Digital Printing Archives - AMP | Advocate Marketing and Print

5 Services We Provide That You Probably Didn’t Know About

You probably know us as AMP, a printing company. Now we need to expand your idea of what a printing company can do. You know we offer traditional services such as banner printing, poster printing, outdoor signage, business cards, etc (for a full list of services, visit our website). Did you know we also offer awesome services such as sticker stencils, car decals, 3D signs, foil stamping, and customizable coasters? These services offer your company a way to break out of the traditional marketing box. Let us tell you a bit more about each one of these services. Sticker Stencils We have a theory that you can put stickers on just about anything. We use adhesive vinyl on many surfaces, including walls and windows. It’s becoming one of the most common ways to decorate interiors because it is easy to cut, self-adhere and remove. It lasts for about 3 years and can be removed easily for up to two years after application. Its matte surface prevents glare and appears to blend in seamlessly with the surface it adheres to. On walls, we’ve had clients request images, quotes, maps, company slogans, company values, and most commonly the company name or logo. On windows, we usually create clings to promote events or temporary deals or offerings. We even have double-sided wall clings which can advertise to folks inside and outside the building. Double the cling, double the impression! Car Decals Car decals are a great form of advertisement. According to the American Trucking Associations, vehicle ads generate more than 600 visual impressions for every mile driven. Instead of paying for multiple billboard locations, just purchase a car decal and take your ad with you wherever you go! We print decals for just about any vehicle, including cars, food trucks, vans, jeeps and gators. We always use vinyl and apply a laminate to protect it from various weather conditions. Car decals take your marketing the extra mile. 3D Signs Customers have a tendency to judge a business by their signs. Uninteresting signs will not gain the attention of potential customers, and signs that are worn and torn look unprofessional. When a businesses has a 3D sign, it automatically catches eyes of any passersby. 3D lettering makes your sign pop and gets your business noticed. Foil Stamping We love to show off our foil stamped products. For one, it is so elegant and beautiful (and looks great in photos). More importantly, it adds real value to your brand: it increases visibility, brand awareness, brand differentiation, purchase intent, and it creates an image of professionalism and quality. Foil stamping gets your brand noticed and makes your brand desirable by adding elegant and shiny elements to your logo. Customized Coasters Many people don’t know that printing and cutting drink coasters is part of our new capability set. Coasters come in many shapes and sizes. We make customized coasters out of acrylics and wood. We can monogram coasters, foil stamp coasters, letterpress coasters, and die cut coasters. People order coasters with their business’s logo, their children, their pets, etc. Customized coasters make great gifts, and holiday decorations; they add an extra “umph” to your space. AMP, a Nashville design and printing company, explores the vast world of printing. We are known for traditional printing services, but also offer unique printing services, such as sticker stencils, car decals, 3D signs, foil stamping, and customized coasters. We are the one stop shop for all your printing needs!

