PostNet TX157 of Austin offers high-quality, affordable printing, copying and shipping services!

Ah, San Francisco. The cool air, beautiful bridge, and friendly people are just a few of the many reasons to go visit. So why don't you? Is it because someone hasn't offered to send you yet? Well... consider it done!

We want to send you and your loved one on a romantic trip to San Francisco. In order to be entered to win, all you have to do is visit PostNet.com/LovesMe (or click on the banner above) and write a short story about something that has made you love the people here at PostNet. Maybe we saved your day, or helped you look your best at an event? Then tell us!

Make sure to enter before February 29th. As an added bonus, you'll get a special coupon just for entering.

For some people, a business card is a business card, a flyer is a flyer, and a postcard is, well, just a postcard. But to us, it's an opportunity to show a potential customer how a business shines. Our Graphic Designer has experience in all aspects of graphic design, and is able to apply his skill set to all kinds of different printed pieces.

As an example, a project that he has been working on lately for a local video production company has had him making brand new business cards, full-color folders, and letterhead for their sales packets. He made each piece distinctly different and engaging, while keeping with the main theme of the design. Can you imagine how professional they will look as they go into meetings?

That's what it's all about: crafting a professional image (or a quirky, stylish, or hip one, if that's your thing!) that's not only attention-grabbing, but unique. We don't deal with stock templates here. We want you to come out of our store with the knowledge that your design has everything that you want it to have, and says everything that you want it to express, in the most aesthetically pleasing way possible.

It's easy: just come into the store, and chat with us about what your needs are. We can get started on a redesign or a whole new look that will perfectly match your needs and expectations.

PostNet Far West

(512) 231-1321

tx157@postnet.com

postnet.com/tx157

Sometimes, colors don't look the same on printed materials as they did on the computer screen, because everyone's computer monitor is set differently. We thought these tips might be helpful to designers when they are setting up things like business cards, postcards, or flyers that have to stick to a certain color scheme in order to look uniform with other materials. If you ever have any questions, feel free to call us and we can help you out!

Here is a link to download these tips as a PDF: Color Design Tips for Printing at PostNet. You can also click on the jpeg below in order to enlarge it.

A lot of time and effort goes into making the perfect business card. Careful consideration of colors, fonts, photos, and text can lead to the creation of a beautiful and professional card... or it can turn out to be really, really ugly.

Our on-staff designer had a ball after we tasked him to create a terrible-looking business card that used all of the most cliche elements he could think of: bad stock photos, drop shadows, outdated fonts and overused quotes. He included a picture (left) with the "stock photo" text still on it, a pixelated thumbs-up graphic, fonts that are overused and unprofessional, and an explosion of color without a dedicated theme. Do you think anyone would take Johnny Businessman seriously with these elements on his card? What if he had just one or two of them?

Have you seen any of these things on a business card lately? Does your own card have outdated elements that you'd like to change, but don't know how?

That's where we come in: submit your outdated or ugly business card to facebook.com/postnet for a chance to win a business card makeover! If your card gets the most votes, you will receive brand new business cards with a complete redesign for free.

What are you waiting for? Swallow your pride and head over to Facebook and you could win!

Those pesky packing peanuts don't have much recycling potential, but they can be reused, which is even better!

PostNet stores will take used peanuts off your hands. We will reuse them and keep them out of the landfills. Just pack them up in (recycled) plastic bags, or corrugated boxes and drop them off next time you are nearby. We will accept them during store hours, which are:

Monday - Friday 7:30am -7:00pm and Saturday 9:00am - 5:00pm.

3571 Far West Blvd. Austin, TX 78731

To locate other PostNet stores call 888-2-PostNet or visit www.postnet.com

On Tuesday, Google announced the launch of Google+ pages for businesses. Originally meant to be used as personal pages, Google+ allowed individuals to connect with and segment people in their online lives and choose which "circle" of people got access to what information. With the addition of Google+ pages for businesses, another avenue to connecting with customers has opened up. However, it does beg the question: do we really need another social network?

