delivery rather than printed marketing is to save money, not to be environmentally conscious. On the other hand, we are all overwhelmed by pop ups and brightly coloured banners from a variety of sources, some more suspicious than others. The fear of viruses and spam mean that some people stay well clear from pop up ads unless they are familiar with the company. Print provides a blanket of trust to consumers with a corporate, substantial introduction.

Are you struggling to sleep?

A recent study in the Journal of Applied Physiology suggested that the blue-light that is emitted from screens withholds the sleep-inducing hormone Melatonin, which increases alertness. At work that’s great, but if you’re reading an article before you have a snooze, reading a printed item would turn out to be far more relaxing.

As well as using print for advertising, labelling, health & safety or simply newspapers; print is still very much alive. With certain publications and user manuals being online exclusive it can seem that printing is simply going out of fashion, but certain products will always be around. QR code stickers, food labelling, a new book! What do you think? Is print still going slow and steady? Or is it time to say goodbye to the old ways?

From pencil sketches on scrap pieces of paper to beautiful illustrations created on complex software, it’s safe to say we’ve seen it all. With over 50 years in the print industry we’ve got simple, non-complicated answers to your artwork related questions.

PDF or JPEG?

We prefer a clear, high-resolution PDF but AI, ID, PS, CDR, JPG and even Word Documents are fine too! If you are sending JPEGs, we do suggest that you make them as high quality as you possibly can, this will speed up the time that your order is with our artwork department which means a shorter lead time. If the quality isn’t up to scratch then we will happily re-draw it for you.

I don’t know much about artwork

or software, what can I do?

Our Customark artwork department have over 20 years’ experience in their field so we can confidently say that we can advise and design artwork that is right for you. A detailed idea of what you’re looking for, images you want using, text etc and we can whip up a design for you. No problem at all!

Do I need to add bleed to my design?

We’re not very fussy here, plus we like to keep our artwork team busy. We don’t have any problems with you adding bleed to your designs, but if you don’t then it isn’t the end of the world. We can pop it on for you.

What about cut lines, crop marks and registration marks?

These you really don’t need to worry about. Our artwork team will prepare your artwork for our machines with the right cut lines, crop marks and registration marks to fit the purpose.

Do I use CMYK or RGB?

CMYK is always best. If you send over your artwork in RGB format there is a risk of colour changes when we convert it over to CMYK, so it’s always best to do it yourself.

How about if I want to use specific colours?

If you have specific colours in mind it’s always best to pop the pantone references of said colours over on an email so we can get your products spot on.

And fancy fonts?

If you’re sending over raw Illustrator, InDesign, PhotoShop and CoralDraw files that have fonts that aren’t standard or they are hard to get a hold of we do advice that you either expand and export your files into PDFs or JPEGs or send us over the font file too so we can download and install the right font.

Pictures incorporated into the design?

If you do have an image on your design, we do ask that it is of very good quality and high-resolution as it would show when printed. We suggest vector images and no screenshots!

What if I’m ordering something a bit more technical like a Membrane Keypad?

We have developed a reputation as one of the most dynamic and pro-active industrial marking solution companies. In order to maintain our commitment to providing this quality service we are continually investing in state-of-the-art graphic design software and equipment.

Our past customers have generally sent us technical files or drawing which we work to. If the customer would prefer us to control the engineering design, this is no problem to us. Sometimes the designs are rough sketches so we have pointers, it is then down to us, in these cases, to pull things together into an approval document. Our design service has always been here to help the customer to achieve their goals.

What’s an approval document?

An approval is what we send back to you once we’ve finished your artwork, before it goes to production. New orders will always need approval. We send it back to you for you to give it a once over, we want your products to be perfect. Once you’ve emailed us with the approval we can then pass it on to our production team.

If there’s something that we haven’t covered then get in touch and we will happily answer any questions that you may have! Call 01384 264700, email sales@customark.co.uk or visit our website www.customark-limited.com

Getting your POS and POP right is extremely crucial.

What does POS mean?

POS stands for Point of Sale, also known as the areas around checkouts and counters. In the advertising industry, POS is also used to describe printed advertisements that will be seen by potential customers.

What does POP mean?

