General for Los Angeles CA | General San Fernando Valley CA | General Chatsworth CA

Category: General

Apr 13th, 2012

What Does the Weight of Paper Mean?

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You’ve heard of 100lb gloss book, 80lb gloss cover, 20lb bond and more, but what does this weight refer to?

Paper is measured in pounds per 500 sheets.  The paper manufacturer will select a standard sheet size for their paper when getting the initial weight on 500 sheets (this standard size varies brand to brand and can be 17” x 22”, 35” x 23”, etc.).  The weight of these 500 sheets determines the paper’s weight.

For example the common office copy paper Bond* has a standard size of 17” x 22″ and this is the size that is weighed for 500 sheets. If 500 sheets of this size weigh 20 lbs, then the paper is classified as a 20lb bond.

Some of other weights for bond paper are: 16lb, 24lb, 28lb & 32lb.  These would be thicker and thinner variations of the initial 20lb bond.

So when you are carrying 4 reams of your standard size (8-1/2 x 11) office paper you are in fact carrying 20 lbs of paper, as 8-1/2 x 11 is ¼ of a 17 x 22 sheet.

A similar measuring system is used for other types of paper.

We have samples of many different papers that can be used in printing in a variety of weights. We’re located in Chatsworth, minutes from Glendale, Burbank, Los Angeles, Sylmar and Pacoima.  Or you can call 818-709-1220 and ask for Account Representative.

*Bond is a superior quality of strong white paper, especially suitable for electronic printing and often used in office machines including copiers and desktop printers.

Nov 22nd, 2011

Printing a custom Holiday Card or Calendar this year?

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Thanksgiving Coupon

Oct 6th, 2011

Where do Printers get their paper?

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Print Values Trees

Most paper now comes from sustainable forests. These forests are essentially “tree farms,” where trees are grown as a crop, just like broccoli or wheat. When these trees are harvested, new stocks are planted. Print on paper gives landowners a financial incentive to renew forests rather than convert them for other uses, such as development.[1]

Print Uses “Waste”

One-third of the fiber used to make paper comes from wood chips and sawmill scraps; another third comes from recycled paper.[2] Overall, in the United States nearly 80 percent of the over 400 paper mills use recovered fiber to make some or all of their paper products, and of these, approximately 115 mills use recovered paper exclusively.[3]

Print is Recycled

But that’s not the complete story. Print on paper is recycled and reused. In 2009, for example, 63.4 percent of all paper used in the United States was recycled, and this number increases each year with more deliberate curbside and drop-off collection systems.[4] Recycled paper is used to make everything from construction products to consumer goods.

Print is Responsible

Just 11% of the world’s forests are used for paper.[5] In the U.S. a growing percentage of the wood used to produce paper comes from certified forests. The Forest Steward Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI) track fiber content from certified lands through production and manufacturing to the end product. There are certified forests in over 80 countries.

From sustainable forests to the renewable nature of trees and the recyclability of paper, the print and paper industries have a positive environmental story to tell—one in which print on paper and healthy forests thrive hand-in-hand.

  1. Edward L. Glaeser, Professor of Economics, Harvard University, “A Road Map for Environmentalism,” Boston Globe, May 21, 2007.
  2. U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste.
  3. American Forest and Paper Association.
  4. Ibid.
  5. International Paper, Down to Earth, “Is it Worth Printing?”
Aug 17th, 2011

Business Promotion and the Economy

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Here in the San Fernando Valley we have seen many businesses in the last few years cut down on their marketing and promotion budget due to economic stress. This is also true for the greater Los Angeles area so a question arises; is this the right action during tough economic times?

Let’s take a look at a usual example we have seen. The first thing to get cut is bulk mailers as postage may very well be the most expensive part of promotion. As a result the budget is lower but fewer new customers are coming in. After a while the business gets by financially as the budget is lower but now the overall income has also diminished due to lack of new customers.

The final result is a smaller business that somehow gets by.
What happens the next time there is a financial problem? The business goes under as now it no longer has enough resources to get itself out of trouble.

So what would have been the right solution? Don’t cut your marketing but promote smartly. After you get the word out and guarantee influx of future customers do cut down on unneeded expenses.

Here are some actions to consider:

  • Improve your current marketing to get a better return.
  • Find a printer that can take care of your printing at affordable prices.
  • Find someone that can has experience handling bulk rates to get you good prices.
  • Find additional ways to promote your business that might be less expensive, like through the internet.

Here at Clear Print we take care of all these actions in the greater Los Angeles area. Feel free to call us to find out how we can help you.

Jul 11th, 2011

Print Provides a High ROI

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A Marketing Association study showed that direct mail advertising gives businesses a remarkable 13 to 1 return on their investment, “ROI.”*

And the Art Technology Group found that 60% of customers make purchases via printed catalogs at least four times each year.**

Print on paper with a professional online presence builds brand identification and powers sales.

Running a business in the Los Angeles area may require assistance in the field of direct mail advertising as well as brand identification and printed catalogs.

Contact Clear Print for help with your print and electronic media campaigns.

 

*DMA 2007 Response Rate Trends Report (via Print in the Mix)
**Art Technology Group, Cross-Channel Commerce: The ConsumerView (2010)