Category: Custom Design & Printing

How Marketers are Leveraging AR this Holiday Season

Posted On: Category: Virtual Reality / Augmented RealityTag(s): , , , , , , , , Posted By:

Augmented reality (AR) is one of the most popular technology trends right now – and marketers have taken notice. As we enter the holiday rush, brands the world over are leveraging the technology to drive both customer engagement as well as purchases.

Here are some examples:

Office Depot

Credit: Office Depot

Elf Yourself is a recurring campaign by Office Depot, which lets users turn themselves (or others) into elves using the brand’s website and app. In recent years, the Elf Yourself app has been updated with new features, including AR and the ability to print your elf as a seasonal greeting card and/ or share on social media using the hashtag #ElfYourself.

JC Penny

Credit: Verizon Media

In partnership with Verizon Media, the brand is taking advantage of the holiday proposal season and launched a 2019 mobile ad campaign for their Modern Bride Collection. Clicking on ads that appear on HuffPost Life, Yahoo Sports and other Verizon Media properties activates an AR feature which allows soon-to-be-brides to try on engagement rings.

Starbucks

Credit: Starbucks

Building on the popularity of their iconic holiday cups, Starbucks released four limited edition cup designs in early November. Each design, when used with Instagram, springs to life with its own AR effect.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now it’s your turn. Do you have an idea for how to integrate AR into your marketing campaign? Contact us to bring it to life!

3 Unique (and Budget-Friendly) Ways to Thank Your Customers This Holiday Season

Posted On: Category: Dimensional Print MarketingTag(s): , , , , , , , , , Posted By:

‘Tis the season of giving and there’s no better time to reflect on your most loyal customers past and present. Here are a few ways to thank them for their support (and keep them around well into the future).

Say it in print.
Any time of the year, cards can make a huge impact, but even more so when you’re looking to send a little holiday cheer. However, we’ve got something a bit more special than your average holiday card in mind this season. Red Paper Plane has our most popular holiday card designs available to order online. Even better? They are fully customizable, dimensional and ship in as little as 7 days.

Say it with video.
Have you heard that saying, “show, don’t tell”? What better way to tell your customers how much you appreciate them by showing what they’ve helped your business achieve! Videos are some of the most powerful marketing tools; they have the potential to increase people’s understanding of a product or service by 74%. Why not use this to your advantage and include it in a Video in Print brochure or turn it into a virtual reality your customers can experience through our SleekPeeks® VR Viewers?

Say it with a gift.

This time of year isn’t known as the giving season for nothing. And what better way to show customers how grateful you are for their business than with a little treat. Some of our clients have sent packages of hot cocoa. Others have included lanyards or sample sizes of the products they sell. Not only is this a great time to say thank you, it’s also a great opportunity to give a sneak peak at your products or services. Package them into one of our Well Boxes or design something entirely your own with our custom luxury packing solutions.

Now, that’s the holiday spirit!

Searching For The Perfect Holiday Card? Here Are 6 You Can Order Right Now.

Posted On: Category: Dimensional Print Marketing, Direct Mail MarketingTag(s): , , , , , , , Posted By:

There’s nothing quite like getting a holiday card in the mail.

It’s a tangible way to see how your nearest and dearest have changed throughout the year and it’s a relatively easy way to make someone feel even more connected to you or your business.

Even if you’re so plugged into your social media accounts that staying up-to-date on your favorite peoples’ lives is like a second job, it’s still worth the time, energy, and investment to let them know just how much you care.

This goes for brands, too.

But we get it. Getting organized with enough time to create, purchase, ship and mail holiday cards to their intended recipients within that narrow holiday window can be tricky. Then there’s the fact that just designing a unique card with the right sentiment can be anything but simple.

To get you started, we’ve rounded up a list of some of our favorite non-denominational holiday cards from Red Paper Plane that can be customized to fit your needs, with downloadable templates available online. Each one is sure to capture the attention of your clients and prospects this holiday season, and your card will be top of mind (and top of recipients’ desks) in as little as 7 days.

StandOut Greeting Card

Our StandOut Greeting Card line features three design options: a scenic winter sleigh ride, snowy park bench and holiday village, perfect for recipients to display on their desktops throughout the holiday season and beyond. Shipping flat, they take on their fully dimensional shape just by pressing in the sides. You’re able to customize the front oval, and also have the option to include a flat insert card or folding hang tag, where you can add your holiday greeting.