One of the main facets of Google+ for business is the differentiation between the "+1" button and the "add to your circles" action. After clicking the "+1" button, a customer basically gives that business a virtual "thumbs up" and is able to interact with the business by leaving comments or sharing photos. This could be helpful for businesses by seeing how far-reaching their brand is and how many people are willing to publicly declare that they like it. The company can then add the customer to  its own circles, thereby being able to send different messages to different circles. This is not a new concept (Facebook already allows page administrators to segment messages based on different qualities) but it is an easy way for less internet-savvy business owners to target different individuals with different messages. Google+ for businesses seems to have a more lighthearted approach to letting customers connect with businesses, which may lead to greater trust.

What else should you know about Google+ for businesses?

- One major difference is that the "hangout" feature that was first introduced with Google+ personal pages can be utilized on business pages, allowing companies to hold things like webinars or Q&A sessions.

- Utilizing Google+ for businesses increases a company's web search visibility. Because Google is the dominant web-search engine, using a Google service in order to promote your business gives it an edge because of the search engine's inherent favoritism over other social media sites.

- You can share individual images like infographics, charts, or presentations more easily. They are also easier to share across the web by your users.

The service isn't totally fleshed out yet, so there are some quirks to keep in mind:

- As of right now, there isn't a way to add multiple admins for each page, so make sure to use a Google address that isn't tied to anything personal that you wouldn't want to share the password to. The best solution might be to just create a specific Google account just for Google+ and use that,

- It's important to post content that people want to come back to in order to get them to add your business page to their circles and not just hit the "+1" button and never come back.

Check out this video of our store owner, David, and see why you should choose PostNet in northwest Austin to be your shipping destination. 

Between the wrapping paper, packaging peanuts, cardboard boxes and the fuel needed to move gifts around, shipping packages may seem a bit environmentally unfriendly. But the folks at PostNet Far West can help you stay green while still making sure your packages arrive on time and in one piece.

"We always want to make sure we're doing our part to be just a little more environmentally friendly at PostNet," said David Petty, PostNet Far West owner. "For instance, our customers love that they can bring in used packaging peanuts, and we'll reuse them when packaging shipments."

Additional ways customers can stay green while shipping from PostNet include:

Send Shipments Early: Planning ahead will assure your packages can be shipped ground, which is more fuel-efficient than air. Plus, shipping ground will save you money.

Pack Efficiently: Smaller boxes require less packaging materials and use fewer resources. The packaging experts at PostNet can help you measure, pack and secure your items in a custom box that is just the right size.

Use Recycled or "Green" Materials: PostNet Far West accepts used packaging peanuts, which means less waste and a more sensitive environmental footprint. PostNet also uses biodegradable bubble wrap, and buys its packaging boxes from a local "green" cardboard box supplier.

"At PostNet, we want to make sure we do the little things that can make a real difference in our environment and in our customer's lives," said Petty.

In fact, PostNet Far West is constantly striving to reduce the impact of its business on the environment. Through its affiliation with the Plastic Loose Fill Council, PostNet Far West is a registered recycling center for the approximately 45 million pounds of packaging peanuts produced annually.

"Our Austin PostNet was designed to be the ideal fit for the business and personal office needs of our community, and I'm proud to empower our customers to be greener," said Petty. "We will all be better off for it, and we'll still make sure your packages get to where they need to be on time!"

Part one of a series brought to you by PostNet, your Neighborhood Business Center in Austin.

Daily-deal websites, text messages, social media – the marketing options have exploded as businesses look for new ways to attract customers in an increasingly digital world. But for small businesses, print marketing – from brochures and flyers to direct-mail postcards – still plays a big role because it’s cost-effective and easy to produce. In this report, we’ll look at how you can combine your print marketing with digital marketing efforts to get the most out of both.

The Statistics

Most agree that the reports of print marketing’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. While many people assume that everyone, especially the younger generation, has tuned out things like direct mail, a study by the U.S. Postal Service found that that wasn’t the case. In fact, they said:

• 87% of Gen Y and 86% of Gen X bring in the mail the day it’s delivered.

• 73% of Gen Y and 68% of Gen X survey respondents had used coupons received in the mail.

Marketing Sherpa found similar results when they surveyed B2B marketers. The majority of respondents said direct mail was either very effective or somewhat effective for their organization. While organizations of all sizes liked direct mail, it was especially popular with businesses with less than 100 employees.

