Author: admin

First impressions do count! Considering your business stationery will be the first opportunity to sell your products or services to your target audience; good design, carried through to a well executed range of stationery is essential to get your company noticed in the marketplace.

Business stationery is a primary method of communication and your branding must be consistently applied across the entire range. The basic elements would normally include letterheads, business cards, compliments slips, envelopes and packaging labels. Depending on the size or structure of your business, the range might also include order forms, sales sheets, folders and similar customer facing items.

From a design point of view, creating a branded range of stationery for a new business or a re-design for an established company, it’s always an exciting challenge. There’s an opportunity to experiment with colours, textures, materials and imagery – almost anything is possible with modern print technology. The choice of papers and card now available, such as watermarked, laid or textured, coated or un-coated materials can turn a simple letterhead or business card into something really special.

Your company business card, for example, should be a showcase for your products or services. They can be double sided or even produced in a folded format enabling you to tell more of a story about your business. You might want to consider giving your cards more impact by incorporating features such as embossing, die cutting, UV varnish or even lamination which will make them much more durable and long lasting. It’s also possible to utilise 5 colour presses that will enable us to accurately reproduce any colour you choose, or you can combine four colour process with a special colour all in one machine pass.

You may well need multiple card versions for different colleagues or you might need a range of cards to promote different facets of your business. That can be achieved cost effectively at the print stage by blocking up a group of cards together rather than producing single versions. We can advise you on every aspect of stationery printing in order for you to compete effectively and get your business noticed by your target audience.

Circleline Design work closely with long established and specialist stationery printers. We can manage your print requirements from brand concepts and design, through to the full print production and finishing process; this will ensure your brand guidelines are fully adhered to, with no fluctuation in colour density and accurate levels of reproduction are maintained across all elements.

For all of your print design needs then please contact us.

Leaflet marketing is becoming increasingly popular as a direct alternative to local press advertising.

Amongst the key benefits are the ability to reach a target audience by using a postcode door-to-door leaflet drop; a personalised direct mail leaflet or even as an insert in newspapers and magazines. A leaflet is also perfect for events where you’re guaranteed to reach a local audience.

If your business is high street retail or you operate from a local town or village store you’ll find a one-off or a series of leaflets can be quick and easy to produce; they can be handed out in-store, along the local high street or distributed at localised events so you can really spread the word effectively about your business.

To get in contact with your local customers via leaflets click here

The use of leaflets or flyers can be a very cost effective way to help promote your business and maximise sales.

Quantities can start from as little as 100 single or double sided leaflets with virtually no maximum limit. Typically we find multiples of 1,000 and 5,000 are most popular in A5, A4 or DL formats. But print-runs of 100,000+ can still be produced very economically.

All our print suppliers can offer a choice of materials including different weights from paper to card; gloss, matt, coated or uncoated and even laminated finishes are readily available subject to the print quantity you require.

Take a look at some of the many examples we have created for our regular clients, we can of course design and produce your own personalised leaflet or flyer that’s tailor-made to your own business.

If you choose to work with Circleline we will guarantee you a complete worry-free service from start to finish. Our creative team can supply you with a choice of visual ideas based on your specific brief; produce complete finished artwork ready for your approval; we’ll provide a fully managed printing service and ensure your leaflets or flyers are delivered on time and on budget.

To get started with your leaflet design click here.

Whether you are a small business or a major high street retailer, market research clearly shows that brochures are one of the most effective vehicles for increasing sales and consistently out-performing other alternatives such as local press and magazine advertising.

As a showcase for your products or services a well designed, impactful and informative brochure is a great way to build brand awareness and grow your business. The more informative you can make it the more likely it is to have a longer shelf life – we like to refer to it as a ‘coffee table’ essential read.

From a small business perspective, the advent of digital printing has revolutionised the way businesses are able to promote themselves. It is now possible to create highly professional, short run multi page full colour brochures very economically. This is particularly useful if you want to target a smaller, more localised market, something that we have successfully created on a regular basis for Circleline clients. If you need just one full colour copy or even a few hundred, there is nothing that could possibly compare to digital printing for quality and value for money.

If you’re not blessed with a big budget you’ll find by limiting your brochure to an 8 or 12 page A4 format it will enable you to keep the quality up at the same time as keeping the price down. Of course, if you can afford to be more adventurous there’s almost no limit to what can be produced digitally – 16, 20 or 24 pages are still well within the scope of digital printing.