 

3″ Globe Greeting Card

Our popular Holiday Globes make the perfect keepsake for your business. All of our globes ship flat, and take on their fully dimensional shape just by pressing in the sides.

Pop Up Snowflake Holiday Card

Open this card and a big, bold, beautiful snowflake takes shape.

Birds N’ Branches Holiday Card

This holiday greeting mails flat, and once opened, the card expands and takes on its fully dimensional shape. This product is customizable with your messaging along the bottom panel and is sure to be on the desktop of everyone who receives it.

Tree Spinner Holiday Card

This holiday tree appears flat when removed from the envelope, and then spins into dimensional shape when the card is opened.

Holiday Tree Card

Open the card and interlocking die cut strips mesh into dimensional holiday tree shape.

Click here to see Red Paper Plane’s full line of holiday greeting cards.

No designer? No problem! Red Paper Plane also has a large selection of holiday cards with professionally designed artwork that are ready to be personalized. We can add your logo and message for free! See the selection.

Use It or Lose It

Posted On: Category: Dimensional Print Marketing, Direct Mail MarketingTag(s): , , , Posted By:

Thanksgiving is already a little over a week away, which means, the end of 2019 is upon us. For marketers with leftover money in their budgets, the end of year brings the prospect of using it now or forfeiting it next year, especially when revenue goals aren’t being met.

Spending your marketing dollars wisely is essential, even when the race is on to “use it or lose it.” Dimensional mail, the kind we offer at our online ordering division, Red Paper Plane, consistently delivers response rates that are 3X those of traditional mail, which are already superior to those of email.

Dimensional mail is effective, efficient, and at Red Paper Plane, fast. We have over 60+ designs to choose from. Each is ready to be designed by you on easy-to-download templates, and most ship in as little as 7 days.

Don’t waste your “use it or lose it” budget. Get the most from it at Red Paper Plane. For examples on how you can USE IT WISELY take a look at how others have found success below:

First American sent this video mailer to C-level executives, showcasing a recent client success video. These prospects were decision makers, so the piece needed to capture their attention.
The technology solutions provider, Eze Castle, hoped to turn new prospects onto the company’s cloud based solutions. They generated a positive buzz by including a promotional item in the well.

 

 

 

The company, EI Microcircuits, promoted their Ninja Circuits prototype services to prospects using the Flapper®. It continuously folds into itself allowing for multiple panels to showcase brand content.
The state government agency, Fish, Wildlife, & Parks, included this Pop Up Pen Holder, which promoted the agency’s brand beliefs, in a brand kit that conference attendees received.

 

 

 

 

Should I Send Direct Mail to Millennials? YES!

Posted On: Category: Dimensional Print Marketing, Direct Mail MarketingTag(s): , , , , Posted By:

Not only are Millennials digitally-savvy and socially conscious, they’re also poised to become the largest living generation in the U.S. with the annual buying power of $200 billion.

It’s no wonder why everyone wants a piece of them.

According to the U.S. Postal service, brands aren’t doing enough direct mail marketing to this generation, possibly because the consensus is that they’re too tech-driven to care. But the USPS found that millennials spend the most time opening and reading their mail as well as engaging with it.

Surprise Slider
Diamond Pull
Hexagon Pen Pot

Below are three ways businesses can capitalize on direct mail marketing to millennials:

  1. Millennials rarely receive direct mail. With so much time spent online, letters, catalogs and postcards give them a welcomed break from their screens. Physical mail presents an opportunity for organizations to connect with them in a different, more meaningful way, and break through the clutter of email and digital ads.
  2. Personalization. If you’re a brand that can address a millennial by his or her first name or customize the content in your direct mail piece by his or her interests, then you’ve more than likely captured their attention. To millennials, investing the time into something like direct mail is much more appealing if they can see themselves reflected in it and if the product or service you’re offering specifically aligns with their life, their values or their interests.
  3. Direct mail delivers value. Not only do millennials associate direct mail with legitimacy, but they tend to remember physical promotions better than online ones. It’s been proven that direct mail is easier to process and that it stays top-of-mind longer than digital messages. Direct mail, if done properly, has the ability to encourage specific purchasing behavior so organizations can achieve an even higher ROI when conducting these types of campaigns.
VR Viewer
Video Well Box
Extendo Web Key

 

 

 

How to Reach the 4 Kinds of Holiday Shoppers

Posted On: Category: Audio / Video Marketing, Dimensional Print Marketing, Direct Mail Marketing, Virtual Reality / Augmented Reality, Webkeys / QR CodesTag(s): , , , , , , , , , , Posted By:

It may only be fall, but already we’ve got the holidays on the brain.

