Posted By Foote Printing
October 15, 2025
Category: General
Picture this: your inbox is crammed with hundreds of unread messages, but your physical mailbox still gets your attention every single day. Even the “junk” gets a glance. That moment—those few seconds with something in your hand—is where brands are built and leads are made.
At Foote Printing, we live at the intersection of print and direct marketing. We love email for its speed, but we’ve seen time and again that the mailbox delivers attention, trust, and results you just can’t get online alone. Here’s why—and how we help you make the most of it.
The Real Problem: Digital Overload, Diminishing Attention
Email is easy to send and cheaper per message, but that ease creates a flood. Your customers are overwhelmed, filters are aggressive, and messages blur together. Meanwhile, people open their mailbox daily, touch every piece, and form split-second judgments that stick. Our job is to make sure your piece earns those seconds—and turns them into action.
The Attention Advantage in the Mailbox
Daily habit: People check and sort their mail almost every day. Your message gets handled, not just “marked as read.”
Built-in “open rate”: Even if someone tosses a postcard, they saw your brand, offer, and headline first.
Sticky brand recall: That physical touch plants a memory that pays off when they see your name online later.
Tangible Means Trustworthy
A well-printed, well-designed piece signals legiti
Posted By Foote Printing
October 15, 2025
Category: General
In three seconds, your audience decides whether to keep your postcard, scan your code, or toss it. Those seconds are where 2025’s smartest print trends win—and where we help you stand out.
As a solar-powered print shop, we’ve been building toward these trends for years. Clients are printing fewer, smarter pieces that work harder: more personal, more tactile, more connected to digital, and far less wasteful. Here’s how we (and Michael Duhr, our print expert) see the year’s top opportunities—and how we’ll put them to work for you.
1) Sustainable, eco 11friendly printing (we’ve led since 2017)
Sustainability isn’t a buzzword for us—it’s built into our shop.
Solar-powered facility since 2017
LED lighting that mimics daylight for accurate color evaluation
Recycled-content papers across our lineup
Short-run strategies that reduce overprinting and waste
Actionable tip: Ask us to recommend recycled stocks and coatings that align with your brand’s look, feel, and footprint—without compromising color or quality.
2) Personalization at scale with variable data printing
Personalization boosts response when it’s relevant. With digital presses and variable data printing, we tailor:
Names and messaging by segment
Offers by audience and location
Images, maps, and calls-to-action by region or event
Actionable tip: Bring a clean list and a few audience segments. We’ll help you version creati
Posted By Foote Printing
October 15, 2025
Category: General
Your best email probably didn’t even earn two seconds of attention. Meanwhile, a well-designed postcard sits on a kitchen counter and gets read twice. In a world of overflowing inboxes, phishing attempts, and disappearing feeds, print is the channel people still trust.
As a Cleveland print company, we see it every day: print isn’t dying—it’s evolving. And when you use it strategically, it outperforms digital alone.
Why Print Wins Trust (and Attention)
In the digital world, skepticism is the default. People double-check sender names, avoid links, and ignore most messages. That’s exactly why print is surging back:
It’s tangible and memorable—your brand lives on desks, counters, and trade show booths.
It signals legitimacy—real materials from a real company.
It stands out—especially when everyone else is stuck in the inbox.
We’ve heard “print is dying” for 40 years. The truth? It’s simply evolving, and the businesses who adapt are the ones getting noticed.
The Future of Print Is Integrated
Today’s best-performing campaigns blend print and digital. You don’t need to say everything on the piece—just enough to spark interest and guide the next step.
Here’s how we help clients do that:
Use QR codes to bridge offline and online seamlessly. One scan, and your audience lands on the exact page you want them to visit.
Leverage variable data printing for personalization. Tai
Posted By Foote Printing
October 15, 2025
Category: General
Your design looks perfect on screen—then you see it on paper, a banner, or a t-shirt, and it just doesn’t land. We see it all the time. The difference isn’t your creativity—it’s choosing the right printing method from the start.
At Foote Printing, we help designers, marketers, and business owners match their project to the best process so it looks sharp, prints efficiently, and stays on budget. Here’s how we break it down, based on what we do every day at our Cleveland shop.
The Big Four Printing Methods We Use
We specialize in offset printing, digital printing, wide (large) format printing, and screen printing. Each shines in different situations. Start your project with the method in mind and you’ll save time, cost, and headaches.
Screen Printing: Apparel That Pops
If you’re printing apparel—t-shirts, hoodies, caps—screen printing is the play.
Design tip: Use solid colors at 0% or 100%. No 50% screens or gradients. With screens, ink either goes through or it doesn’t.
Best for: Branded apparel, team wear, merch with bold, solid graphics.
We can guide you on color choices and setups so your shirts look crisp and consistent.
