ever had a banner printed?

P

powerdog

Veteran
I need to get a custom, paper 3x10 ft banner (3-color OK, 4 better) as inexpensive as possible. Any recommended sources? It's for a 3-day, indoor expo.
 
I called Kinko's and they want over $300 for paper with lamination! They must have an incredible profit margin.
 
Try Sign-a-Rama -- it's a franchise operation with an outlet in Burlington, VT:

South Burlington Signs
Phone: 802-863-6233
3073 Williston Rd.
Fax: 802-863-6324
South Burlington, Vermont 05403
Robert & Paula Diaco
http://www.signarama.com/store.locations/vermont.signs.asp

We had a vinyl banner made -- it was three- or four-color and about three feet wide by six feet long -- by the SIgn-a-Rama franchise in Coney Island, Brooklyn, and it only cost @ $128. We explained that it was for a pilot we were shooting and financing from our own pockets, and the owner gave us a deal. I suggest you go with vinyl and not paper because it will hold up a lot better and look more pro.

With the one in Coney Island, we supplied an Adobe Illustrator file of the image, they converted it to their own design system, produced a small sample for us (that they brought to us for review -- great service!) -- and then printed up in full size after we approved. And, they delivered the final product to our shooting location. They were top-notch all the way.

Everyone else we called was in the $300 range.

Best of luck -- let us know what happens.
 
Thanks! Funny thing is, I called them but didn't even ask about price when they said only vinyl. I just assumed it would cost more. Now I'll have to call them back.

P.S. Can they do photos OK, or only spot colors?
 
Vinyl isn't as expensive as you think it is, actually.

It depends on the process.

If you want a banner, the cheapest way to do it is to find the banner you want without the text on it. Right size, gromets, etc.

Then go to a vinyl shop and have them print on cheap Oracal, die cut, and apply on it. =)... Cheap only if you don't need it for more than a few months.

I just left the sign business (well, not completely) and I know how expensive it can get.
 
They can do both but the photo type is going to be more. We were going to go with the photo type but they said they could make it pretty close to what we sent them and the sample proved that.
 
Khori, what do you mean by a vinyl shop? What would I look under in the Yellow pgs? Only listings I find are under "Vinyl Repair Service."

Thanks.
 
powerdog said:
Khori, what do you mean by a vinyl shop? What would I look under in the Yellow pgs? Only listings I find are under "Vinyl Repair Service."

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I think he means a printing servce that does work on vinyl -- look under Printing Services, then scan the ads for "Vinyl Printing." Did you call the SIgn-a-Rama franchise back? How'd that go?
 
Haven't called S-a-R again yet, but I will today. That PS print looks like a good possibility, and I also found this place one state over: www.megaprint.com. But we do have S-a-R here, and there's an advantage in being able to do things in person.

I guess the bottom line is, there's really nothing under $100.
 
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