Printulu Blog
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Content Strategist & Graphic Designer

Jeanne Le Roux

Jeanne is Printulu's Content Strategist and Graphic Designer. She creates clear, actionable printing guides that help South African businesses make smarter decisions about their marketing materials.

Topics Covered

Content StrategyGraphic DesignBusiness CardsFlyersBrochuresMarketing Materials

84 articles published

Design TipsFAQs

Our Game-Changing Design Process: And How To Use It

We’re a growing company, so we’re continuously trying to improve our system to accommodate our thousands of clients. This includes making sure that you have the best possible experience with us, regardless of how busy we get behind the scenes. We noticed that our design process, while getting the job done, left something to be

3 min read
Marketing Tips

6 Marketing Strategies For Small Businesses That Actually Work! (Guaranteed)

There are many different types of marketing strategies. But how many of them will actually work for your small business? Which type of marketing strategy should you choose to pursue and why? 1. Advertise In Niche Print Media While much of the world has moved online, print media still exists, and in some niches, it

4 min read
FAQsPopular

Discover the 7 Business Card Finishing Options: Gloss Lamination, Matt Lamination, Soft touch and more.

Printulu offers a variety of options for business card finishes, including Soft Touch Lamination. This refinement options offers a protective finish with a matte effect and a soft, velvet-like texture. It is one of seven options available incluuding Gloss Lamination, Matt Lamination, Straight Cut, 2 Rounded Corners – Top Left, Bottom Right, 2 Rounded Corners

4 min read
How To'sMarketing Tips

Variable Data Printing: How To Personalise Your Print Marketing With Variable Printing

In today’s highly competitive business landscape, personalised marketing is more important than ever. With consumers constantly being bombarded with generic advertisements, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to capture their attention and stand out from the crowd. That’s where variable data printing (VDP) comes in – a revolutionary technique that allows businesses to create highly personalised marketing

11 min read
Design Tips

Pamphlets: Design To Make An Impression (How To Stay Memorable)

“Make it simple. Make it memorable. Make it inviting to look at.” – Leo Burnett on advertising. When you choose an advertising strategy, this is some golden advice to follow. Most of us do, but choosing how you design your leaflets or pamphlets should be no different! Your brand is ever-evolving. Just think about how many different bottle designs

4 min read
Design TipsHow To's

How To: Get the PERFECT Large Format Print (And See Results)

With large format printing, a small preventable mistake on the screen can result in a big mistake in reality. Knowing what to check and get right before you print your PVC Banner, Wall Banner, Wall Paper, Pull-Up Banners, X-Banners and Stickers, will help you prevent these mistakes. This post outlines exactly what you need to

5 min read
Design TipsHow To's

4 Ways to Save Money on Graphic Design (And Get a Killer Design)

There is only one thing you have to remember here. Saving money in the long run on graphic design is all about saving time. By saving your designer time, you save yourself time. Why? Because when it comes to graphic design, the majority of the costs are directly related to the amount of time spent on

7 min read
Design Tips

Top 8 Web Design Software of 2023: Design Like A Pro!

I don’t know about you, but for me dabbling in anything related to web design can be both extremely fun and extremely frustrating. To make sure you find yourself in a less frustrating situation the next time you decide to attempt designing a website, you need to make sure you have the right tools at your

6 min read
Design TipsHow To's

How To: Write a Design Brief That Clicks!

Designers are good at many things, and unless you stumble upon a designer who is prolific in the psychic arts, mind reading is not one of them. As much as designers enjoy creative freedom, most crave direction. This is partly because designers have to be creative on demand. They also have to find the subtle

5 min read
Marketing Tips

Large Format Printing for Big Thinkers: How to Make Large Format Work For You

You know the saying it’s not over ’till the fat lady sings. Large format is advertising’s, metaphorical fat lady. After trying more of your in-person advertising such as flyers, business cards, and folded leaflets, the logical next step is to go large. For most people, when you speak of outdoor large-format signage, picture a big billboard along

5 min read
FAQsGet To Know Us

Printing Proofs: What Are They? When Do I Use Them?

