Young Companies ARE Buying Print and it Blows my Mind

Print Marketing for Startup Business

When you think of young companies and marketing, you probably immediately think of social media. I just finished a project with a young company that’s so print-loving it blew my mind. I’ll call them Nater’s Skateboards to protect their confidentiality. Read below to learn the benefits of Print Marketing for Startup Business.

First things first: Nater’s Skateboards is a crazy huge buyer of print.

Here’s why it blows my mind that they love print:

• The company is a start-up, less than two years old.
• The owner focuses on extreme growth.
• The customer demographic is a very specific niche that businesses reach through digital channels.

Shame on me for assuming I’d have to convince a young company to use print.

So why is all this print flowing?

For one thing, the company is hiring people quickly. During the time I worked on the project, they hired four executive managers. They added employees due to a merger. They aligned job descriptions across their locations, so everyone got new job titles.

I know what you’re thinking. Business cards!

Yes, and so much more in Their Print Marketing for Startup Business

Nater’s Skateboards is finishing their new corporate headquarters, complete with colorful wall graphics, indoor and outdoor signage, and all the print items that feature their new address.

They just acquired a company and changed its name, which required new branded materials for that location.

Their mailers dominate the zip codes where their target customers live by sending regular print-mail campaigns.

They spend, spend, spend to acquire new customers.

Serious skateboarders often buy a board every few months, and they have multiple boards in the rotation. Even casual skateboarders spend hundreds of dollars on boards, clothing, shoes, special backpacks and supplies.

In the skateboard world, customers are worth a lot of money.

To reach them, Nater’s Skateboards surrounds customers with video, chat, and social media. They use cool printed stuff to reward fans and build affection.

That’s right. They use print to increase loyalty.

Nater’s Skateboards uses print to woo its customers in unexpected ways:

CLOTHING

• Owners give influential customers branded clothing and promotional items, sometimes signed by pros.
• Apparel designs are changed often to keep young customers buzzing and buying.

PACKAGING

• Containers and boxes are highly decorated and very, very well designed.
• Partner products, like Vans shoes or GoPro cameras, are packaged creatively and prominently displayed.

EVENTS

• At skateboarding events, tables are piled high with posters, t-shirts, hats, phone cases, accessories, and more.
• Employees hand out small items such as stickers and postcards.
• Marketers lavishly use signs, banners, and colorful pop up booths in their Print Marketing for Startup Business.