Wide Format Printing: Signs, Banners, and Event Displays
Think big: building banners, rigid signage, coroplast yard signs, or foam core boards for events and weddings.
Design tip: Use vector artwork whenever possible. It scales cleanly at large sizes.
Image quality: AI upscali
Posted By Foote Printing
October 15, 2025
Category: General
When clients ask us to film their job as it runs on press, we know two things are true: people love seeing how ideas become tangible, and print is very much alive. Watching ink lay down, seeing a giant sign roll off the wide 11format machine—those moments don’t just look great on TikTok and Instagram; they prove how powerful physical media is for modern marketing.
The Challenge Marketers Face Today
Digital channels are crowded. Your audience scrolls fast and forgets faster. The real challenge is standing out and staying memorable—offline and online. That’s where we come in. At Foote Printing, we help brands pair smart strategy with the right materials, so their message lands—on a doorstep, in a lobby, or across a busy intersection.
Our marketing intern, Teagen, joined us in May and quickly saw what many overlook: print is a core driver of results. From postcards that win new customers to large 11format signage that stops people in their tracks, the right piece can move the needle for your campaign.
What’s Working Now in Print Marketing
Direct Mail Postcards that Drive Response
Postcards cut through inbox fatigue and put your offer directly in someone’s hands.
We handle targeted mailing from list prep and design through addressing and delivery, so your piece goes from concept to mailbox without the headaches.
Want to measure ROI? Add a personalized URL, QR code, or trackable offer code to close the loop between offline engagem
Posted By Foote Printing
October 15, 2025
Category: General
Ever hit “print” and watched a gorgeous on-screen design come out dull, cropped, or the wrong size? You’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out solo.
At Foote Printing, we bridge the gap between digital design and real-world print. Many designers are trained primarily for web (RGB, pixels, screens). But when your work needs to live in someone’s hands—on paper, cardstock, or a die-cut door hanger—everything changes. That’s where we come in. As Michael Duhr from our team explains, we make print design simple, predictable, and professional.
The Print Design Gap (And How We Close It)
Designing for print involves variables you don’t face online: bleeds, safe areas, color spaces, paper weights, finishes, and mailing rules. If those sound like jargon, we’ll translate—and guide you from concept to finished piece with confidence.
We provide templates and mockups so you’re designing to the final size and die line from the start.
We help with file setup (bleeds, margins, resolution, color mode) in InDesign—and even less print-friendly programs.
We review specs before you design, so you avoid surprises and rework.
File Setup Support: From Template to Press-Ready
Correct setup is half the battle. We’ll send you the exact dimensions, bleeds, and safe zones for your project—and the die lines if it’s a specialty shape.
InDesign templates: get the right page size, bleed,
Posted By Foote Printing
October 15, 2025
Category: General
At Foote Printing, we craft tactile, high-quality print materials with soft-touch coatings, textured papers, and tasteful embellishments to build brand
Posted By Foote Printing
September 30, 2024
Category: General
Enhance your brand's look with expert color printing solutions. Foote Printing
ensures precision and quality with both CMYK and spot color
Posted By Foote Printing
January 14, 2021
Category: General
At Foote Printing, our job is to provide our clients with the printed materials they want and need. Our goal is to help them in any way that we can to provide them with the highest quality products with timely delivery!
Posted By Michael Duhr
June 06, 2018
Category: General
These are common things that happen in the print world. To ensure that time is used effectively and efficiently, customers looking to get a print job done should be aware of this.
1. Insufficient Specifications
The more the printer knows what you want, the better.
Include:
finished trim size
folding instructions
any special printing methods
how many colors the job will use
type of stock for cover and/or text
number of copies
2. Incorrect Use of Spot Colors
All spot colors that are not needed should be deleted.
A spot color should be used when:
there are logos
large fill areas
small type
3. No Bleed
Include bleeds in your job.
Things to know about bleeds:
they ensure the trim area
typical bleeds are 1/8 of an inch
4. RGB or Low-Res Images
Make sure that all photos are in CMYK, if not, covert them.
Things to know about images:
300 dpi (dots her inch) are reasonable for high quality print
what looks good on the computer screen does not necessarily mean it will look good on paper
5. Incorrect Document Size
Make sure to send in correct production size of the document.
Why?:
saves time
not having correct size can affect appearance and binding
6. Conflicting Fonts
Convert all fonts to outlines before submitting your document.
Why?:
to prevent missing file links when the document is opened
7. Waiting Until Last Minute
Send over the document a few days ahead of time.
Why?:
to ensure the printing will be finished in
Posted By Mike Duhr
May 30, 2018
Category: General
Hello!