You are planning a business opening, you’re rebranding, launch of a new product/service, or an event to delight existing customers. This comes with allocating budgets, assigning roles, finalising venues and preparing materials. Some of those materials are your printed collateral: 5 000 Flyers here, 2 500 Business Cards there, 1 000 Brochures, 100 Posters, 4

6 min read
Design TipsPopular

7 Must-Follow Graphic Design Do's and Don'ts for Stellar Sticker Artwork

Stickers are an effective and fun way to promote your brand, showcase your creativity, and engage with your audience. Whether you’re designing stickers for personal or business use, it’s important to follow certain graphic design principles to ensure that your artwork stands out, communicates your message effectively and most importantly is print-ready. In this post,

7 min read
FAQsMarketing Tips

How to Save Money on Banners and Flags. (Which Banner Should I Buy?)

You may have seen our trusty pull-up banner in some of our videos, like the one below where Trudi, our graphic designer, explains our design process. Even if you haven’t seen it yet, you should note that we’ve added a huge amount of new banners and flags to our website. Yep – your options to

6 min read
Design Tips

Noteworthy Notepad Design: Line Thickness Matters!

When it comes to notepad design, line thickness is an important consideration. A line thickness of 0.2mm is a popular choice for many designers and for good reason. In this article, we will discuss the reasons why 0.2mm is a good choice for line thickness in notepad design, as well as some tips for using

3 min read
FAQsGet To Know Us

Online Print Ordering Simplified: Tips & Tricks

Online print ordering can come with a lot of questions, but we’re here to answer them for you. We’ve been in the business for 7 years and have amassed over 15,000 clients, so we’ve received a lot of questions. Our online ordering system is simple and user-friendly, but some people may still have trouble uploading

5 min read
FAQsGet To Know Us

The Best Printing Company & their Printing Machines

In today’s competitive business world, finding the right printing company can make all the difference when it comes to creating professional marketing materials and delivering a powerful message to your target audience. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. That’s why we’ve put together this ultimate guide to

8 min read
Get To Know UsHow To's

How to Save Money on Printing? (Online Printer Shares Trade Secrets)

The quick answer for how to save money on printing is to understand what works for you. To achieve this you have to see your collateral through the eyes of the intended audience. This will determine how much you should be spending on print and where you can lower your costs. Essentially, the question you need to

8 min read
BookletsBrochures & Booklets

Are you a brochure designer? Avoid these boo-boos at all costs

It’s amazing how many errors can become glaringly obvious on a printed document, compared to just glancing over it when it’s up on the screen. Any brochure designer will agree, this is one of the biggest issues with brochure designs. But sadly there’s no ‘Undo’ button when your printed items get delivered. Proofing your InDesign

6 min read
Marketing Tips

Does your business have an online presence? 5 reasons why you should use omnichannel marketing.

Giving your small business an online presence along with offline means more than simply putting up a little website with your company’s address and phone number. It means setting up a virtual version of your business, with other channels leading to it. It means thinking about how you’re tracking your offline materials. Ignoring these important

5 min read
Design TipsPopular

10 Graphic Designer Do's and Don'ts to Consider for your Next Print Run

Graphic design is a term that many people have trouble coming to terms with. What does it mean? Designers get asked questions such as “Design… like fashion?” and “It’s basically just art, right?” on an almost weekly basis. This is probably due to the assumption that you don’t really need a qualification to be a

9 min read
Marketing Materials

Menu Printing on a Budget: What You Never Considered!