POP is used by retailers to refer to the “Point of Purchase” which is a part of the store that all customers must use. For years confectionary was a great example, placed strategically near tills and checkouts at shops and supermarkets. This practise is now frowned upon as it was proven that it was putting too much pressure on parents and families with young children.

In Marketing terms, Point of Sale advertisements are found in the Point of Purchase areas of shops and retail environments.

What kind of POS items are out there?

We are proud to say that we have been in the Point of Sale manufacturing industry for many years now, because of this we have noticed purchasing patterns and what’s in at the moment: –

• Shelf Wobblers
• Shelf Edge, on rolls or strips
• Bus Stop Wobblers
• Shelf Talkers
• Floor Stickers
• Posters
• Signs

Shelf Wobblers:

With a mixture of materials and wobbler arms to choose from, you are guaranteed to get the best wobble out of your Point of Sale!

These are a fabulous and eye-catching way to get your products noticed on a very busy shelf. What they entail is a piece of rigid PVC or recyclable card with a PVC “arm” strategically placed on the back. This arm is flexible with two adhesive pads, one for the back of the face of the wobbler and one for the shelves. The arm is flexible enough for it to “wobble”!

Shelf Edge Strips / Rolls:

Made from sturdy PVC or recyclable card, in strips or on rolls; full colour and completely customisable. These simple pieces of Point of Sale are perfect for helping you get your message across on a cluttered shop shelf.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bus Stop Wobblers:

Similar to normal shelf wobblers, they are made from white PVC. What makes them different from Shelf Wobblers is that Bus Stop Wobblers are printed double sided and come with a plastic Bus Stop Shelf Edge Clip.

Shelf Talkers:

Shelf Talkers are made from similar materials as Shelf Wobblers making them robust and durable. With a perforated fold that hangs over the shelf to show the desired design, it’s a different and unique way to advertise your brand! With an option to be manufactured with no PVC and no need for PVC wobbler arms these can be made specifically to be much friendlier to the planet; perfect for advertising organic products, cruelty free cosmetics and moving towards a non-plastic world.

Floor Stickers:

Floor Stickers are an affordable, fun and unique way to promote your brand or direct foot traffic. From Point of Sale or Safety Floor Signage, Floor Graphics can be printed with almost any design, for almost any floor type. With different slip ratings, duration periods and customisable designs they are perfect for any part of the retail sector, whether it’s in the warehouse or on the shop floor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posters:

Even something as simple as a Poster can help boost your engagement with your customers. Printed with high quality inks on the right materials means that you can get your Point of Sale message across perfectly; whether that’s a clearance sale, 2-for-1 or advertising a new product!

Signs:

There isn’t a retail sector that doesn’t have some sort of sign; whether it’s the sign above the door, sale signs, health & safety signs, outlet signs etc. If they are printed to a very high quality on the right materials then they can be a vital part of your POS.

So, where can I get these from?

We are print specialists here at Customark Ltd, so this is perfect for us. We have various websites that you can browse through and purchase from, depending on what you’re after. Shelf Wobblers, Shelf Edge Strips / on rolls, Bus Stop Wobblers, Shelf Talkers and Floor Stickers can be found on our websites; Posters and Signs can be quoted upon request! Email sales@customark.co.uk or call 00441384264700 to speak to a member of our friendly sales team.

We’re not limited to these products and no project is too much bother for us, let us know your ideas and we will happily assist you as much as we can.

Is there a place for traditional print now?

There is no denying that we now live in a digital orientated world; from the latest smart phone to industrial robots in the automotive sector, it has managed to appear throughout our day to day lives. Digital print has become a gigantic sector of the print industry and with how far technology has come there’s no wonder why; but is traditional print like hotfoil, flexographic print, screen printing and pad printing still in demand?

Hotfoil:

Hotfoil which is also known as foil stamping is typically a commercial printing process. It is the application of metallic or pigmented foil on to a solid surface by application of a heated dye onto foil. This process uses a metal plate that has been engraved with a design, the plate then strikes the material that is being printed, this makes it adhere permanently to the product below leaving the design of the dye. There are many pros of printing with hotfoil; it is fully customisable, as well as a huge range of coloured foils to choose from, there are also different effects that can be added.