However, we’ve all also seen the statistics about the growth of social networks and the mobile web. EMarketer.com reports that in 2011, 65% of U.S. web users will use social networks. And comScore.com reported that 43 million people in the U.S. owned smart phones in an average month from November to January 2010, up 18 percent from the previous six months. So whether you love or hate these technologies, it’s clear that you’ll need to embrace them if you want your small business to thrive. So how do you go about adding them to your marketing mix?

Print vs. Digital

To help you decide which medium is best for your marketing campaign or message, let’s start by taking a look at the benefits of print marketing vs. digital marketing.

Print Marketing and Direct Mail

• It’s tangible. It makes your company look solid and trustworthy.

• It’s difficult to ignore. Everyone still sorts through their mail – there’s no automatic spam filter.

• It’s good for static information, like product specifications or your contact information.

Digital Marketing

• It’s dynamic. This makes it good for information that you update regularly, like pricing or special offers.

• It’s interactive. Digital marketing, especially social media, makes it possible for consumers to easily give you their feedback and ask questions. That dialogue with customers is extremely important in today’s marketplace – consumers want to interact with the companies they do business with, not just receive advertising.

Next up, we’ll look at some of the new technologies available, and best practices for combining them with your print marketing.

Part two of a series brought to you by PostNet, your Neighborhood Business Center in Austin.

Quick Response (QR) Codes

You’ve probably seen QR codes – those little squares that look like TV static – in action.  While they’ve been relatively slow to catch on in the U.S., comScore.com estimates that 14 million people scanned a code in June 2011. Use was highest among men ages 18-34.4

How They Work

QR codes are barcodes, just like the ones the clerk scans in the grocery checkout line. But they hold a lot more information than a standard barcode, and are becoming popular for businesses in a world where many consumers live on their smart phones. Instead of having to type a web address into their mobile device, a customer can simply scan the QR code with their smart phone’s QR code reader (free versions are available in most app stores). The QR code reader then quickly and automatically directs the user to the web address or other digital content. PostNet NC141 in Asheville, NC created these QR codes for (from left) Wild Birds Unlimited in South Asheville, Frankie Bones Restaurant and Lounge in South Asheville, and Books & Breadboard at Biltmore Village in Asheville.

Where to Use Them

While the uses for QR codes are endless, here are a few ideas to get your small business started.

• Save space on your business card by using a QR code for your web or social media sites, or for a map of your location.
• Use them on banners, posters, yard signs or billboards to minimize the need for text.
• Direct customers to in-depth or digital information they can’t get in a printed piece, like a video demo or an email newsletter sign-up.

QR Code Best Practices

But before you start putting the codes everywhere, here are some “do’s” and “don’ts”.

• Don’t link to a site that isn’t mobile-enabled. Nothing will turn a consumer off faster than trying to access a website on their phone, only to have to scroll back and forth or zoom in repeatedly to f ind what they’re looking for.
• Do make it the proper size for the piece you’re putting it on. For instance, if you put a QR code on a poster, test it and make sure it’s big enough that the consumer can scan it from a few feet away.
• Do include some brief instructions. Since QR codes are still new to a lot of people, some simple instructions (“Scan me with your smart phone QR code reader!”) will help increase use of your code.
• Do include a call to action. You want the consumer to know that scanning the code is going to be worth their while. (“Scan the code for a video demo” or “Sign up to receive our email newsletter.”)

Next time, we'll take a look at "PURLs". Stay tuned!

Part three of a four-part series, brought to you by PostNet, your Neighborhood Business Center in Austin.

Personalized URLs (PURLs)

A PURL is a web page or microsite that is tailored to a specific recipient, making them great for creating a more direct relationship with a customer segment or vertical market. They also allow you to track which recipients demonstrate the most interest in your product or service, which can help streamline your sales process.

PURLs in Action

Let’s say a pet store wants to increase response to their next customer postcard mailing. They have a database that lists the customer’s name, the type of pet they own, and the pet’s name. They decide to create PURLs for each customer, and print the PURL on the postcard. So www.petstore.com/bob-smith directs Bob Smith to a page with a photo of a dog and a special offer for dog biscuits for Fido. Meanwhile, cat owner Jane Jones is directed to www.petstore.com/jane-jones, where she sees a photo of a cat and a special offer for catnip for Fluffy.

ICD Global, who specializes in print communications for global pharmaceutical companies, has a greatexample of a personalized web page at www.icdglobal.net/personal-url.html.

