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Why Kitting is the Unsung Hero of Efficient Manufacturing

If you’ve ever found yourself or your team hunting for that one last part to complete a job or worse, delaying a shipment because something small slipped through the cracks you’re not alone.

In the world of manufacturing, it’s easy to underestimate how much time and energy gets eaten up by little logistical snags. Sourcing parts. Assembling components. Packing and labeling. Handling one-off requests from the field. These “small” tasks quietly balloon into major time sinks.

That’s where kitting and assembly services can step in, and at ImageMark, we’ve been helping manufacturers solve logistical challenges and scale smarter for decades.

What Is Kitting in the Manufacturing Industry?

Think of kitting as your behind-the-scenes efficiency booster. It’s the process of gathering all the pieces someone needs to complete a job and packaging them together in a ready-to-use kit.

Some examples:

• Accessory packs that speed up product installation
• Service kits your field team can grab and go
• Line-ready kits that keep your production floor humming

One company we support, a window treatment manufacturer, asked for simple kits with brackets and screws so installers could quickly fix issues on-site. The result? Time saved, pleased customers and fewer fire drills for their internal team.

Why Outsource Kitting for Manufacturing?

Manufacturing runs on efficiency and, let’s be honest, your team has enough on its plate. When you outsource your kitting and assembly to us, you unlock:

• Speed: Kits go out fast, helping you avoid bottlenecks.
• Simplicity: We handle the details—sourcing, assembly, packaging, tracking—so you don’t have to.
• Less Waste: You get exactly what you need, when you need it.
• Scalability: Whether you’re scaling up or slowing down, your operations stay smooth.

What Can We Kit for You?

From one-time sample kits to ongoing service kits, we’re ready. We’ve partnered with clients in automotive, medical, industrial, home goods, and beyond.

Popular kitting options include:

• Accessory hardware kits
• Instruction manuals and branded packaging
• Custom foam inserts or protective packaging
• Labeling, barcoding, and part-number accuracy

Take the Weight Off Your Production Line with Manufacturing Kitting Services

At ImageMark, we don’t just assemble parts—we build solutions that fit your workflow, budget, and goals. We help you create smoother workflows, happier customers, and lighter loads for your production team. With locations in the Southeast, our kitting teams are ready to help you breathe a little easier.

Want to talk through a project? Contact us today. You might be surprised how much smoother things can run with the right partner in your corner—especially when it comes to kitting in the manufacturing industry.

The Impact of Custom Patient Education Materials: Why It Matters More Than You Think

Whether you run a chiropractic office, counseling center, skincare studio, or surgical clinic, you’re in the business of trust, easing worries, and guiding people through some of the most personal parts of their health journey. And one of the easiest ways to strengthen that trust is with custom patient education materials.

Why Custom Education Materials Matter

When a patient walks through your doors, they often have questions (sometimes more than they’re ready to ask). Maybe they’re nervous about a procedure, unclear about post-treatment care, or overwhelmed by choices. Handing them a thoughtfully designed brochure, folder, or FAQ sheet that speaks their language? That’s powerful.

It doesn’t just answer questions—it builds credibility, reduces follow-up calls, and shows you care enough to communicate clearly. That’s the kind of value custom patient education materials deliver every time.

Tips for Creating Effective Patient Materials

• Break it down. Use plain language and short sections. A friendly tone is more approachable than textbook definitions.
• Add visuals. Diagrams, checklists, or before-and-after images (especially for cosmetic services) go a long way.
• Stick to your brand. Even a simple logo, color palette, and consistent font help create a professional, polished look.
• Include next steps. Whether it’s a checklist for post-visit care or QR codes linking to appointment booking, follow-up care options, or helpful product info, always guide your patient toward action.
• Bundle materials together. A branded folder with a welcome letter, service menu, and post-care instructions can make new patients feel at home.

Educate Patients Like A Pro

Want to help your patients feel seen, heard, and supported beyond the appointment? custom patient education materials offer a clear path to doing just that. When information is easy to understand and beautifully presented, your practice earns even more trust and loyalty.