When you want to reach a bigger market, anything from 500 or 1,000 brochures to one million or more then sheet fed litho or web offset will give you the best results. With over 25 years experience, Circleline Design & Print Services have worked with some of the best printers around to provide us with the specialist services we need to meet the expectations of some of our most discerning clients.

It’s no exaggeration to say we have been responsible for the production of well over 5 million sales brochures varying from 8 pages to 72 pages or more, which is why we’ve been able to guarantee not only the very best in printing standards but also demand the most competitive prices. Take a look at some examples of our work ranging from small independent furniture retailers up to major co-operative retail societies throughout the Midlands and East Anglia. We pride ourselves on project managing every sales brochure from concept, design and artwork through to print production and delivery throughout the UK.

If you are a new business just starting out or an established retailer looking to launch a major sales campaign and would like to find out more about what we can offer you, don’t hesitate to call us or fill out our contact form for further information. It could be the start of a successful working partnership.

Catalogue design and printing is unquestionably a specialist business; it calls for a high level of design experience and technical ability, it doesn’t matter whether you are a seasoned professional or you’re just starting out on your first product/services catalogue, you want to be confident you can call on experienced designers and printers to guide you through the process.

You need the services of people who know through experience about the pitfalls you face; how to ensure your catalogue meets or better still surpasses your expectations; that it will be delivered on time and, most importantly, it will be on budget.

As an experienced and highly creative design company, Circleline Design has the knowledge and knowhow to produce catalogues that will get your business, products and services noticed in what is likely to be a busy and competitive marketplace. That said, we still need to rely on the support of specialist printers to make sure every catalogue we produce is of the highest possible quality. We are proud of our reputation in this business and can offer you a full service from design concepts to finished print-ready artwork as well as managing all stages of print including pre-press, proofing and finally the print and finishing process.

Preparing your approved artwork prior to going to print involves what is called ‘pre-press’. It is at this point things can go horribly wrong, very easily. Especially if the project is being handled by relatively inexperienced designers working with printers who perhaps will give them the best prices rather than the best quality.

For example, when client files are being prepared ready to be passed for print it is so easy to overlook essential checks such as ensuring the artwork is in the correct CMYK format (colour separations); that all fonts have been embedded and that sufficient allowance has been made for bleed (graphics, colour or images are to bleed off the page when it’s finally trimmed to size), such mistakes, if unchecked are costly to put right once the job goes on press and, if missed altogether, can ruin the finished catalogue.

At Circleline we work with the very latest software programs and our printers carry out their own ‘flight check’ procedures to make sure nothing is left unchecked. It’s why we are confident that every step of the process; from artwork to pre-press and through to printing and finishing will be a smooth and worry-free operation.

Finally, if you’re thinking of investing in a product/services catalogue it’s vital you are thorough in preparing the content; if you’re including prices make sure they are sustainable for the expected lifetime of the catalogue, take time to ensure all product descriptions are correct and up-to-date, that you use only the best quality illustrations (we will ensure they are of high enough resolution for perfect reproduction) and, if it is to be an all-year-round sales catalogue, avoid using seasonal images that might look out of place.

Remember, it can take some months rather than weeks to put together a comprehensive catalogue, so allow sufficient time to fully consider the content, the design style and the look and feel of the printed document. It’s not impossible to achieve a fast turnaround but what really matters is that it truly reflects the quality of your business, your products and your services. When you’re confident you are ready to talk business, we’ll be delighted to talk to you.

Buying advertising space in national or local newspapers and magazines can be extremely expensive – especially recruitment advertising – however, used wisely it can present your products or services to potentially an enormous audience. Whilst the use of the national press can yield amazing results, it remains the domain of more major businesses with budgets to match. Regional newspaper advertising rates however can be within the reach of even the smallest businesses.

Regardless of the area in which your business is based, you can pretty much guarantee one or more of the nationwide network of newspaper groups will cover your target trading area.

Basically there are two types of regional or local newspapers – free and paid-for papers. Free papers are mostly delivered door-to-door by a team of paper boys and girls, although some are available to pick up from the likes of train stations, newsagents and from larger shopping outlets.

Whilst ‘paid for’ papers tend to be most popular and contain a greater percentage of editorial content and more local interest news stories, advertising rates are generally higher than free papers. The strength however of free papers is they reach more homes with free door-to-door distribution and usually carry a lower advertising rate. In both free and paid for papers you will find the quality of full colour reproduction can vary from one newspaper group to another; generally this is due to the quality of newsprint so care should always be taken in the choice of imagery and colours used in your adverts.

