The end of the year is one of the few times a customer expects to hear from you without being sold anything. A card on their desk or a calendar on their wall keeps your name in front of them long after the holidays are over.

Here is how Brooklyn businesses can plan year-end printing without a last-minute rush.

Start with your list

Before you pick a design, count who you actually want to reach. Most businesses have three groups:

• Your best customers. They have earned something personal, like a signed card or a calendar.
• Your regular customers. A printed card works well here.
• Your vendors and partners. People who help you all year are easy to forget.

Add a few extra to your count. New names always come up in December, and reordering a handful of cards is much harder than having spares.

Holiday cards: keep them simple

A card should feel like a thank-you, not an ad. A few things help:

• Use a greeting that fits your customers. "Season's Greetings" or "Happy New Year" works for a mixed customer list.
• Leave room to sign. A handwritten name on a printed card goes a long way, so avoid dark, glossy areas where the pen will smear.
• Put your logo and contact details on the back, not across the front.
• Decide about envelopes early. If you are mailing, check your envelope size and leave time to address them.

See our invitations and greeting cards page for options.

Calendars: the card that stays up all year

A calendar works because people keep it. A shop, a contractor or a tax office can stay on a customer's wall for twelve months.

When you plan a custom calendar, think about:

• Wall or desk. Wall calendars suit homes and kitchens. Desk calendars suit offices.
• Your phone number on every month, not only on the cover. That is the page someone sees when they need you.
• Dates that matter to your customers. Add the holidays your customers observe, or business dates such as tax deadlines if they fit your trade.
• Your own photos. Real pictures of your shop or your work beat generic stock images.

Labels and stickers for gifts

If you sell products or send gift boxes, labels are a quick way to make the packaging look finished. A round sticker on a box or bag can carry your logo and a short message. Look at roll labels if you need a lot of them, or die-cut stickers if you want a custom shape.

Plan your timing backward

Holiday orders go wrong when they start too late. Work back from the day you want them in hand:

1. Pick the date your cards or calendars need to go out.
2. Leave time for mailing or delivery.
3. Leave time for printing.
4. Leave time to review your proof and make changes.

Tell us your date when you ask for a quote, and we will tell you whether it is realistic.

Tips before you order

• Check names, phone numbers and spelling twice. One typo repeats on every copy.
• Send your logo in the best quality file you have. A photo of a business card will not print as sharply.
• If you need Arabic and English on the same piece, tell us up front.

Frequently asked questions

Can I add my logo and my own photos?
Yes. Send us your files and we will tell you if anything needs a better version before printing.

Will I see it before it prints?
Yes. You approve a proof before anything goes to press.

How much does it cost?
It depends on the product, size, paper and quantity, so we quote each job individually.

I'm outside Brooklyn. Can I still order?
Yes. We ship anywhere in the US.

Get a quote

Amana Printing has served businesses in Bay Ridge since 2005. Tell us what you need on WhatsApp at (929) 290-6165, or call (718) 491-6456 for a quote. You approve a proof before we print, and we ship anywhere in the US. You can also stop by the shop at 507 68th St, Brooklyn, NY 11220.