Trusted Tips and Resources

Trusted Tips & Resources

Trusted Regina Tip on How to Cultivate Company Culture From Home

Cultivating Company Culture from Home

Cultivating Company Culture from Home

With the COVID-19 pandemic, employees are looking for more when it comes to their workday, especially when many are working from home now. Not necessarily more money or more benefits (although those are important), but more fulfillment. It’s normal for an employee to want to know their work matters; to feel valued and like they’re making a difference. 

How can your business offer that when your only interaction is through a Zoom meeting? By reinforcing a strong company culture that exceeds the walls of your office. Your culture sets you apart from other employers, either in a good way or maybe not-so-good way. How can you ensure a company culture that has employees (and clients) sticking by you? Here are five ways.


1. Reestablish your values.

The culture is what defines your company. Within that culture lies your core values; however, unless you’re following through with them, they are worthless. The only thing worse than a company with no values is one where the values are meaningless. Share the things that mean the most to your business with your employees. Show them why these things matter and illustrate how they, as an individual, fit into the mix. 

 

2. Listen to your current employees.

Given the current situation, it’s important to retain the employees you already have. Try sending out staff questionnaires or surveys about the current culture to see how team members are feeling, then (drum roll) listen to what they actually say. 

If you prove to your employees that their opinions matter, they will be more likely to stay with the company, enjoy their work and recommend the business to others. Not only that, but the positivity from an employee who feels valued will contribute to a positive company culture overall.

 3. Build a team mentality.

It can be so easy for employees to lose motivation, especially while many are in the confines of their own homes for what feels like forever. How can you counteract this? Develop a goal that your entire team can get excited about. Build up the idea of “we’re all in this together” (think High School Musical). You are all part of the same team, with each member doing his or her part towards the ultimate goal. 

Every person wants to feel important to the organization. By building up a team mentality for your company, you create a culture of unity and community. From here, you will be able to see who’s a team player and who’s not, by those supporting the company and fellow coworkers.

 4. Check on your team.

It can be easy to assume that, since your team is working from home, their workday is a breeze. While some of them may be thriving, there are others that may be struggling. Especially your extroverts. Have regular chats with your team and figure out how they are feeling and be prepared to help with any struggles. 

By having regular communication with your team, they will feel that they’re appreciated and cared about. It’s also a great way to stay in touch with everyone while social distancing and working from home are the norm. 

 5. Have some fun.

You heard that right. Have some fun! While this may look different for every business, don’t be afraid to shake things up a bit every now and then. No matter what you decide, there is always some way to encourage employees to engage in activities that feel less like work and more like a day off. Whether it’s a virtual happy hour or a Netflix party, a little relaxation can go a long way in building a consistent company culture. 

When it comes to furthering your business, there are few things that are more important than the employees who work for it. Hold on to your talented employees and create an employee-friendly environment that is shared between the physical office and the home. Your company culture is your saving grace even during these unusual circumstances, but when your culture thrives, so will your business.


Trusted Regina talks about VEHICLE MAGNETS and how they work

WHAT ARE HIGH-ENERGY VEHICLE MAGNETS?

You’ve probably seen them everywhere; on the local electrician’s van door, and perhaps the maid service that comes in to clean your office once each week. Car magnets are everywhere, spreading the name and purpose of small to medium businesses reputably as they dart from one end of town to another. One of the most cost-effective types of advertising, these portable signs allow you to advertise your local business across larger distances without paying the high and recurring fees. 

Car and Vehicle magnets increase your exposure and have proven to be one of the most cost-effective forms of advertising. You could make thousands of impressions every time you drive your vehicle with magnetic signs attached.

Vehicle magnets are simple to remove and quick to apply.

Need to stop in for a car wash? Well, if you have a vinyl wrap on your vehicle, you better get out the bucket and scrubber, because a machine car wash will damage your graphics.

With a magnetic sign on the other hand, you’ll be able to pull your graphics off in a single motion. Reapplication consists of brushing dust off the surface of the magnet and placing it back on the vehicle. Such flexibility allows for greater longevity as well; signs can be stored away for harmful UV rays when not in use.