5 Reasons Why You Should Print Your Convention Materials Locally

We highly recommend printing your convention material locally. Having high quality convention material is important. This is the material that will represent your company among hundreds, if not thousands, depending on the size of the convention. This is the material that will give people their first impression of your brand, and first impressions are known to stick around. It might surprise some, but finding the biggest printing company and ordering convention material from them is not always the best decision. Most of the time, local printing companies can deliver the same quality as large printing companies while completing your order in no time at all. We compiled a list of five reasons why we think you should print your convention material locally. Less Time to Complete Your Order Local printing companies do not have the volume of orders that bigger printing companies take on. This mass of orders (sometimes hundreds) can take a good chunk of time to complete. When you choose to order from a local printing company, the turnover time is much shorter. This way, if you need materials quickly you will receive your order promptly and you have more time to double check that your convention materials are exactly what you want for your business’ need. No Hassle Travel Traveling is hard enough as it is. Before you leave for your destination you need to align all your ducks in a row. You need to make sure you have everything necessary for your trip packed and ready to go. Now, add the hassle of safely packing and transporting your convention materials on your to-do list. Not only are there expensive shipping costs and more time needed to ship your order, but there is a chance that your material might become damaged. No matter where you place your order, there will be transportation involved; however, there is less of a chance of damage if there is a shorter distance to cover. Ordering your convention materials locally will save you from high shipping/traveling costs, and will decrease the chances of your materials being damaged. Better Customer Support Local printing companies are eager to build client relationships and will go out of their way to aid their customers. Receiving customer support from a local printing company will be much easier than trying to get ahold of a national printing company. You will not have to worry about being placed on hold for long periods of time before you speak to a human who can help you with your printing needs. Plus, communication between your printer and yourself will be easier. This is especially important if an emergency were to arise. Support Local Businesses Your local community’s economy will be improved by your purchase. Ordering your printing materials for any convention from a local business will build your community by stimulating your local economy. Not only will you receive top-notch materials, but you will build the business, grow your economy, and in return, benefit yourself. Local businesses are eager to help, dedicated to quality, and want to build credibility. They want to grow. When a company is dedicated to growing, they will go above and beyond expectations. The same is true for your local printing company; especially with creating your printing material for a convention, they will go above and beyond to make sure you are satisfied. Build Ongoing Relationships In any business, building and maintaining healthy relationships is important. You never know who can help you down your professional and personal roads. Building relationships with local businesses build trust, and when you build trust with your printer, you know your future printing orders will be taken care of and made well; you can rest, assured quality is there. Furthermore, a long-term relationship with your local printing company could mean discounted prices in the future, which never hurts. At AMP, we understand the importance of having high-quality printed materials which represent your company. We understand the importance of appearing at a conference (many, many people will be exposed to your brand) and why you need your printed materials to be perfect. If we can offer you advice, we would urge you to consider ordering your needed printed materials from a local printing store next time a convention comes around. Try it at least once, and let the quality of your order and the ease of ordering locally persuade you first hand.

Why AMP is a Great Partner for Your Nashville Events

Here at AMP, we partner with a lot of great local and non-local businesses. We help businesses promote their brand in unique ways through our print and design services. Whether your business is coming to Nashville for an event or if you are a local business, we can help. If you’re coming to Nashville, the hassle of packing up your signage or flyers and keeping them intact can be a difficult task. This is where we can step in. Location Since we are just four blocks from Music City Center in the heart of downtown, we are a great partner for your events. Whether local or national, we can help you brand your entire event, big or small. Since we are not far from MCC or downtown where several events take place year after year, it is nice that we are easy to find! Bandwidth Our team is able to handle any project that comes through our doors. Whether you need business cards printed, outdoor signage, banners printed, or even chalkboard prints, we have you covered. We even create beautiful designs if you’re not sure where to start with your printing needs. Our designers are in-house and are ready to create something great for you. Expertise The AMP team has years of experience with not only printing and design, but with taking care of clients’ needs. Customer service is very important to us. Our top priority is to offer great customer service and to make sure each client is happy with their product(s). Whether you’re visiting Nashville for an event or are a local business, we are here to help! Let us know if we can assist with your next design or printing need.

Realtor’s Print Check List

We have a lot of real estate firms as clients and we receive a lot of questions regarding the printing associated with real estate. So we thought we’d put together a list of common products and services we offer.

1. Metal Signs

Metal signs are nice because of their durability and their chic look. Whether you have an outdoors max metal “For Sale” sign or a wall print for your office, the substrate will be perfect for any realtor’s need.

Max metal office wall prints

Max metal map

Plus, the substrate looks really nice in the light!

Max metal print

If you want to get really fancy, you can create a 3D max metal sign, as Lendlease did. They are not a real estate company, but they are our first client to use the printing technique.

Max metal 3D sign

2. Corrugated Signs/Directional Arrows

A basic need for any realtor. Corrugated signs and directional arrows are an effective and affordable way to advertise and guide potential buyers. Corrugated material is useful because it is waterproof and meant for extended outdoor exposure. We use inks that won’t fade in the sunlight.

Corrugated directional arrow

Corrugated sign — we did NOT print this. Just for a visual

directional arrows

3. Open House Signs

Another staple for a realtor. Open house signs can come in many different forms: banners, foamboard, corrugated plastic, max metal, acrylic.. the list goes on. The open house sign below is unique because of its shape. With our new Colex machine, we can die cut wide-format items into any shape you desire.