At ImageMark, we help healthcare providers across Charlotte and Greenville design custom patient education materials that look professional and communicate with purpose. From new patient packets to wellness brochures, we make sure your message makes an impact.

Because clear, personalized communication isn’t just good marketing—it’s good care. Let’s create custom patient education materials that support your patients and your brand.

Postage Rates Are Going Up. Here’s How to Keep Your Direct Mail Working.

If you use direct mail to promote your business, you’ve probably seen the headlines: starting July 13, 2025, the USPS is planning to raise the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp from 73 cents to 78 cents. And this isn’t the first bump this year. Back in January, the USPS raised shipping rates for Priority Mail and other services by around 3.2–3.9%.

If you’re wondering what that means for your marketing budget, you’re not alone.

For small businesses, nonprofits, and marketers who rely on mail, these rate changes can feel like a punch to the budget. But direct mail still works. The key is making it work smarter. Let’s look at a few real-world ways you can adjust, save money, and still get results from every piece of mail you send.

1. Stop Mailing to Everyone. Start Mailing to the Right People.

This one’s big. If you’re sending to a huge list just because it’s what you’ve always done, it might be time to reconsider your strategy.

Instead, ask yourself:

• Who actually responds to our mail?
• Are there segments we could trim or target better?
• Do we have outdated or duplicate addresses?

You don’t need a massive list. You need the right list. Clean data and smart segmentation can help you send fewer pieces and get better results. Try mailing to a smaller, more qualified group, like repeat customers or leads who’ve engaged recently, and test your message with them first.

2. Save Postage by Designing Smarter Mail Pieces

Postage isn’t just about how much you mail. It’s also about what you mail.

The shape, size, and weight of your piece can all impact how much you pay. For example:

• Stick to standard postcard sizes (like 6″ x 9″) to avoid surcharges
• Square cards? Cool-looking, but they cost more
• Thicker paper? Also pricier to mail

Even a simple change, like trimming the size of a flyer or using thinner stock, can shave off cents per piece. Over a few thousand pieces, that adds up.

If you’re not sure what qualifies for the lowest rates, just ask. We’re happy to walk through the options before you print.

3. Get More from Every Mail Piece with a Digital Boost

Direct mail on its own is powerful. But when you connect it to digital tools, you get even more traction.

Here are a few simple ways to do that:

• Add a QR code that links to a video, promo code, or sign-up form
• Create a special landing page just for people who received your mailer
• Follow up your mailing with an email reminder or social post

Why does this work? Because it gives people an easy way to respond, and it helps you track what’s working. (And what’s not.)

4. Work with a Printer Who Knows the Postal System

Look, navigating postal rates, mail classes, and delivery timelines isn’t exactly most people’s idea of fun.

But it’s our thing — and we’ve helped a lot of businesses get better results while spending less. Here’s what that looks like:

• Choosing formats that qualify for discounts
• Timing your mail drops to hit mail boxes just right
• Cleaning your list so you’re not paying for undeliverable addresses
• Helping you decide if options like EDDM make sense

When postage prices go up, it pays (literally) to work with someone who knows the ins and outs of the system.

Why Direct Mail Still Belongs in Your Marketing Plan

Postage rates are changing, but it’s not the end of direct mail — not even close. With the right strategy, you can master how to save on direct mail postage and keep your campaigns effective and affordable.

If you’re thoughtful about your list, design, and strategy, you can keep mailing, stay on budget, and still get results. You just need the right approach and the right support.

Want help adjusting your next mailing before the new rates kick in? Let’s connect. We’ll walk you through the options, help you find ways to save, and make sure your message still lands where it matters — in the hands of your next customer.

Get Noticed with These 9 Out of the Box Print Marketing Ideas

While digital marketing has dominated the advertising world in recent years, it’s essential not to overlook the power of print.

Print marketing can be a refreshing change from the constant bombardment of online ads, emails, and social media posts. 56% of all consumers trust print marketing more than any other advertising method. Plus, it allows you to reach potential customers who may not spend much time online.

Make Your Mark Today with Print!

If you’re ready to make a lasting impression with your marketing efforts, here are nine out-of-the-box print marketing ideas to get you noticed.