A good restaurant owner understands that although your food may be so great that you could practically eat it with a plastic spoon in a dodgy plate and it would still be the best, that’s not the only factor to a successful business. In today’s world, time means money. We can guarantee you that no

5 min read
Design TipsHow To's

Black Ink Printing – How to Set it Up

Black ink printing has been a staple of the printing industry for centuries. Black ink is the most commonly used colour for printing, and it is used in various applications such as newspapers, books, magazines, and even art prints. In this article, we will discuss black ink for printing, its characteristics, and its uses. 100%

3 min read
Marketing Tips

The do's and dont's of marketing your brand in the time of Covid-19

On 9 March, Cadbury launched their annual Easter campaign. The campaign included a grandfather hiding easter eggs for his grandchildren. Who could have predicted that very soon, this scenario would be dangerous, or even impossible in countries like South Africa, where everyone is under strict lockdown regulations. Just 10 days after launching their campaign, Cadbury

6 min read
How To'sMarketing Tips

Get the Most Out of Your Distributed Prints (Effective Tips Guaranteed to Work!)

You have done the difficult work of briefing and finalising a brilliant design and you are using the right printing partner to get your materials ready. However, the work is not yet done. You still have to get your materials into the right hands. Distribution is a time-consuming process if you want to get it right.

7 min read
FAQsGet To Know Us

Is Printulu Legit? (Revealed)

‘Fraudster’, ‘Scammer’, ‘Swindler’. Words any avid online shopper is far too familiar with and tries to avoid avidly. Well, perhaps not “swindler”, unless you’re up to date on 1700’s jargon. Especially with social distancing, even elder generations have become online shopping regulars. And people are becoming more and more sceptical. And for good reason, too.

5 min read
Design TipsFAQs

Is Your Typography Print Ready? Easy Ways To Make Sure Printing Text isn't a Hassle

Great marketing means reaching the right person, with the right message, in the right format. It sounds simple, but we know getting everything right is not that simple. Imagine having that perfect message you want to get across to your clients and are ready to send your marketing collateral to the printers. Now imagine something

8 min read
FAQs

10 Things You Have to Know Before Going to Print! (Everyone Forgets Number 4)

Going to print and ordering large quantities can be nerve-wracking, especially for the average Joe with no prior printing knowledge or experience. Whether you’re promoting your business, and products, or are simply printing items for a personal project, there are various points to consider. A lapse in checking your details, making sure you’ve selected the

7 min read
FAQsGet To Know Us

Delivery Options: Which is the Best Option for Me?

In today’s fast-paced world, convenience is king. Whether it’s getting groceries, ordering takeout, or sending packages, people expect quick and efficient delivery services that fit into their busy schedules. With the rise of e-commerce and the ongoing pandemic, delivery services have become more important than ever before. As a result, businesses across industries are investing

6 min read
Marketing Tips

Content Marketing Strategy: Create WOW Content!

When Microsoft founder Bill Gates wrote in 1996 that ‘content is king,’ he spoke an undeniable marketing truth. Consumers live in a fast-paced world, filled with 30-second snippets, flashing lights, and competing products. That’s why having interesting, useful, and in-depth content is a massive asset for gaining and keeping consumer attention.  Think about what you

7 min read
FAQsMarketing Tips

Banner: Is It Worth The Cost? (Good Or Catastrophic For Your Business?)

Banners can be an effective marketing tool for businesses, but whether they are worth the cost and whether they will have a positive or negative impact on your business depends on a variety of factors. Here are some things to consider when ordering a banner: Target audience: Banners are most effective when they are seen

7 min read
Marketing Tips

Top 8 Best Types of Advertising That Will Save You Money! (Guaranteed)

We’ve all had to start somewhere, and the road isn’t always easy. If you have a small business and are still in the process of scaling up, you have to make the most out of the advertising rands you have.  After all, not everyone is Apple and has enough money in the bank to fund

5 min read
Design TipsLatest Printing News

Revolutionising Design: Artificial Intelligence Tools

Artificial intelligence (AI) can be used in many ways to enhance the design process for printing products, making them faster, more efficient, and more customisable. Because I have been designing for over 12 years, you could say that I am snobby (I like to call it specific). And I might be biased as I am

