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Posted on by Shellie Terry Posted in Tips & Tricks
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Post-COVID-19 Prep: Optimize Your Inventory During Downtime

We’ve heard from some print shops that activity may be slowing down in some areas, so we put together some ideas of how you can use your downtime wisely. We all know that storage room inventory can get backed up, so now’s a great time to figure out what you’re using, what’s collecting dust and maybe identify some new, multiuse products that can save you both space and money plus you can earn up to 4X Edge Rewards.

“A good exercise is to put a list together of products you buy regularly and reach out to your vendor and let them know this is what I use regularly,” says LexJet sales rep, Ramiro Torrez. “And ask: Do you have something that is comparable at a better price point?”

Torrez worked with a customer who was buying 25 different products and he made recommendations to whittle the list down to 12 more versatile items. In some cases, the customer saved when buying more of the streamlined list.

“We saved her about $1,200 if she’d replenished one of everything in her old inventory,” he says. “Plus, when you buy in bulk, you’re going to get a better price for it.”

Next, we identified several applications that can be covered by one super-versatile product. Learn more about these products and stock up, so you’re a step ahead when it’s time to ramp up production once again:

VINYL: If you are stocking up on different products for self-adhesive window, signage and car decal graphics, HP Prime Matte Air GP is a one-size-fits-all option. Additionally, HP Optimal Gloss Air GRP can work across the board for wall graphics, corrugated plastic, windows and can even be mounted to Styrofoam.

SIGNAGE FILM: Another super versatile option for signage is LexJet’s Production Display Film, which can stand in for grommeted banners, retractable banner stands, and hanging signage, thanks to its lay-flat characteristics. It’s a cost-effective solution for indoor or short-term outdoor graphics, which is also available in a Solvent version.

POSTER PAPER: If you’re looking for a poster paper that works well outdoors and also doubles as a photo paper with good resolution, check out LexJet Satin Poster Paper 200g. At $0.12 per square foot, it’s a highly cost-effective, PVC-free option that delivers richly detailed, water-resistant prints.

FABRIC: When events start back up, you’ll want to have a fabric on hand that can work on a variety of applications. EnduraFab Frontlit is a 100% polyester knit fabric for Latex users that’s appropriate for lightweight and elegant table skirts, backdrops, step-and-repeats and flags. For aqueous printers, try LexJet Water-Resistant Satin Cloth for a multitude of applications.

MULTI-PURPOSE: One of the most exciting product launches in recent years is LexJet FlexTek. This non-woven technical fabric is a winner thanks to its highly functional and versatile characteristics. It’s recyclable and PVC-free, making it an environmental win, too. FlexTek can be wrapped around stretcher bars to create canvas wraps (as an alternative to polyester canvas) or used for posters, banners or even hanging signage. It’s also available in a Solvent version, and both versions offer long shelf life.

For more ideas for versatile products and good-better-best options for your application, call a LexJet print specialist at 800-453-9538.

Streamline Your Inventory to Save Time and Money
Posted on by Jennifer Corn Posted in Tips & Tricks
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Streamline Your Inventory to Save Time and Money

Many print service providers have a fight on their hands for prime real estate known as “roll storage.” If you have limited space, you know how difficult it is to find room for the different products that you keep on hand for everyday use and the specialty products that are taking up space and collecting dust.

Keeping the right products on hand to reduce inventory will help you save money and storage space. When looking to consolidate, it is important to make sure you select versatile products that will meet the needs of the applications your customers request most often.

Take a look at your current inventory. Do you have different products stocked to create indoor signage, outdoor signage, die-cut stickers, fleet graphics, clear window graphics and to laminate? If so, consider finding products that allow you to streamline your inventory, which means you have fewer rolls to organize, an easier workflow and ensures you have the right product for the right project.

If you have been looking for ways to reduce your print shop inventory by using versatile products, the HP Adhesive Vinyl and Laminates line that was introduced at SGIA last October is a good place to start. A roll of HP Optimal Gloss Air GRP can produce a variety of signage and fleet graphics as well as stickers, while HP Matte and Gloss Polymeric Overlaminates are printable, which means they can be used as protection and when customers request graphics on a clear backdrop.

Noting the importance of having a multipurpose product, William Roll of Signarama in Dothan, Ala. says that his team loves the new HP Adhesive Vinyl line of products. “They grab it for every application they can use it on,” he says. With a high-quality, versatile product in the print shop, you can meet the demands of your customers as well as the needs of your team.

If you would like additional ideas on how to consolidate your print shop inventory or have questions about the HP Adhesive Vinyl and Laminates, contact one of our sales specialists at 800-453-9538 or visit us at LexJet.com.

Posted on by Regan Dickinson Posted in Case Studies & Profiles
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Laminates, Shipping and Customer Service

Finding laminates for inkjet printingI recently called one of LexJet’s customers out of the blue looking for some general feedback on laminates and lamination for one of our industry magazines. The customer, Ray Thompson, Jr. of Signs & Designs in Memphis, happily obliged.

A big part of our discussion revolved around how much Thompson appreciates his LexJet customer specialist, David Ianotti, and how Ianotti has been a valuable resource for the 35-year-old company that’s evolved from a modest hand-painted sign business to a digitally-driven powerhouse.

“If he says he’ll do something for me, it happens immediately. If he says, ‘I’ll check on that,’ I usually get an email within 30 seconds. He keeps me very updated; I don’t even have to ask questions. I order something and he lets me know all the parameters of my inventory and shipping,” says Thompson. “Our production had increased by 35 percent, and we were running out of available stock.  David made a spot for us in the closest warehouse so we could get it super fast every time we order it. David was able to work it out quickly, and the laminate has been a consistent product with no defects roll to roll.”

The consistent product Thompson alluded to above is LexJet Performance Satin UV Vinyl (3 Mil), aka SATLAM. “We’ve had really good success with SATLAM. We’re in a very high moisture area, and one of the advantages is that it has a silica based backer on it, which makes it easier to work with. We’ve tried just about every laminate on the market and this is one of the best we’ve used.”