Oversized Mailers

Think big!

Oversized envelopes have the greatest household return on investment over other mediums like postcards and letter-sized envelopes. You can use this extra space to showcase your brand, products, or services in a visually appealing and compelling way.

3D Pop-Up Cards

Bring that same wonder and surprise of 3D pop-up books to your print marketing with 3D pop-up cards.

These interactive pieces are eye-catching and provide a tactile experience for the recipient, making them more likely to remember your brand.

Magnetic Calendars

Looking for a way to stay top of mind with your customers all year long?

Consider creating magnetic calendars that can be easily attached to filing cabinets, refrigerators, or other metal surfaces. These calendars are practical for daily use and serve as constant reminders of your business.

Brochures with QR Codes

Make your print materials interactive by including QR codes that lead to exclusive content or special offers.

The modern touch of a QR code builds a bridge between your physical and digital materials, allowing you to track engagement and gather customer data.

Die-Cut Business Cards

Stand out from the sea of rectangular business cards by opting for a unique die-cut shape.

This will not only make your card more visually appealing, but it can also reflect your brand’s personality and creativity.

Custom Stickers

Who doesn’t love stickers?

Create custom stickers with your brand message or logo to give out at events, include them in orders, or use them as a fun way to personalize packaging. These small but impactful items can go a long way in promoting your business.

Personalized Notepads

Everyone needs a notepad to jot down quick notes or reminders.

Take advantage of this by creating personalized notepads with your logo and brand colors. This is a subtle but effective way to keep your business top of mind.

Mini Brochures

Sometimes, less is more, which is where mini brochures come in handy.

These compact, folded pieces are perfect for handing out at events, including in mailers or displaying on countertops. They allow you to share important information about your business without overwhelming the reader.

Scratch-Off Cards

Create custom scratch-off cards with discounts, prizes, or other incentives to encourage people to engage with your brand.

This is a fun and interactive way to promote your business while creating excitement and buzz.

Branded Packaging

Take your print marketing further by incorporating your brand into your packaging materials.

This can include custom tissue paper, stickers, or even branded boxes or bags that make receiving a package from your business feel like a unique experience.

Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and try something new – it may be the key to getting noticed in today’s crowded advertising landscape. So start printing and promoting your business in a whole new way!

Are you ready to take your print marketing to the next level? Contact us today, and let us help you create eye-catching and unique materials that will get your business noticed.

Where to Find Data for Effective Marketing

Great marketing starts with knowing your customers. Knowing your customers starts with great data. So where do you get it? How do you find that “marketing gold” that helps you better understand your customers and refine your targeted communications? Here are five places you can start.

1. In-House Data: The Treasures Within

One of the most valuable assets a company possesses is its in-house data. This includes customer databases, transaction histories, and interactions with the brand. Analyzing this data provides insights into customer behaviors, preferences, and patterns. This will require breaking down the silos between the areas where these data sources reside so that you can create a centralized data repository.

2. Expanding Horizons with Purchased Lists

Data houses or list providers specialize in compiling and selling targeted lists based on specific criteria such as demographics, industry, or geographic location. Purchasing lists from reputable data houses offers a quick and efficient way to access a more targeted audience. Before you hit “purchase,” however, carefully vet your data providers to ensure data accuracy, relevance, and compliance with data protection regulations.

3. Magazine Purchased Lists

Magazines often compile and sell subscriber lists to businesses looking to target a specific niche audience. For example, a technology company might find value in acquiring a list from a tech-focused publication.

4. Online Surveys and Forms: Direct Engagement for Data Collection

Consider engaging directly with your audience through online surveys and forms. This not only fosters interaction but also provides valuable data. By incentivizing participation, you can gather information about your audience’s preferences, opinions, and demographics for use in refining your marketing strategies and tailoring your offerings going forward.

5. Partnerships and Collaborations: Shared Data for Mutual Benefit

Collaborating with complementary businesses or forming partnerships can open avenues to shared data. By mutually leveraging each other’s customer insights, you can both expand your reach and create more impactful marketing campaigns.