Year after year, it seems the holiday shopping period grows, giving brands greater opportunities to take advantage of consumers’ willingness to purchase products, services and more. But don’t be tempted to allocate the majority of your marketing resources to Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

New U.S. research has revealed key information about holiday shoppers’ behavior. Not only are they shopping earlier, but they’re also researching a product, brand or service before making any financial investment. Now, more than ever, it’s crucial to be there for them consistently and earlier in the season.

In this recent Think with Google article, they break down the four different types of holiday shoppers – Evergreen, Early Bird, Deal Seeker and Last-Minute – and provide insights into how they shop. We’ve gone one step further to suggest ways to market to them based upon those habits and give you the best chance to connect with them during the holiday season.

Here’s how to make the most of the most wonderful time of the year.

THE EVERGREEN SHOPPER

  • Who: Making up the largest portion of holiday consumers, the Evergreen Shopper is likely a Baby Boomer seeking convenience, simplicity and exemplary customer service. This audience generally offers brands more loyalty when compared with other holiday shopper groups.
  • When: Late October through January 1
  • Where: The Evergreen Shopper typically conducts their research online, including on social media and video sharing platforms, but makes their purchases in-store.
  • How: To ensure you’re meeting the Evergreen Shopper’s needs, consider really playing up your customer service. Things like 24/7 call centers, in-store pick ups and no-hassle returns can really go far with this group. Because they’re receptive to both online and offline research and shopping, consider incorporating direct mail pieces like web keys, which can link both in a seamless way.

THE EARLY BIRD

  • Who: making up slightly more than a quarter of total holiday consumers, the Early Bird Shopper is also likely a Baby Boomer who strategically plans ahead, hoping to avoid the holiday rush.
  • When: October (or earlier) through November 26
  • Where: About 40 percent of the Early Bird’s time spent shopping for the holidays is spent online. However, about 65 percent make their holiday purchases in-store.
  • How: To get the attention of Early Bird Shoppers, it’s essential to develop an omnichannel solution that’s both engaging and valuable. Consider incorporating QR codes, web keys and video brochures into your holiday marketing campaigns. But, above all, keep your messaging consistent and send it early.

THE DEAL SEEKER

  • Who: The Deal Seekers make up the smallest group of holiday shoppers. These are mostly Millennials and a small percentage of Gen Xers who are searching for the steepest discounts and during days like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. They are likely shopping for partners, children (their own or their friends’) and aging relatives who live within their households.
  • When: November 23-26
  • Where: This digital savvy group of holiday shoppers conducts online research across a variety of websites and rely heavily on social media influencers’ recommendations. Deal Seekers actively look for real consumers offering their authentic opinions on products.
  • How: With 82 percent of Deal Seekers admitting that word-of-mouth recommendations greatly influence their purchasing decisions, it’s crucial to incorporate testimonials and/ or social media influencers into your holiday marketing campaigns. Another way to take advantage of Deal Seekers’ shopping behavior is to turn them into brand advocates through shareable elements in and out of a brick-and-mortar store. Incorporate virtual reality, digital signage or pop ups to create experiences this group of holiday shoppers will want to share online and with their friends.

THE LAST-MINUTE SHOPPER

  • Who: The Last-Minute Shopper group is equally split between Millennials and Gen Xers. Like the Deal Seekers, these procrastinators actively seek out comparison sites to ensure they receive the best value for their money, but are willing to splurge on items they view as worth the cost. They procrastinate because they have decision paralysis, are too busy or are unsure of where to buy certain products.
  • When: December 21-25
  • Where: Nearly 70 percent of Last-Minute Shoppers purchase their holiday gifts in store.
  • How: More than half of Last-Minute Shoppers indicated an openness to multiple retailers or an uncertainty regarding where to buy products. This creates an opportunity for brands to position themselves as industry experts. Blog posts, a solid SEO strategy, social media buzz and consistent online and offline marketing will help position your business as a knowledgeable leader in your industry and help you rank higher in search rankings, keeping you top-of-mind.

