Although not wishing to fast forward these last few weeks of 2012 (Christmas is still a favourite time of year) I, like many others I expect, already have at least half an eye and a few advance planning brain cells on January 2013.
Right now invariably feels like our busiest time of the year – all printing presses are booked up with calendars (completed to the wire), pantomime programmes (if cannot locate on delivery, they are generally behind you) and a range of last-minute promotions (many of which are even pun-free). Sometimes, things slow down a bit mid-December … although I remember one year we were printing thousands of books right up to final delivery on Christmas Eve; also, last year we had a series of brochures pre-booked to print in time for exhibition delivery first week of Jan 2012.
For those who can remember the pre-Millennium days (we can, PrintHouse 22nd birthday last week) January was historically extremely busy for new projects as well, as coincided with marketing budgets being agreed … and committed too with orders quickly placed before anyone had a chance to subsequently amend the budget.
Things no longer work in quite the same way now and we’ve found it can take a week or two into January for many people to return to a “normal” work pattern – is this down to the popularity of skiing, SAD, lack of budget, or a combination?
December can be a perfect time for you to discuss with us those projects that may have been put on the backburner for any reason, in order to make optimum use of studio or machine space available in the run up to Christmas and/or early January.
January tends to be a very active month for exhibitions, so for the same reasons the next few weeks are great for preparing/printing materials needed for handing out at events you have a stand at or attending. FYI, if you’re not located in UK, or close to London, we can deliver direct to any London exhibition venue within circa 1 hour of our west London base, so it’s easily sorted logistically.
We’ve produced a range of promotional literature for companies at the London Bike Show (this will be @ Excel in January 2013; also coincides with London Boat Show, Active Travel Show and Outdoor Show same venue over same weekend – the sheer scale of the Boat Show is amazing); also the Adventure Travel Show and larger Destinations: Holiday & Travel Show (both @ Earls Court in January 2013).
Get inspired to climb that hill/mountain – stay there for a while to guarantee finishing or starting the year on a high. Skiing or mountain biking may work as well, although if a real pro you’re no doubt already aware it’s likely to be downhill very quickly …
