23 May 2013

Printers in SE15

Bellow is a selection of printing companies in SE15:

 

Perfect Colours Ltd
Unit 2, 43-47 Glengall Road
Peckham
London SE15 6NF
Telephone: 0845 680 9000
Fax: 020 7735 5308
Web: http://www.perfectcolours.com

 

Easy Print
88 Peckham Rye
Peckham
London SE15 4HD
Telephone: 020 7732 7411
Web: http://www.easyprinters.com

 

The Bluwave Group
Unit 1b, 1a Philip Walk
London SE15 3NH
Tel: 020 7277 7663
Web: http://www.thebluwavegroup.com

 

Farris Quick Print
20 Maxted Road
London SE15
Tel: 020 7639 6764

 

Disclaimer:   Please note, this list does not act as recommendation or endorsement of the services provided by these companies.  PVSF is not responsible for the services of the companies above and if using, you must carry out checks as outlined by your organisation’s policies & procedures.

 

Branding Top Ten Tips


A brand is one of the most powerful tools on the planet for an organisation.  It can help stakeholders to understand how your projects, services and products compare to other organisations offering a similar service and make them stand out in your sector.  A good brand will encourage stakeholders to use your services and buy your products repeatedly.

 

Many organisations will spend lots of time and money to establish a brand by creating an organisation name and a tag line with associated values – all of which will show great promise.  Brand awareness is built into company culture and all the right things are done to ensure that the brand fits with the organisation’s core values to make sure they can honestly deliver what the brand promises.

Read the top 10 branding tips below to find out how to maximise your brand, create a brand if you have don’t have one and maintain the brand that you have spent so long to create.

 

Dos – How to Get it Right

1. If you already have a brand, assess its value by comparing it with your competitors.  What does it stand for?  What associations does it conjure with your stakeholders?  Has it kept up with the times?  Review it and consider a re-design or re-brand if your brand is not working for you.

2. If you don’t have a brand, get one!  Brands help people to identify with your organisation’s proposition – what you are about, what you stand for etc.  Your brand is a vital aid to correctly ‘position’ your organisation and what you do.  Get it right first time and prepare a written brief for your designer, even if it takes longer and involves looking at more options. The design brief needs to include anything you feel is relevant, including how your organisation started, the areas you cover, your mission, vision, aims, objectives and who your stakeholders are etc. A good designer will also tease other influences out of you, but they must have a clear understanding of the objectives of your brand from the start.

3. Think about how and where your brand will be displayed.  Ensure the shapes and colours will work in the media and formats you use e.g. on screen, in print, on buildings and vehicles.  If the branding will be used on a tangible product, will it look right when the products are on display for example?

4. Once you have created or refreshed your brand, wear it with pride. It’s an opportunity for publicity, so announce it with a flourish.  Keep promoting your new brand – make sure it is seen prominently on all your products and marketing communications.

5. Make sure your brand is used correctly and consistently – never allow someone else to make their own version of your brand or logo.  Ideally, ask the original designer to produce a brand manual or guidelines document, and make sure suppliers receive it and use it.

6. Review your brand from time to time (maybe every two years) to make sure it is still delivering your objectives and keeping you distinct from the competition.

 

DON’T’s – How to Kill your Organisation’s Branding

So you have your fantastic brand in place – time to relax right?  Far from it!  The best branding is an ongoing unified effort that should never stop.  Even the most popular brand in the world can be killed – deliberately or by accident.  Below are the most common mistakes that kill brands. Memorise all of them and if you catch yourself doing any of them, turn it around fast.

7. Inconsistent Corporate Identity – An organisation must use the same name, logo and tag line in every communication sent internally or externally.  The organisation name must match what is on your business card and website.  Branding won’t be achieved if you choose to use only one or two marketing avenues to get the word out (like only radio, or newspaper ads).  Your stakeholders must hear and see your name, logo, tag line and colours consistently over and over again in many different ways before your brand is imprinted on their minds.

8. Poor Visuals (or no visuals) – If you want your organisation’s name to pop into someone’s mind, be aware that pictures are more memorable than words especially for visual people.  Have a consistent visual picture and logo to represent your company, create a strong company visual image (logo) and make it known.

9. Not Training Employees – Think of your colleagues, trustees and volunteers as potentially walking, talking billboards.  Make sure they know how to represent the organisation’s brand – train them to be community ambassadors in your marketing campaign.  Reward them when you find them doing it right.

10. Not Knowing Where Successful Branding Starts – Successful branding starts inside your company.  Your brand is nurtured within the organisation and only you, your staff, trustees, volunteers and supporters truly know your core services and values and can deliver your brand message.

We accept no limits and invite you to imagine no limits to making your brand known in your community and beyond.  For more information or advice, call me:

 

Richard Shepherd

RKO Graphics

Tel: 07429 903519

Web: www.rkographics.com

Making Connections Spring Marketing Workshops – March 2012

The Making Connections marketing workshops are back by popular demand!  The ‘Spring’ workshops will be held in the evening for those of you who missed them previously and will be ideal for those of you who cannot make it in the daytime.