If you are launching a new business or range of products and services, there can be considerable benefits to be had by using local press ‘advertorials’. Generally speaking these are a combination of an advert plus editorial copy that promotes your business. For example, you agree a special rate for a full page; you supply a half page advert and the paper’s editorial team put together half a page of copy about your products or services. If carefully laid out, this will have the appearance of a news article or feature (suggesting an endorsement by the paper), giving it more credibility and more likely to be read by your target audience.

Localised magazines, usually county wide monthly publications, are becoming increasingly popular with a rapidly growing readership. Advertising rates can be higher than newspapers, however, this is outweighed by the quality and appeal of the publication and its infinitely superior reproduction.

Circleline Design has more than 30 years experience and expertise in regional newspaper advertising. We will plan out, design and produce effective and eye catching campaigns that will get your products and services noticed. These can be coordinated across a variety of newspaper groups and magazines, ensuring you get the best possible advertising rates and maximum coverage for your target audience.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information.

In any public limited company the ‘Annual Report & Accounts’ is without doubt the single most important document issued each year.

Not only is it critical to get the facts and figures contained in the document absolutely correct, and verified by independent auditors, it is extremely important that the quality of the design, the layout in terms of what is required by law and last but by no means least the print and finishing reflects well on the business and is able to match the aspirations of the shareholders.

Typically, the quantity of documents required tends to be in between 2,000 and 5,000, but is very much dependent on the size of the business and the number of shareholders. Production budgets however can vary greatly, but as a showcase document the standard set is always to achieve the highest possible level of presentation – it naturally calls for the skills of specialist designers and printers.

Circleline design & Print Services has over 25 years continuous experience in the production of Report & Accounts for some of the biggest and most successful independent co-operative societies in the UK, including the Heart of England, East of England and Chelmsford Star co-operative societies.

We like to be involved with the project at the earliest possible opportunity, to really get a feel for the content, not just how well the society has performed financially but equally important from the membership’s viewpoint, what they have achieved within the community and their support of local charities. Often that can have a considerable bearing on the theme of presentation.

With a document as important as the Annual Report & Accounts, the quality of print and finishing has to be of the highest level. There will be a vast choice of materials available to you and we always like to provide a selection of ‘mock-ups’ for you to consider. There are very few limits to the type of materials that can be used.

Gloss, matt and silk coated stock tends to be the standard choice but uncoated or textured papers can look and feel pretty special too. The same can be said about heavier weight boards which are typically used for the document cover. UV varnish, lamination, die cutting, embossing and even 3D printing can all offer a uniquely different look and add that extra wow factor to the finished document. Whatever you require, Circleline Design & Print Services will manage the project every step of the way, from first brief to the finished printed document delivered on-time and most importantly, on budget.

If you are looking to get design done for your Report & Accounts, then please contact us.

The reputation of a company is one of its most valued assets. It’s essential therefore that your target audience as well as your own members of staff understand and know exactly what your business is about.

Corporate literature – your brochures, newsletters, product manuals, folders, booklets, internal documents, forms and stationery – should leave your customers in no doubt they are dealing with a well organised and professional business. You must ‘fly the flag’ so to speak by ensuring everything that bears your brand is disciplined and reflects the required level of service and quality.

It’s also essential that your corporate literature promotes a clear message, is easy to understand and appeals to your target audience. Once you’ve created your unique brand, it needs to work comfortably within a defined format and be supported by a strong typographic style, also your logo should always be be positioned consistently on all printed matter. The choice of colour/s is important too; research has clearly shown that consumers identify colour before a company name or symbol. So you need to choose wisely and there must be a consistent quality of print throughout all your literature.

There’s certainly a lot to think about and a lot of responsibility too. Mistakes can be costly, so no doubt you’ll find it reassuring to know Circleline Design and Print Services can effectively manage the whole process for you.

We find most of our long established clients prefer to work with us on an ‘all inclusive’ basis, thereby utilising our experience and expertise to take control of the process at every step of the way; starting with original concepts, design and artwork production; this is followed by proof checking and ensuring correct colour matching of all elements on press, avoiding any fluctuation in the quality of print or variation in the reproduction of your corporate colours. Last but not least, even with the tightest deadlines our aim is always to deliver on time and on budget.

It is also good to know that all our preferred print suppliers are recognised within the industry as being environmentally friendly companies; they hold FSC certification as well as the environmental accreditation ISO 14001.

A poster is a visual representation of information you want to convey to the reader about your products, your services or an event/promotion you are organising. Your poster must attract immediate attention, promote a compelling offer and have a clearly defined ‘call to action’.

