Vistaprint

This page covers our experience of dealing with Vistaprint. Lots of other companies offer promotional materials, either online or locally - it's always worth checking whether a local firm can match Vistaprint's prices and deals, since keeping it local fits well with our Freegle ethos.

http://www.mrdgraphics.co.uk/ is run by one of our Freegle volunteers - Mike, who runs Hereford Freegle, is always happy to quote for Freegle materials.

Vistaprint

If you want to pay for some promotional material, or you've received a grant to get something printed, Vistaprint can work out cheaper than doing it yourself. Go to http://www.vistaprint.co.uk/ and see what's on offer. If you're short of time, keep it simple and just take one of the best couple of offers. It is worth taking time to get your business cards right, though.

Logos

You usually have to pay to upload a logo, but once it's uploaded you can reuse it on many products as often as you like - so it's worth making one just for your group. If you can't do it yourself, ask on freegle.in/graphics, or email Graphics@iLoveFreegle.org and tell them what you want; someone will offer to do it for you. It's also worth having a few designs ready, including some with local scenes and the logo on. There's often a free calendar offer, or calendars go cheap for 50p after Christmas; for these you can usually upload up to 13 photos free of charge, and reuse them elsewhere. They make nice presents too.

Business cards

These are small cards with your group's URL on. There are usually offers running, so if you don't need lots urgently, go for the free 250 and perhaps another 250 if they're cheap (you pay postage). If you want a generic Freegle card, you can use the one shown in Posters, fliers, cards. If you're designing your own, use the shortened version, freegle.in/groupname - it's much easier for members to remember and get right. You're given several lines to fill in; you don't have to follow the suggested layout, and can change the size and colour of your fonts and move things around (usually at a cost). Try not to crowd the design with too much text.

Business cards are best handed out personally, or left in libraries, doctors' surgeries, church community tables, estate agents and other places where they're likely to be picked up only by people who are interested. Posting them through doors isn't cost-effective or good for the environment - think how much of your own post goes straight into the recycling bin.

Magnets

There's often an offer on fridge magnets - handy to give to children, who'll probably put them on their fridge at least. The larger size is good for putting on skips or metal cupboards, though they won't stick to all of them. There's occasionally a small car magnet fairly cheap too - these look good if your family will let you keep one on the car.

Oversized postcards

These are good for noticeboards. Make them clear and bold - given the competition for space on noticeboards, an A5 card is much more likely to be kept than a home-printed one.

Bumper stickers

Keep the design simple, or people won't remember it.

Banners

A small banner is fine for a window or pinning to a table - an indoor one is quite strong. A medium one is probably fine for a table event, and again indoor quality is sufficient. If you want a large one, get it designed to suit - Graphics@iLoveFreegle.org can help. The large size is bigger and heavier than most, and not really suitable for posting; you'll need to buy grommets for the corners, though how well they'd hold up in high winds on a building or gazebo isn't clear. You can also buy stands for them, which works better.

Tee shirts

Decent quality and long-lasting, though the cheapest option isn't very stylish. Choosing a colour, adding a photo on the reverse, or uploading your own photo all add to the price. They're useful if you have a stall or an event, though.

Calendars

These are sometimes on offer - three for the price of one isn't unusual, with up to 13 photos uploaded free of charge that you can reuse elsewhere. They make excellent presents, especially with a photo of the recipient included.

Extra costs

Remember postage is added to most items, then VAT. Watch the postage cost - sometimes there are free or cheap offers on it, otherwise allow three weeks for delivery (after the first couple of orders, deliveries usually come faster than stated). Don't go overboard uploading photos - start with just one and wait for free or cheap offers on the rest. Don't pay for reverse sides unless you really want them - a calendar printed on the back of a card is hard to see anyway. It's not worth paying to remove the Vistaprint mark either. It's easy for a bill to double once these extras are added.

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