Flexographic Print:

Flexographic print is known as the modern version of letterpress printing. Flexo printing uses flexible photo-polymer printing plates that are wrapped around rotating cylinders on a web press. The inked plates have a slightly raised image and rotate at high speeds to transfer the image to the substrate. Flexo uses quick drying, semi-liquid inks. In the digital age, flexography holds its own in the areas of larger orders, particularly of packing products and labeling. Extremely high press speeds are one of the advantages, all printing, varnishing, laminating and die cutting is done in a single pass.

Screen Printing:

Screen printing is a process of forcing ink on a surface through a prepared screen of fine material to create a picture or pattern. The most common type of screen printing is clothing, like printed t-shirts, but it can be used for industrial purposes. The main advantage of screen printing is the durability; because of the thickness of the inks used, it can withstand far more stress than others without losing any quality of the print. Another benefit is that it can produce vibrant colours that are hard to replicate with other printing techniques, finding another method as versatile as screen printing is also very difficult to do. It can be done on almost any surface as long as it is flat, fabric, wood, plastic and even metal, as well as many others. A disadvantage is that the more colours in a design the more money it will be; this is because a screen has to be created for each colour.

Pad Printing:

Pad printing also known as tampography, is a printing process that can transfer a 2D image on to a 3D object. From the simplest single colour number or logo printed onto a medical instrument, through to a 4 colour image on to a promotional item. One of the advantages to this process is that you can print on to a three dimensional object with curved or odd surfaces and still achieve a good quality print, this is because of the unique properties of the silicone pad. One of the disadvantages to tampography is that speed isn’t one of its strongest points, you do have to apply different colours separately which does take time but there is also a possibility that the registration could then become off.

Digital Printing:

Digital printing has taken the print world by storm with its vast printing techniques, speed and how cost effective it is. Modern printing methods like ink-jet printing and laser are what is known as digital printing. What it entails is a picture is sent directly to the printer using PDF files and programmes like Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign; doing this eliminates the need for expensive printing plates which will save money and time. Without the need for printing plates, this process has brought about quick lead times and printing on demand. At this moment in time digital print does have its struggles. Despite it constantly improving, they still can’t match the colour quality of traditional print.

In summary, traditional printing is great for printing large quantities as well as jobs that require exact colour matching and different materials. Digital printing, however, is perfect for small quantity jobs that have a short lead time. So there is definitely still a place for traditional print.

Shelf wobblers are a fun, inexpensive way of promoting a message or campaign to your target customers. Our standard wobblers come fully assembled with a 200mm self-adhesive arm attached.

But, did you know there are a number of other wobbler arm options available?

Depending on the wobbler size and use, some of our more unique shelf wobbler arms may be more effective in helping your promotion stand out.

Aluminium twist wobbler arms
Ideal for larger, heavier shelf wobblers, our soft aluminium wobbler arms are designed to twist, pivot or bend to any desired position. These versatile arms can be adjusted easily but will hold the face securely, allowing for unique viewing angles. 
Available in 75mm length, for just 8p more per wobbler and come with two self-adhesive pads on either end (one attaching to the wobbler, one sticking to your clean, flat surface.

Multi-purpose self-adhesive wobbler arm
Similar to the standard wobbler arm but with a double sided adhesive pad. This offers the option of sticking the wobbler arm to either side of the shelf edge.
These wobbler arms are 200mm in length and cost an additional 5p per wobbler

Data strip wobbler arms (non-adhesive)
This clear PVC T shaped wobbler arm comes with just one self-adhesive pad which attaches to the back of the wobbler. The non-adhesive end is designed to slot into the scanner rail allowing for quick and simple relocation or re-use. Perfect to be used in conjunction with promotional shelf edge strips as this clear arm allows the wobbler to slide behind, or in front of the edge strip, without permanently sticking to it. 
Available in 150mm length, for just 6p more per shelf wobbler.

Self-adhesive shelf springs
With self-adhesive pads on each end, our shelf springs offer a sturdy wobbler arm, ideal for larger, heavier shelf wobblers. Our shelf springs are 30mm in length and the firm spring help to keep large wobblers shelf height.
Contact us for a quote: 01384 264700| sales@customark.co.uk |shelf-wobblers.com

Looking for something different?