Getting Started

While most printers, including PostNet, can help print the PURLs on your direct-mail pieces, you may need to work with a web programmer or online marketing agency to create the web pages. Here are a few good resources to help you get started.

• www.easypurl.com

• www.prospectclick.com

We're wrapping up our series on print marketing next week with a post on using Social Media in your printed materials. Thanks for reading!

 This is the final installation in a series brought to you by PostNet, your Neighborhood Business Center in Austin.

There’s a good chance you already use social media for your business, whether it’s LinkedIn to help network, or Facebook to interact with your customers. If so, print marketing can be a great way to help increase awareness of your social-media presence.

Integrating Print and Social Media

• Put your LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook URL on your business cards to encourage contacts to connect online. If you use a Facebook URL, be sure to claim your shortened username to make it easier for your contacts.
• Hold a contest on your Facebook Page, and use print pieces – like a flyer or postcard – to drive people to enter.
• Use a wallet-sized card to remind customers to visit your Yelp or Google pages and review your business. While dissatisfied customers will seek out your pages to post comments, happy customers may not think to do it unless you remind them!

Social-Media Best Practices

• Know the rules. Before you run a contest on Facebook or ask customers to review you on Yelp , make sure you’re familiar with their guidelines.
• Give to get. Remember that social-media is different than advertising. If you want referrals on LinkedIn, refer other businesses. If you want more Twitter followers, follow others, retweet them, and contribute valuable content of your own.
• Maintain boundaries. Keep your personal and business presences separate. Your customers may not want to see your vacation photos, and your family may not want to know about your daily specials. If you have any questions, or want help with any of your printed materials, give us a call! Check out our website for contact information as well as a list of services. 

Here are a bunch of presents that we packed for a customer. The duct tape cracked us up! In response to this awesome wrapping job, we decided to put up a post about how to wrap presents... properly. 

Remember, you can always bring your wrapped presents in to our store, and we can find the correct-sized box to ship it in.

Knowing how to gift wrap a present is always a valuable skill to have. These gift wrapping instructions are for a rectangular gift box, but can be applied to any size or shape of box.
Instructions

• To wrap a gift, first gather your materials and lay them out on a clean, flat work surface. Remember to remove the price tag from the gift before wrapping it.

• Place the box containing the gift along the length of wrapping paper and unroll enough paper to wrap it around the box, leaving at least a 2-inch overlap. Make sure there is enough wrapping paper at each end of the box to cover the ends completely when folded over them.

Use a pencil to mark where this overlap ends and cut the wrapping paper in a straight line at this point. Fold the paper or use a yardstick to guide you in cutting a straight line.

• Eyeball the wrapping paper at the ends of the box. Trim away any extra paper so that the remaining flaps are long enough to cover the box but short enough to fold over smoothly into flaps.

• Open the paper you've just cut and lay the box in the center of the unprinted side, top down.

• Bring one lengthwise edge of the wrapping paper to the center of the box and secure it with tape. Turn the opposite edge of the paper under approximately 1 inch and bring this to the center of the box as well so that it overlaps the first edge, and tape it down.

• Position the gift box so that one short end is facing you. Grasp the left and right edges of the wrapping paper and push the sides in so that top and bottom flaps are formed. Make sure the edges are pushed in as far as they will go without ripping the paper. Tape the edges to the box.

• Bring the upper flap down against the side of the box, making sure the flap is sharply creased at its folds. Tape the flap to the box.

• Bring the lower flap up against the side of the box. Crease and secure it as you did the upper flap.

• Repeat for the opposite end of the box

• Position the package so the seamless side is facing down.

• Wrap a long piece of ribbon around the gift box lengthwise, then twist the ribbon at the lengthwise seam to wrap it around the box width-wise.

• Turn the box over so that the seamless side is facing up and tie the ribbon into a bow on top of the present where the ribbons cross.

• If you have a card, slide it under the ribbon and secure it with tape on the underside. If you have a gift tag, use the loose ends of the ribbon to secure the gift tag (if it has a hole in it), or adhere it directly to the gift (if it has adhesive on it.)

Source: How to Wrap a Gift Our blog: postnetfarwest.wordpress.com

We've showed you how to go green when shipping your gifts with PostNet, but have you ever thought about how towrap your presents in an eco-conscious way? We see a lot of gifts come into PostNet to be sent to loved ones, so think about using some of these tips and feel good about sending them!