The term poster can apply to almost any shape or size. However, within the printing industry ‘A’ pro formats are universally accepted as the norm; the most popular printing sizes are A4 (297x210mm), A3 (420x297mm) and A2 (594x420mm). When choosing to reproduce your poster by the litho printing method, which utilises a set of four plates to give you full colour reproduction, your choice of materials is extensive. However, the most popular are coated materials (gloss, matt and silk finish) where the ink sits on the surface giving you vibrant colours, or alternatively uncoated papers which absorbs the ink and has a tendency to soften the colour.

Traditionally, offset litho and silkscreen printing (now a more niche market) have been the chosen methods for poster reproduction. However, digital print has now revolutionised the production of point of sale material; it’s available to everyone regardless of budget and is without doubt the most affordable and effective way of communicating with your target audience. Digital print is ideal for short runs and one-offs; it’s perfect for large scale printing such as full depth window banners and floor to ceiling interior backdrops for a dynamic effect, it can even be used for exterior posters using UV lightfast inks.

With offset litho reproduction, whilst it’s more costly to set up it becomes the most cost effective method for larger print runs usually up to a maximum size of A2, although with the benefit of a big budget A1 litho poster production is a possibility.

How you design your poster is extremely important as its success or failure will be determined by the strength of your message. Your poster should attract immediate attention and promote a compelling offer or event that incorporate a definite ‘call to action’. There will be a number of key points you need to make but some information will be more important than others so care must be taken in how you balance the content; as a general rule your headline is most important closely followed by your offer and call to action.

Don’t try to cram in too much information, remember more often than not your poster will be scanned by passing motorists or people on the move. White space is important and used well it will make your message more powerful – Less is more, so to speak!

The success of your poster depends very much on the strength of the design; if, for example, you have an established brand that should be reflected in the typography and corporate styling and the quality of the print must also reflect the high standards you set for your business. Circleline Design has over 25 years experience in poster and point of sale design and printing so, if you would like to find out more about the benefits of working with us we’ll be delighted to hear from you.

Having designed and printed ’Point of Sale (POS)’ material for over 25 years, Circleline Design has built up a wealth of experience and knowledge of this vital sales and marketing industry. There are many forms of Point of sale (generally referred to as POS or Point of Purchase) and undoubtedly the retailing industry are the largest users.

Before the invention of the world wide web POS was almost exclusively produced by screen or litho printing methods; hanging banners, showcards, ticketing and window graphics being amongst the most widely used POS, although cardboard engineering used to create three dimensional displays was also widely used to encourage consumer spending.

Today, retailers are pushing the boundaries of digital marketing with the use of electronic, touchscreen, barcode scanners and EPOS systems that can encourage instant sales initiatives.

The digital age has also introduced major promotional opportunities for the retailer; large format printing onto almost any material you can think of is an example of the almost limitless capabilities of digital printing, whilst bespoke shell schemes for exhibition stands and in-store displays and ‘pop-up’ banners can offer exciting ways to get your brand or sales message across to the consumer. The benefits of digital printing however are not just confined to large format printing. It’s possible to produce high quality, one-off or a limited number of sales brochures or personalised direct mail pieces very economically.

Here are just a few of the POS projects we have worked on for our clients. Circleline Design work in partnership with a number of Point of Sale print specialists, so whatever your intended promotion is we can work with you to create a visually impactful campaign, we’ll put together a complete package that ensures the very best quality POS, perfectly tailored to fit your budget.

To get in touch with us regarding your new Point of Sale design when then please contact us

A school prospectus is important for any school wanting to show students what they can achieve. Parents will want to know everything a school, college or university has to offer their children. Without a prospectus you open yourself up to a lot of questions which could easily be answered within a single document.

University Prospectus

When applying for a university, students will need to know if the course they want to do is offered. A school prospectus can offer a lot of information for students and parents, along with times, ethos and which courses are available.

College Prospectus

After finishing high school, students will want to pick what course they want to do next (with a little nudge from their parents). Without being able to easily see all of the courses, times and how to apply for a course, students could end up going else where for their course. In the past we have made sure to include all of the important information a student will require to go from looking to applying.

High School Prospectus

High schools will generally include things like, their teaching ethos, values and their overall aim for students. It is important for families to be confident that their childen are getting the right education. This confidence can be established from the very start of their education with a detailed school prospectus.

Our Previous Work – School Prospectus

Sprowston Community High School & 6th Form

Sprowston Community High School is a specialist Arts College based in Norwich. The focus of the school is on raising achievement and aspiration and on serving the community, providing education of the highest quality to all.