A Holistic Approach to Data Utilization

Great data is everywhere, and you don’t need to tap into every resource all at once. Pick one data source and start there. Incorporate what you learn, then gradually add to your knowledge over time. Regardless of where you start, carefully integrate the wide variety of data sources available so you can enhance your understanding of the market, refine your targeting efforts, and ultimately achieve more impactful results!

Avoid These 5 Top Mailing Mistakes

Consumers love direct mail, but just because your beautifully designed letter or postcard arrives in their mailbox doesn’t mean they are automatically going to read it. Even with the most eye-catching pieces, common mistakes can hinder your success. Let’s look at five top mistakes to avoid in order to get the best results.

1. Inaccurate targeting

Your piece may look great, but if you’re sending it to the wrong audience or not including relevant information, it’s going to be a dud. Instead of delighting your audience, you’ll get lower response rates and risk damaging your business reputation.

2. Poor data quality

When was the last time you cleaned and updated your mailing list? Whether they’re changing jobs, upsizing (or downsizing) their homes, or just looking for something new, Americans move an average of 12 times in their lifetimes. In the business environment, the average worker makes a career change every four years. Keep your mailing list up to date!

3. Overlooking personalization

Even something as simple as personalizing a piece using the recipient’s name causes them to take a second look. Adding relevant information based on what you know about them holds recipients’ attention even further. Personalize your mail pieces, even if it’s just their name. This will increase response rates, increase engagement, and create opportunities to deepen connections.

4. Ignoring print quality

Thinking about using a lower quality of paper or going with a cut-rate printer to cut costs? Don’t! Even with a great list and a powerful call to action, a poorly printed piece risks being sent right into the trash. Plus, it looks very bad for your brand.

5. Not integrating with digital channels

We live in a busy world in which your audience is constantly being bombarded with marketing messages. Don’t risk getting lost in the noise. Integrate your print and digital campaigns to keep your name in front of your audience. Combine print, email, social media, and events. Drip, drip, drip your messaging until it breaks through.

Successful mailing campaigns aren’t rocket science. Focus on accurate targeting, personalized content, and seamless integration with other marketing channels. With careful planning, attention to detail, and a commitment to maintaining high-quality data, you can see a huge payoff in the end.

Web to Print Services in Charlotte, North Carolina: Empowering Businesses with Customized Online Printing Solutions

Web to print services in Charlotte, North Carolina have revolutionized the printing industry, providing businesses with a digital platform to order and customize their print products on demand, eliminating the need for physical interactions and streamlining the process from start to finish.

ImageMark offers comprehensive web to print solutions to businesses of all sizes.

What are Web to Print Solutions?

Web to print solutions are online platforms that allow businesses to order and customize their print products from any location with an internet connection. This eliminates the need for physical interactions and minimizes the potential for errors, making the process more efficient and cost-effective.

With web to print services in Charlotte, North Carolina, you can upload your own designs or use pre-made templates to create customized prints, giving you complete control over the design and specifications of your print products.

Enhance Your Business: The Importance of a Web-to-Print Storefront

• Convenience: Easily order and personalize print materials anytime, anywhere for a seamless experience. Enjoy smooth communication with your print partner, simplifying order placement and tracking.
• Time Efficiency: Streamline manual processes, freeing up time for other tasks while ensuring quicker and more effective print ordering.
• Brand Uniformity: Ensure consistent brand identity throughout the ordering process, offering customers a cohesive experience.
• Cost Savings: Achieve greater cost-effectiveness, especially beneficial for companies with diverse product offerings and recurring orders.

Discover the convenience, time efficiency, cost savings, and brand uniformity that ImageMark can provide with our tailored digital storefronts.

Custom Branding with Web-to-Print Solutions

In today’s competitive market, branding is crucial for businesses to stand out.

Web-to-print solutions let you easily customize print products to reflect your brand, including logos, colors, fonts, and messaging.

A dedicated web-to-print storefront ensures consistent branding for a seamless customer experience, enhancing recognition and building trust.

These solutions also allow easy updates to branding materials, which is ideal for businesses with frequent promotions or seasonal updates.