5 min read
Design TipsFAQs

5 Things Your Letterhead Design MUST Include by Law

Printulu assists thousands of successful businesses every year. Company letterheads are one of the most common and well-known pieces of stationery that business owners order with us, and when the design needs to be done, the order comes through to me.  P.S. Do you want more industry tips from professionals? Join over 2000 business owners

7 min read
Calendar ProductsMarketing Tips

9 Corporate Promotional Gifts That Will Keep You Top of Mind All Year

Your corporate stationery list includes every promotional item (especially made of paper) that your company uses. That means letterheads, envelopes, invoices, stickers, business cards, and so on. But this list also includes USBs, Diaries, Pens, Mousepads, and more.  It’s all in the spirit of giving. The secret is in giving.  Do you remember your Aunt

7 min read
Latest Printing News

Revolutionizing Printing: The Eco-Friendly Benefits of Print on Demand Services

Print on demand has revolutionized printing with small-scale, on-demand production, reducing waste and costs. However, it’s important to consider the environmental impact of these services and how they contribute to sustainability efforts. Reduced Waste One of the main benefits of print-on-demand services is reducing waste. Traditional printing methods often lead to surplus inventory and waste

4 min read
Get To Know UsHow To's

Online Printing Processes: The What, Why and How of Online Printing (Printulu Tells All)

Online printing has its unique processes and it is important that you familiarise yourself with the concept before you dive into the untested waters. It’s not always easy to switch to purchasing online, especially if you are not internet savvy.  It can be daunting to leave your comfort zone. Hence, we are giving you all

5 min read
Design TipsPopular

Graphic Design Software Basics: Create Perfect Prints 100% Of The Time

Here’s the situation. You may excel in using Photoshop or be a seasoned CorelDraw user for your graphic design, but without a solid foundation, you’ll encounter issues. Recently, I received a call from a client who was struggling to export a print-ready file in CMYK from Adobe Photoshop. Despite being a designer, she couldn’t figure

4 min read
Marketing Tips

8 Benefits of Using An Online Printer That Will Boost Your Omnichannel Marketing

In today’s fast-paced world, every business owner and professional seeks to get more things done in a shorter time. We are all living a busier life. Good thing the retail industry has been revolutionizing ways to provide more convenience to consumers and providers through online shopping and ecommerce marketing. Its growing popularity is shifting our

6 min read
Design Tips

The Best Brand Colour Palettes to Increase Engagement

Is the colour scheme you’ve chosen for your brand triggering a desired response? Do you find yourself overwhelmed by the number of potential brand colour palettes. Everyone has favourite colours they tend to gravitate toward when it comes to their work or otherwise. But a skilled designer understands the importance of evaluating a colour scheme

5 min read
Design Tips

Design Software – The Top 5 Applications

As a child, drawing was a favourite pastime of mine, especially during dull moments like lunch with my mom and her friends or long phone calls. All I needed was paper and a pen or pencil to keep myself entertained. This love for art led me to pursue it as a career, with the rise

6 min read
Marketing Tips

17 Printing Products That Will Help You Increase Sales Immediately!

In today’s highly competitive business landscape, standing out from the crowd and capturing the attention of potential customers is essential for the success of any business. While there are many marketing strategies that can be employed to achieve this goal, printing products continue to be a powerful and effective way to get your message in

11 min read
FAQsHow To's

Printing Companies in South Africa: Lead Times and how to speed up the process.

The Holiday Period is a busy time for all of us, with Christmas looming and the shopping list growing. For businesses, this period also means a well-earned break for employees. Unfortunately, this break can put a strain on employees to stay on deadline and target when it comes to printing and marketing production. Printing companies

5 min read
Marketing Tips

Event Branding: 3 Branding Materials and Tips You Don’t Want to Forget!