High Energy Vehicle Magnets

High energy magnets are very thin but act like a thick one and stay on at highway speeds! Our highest quality magnetic signs provide a temporary or permanent solution for vehicle identification. These signs are made of durable magnetic sign sheeting guaranteed to not blow off of your auto and not crack or become brittle in the elements.

Trusted Regina tip on how to save your design files to make them print ready.


How to save your design files to make them print-ready.

All print designers are familiar with deadlines and the havoc they can often wreak on your life! It is incredibly frustrating to spend hours and hours designing your work, only to send it to the printers and get back something far from what you had envisioned. These last-minute problems do more than increase your stress levels and blood pressure, they’re actually hugely damaging to your productivity. Especially if you’re a self-employed freelancer, you know that can spell very real problems for your bottom line.


So in order to smoothly transition from the design stage to printing, what processes should you put in place to avoid expensive (both in terms of finances and sanity) mistakes? It’s essential that you thoroughly proof your documents before going to the printers. Everything needs to be perfect, saving you time, money, and reputation. Here are some simple guidelines to follow:


Make them print-ready. 

PDF files are preferred.

INDESIGN & ILLUSTRATOR:

• Embed all Images

• Convert all your text to outline fonts or curves

• Save as an EPS or PDF

• Include bleed and crop marks if possible


QUARK & PAGEMAKER:

• Embed all Images

• Convert all your text to outline fonts or curves if possible

• Export your file as an EPS or PDF

• Include bleed and crop marks if possible


PUBLISHER & WORD:

You will need to have the full version of Adobe Acrobat PDF. If you do have the full version of Adobe Acrobat PDF please follow the steps below.

Under File, Print, select Adobe PDF writer

Under Properties select Press Quality and Save your PDF


Print size matters.

One of the most common mistakes made when printing is sending a document that is too small, which, if not corrected before the final run, can result in a printout that is fuzzy and lacking in clarity due to a lack of resolution. It’s imperative that you create your document the same size as it will be printed in order to avoid this embarrassing end result. Designing at actual size reduces the margin for error with graphics, fonts and layout once printed. Without taking adequate precaution, you’ll soon find that something that looks great on your screen soon turns into a design disaster when printed in the large format for which it was intended.


Proof your document.

What is "proof"?

Proof is a way of ensuring that we have set your type accurately and that everything is positioned according to your requirements. Typically, we will produce a proof which will be sent to you online, faxed or printed on paper which can be viewed in our store or delivered to you in person.

On multiple-colour jobs, we can produce a color proof on our color output device to show how the different colors will appear.



Trusted Regina Printers tip on wedding invites

Top 10 Tips For Navigating Your Wedding Invites

You've heard it before but it really is true: Your invites set the tone for your wedding and it sets the expectations as well. They are the first glimpse your guests will receive of this special day that you and your betrothed are slaving over to create a perfect reflection of your love and commitment. Don't skimp out on the most important preview of this spectacular day.

The world of paper and invitation etiquette is vast and varied, traditions and trends certainly change, but my custom invitation boutique, Lion in the Sun, coordinates invitations for hundreds of couples each year, so I've compiled a list of some common miscalculations and my favorite secret stationer tips to help guide you through the process.

 

1. Be sure to send an invite if you've sent a save the date: The save the date is a courteous heads-up about your wedding date, but it is not an invitation. Keep careful track of who you send save the dates to and make sure they all receive an invitation. I have heard a lot couples tell me that their invitation quantity is going down after they receive responses to the save the date, because some people can't attend. Nothing is more confusing or heartbreaking than receiving a save the date and then never receiving an official invitation. Also, make sure to send an invitation to guests that cannot attend. Not sending an invitation implies the guest is no longer invited.

