Rachel Nies, Author at Marketing, content, & technology to help printers sell more printing

Does It Feel Impossible to Hire the “Right” People Right Now? If you’ve tried to hire lately, you already know: it’s not just hard to find people who “get print.” It’s hard to find people, period. You post a job, wait, refresh your inbox, and maybe a few resumes trickle in. One candidate has solid print experience but freezes up around software and online ordering. Another is great with digital tools but has never walked a job through press and bindery. Meanwhile, when a key estimator or CSR is out, everything slows down, and everyone feels the pressure. That’s why print shop hiring and cross-training feels so different today. You’re trying to build a team that understands print, can keep up with changing technology, and is flexible enough to cover for each other. The good news? You don’t have to wait for a mythical “perfect hire” to show up. With a clearer picture of the skills you actually need and some intentional cross-training, you can make the team you already have stronger, more flexible, and more confident. Print shop hiring and cross-training are about building the right mix of print, customer, digital, and AI-assisted skills so your shop can keep

While March may still be a few weeks out, smart print shops are already planning ahead—and for good reason. This upcoming month’s content lineup (available now) centers around one of the most practical and underused print tools: labels and stickers. These small but mighty pieces do more than decorate. They elevate packaging, boost visibility, and give your brand staying power across every touchpoint. From lighthearted newsletters and high-impact direct mail to a strategic white paper for nonprofits, each piece this month is crafted to spark conversations, reinforce your expertise, and—most importantly—sell more print. Whether you’re mailing to loyal customers or reaching new prospects, here’s how to make the most of March’s ready-to-launch marketing. Direct Mail For Printers Subscription Options FastStart Help print buyers tell their story with print that performs. Type: 5.5″ x 8.5″ postcard + 8.5″ x 11″ foldover mailer The March FastStart campaign delivers a strong message: “Brand It. Stick It. Sell It.” The feature mailer and postcard promote custom labels as one of the most effective tools for making products pop and packaging stick in customers’ minds. It encourages print buyers to think beyond the basics, offering textures, custom shapes, and finishes like foil or kraft stock.

If your customers opened their mailboxes and found only bills, “final notices,” and generic ads, would they be excited to see what’s inside? Probably not. That’s why the Coffee Break newsletter is such a smart, printer-friendly idea. It shows up as the good part of the mail. A quick smile. A short break in the day. And your print shop name right there, month after month. That kind of connection does not just feel nice. It helps sell more printing. Because when people like you and remember you, you are the shop they think of first. Why Humor Helps Sell More Printing Coffee Break is not about becoming a comedian. It’s about being memorable. Here are three reasons humor works especially well for print shops: It gets read. People skim sales messages. They read what makes them smile. It makes your shop feel human. Warm connection beats another pitch. It keeps you top-of-mind between orders. Consistency is the real magic. Our Favorite Coffee Break Laughs from 2025 Quick Hitters (short, clean, and easy to share) Why did the golfer bring an extra pair of pants? In case he got a hole in one. Did you hear about the claustrophobic astronaut?

You don’t have to convince your customers that connection matters in February, but you can show them how simple, tangible pieces like postcards and newsletters make that connection feel warmer, more personal, and harder to ignore. The February 2026 Direct Mail For Printers content lineup (available now) leans into postcards and small-format print as the easiest way to say “we’re thinking of you” without a complicated campaign. From humor-filled newsletters and local postcard promotions to a nonprofit messaging guide, every piece is designed to help you start conversations, build loyalty, and sell more print with kindness at the center. Whether you use one piece or build a full campaign, here’s how to put this month’s content to work for your shop. Direct Mail For Printers Options Coffee Break Humor Newsletter Print Type: Folded newsletter self-mailerSize: 8.5″ x 14″ flat, trifold The Coffee Break newsletter is all about lighthearted connection, packed with clean jokes, a playful Valentine’s-themed sidebar, and a March 2026 calendar full of quirky dates and historical moments. This issue includes groan-worthy winners like: What’s the best outfit for February 2nd? A tu-tu. I got my significant other a fridge for Valentine’s Day. You should’ve seen their face light

If someone discovers your print shop for the first time, there’s a good chance they’re not walking through your front door. They’re finding you online. That’s why your website matters just as much as the beautiful job you just shipped. But for a lot of printers, the website is “that thing we’ll fix someday” while presses, people, and deadlines scream louder. If your site feels a little tired, a little out of date, or you’re simply not sure it’s helping you sell more printing, don’t beat yourself up. Many shops are in the same place. The good news: a simple year-end website tune-up for printers can make a real difference. You don’t need to rebuild everything. You just need a focused list of quick wins you can knock out before the ball drops. Why Year-End Is the Best Time to Fix Your Website You already think in seasons: back to school, holidays, trade shows, slow spells. The end of the year is when you naturally take stock, clearing out the shop, wrapping up invoices, reviewing the numbers, and planning for next year. Your website deserves a spot on that list. A short tune-up now helps you look more current and

Remember the childhood game of “kick the can”? It was fun, simple, and easy. You’d kick a can down the street, pushing the challenge just a little further ahead, never truly resolving it, just postponing the inevitable. But when you’re running a printing business, playing “kick the can” with your pricing strategy isn’t fun; it’s risky. Why Traditional Pricing Feels Comfortable (But Isn’t) Many printers rely on gut instincts and legacy methods to price their services. It feels comfortable. You know your clients, you know your business, and you think you know your costs. But the reality is often different. You’re frequently pricing based on assumptions or guesses, not facts. And when uncertainty creeps in, you instinctively compensate by inflating costs in areas you believe are already covered. You’ve effectively kicked the can a little further down the road. You haven’t solved your pricing discomfort; you’ve just displaced it somewhere else. The Real Problem: Avoiding the Uncomfortable Truth Let’s face it. The reason you’re increasing the perceived cost of something you’re already confident about is that there’s another area in your pricing you’re less certain of. Maybe it’s labor, maybe it’s materials, maybe it’s overhead. You have a sense that

You’ve been there: a new order comes in, the deadline is tight, and the file? Not quite ready. Whether it’s missing bleeds, fuzzy images, or font issues, file prep problems can slow everything down and create more stress than they should. The good news? You can head off most of those headaches by giving your print buyers a little help without piling more work on your plate. Here are four practical ways to set them up for success. 1. Share Common File Prep Pitfalls Not every client knows what goes into a production-ready file, and that’s OK. A simple, printer-approved checklist can make a big difference. That’s why we put together a free guide on the most common file prep mistakes. It’s an easy win: give your customers the info upfront, and you’ll both save time later. >> FREE DOWNLOAD: Top 7 File Prep Mistakes 2. Offer Setup Support That Scales If your clients design their own pieces, you know how often things like margins, trim areas, and safe zones get overlooked. That’s where artwork layout templates can help. Available as a website add-on, these downloadable templates (branded with your company’s logo) include clear design boundaries for popular products and