Instead of tying ribbons on your packages this year, garnish them with recyclable paper bows (which are made of natural-fiber raffia), dried flowers, or a reusable scarf. 

Did you know? If two out of three households conserved an arm's length of ribbon, the amount saved could tie a bow around the earth!

Cut back on wrapping waste by placing gifts in reusable bags or gift baskets. If you prefer traditional wrapping paper, try to find a brand with recycled content. 

Did you know? If 40% of U.S. households reduced their holiday paper consumption by just two sheets this year, the savings could gift-wrap Manhattan Island!

(Tips from The Green Book, by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen.)

Check out this video of our store owner, David Petty! Learn his story and how he came around to owning PostNet Far West. 

A great way to get more information about your business to clients is to use QR codes in your printed materials. If you aren’t familiar with them, QR codes are similar to barcodes in that they contain data, which is translated by a code reader (that can be downloaded to your smartphone).

A QR code could contain information about your business, such as your website, which would be great to have on handouts, postcards, or posters. These codes are especially helpful when you know that someone isn’t going to be in front of a computer but might still want more information, like at a tradeshow or networking event. QR codes are customizable so that you can use one on a flyer, and then use a different code on something like a tri-fold brochure when you are marketing to a different audience.  

If you do a lot of sales or networking for your business, a great use of a QR code would be to have it automatically add your contact information to a client’s phone contacts when it is scanned. Of course, it’s always a good idea to include a small line of text to let someone know what the code is going to do so that you can keep their trust. A small QR code like that would fit perfectly on the back of a business card!

Perhaps you have a large variety of products, but a small sales staff. A great use of QR codes would be to print them on small cards that can be placed in front of each product, and have the codes explain the various functions or benefits when you aren’t able to.

If you’d like to create your own QR code, a great site to do it on is bit.ly. It allows you see how effective your message is by looking at statistics on how many people use your code to get more information.

If you have any questions, please contact anyone on our staff by calling (512) 231-1321. You can also email us for a quote at tx157@postnet.com.

Are you using social media in order to promote your business? Do you want to drive people to your social media sites without begging them to do so in person? Incorporating easy-to-remember icons and descriptive URLS in your printed materials might turn out to be a good business decision.

According to one man's opinion, it's important to make sure that your potential customers go where you want them to go on the web. Incorporating your twitter handle, facebook URL, or LinkedIn profile in a clear, uncluttered manner is always important so that someone can find your pages quickly and easily.

Make sure you have one master list of the descriptive URLs for each of your pages. That way, they will stay consistent across all of your materials.

Give them a reason to click: if a customer takes the time to go to one of your social media sites, reward them! Encourage customers to "like" your Facebook page or follow you on twitter in order to get special discounts or prizes.

Use QR Codes in your printed materials in order to direct customers to your social media pages, or to specific pages on your website that go along with your current promotion.

Remember, it's about remaining visible. If you aren't getting the response you'd like from social media, keep at it! As always, we offer graphic design services in addition to our printing services, so if you're not sure where to start, bring your ideas to us and we can help! tx157@postnet.com

Have you tried to convey a message, but got few results? Perhaps using a pop of color would help! According to recent studies, color invoices get paid 30 percent faster than black and white invoices!

Some other facts:
• Color can increase payment response by up to 30% 
• Information highlighted in color can be located 70% faster 
• People are more likely to pay in-full when the amount is shown in color 

Because color invokes a sense of urgency, highlighting your invoices with a red ink increases the rate of return and gets you paid faster. Not only does color capture attention, but it also increases readers’ attention spans and recall. Color also increases the ease with which documents can be identified, sorted and filed. 

Using color can emphasize critical internal and external correspondence, as well as convey professionalism in marketing materials. 

 
Do you need some great-looking print materials printed in color? We can help! Email or call us for a quote.

PostNet Far West

(512) 231-1321

tx157@postnet.com

So, you have your business up and running. What comes next? You know that you need something that people will remember you by, something that is as unique as you are. How about a custom business card from PostNet Far West?

We'd like to make it easy on you! The following is a step-by-step approach that you can use to create the perfect business card.

Step 1: Printing Type.