Just in time for event season, we help you master event branding for maximum profits and rewards! Banners are a great beginning, but branded take-homes and invitations create an image meant to last. Your event is done. The pack-up has been completed, and your consumers are driving home. What is it they’re taking with them?

5 min read
Design Tips

The Best Design Websites for Non-Designers (Design Like a Pro)

In this fast-paced world, where we give ourselves qualifications based on YouTube tutorials it has become very apparent that being a designer is not as simple as we thought it was. Even if you were part of the smart group in preschool that was the first to draw a person with full ligaments instead of

4 min read
Marketing Tips

Marketing for Events: How To And Why Explained

I spent one incredibly busy holiday working as an event planner. And over and over, my boss hammered in the phrase: “Planning is good, promising is better.” I lived in fear of that phrase, but she was right. My boss knew that the secret to a good event was marketing, promising, and operating.  Any event, from the

5 min read
Marketing Tips

Social Media Marketing: How To Combine it With Print Marketing (Explained)

Marketing is simply “putting the right product in the right place, at the right price, at the right time.” Traditional marketing will always have a place in the advertising industry, but new clientele and modern markets call for new and contemporary approaches. Textbook marketing follows the 7P theoretical approach. Product, price, place, promotion, people, process,

7 min read
Design TipsHow To's

Brochures – The Ultimate Guide

Creating print-ready brochures is super easy, here is a quick video that takes you through designing brochures step-by-step. Here are the things you need to look out for: Size: The size of your ordered product is the size of your end product, the artwork size should be exactly the same Image Quality: Images must be

5 min read
Marketing Tips

Omnichannel Marketing: Flyers to Your Website (Episode 1: How To)

Omnichannel marketing sounds easy in theory. All you have to do is ensure each promotional message your audience sees takes them down a sequence of small goals that lead them to the ultimate goal of being an advocate of your brand. However, products are different, services are different, people’s behaviour varies and different channels and

6 min read
Design TipsPopular

10 Commandments of Printing

The 10 commandments of printing include a combination of fundamental design elements and production requirements. These encompass some of the basic features required to successfully produce printed products. Thou shalt not stretch  Stretching your artwork is just lazy…There I said it! There are so many alternatives to overcome slight sizing issues. If you have the

6 min read
Popular

Flyers, Forms & Folders – What paper to use for the top 5 F’s?

Revolutionising the print industry is a highly rewarding adventure! Now you can order your business flyers while you are on your couch watching the latest re-run of 7de laan. But having the access to this power at the tip of your fingertips doesn’t mean you have the knowledge of which material is best for your

5 min read
Design Tips

7 Reasons Your Logo Design is Not Making the Cut (No One Considers Number 3)

Coca Cola. What image comes to mind? Surely, right now, you’re not picturing a clown with pink and blue hair. No, the very first thing you think about when I say Coke is the signature red and white of Coca Cola’s logo design. Paired perhaps with the fizzy brown bubbles that we all love. This

6 min read
Brochures & BookletsHow To's

How To: Make Your Marketing Brochures Achieve Maximum ROI!

They’re a bright gloss, or a sleek matt, collection of colourful pages that display beautiful images of your products and services to inspire action from your reader. Well, when done right. When done wrong they’re just another piece of marketing to throw away. Please, don’t let your marketing brochures get thrown away. A discarded brochure hurts

6 min read
Design TipsPopular

Why Graphic Design is Useless! (Revealed)

Everybody and their grandmother is a designer these days. Heck, give a two-year-old an iPad with free design software and the result could be the next iconic logo for one of the top design brands. In fact, design software is so easily accessible these days that you could probably design your company’s corporate identity and

7 min read
Get To Know Us

Why Placing an Order With Printulu is a BAD Idea! (Revealed)

You are probably on the fence about placing an order with us, asking yourself if using Printulu will be worth it… Well, you might be in for a bumpy ride. We think all informed decisions come with knowing all the facts. This might be deemed an unorthodox way of selling services, but we woke up feeling

