In-plant Awareness Week Starts Monday

If you were waiting for a reason to promote your in-plant, here it is: Next week is In-plant Awareness Week, an annual event created by the In-plant Printing and Mailing Association (IPMA). The idea is to recognize and celebrate the special contributions of in-house design, printing, mailing and distribution professionals.

All around the country, in-plants will be promoting the value they provide to their parent organizations. Ideas include inviting customers to visit via an open house, inviting your suppliers for coffee/muffins, giving away prizes and creating a flier with tips for customers and a discount coupon.

Announce your upcoming celebration plans through e-mails, your website, a newsletter, job tickets, even your voice mail greeting. Create signs or banners announcing In-plant Awareness Week and position them in high-traffic areas. Hold a drawing each day of the week and encourage customers to stop by your shop every day to enter. Display your competitive pricing. Create signs throughout your organization to show your savings compared to outside vendors. Hand deliver customer thank-you notes. Invite upper management to a pizza party. Offer free "how-to" seminars for customers.

Don't forget to show appreciation to your own staff next week too. Leave each staff member a personalized note of appreciation, suggests IPMA, or host a pot luck lunch.

For more ideas on how to celebrate In-plant Awareness Week (February 23-27), visit the IPMA Web site.