Ready to get started on your holiday campaign? We have a few tricks up our sleeves that will help you stand out from the pack and keep you top of mind, no matter what kind of holiday shopper you’re after. Let’s chat.

Study: 64% of Marketers Say Direct Mail is their Highest Performing Channel

Posted On: Category: Audio / Video Marketing, Dimensional Print Marketing, Direct Mail MarketingTag(s): , , , , , , , Posted By:

With new technologies being created every day, is direct mail still relevant?

According to a recent study by Lob and Comperemedia, without a doubt. The study, which includes data gleaned from more than 200 marketing industry leaders, concludes that marketers view direct mail as their strongest performing channel and actually plan to increase the amount of mail they distribute in the future.

“These results validate a lot of what we hear from our customers,” said Leore Avidar, CEO and co-founder of Lob in a press release. “Marketers know that direct mail is an effective channel, and they want to utilize technologies that allow them to fully integrate it with other touch points in their customer campaigns. As email unsubscribe rates skyrocket, marketers are looking for similar tools to replicate traditional digital strategies with physical mail. Our customers see impressive results when they deeply personalize direct mail for re-marketing or customer retention.”

There’s this belief out there that direct mail is “old school” marketing, which is why some question its relevance and effectiveness.

However, even with its reputation, 64% of respondents said direct mail delivers the highest response rate of any marketing channel they use (5% or greater compared with an average email response rate of less than 1 percent) and 60% indicated that direct mail provides the highest ROI of any of the channels they currently use.

In a nutshell:

  • Direct mail remains an effective channel for marketers across all types of campaigns. A majority of respondents indicated that it is currently their highest performing channel.
  • Customer acquisition is no longer the primary use case for direct mail marketing. Direct mail volume is now spread relatively evenly across the customer life-cycle.
  • Technology has a growing influence on direct mail. Companies are increasingly using software platforms to manage and execute their campaigns, and many expect to see a closer integration between their offline and online campaigns

To read the full survey results, see the report here.

Introducing: NEW SleekPeeks® Cardboard VR Viewers

Posted On: Category: Dimensional Print Marketing, Direct Mail Marketing, Technology, Virtual Reality / Augmented RealityTag(s): , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Posted By:

Three years ago we introduced SleekPeeks®, a simple, affordable, easy-to-use Virtual Reality (VR) viewer that ships flat and can be fully customized to suit your brand and your audience’s needs. Now, we’re excited to share another version of the viewers our customers have come to love: SleekPeeks® Cardboard VR Viewers available on our online ordering division, Red Paper Plane.

Like our original SleekPeeks® design, these viewers can transport users to faraway places, strengthen experiential marketing or aid in teaching through demonstration. All a user needs to get started is a smartphone, and then they are able to engage in a 360-degree immersive experience.

Already, U.S. Army recruits, big kids and car lovers have been able to enjoy VR – often for the very first time – with our viewers.

Our new SleekPeeks® Cardboard Viewer features a sturdier construction, allowing your device to fit firmly and snugly in place. They also come with high-quality, Google-certified lenses and beautiful four-color printing.

Once the viewers are customized to fit your brand’s unique identity, they mail in an outer sleeve and assemble in seconds. First, slide the viewer out of the sleeve. Next, open the flap and unfold the side panels. Then, lift the side panels over the top and connect the velcro dots. Scan the QR code to download the Google Cardboard app. Rotate your smartphone horizontally and insert into the viewer. Close the flap to secure the viewer using the velcro tab. Enjoy! Here is a video to show the process in more detail.

Standard Pricing Includes:

  • Coated Top Sheet to Corrugate
  • Printing 4cp + Semi Gloss UV Coating
  • Hand Assemble and Insert Lenses
  • Bulk Packing for Shipment

Dimensions
Finished Size: 5.75″ x 3.625″ x 2.25″

Weight
5.00 oz each

Mailing Services/ Postage:
Note: Postage is additional charge and will be calculated once your mailing list is processed. Final payment is due prior to mailing.
First Class Parcel Rate: $3.18 – $3.83

For more information, visit redpaperplane.com.