It’s Mike Duhr, the owner of Foote Printing. I want to thank those of you who are repeat customers, and to invite new and future customers to learn more about Foote Printing. Our base of repeat customers certainly like our work, our reliability, and competitive prices. They also like what I call “the ethical amenities” of doing business with Foote Printing. These amenities include working with a union shop powered by solar energy. These things are important to us, of course, but they are equally important to a clientele committed to Cleveland’s future, and to the economic prosperity of Cleveland’s present. Here are just some of our clients’ favorite amenities of working with our family-owned shop, established here in Cleveland in 1907.
Our Union Staff
Foote Printing is a union shop, and its staff belong to the Northeast Ohio Allied Printing Trades Council. Many of our clients opt to include the union sticker—or “bug”—on printed materials, in order to assure their own clients that the women and men who assembled these materials receive good wages and benefits. For others: it’s about the assurance of quality and craftsmanship, along with the timely delivery of high-quality, fairly-priced goods and services.
Powered by the Sun
In summer 2016, we installed an array of solar panels on our rooftop. Summer 2017 offered plenty of sunshine in Northeast Ohio and, on select days, solar energy provided 85% of
Posted By Mike Duhr
May 30, 2018
Category: General
My mother gave me my first digitally-printed photo: a snapshot from my wedding reception in summer 2001. She printed it that night and gave it to us the next day. The dull hues of the photo were well-pixelated. It looked like a sun-bleached photocopy of a photocopy.
Today, digital printing is far more technologically advanced, and its products are often indistinguishable from those of offset printing. (In brief: digital printing entails backing four-color toner powder onto the page. Offset printing entails the transfer of the inked image from a plate to a roller and onto the page.)
Digital printing certainly has its advantages: small-batch runs can be completed in under two days, and updates to the image itself can be handled quickly. Offset printing has its own advantages, and we encourage you to learn more from one of our staff members here in Cleveland—especially if your next order of brochures, flyers, or booklets includes 500 units or more. With offset printing, the economies of scale are impressive. For some jobs, an order of 1000 may cost only a few dollars more than an order of 500. (Use our direct mail marketing services to save even more time and money.) While digital printing color standards continue to rise, offset printing remains the best option for getting the colors you want just right.
Foote Printing is a family-owned print shop here in Cleveland, OH. We specialize in offset printing, digital printing, and wide format printing. We also offer
Posted By Foote Printing
May 30, 2018
Category: General
What Message Do Different Colors Send?
When you design a flyer, logo, mailer, billboard, or any kind of advertisement, the types of color you use play a big role in the message you want to send. Graphic designers know the importance of color in ads and can help you send and illicit the right message and emotions. Let’s take a look at what colors represent in the advertising and print world.
Red
Increases appetite
Creates sense of urgency
Increases passion
Feelings of aggression or anger
Yellow
Cheerful
Optimistic
Attention grabber of people who pass by
Orange
Warmth
Caution
Excitement
Confidence
Good for call-to-actions
Blue
Peaceful
Preferred by men
Security and trust
Used in workplace, increases productivity
Green
Health
“Natural”
Wealth
Growth
Relaxing
Purple
Wealth
Success
Wisdom
Used on beauty products
Creative
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Foote Printing is a local print shop located in Cleveland, OH. We specialize in offset printing, digital printing and wide format printing as well as offering mailing services and graphic design.
If you would like to learn more about our company visit our
Posted By Foote Printing
May 30, 2018
Category: General
As the days get longer and the weather gets nicer, many companies and organizations have some kind of party or event planned for the summer. Some places host or travel to company golf outings, charity events, or live events.
You may not be thinking about printing when you think of these things, but print companies have a lot to offer businesses that are involved in some kind of event.
Some ideas include:
Company T-shirts
Banners
Flyers
Posters
Yard Signs
Tablecloths for Tradeshow Booths
If your company is having or sponsoring an event, make sure you are seen. By working with your company we will be able to figure out the best options to fit your needs and make sure your company stands out.
Foote Printing is a local print shop located in Cleveland, OH. We specailize in offset printing, digital printing and wide format printing as well as offering mailing services and graphic design. Contact Us today to learn
Posted By Foote Printing
May 30, 2018
Category: General
In the business world, most companies today focus their attention online. While this is good, standing out from the crowd is more difficult. There are plenty of tools and sites companies can use to automate messages to their customers, whether it’s sending a “thank you” message for their business, a “happy birthday” email or sending holiday messages. This is a nice way to stay in front of your customers, the only problem is, every other company is doing this also.
Direct mail offers a personal touch that your customers won't receive through an email or social media post. “According to USPS, 69% of people feel that mail is more personal than the internet.” Most of your customers receive all kinds of emails saying “thank you for coming in to see us today...” and most people know that these are just automated emails that go out to everyone. This does not make your customer feel any more special than if they had gone to another place for their same needs.