Places are limited and are offered on a first come first served basis.  Please contact Lydia Edwards, Tel: 020 7732 2220 / Email: lydia@peckhamforum.org.uk to confirm if you would to attend any of these marketing workshops so that a place can be reserved for you.

 

Making Connections / Marketing Evening Workshops (Spring Series): 5-26 March 2012

  1. Monday 5 March 2012 (5-7.30pm) – Making Connections Intro & Working Within the Law
  2. Monday 12 March 2012 (5-7.30pm) – Media, PR, Networking & Presenting
  3. Monday 19 March 2012 (5-7.30pm) – Websites & Social Media Introduction
  4. Monday 26 March 2012 (5-7.30pm) – Photography, Annual Reports, Posters & Leaflets

 

-        Tea & Coffee available.

-        All workshops will be held at PVSF, 48 Willowbrook Road, Peckham SE15 6BW

-        Free for PVSF members / £15 for non-members

 

If you are not PVSF member, please contact us about joining or download the PVSF membership pack and send a completed application form to PVSF.  If you would like to be considered to join the PVSF Making Connections project, please contact Lydia Edwards, Tel: 020 7732 2220 / Email: lydia@peckhamforum.org.uk or complete a Making Connections application form and return it to me.

PVSF Website Instructions

As promised we have now given members access to the PVSF website to add news, articles and publicise events.  So instead of sending PVSF your fliers and posters, simply input the information yourself and once approved it will appear on the PVSF website and where appropriate, be distributed in the PVSF eBulletin.

What kind of news and information should up upload onto the PVSF website?

Let the community know about:

  • Forthcoming events – where, when and why (give plenty of notice)
  • Your organisation’s achievements – awards, successful grant bids, new staff or volunteers
  • Your projects – publicise forthcoming projects and give updates on projects that you are currently working on
  • How can the community get involved – fundraising, volunteering, research etc
  • Stories about the people that you help – how do you help people, what are your success stories?

 

Usernames & Passwords

If you haven’t already received a unique username and password for your organisation, please contact David Reid, PVSF Coordinator who will arrange this for you

 

Upload Instructions

  1. Logon with Username and Password.
  2. Select ‘Posts’ and then ‘Add New’ – enter the title, article & event calendar details if required.
  3. Save ‘Draft’ if not complete.
  4. ‘Preview’ to see how article will look like in a web page.
  5. ‘Submit for Review’ for PVSF to approve.
  6. Please review our detailed instructions on how to add articles and events and let us know if you have any questions.

Making Connections Year 2 (2011-2012)

Making Connections Marketing Project - Year 2

Applications are now open for the second year of Peckham Voluntary Sector Forum’s innovative Making Connections project where we will help even more organisations achieve their marketing objectives.  

As part  of the Making Connections Project, we provide free marketing help to member organisations that are based in Peckham & Nunhead or those that serve the community in these areas.   Through a variety of interactive worshops and one-to-one mentoring sessions we will cover a wide range of topics including Photography, Websites, Annual Reports and Public Relations.

 

Download the Making Connections Application Pack – Apply NOW!

  • Download a full application pack with further details with a hand-written application form and return to PVSF.  The second year of the project has started but places are still available.  Apply no so that you do not miss out!
  • A Word version application form that can be typed can be downloaded as an alternative.  However, you must make sure to ‘Enable the content’ by clicking on the ‘Options’ button (top right) first so that you can type in the boxes available.

 

Marketing Workshops (November – December 2011)

  • A series of workshops will initially run every Tuesday (10am – 1pm) at PVSF offices from 15 November 2011 (subsequent dates in 2012 tbc).   The workshops are free to all PVSF members including those accepted on the Making Connections project. 
  • For non-members each workshop will cost £15 per workshop with a discounted rate of £60 (a saving of £15) if all five workshops are booked at the same time.   

The REVISED workshop schedule and topics include:

  1. 15 November 2011 – Making Connections Intro & Working Within the Law
  2. 22 November 2011 – Media, PR, Networking & Presenting (revised date)
  3. 29 November 2011 – Photography for Community & Voluntary Groups (revised date)
  4. 6 December 2011 – Websites & Social Media Introduction
  5. 13 December 2011 – Annual Reports, Posters & Leaflets

 All run from 10am – 1pm (tea & coffee available)

FREE Marketing Consultancy (to organisations accepted onto Making Connections project)

  • Each PVSF member / community organisation accepted onto the project will be helped to implement action points from the Making Connections workshops. 
  • During a 12 month period, a series of FREE one-to-one mentoring sessions and/or consultancy will be arranged with individual groups (up to 20 hours per organisation during the project period). 
  • For non-members marketing consultancy for non-members can also be arranged.  If you are interested, please contact us for further information.

