Blog

If creating a new calendar featuring your own custom designs for your business isn’t on your list yet for New Year ideas, let us show you why it should be. While traditional wall calendars are still one of our most popular products this time of year, there are a lot of exciting new versions you can create and so many different ways to use them as business-building tools.

In fact, here’s some awesome facts about calendars: Studies have shown that more than 78% of consumers use branded calendars in their homes, 70% will do business with that company, and 40% will refer that company to others.

Here are a few ideas for types of calendars we offer – and creative ways to use them:

Saddle stitched wall calendars

Pretty pictures are a classic, but why not provide take-action images for monthly calendars such as recipes, workouts, writing prompts, how-tos, infographics, and useful tips?

Spiral bound wall or desk calendars

This type of calendar is great for folding, easy to lay flat and write on, and perfect for taking it on-the-go. Fill it with things like checklists, challenges, fitness charts and financial goals. Help your readers keep track of goals and progress throughout the year and they’ll thank you for keeping them on track.

Card deck calendars in clear stand-up (jewel-type) cases

Daily or monthly cards can be stacked and displayed on desk or countertops with ease. Instead of focusing on the days of the week, try about using these to provide daily, weekly or monthly quotes, challenges, education, to-do’s, action items, etc. Fill it with amazing value and you’ll create raving fans who can’t wait to flip to the next day.

Easel style desk calendars

No need to hang this calendar on the wall. This fun style can be printed any size and features a self-contained easel that makes it easy to stand on a desk, in a studio, on a countertop, or wherever it makes sense.

Large wall calendars (with optional lamination)

Big in size and big in value, custom wall calendars will definitely make a splash. These can be laminated for write on / wipe off use. And they are perfect both as standalone products and to include as part of coaching or training programs. And don’t let the size make you think they are hard to ship. They can be rolled and shipped in a tube, or folded and mailed flat.

Bottom line, calendars are a great way to help your audience keep track of their valuable time while also keeping your business and brand at their fingertips throughout the year. They can be sold, or they can be given away for free. And no matter how you use them, they are guaranteed business boosting resources that work hard all year long.  

For more info or free quotes about creating calendars for your business, please email [email protected] or click on the "Product Catalog" link at the bottom of every page on our website for full-color photos and lots of other calendar ideas.

One of the best things about planners is that everyone loves them. Fitness pros live by them. Creative entrepreneurs depend on them. Moms use them to keep their sanity. When it comes to creating and sharing a product with your customers that they’re guaranteed to love – you’ve got a sure thing with a planner.

When it comes to planners, we’re not talking about your old college leather-bound day-by-day product here. Start with a foundation of functionality, add some imagination, throw in some creative packaging, and you’ve got a show-stopper that clients will love and keep coming back for more. They’re low-cost, easy to create, and high value. Here’s some ideas we’ve seen our customers use for planners that might spark a few ideas for you:

1. Creating a planner to coincide with the release of a book. For example, an author’s recent book was about frugal living, budgeting and family finances. The planner was designed to appeal to the book’s target audience. It was colorful, spiral-bound, hard cover, and filled with budgeting templates, worksheets, checklists and materials that supported the book and provided an upsell for fans who wanted more.
2. For an entrepreneur who serves different demographics. Creating a journal filled with content that is universally appealing, then creating several different covers that target the different needs of each demographic such as school, family, fitness, nutrition, etc., making them more appealing to each group.   
3. Including other items that work well with the planner and boost the value of the total package. For instance, a planning and productivity set that includes a spiral-bound planner, an erasable wall calendar, dry erase pens, and a pack of stickers.
4. Customized planners that support a workshop, mastermind or program, including checklists, meal planners, shopping lists, passion projects, reminders, notes, etc. For instance, a meal-planning, shopping list, tabbed journal with spiral binder that lays flat, to use along with a health/nutrition program.
5. For marketing and business growth: Small, easy-to-carry, blank journals with company branding or messages on the cover that create memorable, positive first impressions when used to sponsor events, in gift bags, as added value to other purchases, or given away at events and when networking.   

Everything we described above can be created using Vervante’s digital on-demand or bulk offset printing services. And more! We offer a wide variety of size, shape, binding, and other variations to help you create exactly what you need and your customers will love. Let us know what you’d like to create by emailing [email protected] and we’ll send you a free quote and feedback to help you get started.

Did you know that audiobooks are the fastest-growing format in the book business today? According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, sales in the U.S. and Canada jumped 21% in 2015 from the previous year and keep growing. Much of the credit is being put to smartphones and the popularity of multitasking, with people loving the ability to download a book to their phone and listen to it at their own page in the place of their choosing.

Here at Vervante, we love audiobooks. But we also stand by the value of printed books and books on CD. As an author, you should think carefully about your readers’ personal habits and needs when it comes to choosing the right format for your own book. If it’s CDs, that’s fine. As the author of the article stated, cars have CD players and as long as they do, there will always be a call for books on CD to enrich commutes and entertain passengers. As for printed books, well, we love how author Colm Toibin put it:

“I really believe in the slow solitary silent business of reading. An audiobook is a kind of performance, like a radio play. On a long car journey, I can’t think of anything better. But it doesn’t replace reading.”

If you want to offer your book as an ebook, audiobook, or other creative way using CDs, DVDs, and more, we can help. Reach out to our publishing experts at [email protected] and we’ll get you started right away.

You can read the entire story by clicking HERE.