With ImageMark’s web-to-print services, you’ll have complete control over your branding needs for consistent representation across print materials.

Experience the power of customized branding with our tailored web-to-print services in Charlotte, North Carolina today. Contact ImageMark now to get started!

Boost Your Marketing Strategy with Direct Mail Services in Charlotte, North Carolina

Direct mail services in Charlotte, North Carolina have been a cornerstone of effective marketing strategy for decades. Despite the rise of online marketing, direct mail is a powerful tool for companies seeking to connect with their target audience through personalized messaging.

ImageMark, a reputable direct mail service provider located in Charlotte, North Carolina, offers a range of services to assist businesses in enhancing their marketing strategies through direct mail.

Tangible Marketing Material That Grabs Attention

In today’s saturated digital landscape, standing out among countless online ads and emails can be challenging.

Direct mail offers tangible and physical marketing material that is more likely to grab the attention of potential customers.

With creative design and eye-catching visuals, direct mail can make a lasting impression on your prospects, leading to higher response rates than digital methods.

Targeted and Personalized Messaging

Direct mail allows for highly personalized and targeted messaging catering to specific demographics, interests, and behaviors.

With accurate data and mailing lists, your business can tailor your message to resonate with the recipient and increase the likelihood of conversion.

Direct mail allows for personalization in terms of design, such as including the recipient’s name or location, adding a personal touch to the marketing material.

Cost-Effective Marketing Solution

With technological advancements and data analytics, direct mail has become a cost-effective marketing solution.

By targeting specific audiences and reducing printing costs through digital printing options, your business can save on overall marketing expenses while achieving a high return on investment.

Comprehensive Direct Mail Services in Charlotte, North Carolina

ImageMark offers a wide range of direct mail services to meet the needs and goals of businesses in Charlotte, North Carolina, and beyond.

Our team can handle every aspect of your direct mail campaign from concept to delivery.

Whether your business is looking for traditional postcards or unique and custom mailers, ImageMark has the expertise and resources to create effective direct mail campaigns that generate results.

Among the services we offer are:

• Direct mail design: Our design team can create visually appealing and on-brand marketing materials that will impact your target audience.
• Digital printing: With our numerous digital printing presses, we can produce high-quality direct mail pieces quickly and cost-effectively without compromising customization options.
• Mailing list acquisition: We have access to accurate and up-to-date mailing lists, allowing your business to target specific demographics and increase the success of your direct mail campaigns.
• Informed Delivery Support: With our knowledge of USPS Informed Delivery service , we can assist with triggering campaigns and providing performance tracking of your direct mail campaigns, giving insights into what works and what can be improved for future initiatives.

Ready to enhance your marketing strategy with direct mail? Contact ImageMark today to learn more about our comprehensive direct mail services Charlotte, North Carolina and how we can help your business achieve its goals.

Choosing the Right Envelope for Every Occasion

Direct mail is a powerful tool! It can spread the word about your company to prospective customers and help you to engage with existing contacts. According to research, 73% of American consumers say they prefer being contacted by brands via direct mail because they can read it whenever they want.

Creating a direct mail plan for your company is essential. However, one simple factor that can increase the response rate for your direct mail is the type of envelope you use! Interestingly, oversized envelopes have the highest direct mail response rate, with the second-highest response rate being 5.7% for postcards and 4.3% for letter-sized envelopes.

It’s important to realize that your direct mail has many different sizing options. Read more to find out the perfect size for your next mail campaign!

A Quick Guide to Envelope and Insert Sizes

Two main categories of envelope sizes can be used for direct mail purposes: A-Style or Commercial.

1. A-Style (Announcement) Envelopes

These envelopes are square-shaped, which makes them stand out from other mail pieces and creates a sense of elevated importance for the recipient.

A-Style envelopes are ideal for things like invitations or important announcements, but they can also be used for brochures, cards, or any other type of direct mail.

