Grade Finders - Division of Communication Services
Worried about your next communication project?
Let Grade Finders - Division of Communication Services put
you at ease! We assist clients with a multitude of communication projects: brochures,
magazines, catalogues, books, directories, newspapers, newsletters and direct mail.
With our 40 years of experience and "Bible of the Industry" database of dynamically
changing competitive brands, we can assist you in every area of your communication needs,
including:
• Paper recommendations with the Competitive Grade Finder® Selector
• Expert paper verification/validation and testing
• Supplying samples
• Researching paper availability, distribution, and pricing
• Educating staff on paper characteristics
• Updating on market trends
• Graphic redesign and database publishing
Why is the paper selection important?
Paper controls the final product’s appearance!
All too often when a project is being planned, the paper
decision is left until the very end. This is a common error. It's the paper that makes
the final product excel and convey the proper message, or fall short of expectations.
By choosing the correct grade of paper, you can provide the end
product excellence that you wish to communicate to your audience. Many times, it is
possible to substantially improve the appearance of the printed product by selecting
paper that is slightly more costly. Conversely, you might specify a very expensive sheet
when the project does not call for such a high-end product which unnecessarily depletes
the budget.
In most cases, paper is the single largest
expenditure - generally constituting 30-35% of the total print cost!
If you have budgeted to develop, design, and print a new
communication project, you must keep in mind that paper will constitute approximately
30-35% of the total print costs. If you have over-spent the budget in development and
design and left the paper decision until the end, you may not have sufficient funds to
purchase the correct grade and therefore settle for a lesser sheet. Most times, this
will leave you well short of your desired print results. A better plan is to incorporate
the paper decision in the development process to insure that you will reach your desired
results and then proceed with the other steps of the project.
Competitive Grade Finder® Selector
How does this service work?
The client submits a sample of previously printed material,
or a description and criteria of a new communication project. Grade Finders uses this
information to:
Determine your "Paper Priority" based on the following project
specifications:
• Final product appearance and objective
• Design considerations
• Print process
Generate an Adobe® PDF report with specific paper recommendations
based on the criteria. The report includes detailed competitive grade information, including:
• Category and classification
• Brand name
• Specifications: brightness, basis weight, finish, and color
• Manufacturer's name and contact information
Paper Verification/Validation and Testing
Do you rely on your printer to supply your paper? Many times printers
will purchase large quantities of a specific brand at a discounted price, and warehouse it as
their own "house" stock. This can be very beneficial to the printer's customers as it reduces
the price of the printed pieces. Sometimes however, this less expensive sheet will not provide
the end-result that you require. Grade Finders will review and test paper to validate the
classification level and will supply the results in a report including equivalent mill
brands.
Supplying Samples
This service is an extension of our Competitive Grade Finder®
Selector. As a result of our close relationship with mill, converter, and merchant contacts,
we can quickly provide appropriate and current samples for each competitive paper recommended
in our Selector report.
Research Availability, Distribution, & Pricing
When the correct paper decision has been made for your communication
project, Grade Finders can supply you with a multitude of distribution channels, price trends,
and availability status of the required stock.
Supplying Samples
This service is an extension of our Competitive Grade Finder®
Selector. As a result of our close relationship with mill, converter, and merchant contacts,
we can quickly provide appropriate and current samples for each competitive paper recommended
in our Selector report.
Educating Staff on Paper Characteristics
On-site seminars are available from Grade Finders to educate those
on your staff who will be responsible for communication projects and the selection criteria
to make them successful. Continuing education programs are an excellent way to insure that
your staff is up-to-date with the skill set necessary to perform at the highest level
possible.
Updating Market Trends
Paper prices are greatly affected by the industry supply and
demand. Over the past few years, there has been a tremendous amount of fluctuation in
pricing due to the dynamic changes in production. Market knowledge can be invaluable
when setting budgets for individual projects. In some cases, purchasing and warehousing
stock can save you a large percentage of your budget.
Graphic Redesign and Database Publishing
It is truly amazing how much can be saved in the redesign of
certain communication projects. In our 40 years of experience, we have won several awards
for design excellence and have saved our clients as much as 30-40% of their costs. Can we
help you achieve the same results? Remember our guarantee, "Grade Finders guarantees that
our services will save you money or significantly improve the appearance of your
communication products. If you are not completely satisfied with our performance,
there will be no charge."
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