 

Tips for Better Portrait Photographs

TIPS FOR BETTER PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHS FOR BUSINESS & SOCIAL MEDIA SITES

  •  Don’t have a distracting background, something plain is better. We’re all naturally curious, if there’s something going on behind you, people will be inclined to look at whatever it is, taking their attention away from you.
  • Get in close, fill the picture with your face.  Nobody is going to recognise you from your arms or the top that you’re wearing that day.
  • Don’t wear sunglasses, especially if you’re indoors. It may look cool in the summer but not in January.  Also people want to see your eyes, they’re the “window to your soul”.  You want people to trust you, let them look you straight in the eye.
  • Look straight at the camera, similar to above, you want to engage with people who are viewing your profile.  Beware though you don’t want to end up with a passport photograph.  Don’t sit or stand straight on, possibly have one shoulder towards the camera, be slightly three quarters on and turn your head a bit to the camera.
  • Smile.  Not too much, you don’t want to look scary or manic.  On the other hand, you don’t want to look too serious or mean (unless you’re a bailiff).  Just a relaxed, welcoming half smile. People like to engage with people who they think will be pleasant to deal with.
  • Dress smart, wear something professional looking. The visual equivalent of having a polished C.V.
  • Try, wherever possible to find a soft light source such as from a large window.   Avoid harsh lighting such as direct sunlight, as not only will the subject most probably be squinting but it will be very unflattering.  Most advertising photographs are very softly lit and you are in essence advertising yourself.  On camera flash should also be avoided as it often gives “redeye” and can cast hard shadows against the background.
  •  If all this sounds way to difficult, go to a professional photographer.

 

By Colin Crisford – Photographer

29th June 2011

www.colincrisford.co.uk

 Tel: 07956 142077

The Importance of Good PR

The closure of the News of the World newspaper after 168 years of  publication demonstrates the power of media and the impact that public relations (PR) – good and bad - can have. 

PR can be used to protect the reputation of your non-profit organisation, its message and what it stands for.  PR can help to inform the public about your cause, create a positive attitude but most importantly build a reservoir of goodwill.

Therefore it is important that you understand which audiences you are trying to target and the different people or organisations that will be interested in the work you do.  Once you know this, you can target your public relations activity to these groups and use different techniques and types of media to get your message across. 

Apart from promote your services to the community within which you work you should also engage with employees and/or volunteers about up and coming events, project and fundraising activities.  ’Internal Public Relations’ as a great tool to inspire staff about your cause.

The next question is which type of media can you use to connect with your target audience? 

  • Traditional media – newspapers, radio, TV & magazines.
  • New/Digital media - the internet, blogs, websites and emails.
  • Social media – Facebook, Twitter, Utube, Flickr etc.
  • Ambient media – non intrusive advertising e.g. on the back of bus tickets, in public toilets or on the back of receipts. 

Here are some examples of low-costtools that can be used:

  • Your website.
  • Word of mouth / recommendations. 
  • Email newsletters or printed direct mail to people on your database who may have previously donated.
  • Press releases to local media about your events and fundraising activites. 
  • Presentations to stakeholders including staff and volunteers about your organisation’s vision for the future.
  • Annual reports to show that your non-profit organisation is transparent.

 The Making Connections Project is running a workshop which will include Public Relations in the near future.  For more details contact Lydia Edwards at lydia@peckhamforum.org.uk or have a look at the Making Connections workshop information.

What’s in a Photograph?

Photographic images can help tell a story of an organisation and what their true values are.  In non-profit organisations it can be used for so much more, for example:

  • To gain more supporters.
  • To aid fundraising activities.
  • To raise an organisation’s profile in their arena.
  • To help support a branding message and develop your story.

Your organisation is your brand; one which you need to develop and market for the following reasons:

  • To encourage volunteer participation.
  • To develop partnerships with other organisations.
  • To ensure your community is aware of what you do and how you can help them.

The community will want to see your work in action. Include photographs of open days, community projects or just yourselves at work!  Part of marketing is striving to make a connection with all your stakeholders.  A powerful image can last for just as long as a verbal conversation. As the saying goes ‘A picture tells a thousand words’.  If you use photos that you’ve taken, remember to gain the consent of any living individuals included.

Images stay in the memory for a long period. Relate your photos to the message of your organisation.  Set your digital camera to a high resolution so that images can be reproduced at their best.  At least 300 dpi (dots per inch) is necessary to get a decent print quality. 

Remember to log dates of when and where they’ve been taken so you can also produce a photographic folder on your computer and keep an actual photograph album.  The first can be used for PR purposes; the other to show interested parties what you’re about.  And guess what?  In the future you’ll be able to look back – history as the name suggests cannot be reproduced.

The Making Connections Project is running a a series of workshops to help you with your marketing communications. For more details contact Lydia Edwards, Marketing & Communications Project Officer at lydia@peckhamforum.org.uk or find more details here.