Read on for an easy guide on insert sizes for each corresponding envelope size.

a. A2

For the envelope, use a width of 5.75 inches and a height of 4.375 inches. For the insert, use a width of 5.5 inches and a height of 4.125 inches.

b. A6

For the envelope, use a width of 6.5 inches and a height of 4.75 inches. For the insert, use a width of 6.25 inches and a height of 4.5 inches.

c. A7

For the envelope, use a width of 7.25 inches and a height of 5.25 inches. For the insert, use a width of 7 inches and a height of 5 inches.

d. A8

For the envelope, use a width of 8.125 inches and a height of 5.5 inches. For the insert, use a width of 7.875 inches and a height of 5.25 inches.

e. A10

For the envelope, use a width of 8.125 inches and a height of 5.5 inches. For the insert, use a width of 9.25 inches and a height of 5.875 inches.

2. Commercial Envelopes

Commercial envelopes are a classic option for your direct mail.

Commercial is an excellent choice for standard direct mail, including newsletters, invoices, checks, etc.

Also available with or without a window, the following sizes are all options for commercial envelopes.

a. #6 ½ 

For the envelope, use a width of 6.25 inches and a height of 3.5625 inches. For the insert, use a width of 6 inches and a height of 3.3125 inches.

b. #6 ¾

For envelopes, use a width of 6.5 inches and a height of 3.5 inches. For the insert, use a width of 6.25 inches and a height of 3.325 inches.

c. #7 ¾ (Monarch)

For envelopes, use a width of 7.5 inches and a height of 3.875 inches. For the insert, use a width of 7.5 inches and a height of 3.625 inches.

d. #9

For envelopes, use a width of 8.875 inches and a height of 3.875 inches. For the insert, use a width of 8.625 inches and a height of 3.625 inches.

e. #10

For envelopes, use a width of 9.5 inches and a height of 4.125 inches. For the insert, use a width of 9.25 inches and a height of 4 inches.

As you use this helpful guide to create your next great direct mail campaign, our company is here for you every step of the way! Visit our website today for more tips and information.

Gratitude: Enhancing Your Well-Being and Business Success

We’re grateful for incredible customers like you all year, especially this season.

Taking time for appreciation is important for all of us – for many reasons. Research shows that gratitude has several beneficial effects:

• Gratitude enables people to savor positive experiences and have greater life satisfaction.
• Thankful attitudes help individuals cope with stressful circumstances and be resilient in facing challenges.
• Expressing appreciation strengthens social relationships.
• Gratitude improves people’s health and well-being.

According to the Mayo Clinic, feeling thankful can improve sleep, mood, and immunity while decreasing depression, anxiety, chronic pain, and disease risk. In Mayo’s words: “If a pill could do this, everyone would be taking it!”

A Year-End Message of Appreciation from Our Business

In this holiday season, we want to express our gratitude.

Thank you for your patronage, partnership, and loyalty. Print is not about projects; it’s about people, and it is truly our pleasure to help people like you succeed.

Also, your steadfast partnership is the fuel that powers our firm to offer greater flexibility, shorter lead times, and best-quality service. Consider this unbeatable customer care our most sincere expression of gratitude.

Create Pristine Products with Start-to-Finish Partnership

As you think ahead to a new year, please know our team is standing by to assist.

Create, order, and shape your printing project with practical help at each step.

Design and Marketing Support

Shape logos, branding, new product launches, or personalized mailings.

Build from scratch or revitalize existing designs with helpful consults from our experienced team. Our goal is to provide the right level of service for projects large and small.

Solutions-Oriented Teamwork

Wondering about sizes, layouts, or projects that break out of the preset templates?

We’re glad to collaborate. With can-do attitudes, our team seeks to flush out ideas in ways that work best for your budget – any color, any size, any time!

Exceptional Bindings and Finishes

Custom finishes can make your products sing like a beautiful bow on a gift.

Amplify impact with textures, bindings, die-cuts, gloss or matte overlays, custom seals, and more. Inquire about details if you are looking to brainstorm!

Helpful Proofing and Accessible Consults

Are you prepping artwork or handling large orders?

Avoid stressful setbacks and costly mistakes with friendly guidance from our team.

We are pleased to serve you and look forward to collaborating soon. We know the world is full of choices. Thank you for choosing us!