When it comes to printing your business cards, you have two choices: digital and thermography. Digital printing is basically regular printing, like you would see on most people's business cards that you may have come across. Thermography is a type of printing where part of the surface of your card is raised, such as a logo or your name.

Step 2: Paper Options.

If you have chosen digital printing, you can have regular "14 pt." stock, or a thicker "16 pt." stock. If you have chosen to go with thermography, you can have your pick between quite a few options, such as different colors, textures, and thicknesses.

Step 3: Bleed.

We're not trying to scare you here; a "bleed" is just a printing term for the extra amount that a file extends over the card area. Since it is nearly impossible to cut so many cards exactly, we like a card to have a little extra that extends outside of the physical space of the card so that cards can be cut without revealing any ugly white space.

Step 4: Graphic Design.

Do you have an idea of what you want in a business card, but not the know-how to make it happen? Our in-house graphic designer can create a custom card based on your specifications! Or if you already have a file ready to go, you can send it to us at tx157@postnet.com.

Step 5: Color.

If you chose digital printing, your color options are endless. You can print logos, photos, text, or anything else you can think of. If you chose thermography, you have the option of having basic solid colors on your card.

Step 6: Coating.

Your coating options for digital printing are glossy, matte, or uncoated. We can also do different coatings on different sides, so if you need to write on one side but prefer the other to be shiny, we can do a glossy front with a matte back! With thermography, your cards will be uncoated because of the special process.

Step 7: Corners.

We offer two corner options: square or rounded. Pick whichever one works the best with your design!

Now that you have an idea of what the process for selecting your business cards is like, come in to PostNet Far West today for a free quote!

PostNet Far West

3571 Far West Blvd., Austin, TX 78731

(512) 231-1321

Sure, you've heard about our copying, shipping, and printing services, but have you heard about what else PostNet Far West can do?

• During normal business hours, we offer notary services. You can get a document notarized, make copies of it, and send it to the recipient right here from our store! We can also provide witness signatures upon request. 
• Say "cheese!" We can take your passport photos and print them while you wait.
• We have mailboxes and a mail-forwarding service, too. 
• We can send and receive faxes for you.
• Have a document that you need to print out? We just added more computer rental stations so that you can surf the internet or print from a flash drive. 
• We sell cardboard boxes and packing supplies, and recycle peanuts!

See? We offer more than you may think, right here in Austin. As always, you can call us or email us for a quote if you're unsure about something. 

PostNet Far West

3571 Far West Blvd., Austin, TX 78731

See the photo to the left? That's our wide-format machine, printing out a vinyl banner for a local clothier. We love to see colors pop off the page, and that's why we regularly print flyers, business cards, brochures, postcards, posters, and banners in full color for our customers, right here in the northwest area of Austin. You can make color copies yourself, or you can email your files to us and have them ready for you when you come to pick them up. 

Have a creative idea? Bring it to PostNet and we can help it become a reality!

PostNet Far West

3571 Far West Blvd., Austin, TX 78731

Austin, TX 78731

(512) 231-1321

tx157@postnet.com

In today’s tough economy, everyone’s looking for cost-effective ways to market themselves and their businesses. And there’s no better way than with a professional-looking, eye-catching business card. According to Entrepreneur magazine, a business card is an integral part of any good marketing plan and can make or break a client’s first impression of a company.

In September, PostNet Far West, Austin’s Neighborhood Business Center, will be helping community members make a good impression with their month-long printing promotion, which includes an online contest for a chance to win a free set of business cards. Plus, one lucky person in the U.S. will win the  grand prize: a brand new iPad. 

Locally owned and operated, PostNet has been helping to meet the design, printing, copying and shipping needs of the North Austin community since 2001.

We really hope someone local will take home a prize in this national contest,” said David Petty, owner of PostNet. “Printing business cards is one of our specialties because we love helping people get noticed with great marketing materials. Whether you already have a great card, or need one designed from scratch, we can help.”

In addition to business cards, PostNet offers an array of high demand services and products tailored to meet the needs of business owners and today's busy consumer. Customers can take advantage of the dozens of business tools including digital printing and document finishing, computer/Internet services, professional packaging and worldwide shipping via FedEx, UPS, DHL and the U.S. Postal Service.

Additional services provided by PostNet include private mailbox rental, mail and parcel receiving and forwarding, photocopying, worldwide faxing, laminating, notary services, and passport photos, among others. Customers can also purchase postage stamps, packaging materials and additional office supplies at PostNet.

