Marketing Your Way to Success

Paper is a critical resource and an essential part of our daily lives. If you didn't know, a paper shortage started last year and will likely continue in the coming year. In times of uncertainty, it helps to have all the information, so let's talk about it!  Understanding and Planning for the Paper Shortage The Paper Shortage Issue In recent years, a few North American paper mills closed their doors as aging infrastructure and rising labor costs, combined with strict environmental regulations, made it increasingly difficult to keep up with the competition.   Many mills have switched from paper production to packaging to replace this lost capacity. This shift to a focus on packaging resulted in nearly 20% less paper production from 2019's supply. Many companies are stockpiling more paper in anticipation of a continued shortage expected in the coming year. In the past few years, we also experienced a pandemic-induced shortfall in supply. This has led to reliance ...

Paper comes in all kinds of forms. Knowing the different variations of paper and when to use each will help you choose the right type for your print projects.  One major decision is choosing between coated or uncoated paper.  Coated Coated paper typically receives a fine clay or polymer coating, which seals the paper, restricting ink absorption and reducing dot gain. Dot gain makes the printed material look darker than intended because of ink absorption. All this gives your finished printed products a crisp, clean look.   Coated paper tends to be great for projects that include images and color, which means it's great for photographs, magazines, and catalogs. One thing to note, however, is that coated paper tends to be harder to write on. Below are a few of the subcategories of coated paper. Gloss A gloss coating is going to have a higher sheen and is lightweight. It also tends to be cheaper than other finishes while having vibrant colors.  Satin and Dull ...