Die cut open house sign

4. Banners

Again, a staple. Banners are another affordable and effective medium for advertising — both indoors and outdoors. Stand-up banners are nice because they are easy to roll-up and transport, and they also don’t do any damage to your walls. Set-up time is faster and easier than traditional banners.

Stand-up banner

Signs can be made of banner material. The banner below is held up with metal stakes and grommets. This banner is made of vinyl, which is very weather-durable.

Vinyl banner with grommets

Mesh is another great substrate for banners. It does particularly well in windy situations: its small holes allow air to move through the banner without damaging it.

Mesh banners with grommets

5. Etched Glass

Etched glass is one of our favorites. It’s a great way to advertise without being too flashy. It looks very classy and professional. It also doesn’t take up any extra space since it utilizes the architecture available.

Etched glass window

Etched glass door

6. Wall Graphics

A similar look to etched glass, wall graphics are also great for real estate firms. It is a little more noticeable than etched glass, but still saves valuable space.

Wall graphic

7. Wall Murals

Wall murals are a really nice touch to offices. Advertise a gorgeous shot of one of your buildings — visitors and potential buyers won’t be able to say no!

Wall mural

8. Window clings

Window clings are nice because they are more temporary. They are perfect for advertising events or announcements. The cling below is actually double-sided, which allows for advertising on the inside of the store as well as to passersby on the street.

double-sided window cling

9. Acrylic Signs

Another one of our favorites. Acrylic is a really nice, durable material. It’s not too flashy and shows you care about appearances — an important trait for realtors.

Acrylic sign

Like max metal, acrylic looks really neat in the light! Thanks to our new VUTEk machine, we can print white ink on acrylic — a really nice touch to the product.

Acrylic Sign

10. Canvas prints

A really pretty substrate for wall art. It is easier to transport than max metal and acrylic.

Canvas prints

11. Brochures and Booklets

Less fun to discuss than wide-format, but still essential for realtors and real estate firms. You need to be able to advertise and inform on-the-go, which is where booklets and brochures come in. Leave customers with a tangible and long-lasting impression.

Saddle stitch booklet

Coil-bound booklet

12. Pocket Folders

A nice touch for any company that emphasizes repeat brand exposure.

Pocket folder – front

Pocket folder – inside

13. Cool business cards

Last but not least — business cards. Gotta have cool business cards to stick out. Below are three unique examples that few people have seen.

Plastic business card

Acrylic business card

Got any questions? Don’t hesitate to ask! We’d love to help you get started on your printing today.

Spring has sprung at amp

“Spring awakens what autumn puts to sleep.” My parents have this saying as a crochet on their wall – blue thread, I think.

Looking back at the autumn and the changes we have made since then, we have certainly not been sleeping. Our production capabilities have taken a leap forward, and we are now able to offer you many cool new services. For our fellow printing nerds, our new toys include: the Colex Sharp Cut Digital Flatbed, an HP Wide Format Printer, a 60-inch laminator, a Graphtec Plotter and last but not least – a GATOR. In English, this means we will be able to produce larger, better quality print jobs and cleaner edges for any shape. We can now put your branding on anything from a Yeti cooler to a barstool, and don’t get us started on what we can put on your walls. Check out our pictures for other innovative branding ideas.

While the machines do the work, our people do the heavy lifting. If you have worked with us, you know we cheer to “Big Smiles” after almost every huddle, and we mean it. Our new toys and the responsibility they demand have given us opportunity to welcome some new smiling faces around here. To keep the conversation going with you, we have added a team to educate you on our capabilities. Katherine Upton and Emily Whitson are our new marketing coordinators – or marketing monkeys, as we like to call them! Watch out as our social media heats up, and be sure to join in on the conversation.

New technology is only good if you have someone that cares running these machines. We are pleased to announce that we have found that devoted person, and your projects will look amazing when Brook Ellie is behind the controls. It is hard to find him without his trusty loop and a few specialty tools hanging off his belt. Stop by and say hello when you can. Let him show you the new technology that will allow us to provide you everything print…finally!

You are about to see our small business change, and let it be known that we are not everyone’s best option in print. We only do great work for a handful of partner companies that know good service and quality when they see it. Would we be a good fit for your company? Let’s find out. Hit us up at simms@advocateprinting.net for a tour and storytelling session with our team soon. Spring has sprung; it looks like amp did as well!