The Value of Direct Mail in the Digital Age

Posted On: Category: Audio / Video Marketing, Dimensional Print Marketing, Direct Mail Marketing, Technology, Virtual Reality / Augmented RealityTag(s): , , , , , , , , Posted By:

As newer technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), chatbots and voice recognition software increasingly enter our everyday, today’s hyper-connected marketing landscape begs one important question: is there still a place for direct mail?

In a word, yes.

Direct mail has come a long way since the catalogs and postcards of yore. Today’s direct mail, as seen by Structural Graphics’ customer spotlights, can be dimensional, incorporate technology and video alongside print, and successfully engage your target audience.

However, it’s important to remember that direct mail should be one part of a larger, integrated overall marketing strategy, as consumers prove again and again that they interact with a variety of media formats when it’s most convenient for them. Even in this digital-first age, it’s important to take a holistic approach when it comes to developing marketing campaigns and root them in success metrics.

Here are three reasons to keep print top-of-mind:

It drives ROI. Although many may think direct mail is a tool of the past, consumers are actually often reading, and more importantly reacting, to the mail sent to them more than they are email. According to a recent response rate report by the Direct Marketing Association (DMA), direct mail achieves a 5.1 percent response rate compared to 0.6 percent for email, 0.6 percent for paid search, 0.2 percent for online display and 0.4 percent for social media.

It goes straight to the source. Sending marketing materials straight to a consumer’s mailbox is perhaps the most direct path to communicate a brand’s message. Although digital platforms like paid ads and social media provide marketers with a unique opportunity to reach their target audience at any time, print remains a critical means to reach them at home and tailor each piece accordingly. In fact, tech-savvy consumers aged 18-21 years old had a direct mail response rate of 12.4 percent, according to the Association of National Advertisers (ANA).

It integrates seamlessly with digital. Research shows that printed collateral continues to be a compelling and successful way to capture the attention of your target audience. However, when coupled with video, it has the capability to not only gain consumers’ attention, but also to hold it. Consider this: 76% of companies who have used videos in the past year report a direct business impact (AdWeek) and 90% of customers report that product videos help them make purchasing decisions (HubSpot).

Video in Print brochures offer an effective option when it comes to getting your company noticed. One of the biggest advantages of combining these two mediums is the ability to enhance your brand messaging. Video is highly visual and auditory, which means it’s easier for many people to remember than text-based content. When consumers remember your video content, they, in turn, remember your brand. This can translate into better brand loyalty as well as more sales and leads.

Structural Graphics Paper Engineer Designs Spectacular Paper Sculpture By Hand

Posted On: Category: Design, Dimensional Print Marketing, Meet the CreativesTag(s): , , , , , , , Posted By:

At Structural Graphics, we are very lucky to have such talented and creative employees among us. One of them being our very own Paper Engineer, Shin Wakabayashi. We have yet to find out what Shin cannot do. Talented beyond his years and experience, Shin amazes us and our clients with an innate ability to enhance whatever he touches. Ambitious and tenacious, Shin doesn’t approach projects as much as he tackles them, working and reworking their solutions into perfection. A disciplined artist with an engineer’s attention to detail, he is a Renaissance man who can draw, paint, sculpt, invent, cut, fold, assemble, design, and render.

Shin recently attended a week-long paper sculpture workshop at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking in North Franklin, Indiana taught by world renowned artist Jeff Nishinaka. At this workshop, Shin began work on a paper sculpture that he created entirely by hand. At the completion of the workshop, Shin then took his paper sculpture home to complete it. The entire design was completed over the course of 1 month, with hours spent working on the sculpture before and after work.

The sculpture was inspired by Shin’s interest in Japanese mythological creatures and the artwork used to represent them. Shin referenced a statue of a Tengu, a Japanese folkloric being, erected in a mountain in Tokyo, Japan for his sculpture. He first begin with a drawing of the statue and then transferred it to paper. He hand-cut, shaped, scored (using rolling methods) and glued the paper pieces on top of each other.

This spectacular paper sculpture is currently on display at the Fisher Gallery at the Farmington Valley Arts Center in Avon, CT, as part of a larger paper arts show. Those in the Connecticut area are able to see it on display, along with works by other talented Paper Engineers, now through August 31st.

To see more of Shin’s spectacular work, follow him on Instagram at:

shinwaka89

papershin