So, what kind of direct mail should you send to your customers?
Thank You Cards
You do not need to send a thank you card every time a customer comes to see you, but for first time customers a physical piece of mail that thanks them for coming in will stand out much more than the generic “thank you” email that most other companies send.
Birthday Cards
Taking the time to send your customers a birthday card will definitely make a positive impression on the
Posted By Foote Printing
May 30, 2018
Category: General
With a number of different marketing outlets available, many business owners overlook the thing they use every day, their car. You might be thinking of vehicles that are entirely wrapped with the company’s name and logo, while some company vehicles can look like this, many professionals do not want to ride in a giant advertisement.
There are many ways you can advertise your company without wrapping your entire car. Car magnets and stickers can be a good alternative that a print shop can help you with. Insurance agents, realtors, landscapers and many other industries use vehicle stickers that do not cover the entire car but still promote their company.
A great example is the Geek Squad cars. When the company first started they would drive around in black and white cars with the Geek Squad logo on the side. It was quickly recognizable and they were everywhere. Vehicle graphics offer an easy way to promote yourself and stand out.
Foote Printing is a family-owned Cleveland printing company with a close-knit crew of printing professionals. If you would like to discuss how Foote Printing can help you with vehicle graphics, contact us
Posted By Foote Printing
May 30, 2018
Category: General
With sites that offer printing services to companies all over the U.S., you may think that they can do anything you need to. But local printers can offer the same products and services as their online counterparts, but have several unique characteristics that you can’t recreate virtually. From the variety of options, easy communication and building a business relationship, local printers are the best bet for print projects.
More Options
Compared to online sites that offer similar services, local printers offer more options for your business and your specific print job. Online sites often limit your selection of sizes, material, and ink. Local printers can offer you a wide array of options and styles. If you want a piece to be a certain size, shape, and material they can help you make that a reality.
Easier to Communicate
Naturally, communication is important to the success of any kind of project. When you work with a local printer you can call or even go to the office and speak directly with someone. Not only is it easier to get a live person on the line to work with you, but if there is a problem with a project it is much easier to fix when you work with a local person compared to an online printer.
Communicating your wants effectively is another reason local printers are better suited than online stores. Sometimes you have a specific look in mind or a more complex project that you want to be completed. A local printer can sit down with you and find out exactly w
Posted By Foote Printing
May 30, 2018
Category: General
“Color is the first principle of Place.” Ellen Meloy, Anthropology of Turquoise
Amid the grey days of winter here in Cleveland, Ohio, it’s easy to recognize the impact of color and light on our relationship with place. Meloy’s lovely book is not anthropology per se, but a meditation on the sense of vision:
"The complex human eye harvests light. It perceives seven to ten million colors through a synaptic flash: one-tenth of a second from retina to brain. Homo sapiens [dedicate] up to 70 percent of its sense receptors solely for vision, to anticipate danger and recognize reward, but also--more so--for beauty."
Meloy, Anthropology of Turquoise, pp. 8-9
Apple Inc., of course, takes the visual sensitivity of humans seriously. With the 2010 iPhone 4, Apple introduced its first Retina display. At 300 pixels per inch (PPI), on a device held 10 to 12 inches from the eye, individual pixels became effectively imperceptible. With the iPhone X, youhave 458 PPI and photographic versimilitude--or so I’ve heard.
My main interest remains, of course, printed materials, which still set the standard for the representation of text and images. Digital printing technology has nearly equaled the standard of offset printing in terms of resolution, but resolution’s not the only variable. Colors matter, and your team of designers and printers can take selective steps to ensure that your materials accurately “harvest lig
Posted By Foote Printing
May 30, 2018
Category: General
The hand-wringing over the demise of expertise in American politics reflects some subtle changes in the world of business, too. With regular updates on social media now possible—if not advisable—for nearly every business, free apps from grammarly to Inkscape provide useful support for effervescent content. Still, when you expect your content to be more durable, in the form of leave behinds, product packaging, or even business cards, it’s more important than ever to use staff dedicated to the craft of writing and graphic design at some stage in the production.
Print materials make last impressions. Simply put, they just stick to human memory better than pixelated images. So, if you have a person in your office you count on to generate good ideas and represent them well in creative copy, that’s great. Would you be tempted, then, to use your desktop color printer to produce your latest flyer or brochure? It’s unlikely, because the digital printers and offset printers in today’s print shops offer considerably better quality and, in turn, better value by way of a durable, positive impression. In “How digital package printing safeguards a brand’s quality,” Jaron Lotan argues:
“The added benefit that digital printing adds to brands? Higher value. High-quality packaging allows for more design variations and thus more targeted marketing, capturing the consumer’s attention with relevance in a world where a product ca
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