Ask us about our flashing shelf wobblers

Supplied fully assembled, a self-adhesive pad can be attached to the back of the wobbler which allows for LED lights (RoHS Approved) to be shown through a die punched hole.
This creates a flashing light effect within your wobbler design, which is guaranteed to draw attention to your promotion or product.

Due to the extra weight from the LED light, we recommend using our stronger wobbler arms with this added feature (aluminium twist or shelf springs).

Contact us for a quote today!

We offer many other variations of the wobbler arms mentioned, if you’re after something unique, we have experienced team members on hand to discuss any bespoke requirements.

Contact us today: 01384 264 700 | sales@customark.co.uk |shelf-wobblers.com

We have found that Domed Labelling has become a popular brand/product labelling technique across a vast range of industries; this is because of the plenitude of benefits these labels have for all kind of environments. If you are on the fence regarding using Domed Labels, also known as Gel Badges, this blog post that we have put together will help explain all that you need to know.

First of all, let us explain what we mean by Domed Labels or Gel Badges. A Domed Label is a 3D label with a clear ‘bubble’ appearance. This is because there is a layer of resin applied over the top of a standard label, the resin is a measured quantity of liquid plastic that is poured on top which then flows to the edge of each label, creating a plastic dome shape. As it’s a standard label underneath, the labels are extremely versatile; from full colour photographs to a brushed metallic look, almost any design and quantities can be printed.

As well as being unique and appealing to look at, there are many other benefits of Domed Labels which include: –

• Low cost – Starting from £0.25 per label over on our website
• Design flexibility – As well as being able to be a variety of shapes, different materials can also be used for you to get your desired effect. Metallics are always a nice touch!
• Durability – The resin makes these labels scratch proof and shatterproof with strong adhesive, chemical resistant finish that can also withstand water
• Eye catching – 3D quality appearance adds brand value when added to products
• Tactile appeal – Yes, that is a benefit! Due to the smooth, shiny surface people are more likely to touch them. Which then increases their marketability

There’s so many uses when it comes to Domed Labels. One of which is in fact the Beer industry! Beer pumps to be exact. The 3D effect with the shiny finish is very appealing to the eye when matched with a sleek new beer tap. Got a clothing store and looking to spread your brand? Why not use Gel Badges on your coat hangers? It will definitely make your name stand out! Automotive sector? Domed Labels look great on boats and motorbikes, being water and UV resistant they are a perfect option. Name badges, musical instruments, outer packaging for food products, industrial machinery. Domed Labels look great on all of these!

How Domed Labels are made:

There are many ways that these can be made, one of which is a slight ‘do it yourself’. The first of many components that are needed is print media that has been cut to shape, this will be the standard labels that are underneath the resin dome. A doming kit or a doming machine that either applies the resin manually or automatically as well as various accessories including resin applicators, work trays, mixers, wipes, spirit level and repair tools are also needed. Mercury-free is now an EU requirement, so polyurethane resin is now used in the doming process. And finally, a curing oven; this isn’t a requirement as they can also air-dry.

The environment needs to be right! Ideal for temperature in the room should be 25˚C with less than 35% humidity. It is also free of dust and any fibre particles as this could affect the clarity, smoothness and finish of the resin.

After printing and cutting the images or labels, the sheet is lay flat on a work tray. This is so the resin sits perfectly level.

The resin is then loaded into the applicator with a 90-degree twist and then the static mixer is added by using the same twisting motion. 5ml of material is discarded from the cartridge before use to begin the chemical reaction and prevent any air bubbles from appearing.

Patience is key when applying the resin, time and care is taken when applying around two thirds of the labels size in resin. It will then flow to the edge. Before dust and air bubbles are removed, the newly domed labels are left for a few minutes to sit; if after this time air bubbles have been spotted, the surface is given a quick flash of heat with a flame torch. This isn’t done to excess as it will cause the doming process to fail.

If they are being cured naturally, they are covered with the next work surface and left for 4 hours. By then the domes should be dry. It is faster in the oven, but both have the same end result.

Gel Badges aren’t just limited to what we have mentioned, if you feel like a Domed label is what you need to make your brand pop then why not speak to a member of our friendly Sales Team? They can be reached on 01384 264700, alternatively you can email sales@customark.co.uk