2. Be timely and create a sense of urgency: Technically, invitations should be mailed 6-8 weeks prior to a wedding. In these busy times 10 weeks has become the norm. However, more than that is too early and can backfire. Instead of making sure people respond promptly, this tactic actually causes most people to put the invitation on the "to-do later" list. Also be careful not to confuse your need for deadlines on the room blocks with the final head count for the caterer. You don't need an official head count until about a month before the wedding for the caterer, seating chart and rentals. It is your guests' responsibility to make travel arrangements and hotel accommodations, so try not to stress too much about that in terms of timing for your replies.

3. Think Ahead: depending on your invitation choices, you may need as much as two months more for design and printing time, so be sure not to cut it too close. Ordering your invites early really saves on stress and money for rush fees and expedited shipping. In the long run, if you can, it is really worth it not to put off printing until the last minute. Also consider all of your components when ordering your invitations. Work with your stationer to maximize your $$. For instance, if your are ordering from a larger printing company we recommend ordering announcements, maps, thank you notes and even placecards at the same time if you can. You save money on proofs and then you also save on one-time shipping for all parts.

 4. Count Carefully: Be sure to count mailing addresses -- not invited guests! Remember, many guests are invited as couples or as a family. If you have 150 total invited guests, you may only need 100 invitations. Add approximately 10 to 15 extras for last minute guest-list additions. If you have to reprint additional invitations after the order is completed, the printing company will treat it as a new order and it can be very costly. It is always safer (and much less expensive) to have a few left over!

5. Consider different printing options: While letterpress is all the rage it can be an expensive process. Thermography is a modern alternative for attaining the raised printed effect of engraving and is generally half the price. This is achieved with a heat process which causes powdered ink to expand, resulting in a raised letter with a beautiful sheen. Flat or off-set or digital printing is a photo process resulting in a modern, sleek look. Generally this process is about the same price as thermography, but with digital printing you can print multiple colors at no additional coast. For those looking for a more matte or contemporary feel, flat-printing may be the alternative you are looking for. It also works well for reproducing photograph half-tones, sketches and maps.

6. Save with creative reply cards: Reply postcards are a really popular and great way to save money. They can be well designed with a vintage emblem to look like an old postcard or leave the back blank for your guests to decorate and with a note to send back a "creative reply". Another great way to save money is a tri-fold invite with perforated reply postcard that your guest tears off and sends back. Your invitation can then have one continuous detailed design and lots of information across three panels on each side, but by printing just one piece it cuts down costly components. Just remember that the postcards will not arrive back to you pristine. The USPS can give postcards a beating.

7. Develop a secret code for replies: Some people are so excited to send their reply card back that they forget to write their name on it or their writing is illegible. A great fix is to number your reply cards so that when someone rsvp's with no name you'll know who it is. The most discreet way to do this is to write a small number in pencil on the backside of the rsvp card and keep a corresponding list of guest names and numbers so you can check them off as you receive them. You may be surprised at how many guests forget to write their own names on the rsvp cards!

8. Avoid using address labels: Try not to, you really don't want your wedding invitations to look like a corporate mailer. There are several ways to address your invitations without turning them into something that looks like an office mass mailing. Lion in the Sun offers hand calligraphy as well as computer-printed calligraphy services. But my best suggestion is to hand write them yourself or consider asking someone in your family or your bridal party to address the envelopes for you. You can always order extra envelopes just in case, and who doesn't love to see a hand-addressed envelope waiting for them in their mailbox? It feels really personal.

9. Don't lick one hundred envelopes: The safest way to seal your invitations is to use a glue stick. If you use a water sponge, you risk getting important cards wet and wiping the adhesive away. We provide glue sticks to our clients so there are no accidents a la Seinfeld or paper-cut tongues. Don't lick -- use a glue stick! 

10. Be neurotic about postage and mailing: Make sure that your invite has the correct postage. Nothing replaces a conversation with the Post Office. Have it examined and weighed, buy proper postage -- don't save money here! Be careful about addressing: light colors and elaborate calligraphy can interfere with mailing. Also be sure to mail one to yourself before the rest go out. This will confirm that you used proper postage and give you a keepsake with a postmark from your local post-office.

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