As summer takes off, school is closed or closing soon, it is time for production schedules to be confirmed and executed. Below is a little mini tutorial on production schedules in the world of printing and production. This is how it looks in a normal year.
Jan - May Merchant signing is underway New Merchants signed for the coupon books Returning Merchants renewed or offers updated National offers are confirmed (new and returning) Cover design finalized for 2023 books
This period of time also includes design proofs, correspondence with the merchants, and obtaining approval for the printed coupons in the book.
May - June - July Production schedule finalized Files uploaded to the printer Blue lines are returned to review and approve (final check) Once approved the electronic flipbooks are loaded to the savearound.com website Individual markets are printed and bound with the national section of the book
July - August - September - October Books come off the press and are delivered to the warehouse Samples are shipped to the ICs for their personal inventory to show potential customers Initial book orders (traditional sales) are sent out to the schools and groups Remaining inventory received at the warehouse
While book markets are printed in the “gang run” fashion (print 2 or 4 books at a time) there are individual processes such as the binding process, printing covers on the markets, and then boxing those books into their specific cartons for shipping. Remember it’s just like going to the grocery store and checking out - someone goes first, someone is next, and someone is last.
So what can you do to affect the production schedule?
1.Send In Your Contracts ASAP!!!! Markets with contracts in house for committed groups with a specific number of books requested will be printed before markets with zero contracts. Complete the necessary paperwork completed ASAP and email it to grouprelations@savearound.com to get your contract set up in the system.
2.Be flexible with your kickoff dates Production is a moving target - presses need parts from time to time, the truck can break down, or edelivery can be delayed. BE FLEXIBLE! Send in the contract with the Needed By date, but if you have some wiggle room (by perhaps a week or so) please note that on your contract agreement. Until books actually arrive in the warehouse and go through their final quality control checks, it’s imperative that you and your groups remain flexible.
3.Communication is Key Notes on the contract agreements are vital. Call the office and have a conversation with the team to let us know what is needed. We’ll do everything possible to make it happen, but if you don’t communicate we don’t know how to help. You can always send an email to sales@savearound.com, too.
As production schedules are finalized and books are sent to the printer, the team will do their best to communicate with you and also to get your sample numbers logged in so we are ready to ship those orders when the books do arrive on site. A timely response from the ICs is much appreciated as we are trying to line up a lot of orders and deliveries at one time.
Leftover books - now what?
As you go through the spring/summer cleaning purge and are getting your office in good order for the coming school year, you have discovered a few books that are leftover. What should you do with them? They will make a great thank you gift and are excellent tools for prospecting. Leave one behind with the secretary as a thank you and then also leave one for the coach that you just missed. Attach a note or a business card and follow up with them. If you’ve done that then a trip to recycle needs to be on your list.
HELP US HELP YOU!
When filling out the fundraising agreements, it is critical that you are CLEAR on your notes, information, and instructions. The more details we have, the fewer delays there will be in processing your orders. Please note the following on any contracts you send in:
1.New Group vs. Resign Group
2.Rep Delivering Books vs. Corporate Shipping Books
3.What Market? (don’t make us guess which book you are using for a group)
4.Contact info for the Group Leader including email and cell phone number
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Why do golfers carry an extra pair of socks? In case they get a hole in one.
How do cows stay up to date? They read the Moo-spaper.
What do you call a beehive without an exit? Unbelievable.
I found a wooden shoe in my toilet today. It was clogged.
What is Forrest Gump’s password? 1Forrest1
What is a guitar player’s favorite Italian food? Strum-boli
I don’t trust stairs. They are always up to something.
What is an astronaut’s favorite part of the computer? The space bar
Where do Dad’s store their dad jokes? In a dad-a-base
What do you call it when James Bond takes a bath? Bubble 07
IDEAS, SUGGESTIONS, OR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE NEWSLETTER?
Do you have an idea or topic that you would like to see covered in the Community Conversation newsletter? If so, please send it to sales@savearound.com and we’ll get right on it. Remember if it is something that you would like to know more about or learn about then chances are someone else needs to know it, too.