8 min read
Marketing Tips

5 Signs It's Time For A Rebrand

If you’ve ever experienced a significant “slate-clearing” life transition — like a big move or a job change — you know one big shakeup can kickstart a domino effect of positive change. Suddenly, you’re empowered to change your hairstyle, refresh your wardrobe, and ditch a few unhealthy habits. You feel different, and before long, everyone

6 min read
Design Tips

5 Popular Graphic Design Trends To Avoid This Year

Graphic design trends are not a fad but an insightful reflection of the changes that are taking place in our society. Graphic designers love to follow them to understand what the market may hold in the future, and how our work can be useful for businesses today. One factor that shaped the design of communications

5 min read
How To's

How To Apply Your Printed Custom Vinyl Stickers In 4 Easy Steps

How to apply vinyl stickers in 4 steps: Step 1: Clean the surface with a light solution of sunlight & water. Step 2: Apply your stickers when temperatures are moderate (18 – 25 degrees) Step 3: Use masking tape to keep your vinyl in place. Step 4: Use the wet method for big block vinyls.

6 min read
Design Tips

The Ultimate Breakdown Of Document File Types: Raster VS Vector?

Have you ever had the frustrating experience of having a designer ask you to “supply your company logo in a vector file”? Maybe they needed a .PNG file. But not an ordinary one – a high resolution, transparent background .PNG file.  Otherwise they simply could not start on the work you’ve already paid for? You’re

6 min read
How To's

How to make your company culture POP without spending thousands on display (see results in 2 weeks).

A recent study on The Culture Economy asked 500 SME senior decision-makers if they believed workplace culture impacts positively on company performance. Of the 500 participants, 72 percent believed company culture does have a positive impact on business performance. This figure only increases as companies grow. This makes sense because most small businesses put most of their

6 min read
FAQs

Signage: What materials are they made of, and which should I choose?

When choosing a sign, we talk a lot about graphic design and artwork choices. These are essential for customer impact and leaving a decent, lasting impression. But just as necessary are the materials used in making signs. Will it be sturdy enough for rough weather? Is it cost-effective? How heavy is it? And can I

6 min read
Design TipsFlyers

Is Your Flyer Design Breaking The Law? (Where To Get Free Elements Online For Your Printing)

If you are a business owner, the chances are that you’ve had to deal with trademarking at some point. Most people are vaguely aware of Intellectual Property Rights, Copyright Law and Trademarking (is Taylor Swift filing ANOTHER copyright lawsuit?). But the fact that these laws extend into the basic flyer design of their product, for

7 min read
Marketing Tips

6 Essential Ways B2B Marketers Are Growing Their Businesses (Make Your Business Indestructible)

Marketing strategies. What’s the first thing you thought of? You most likely thought of something used for B2C (business to client) marketing. These are messages that you might send straight to clients or prospects. The goal here is to be compelling and persuasive enough that the audience responds and engages with your services. But B2B (business-to-business) marketing

8 min read
Design Tips

Design Manuals: The Crucial Branding Tool You Didn't Know About!

Have you ever wandered into your local store after work, looking for your favourite snack? You walk through the aisles, zooming into the exact spot you know it usually sits. You want to get home. It’s been a long day, and you’re exhausted. But where is your snack? You can’t seem to find it, and

5 min read
Design TipsFAQs

Disappointed With Your Prints? It Could Be Your Fault! (Shocking)

There is nothing more frustrating than waiting patiently for your order, and then upon receiving your package discovering that the print came out wrong. We at Printulu want you to get what you expected every time you order with us. Take Jimmy above for instance. Jimmy printed his first 500 flyers with LOL-printers but he

7 min read
Small Business

10 Business Goals That Will Make Your Business Thrive in 2019

New year, new business goals. That’s how the saying goes, right? Wrong. Although we often think of a goal as something that is set at the beginning of the year and then achieved throughout the year, this is not the case for a business. Every single small business owner needs goals to keep moving forward,

5 min read