For more information, visit the Far West PostNet at 3571 Far West Boulevard, call (512) 231-1321 or visit www.postnet.com/tx157.

Did you know that we take passport photos? We can quickly provide you with two 2"x2" color photos for use with U.S. passports. We can take them when you walk in, and have them printed, cut, and ready in about five minutes! 

PostNet Far West

3571 Far West Blvd., Austin, TX 78731

(512) 231-1321

tx157@postnet.com

Do you have something that you want to send across the city, the country, or even internationally.? Do you know your options? Below, we describe the different shipping options you have for sending packages and documents at our PostNet store. 

Ground shipping: ground shipping is often the most cost effective way to send a package safely. Included is a tracking number and $100 insurance, with the option to add more. This service usually takes 3-5 days to reach a destination.

Express Saver/3-day Air: This is a guaranteed service that will arrive within three days from the day that you send it. Included is a tracking number and $100 insurance, with the option to add more.

2-day Air: This shipping option will allow your package to arrive guaranteed within two days, by the end of the business day. Included is a tracking number and $100 insurance, with the option to add more.  

Overnight: There are two different options when it comes to “overnighting” packages: next-day A.M. and next-day P.M. delivery. A.M. delivery is guaranteed to arrive by 10:30 in the morning. P.M. delivery is guaranteed to arrive by 3:00 in the afternoon. There is also a “first overnight” option that allows the recipient to receive the package as early as it can be delivered, usually by 8:00 A.M. Saturday delivery is also available with next-day A.M. service. Included is a tracking number and $100 insurance, with the option to add more.

We also offer shipping to most addresses and P.O. boxes via the US Postal Service. You can send things first class, priority mail, and express mail, which are listed in order of slowest to fastest delivery speed.

If you need to ship a package internationally, we can do so via FedEx and DHL. Depending on your destination and the weight and size of your package, we can get you a rate and transit quote when you come in to our store. 

Come in and see us, or call us for a quote!

PostNet Far West

3571 Far West Blvd., Austin, TX 78731

(512) 231-1321

tx157@postnet.com

This month, PostNet is celebrating our local business community. As a small, locally-owned business, we feel that we understand the needs and concerns of our customers better than impersonal online printers or large commercial printers do. One of the things that our store owner, David Petty, loves about PostNet is watching something go from an idea on paper to a completed project in a matter or days.  

This month, we are encouraging our customers to shop locally. Visit a few stores in your neighborhood and see if they can help you accomplish something you've been working on. Hey, maybe we can help you with some of your needs, too! Remember, we offer a wide variety of shipping and printing services, right here in Austin. 

And now for the fun part: we're holding a drawing in order to give away gift certificates for a variety of our services. If you stop by, make sure to enter!

PostNet Far West

3571 Far West Blvd., Austin, TX 78731

(512) 231-1321

Want an attractive, long-lasting way to display photos? PostNet is now offering photo books in two different sizes! We offer an 8 1/2" by 11" book, and a 4" by 6" book. Each is available with a black or white cover. 

Did someone in your family take a vacation recently? Have a baby? Get married? Surprise them with a book of their favorite photos! All you need to do is send pr bring us the photo files, and we will take care of the rest. 

(The photo above is of two books that we made in our store!)

Have questions? Don't hesitate to call or email our staff and ask!

PostNet Far West

3571 Far West Blvd., Austin, TX 78731

(512) 231-1321

tx157@postnet.com

Even though there's still quite a bit of time left before the holidays, here at PostNet, we're always looking for ways to make the holidays easier on everyone. We've come up with a great gift idea: holiday calendars!

Give us your family photos and we will arrange them in a professional, full-color, glossy calendar for you. You can order just one for yourself, or you can order multiple copies for your whole family.

Looking for a unique business gift? How about a custom calendar with your logo on it? You could use photos of your staff, of your completed work, or even have each page feature beautiful photos your staff has taken of Austin. 

If you've got a great idea, feel free to bring it in to PostNet and we can help you make it happen!

PostNet Far West

3571 Far West Blvd., Austin, TX 78731

(512) 231-1321

tx157@postnet.com

Have you ever wanted to get something printed out, but your printer would only print on standard 8.5x11" paper? At PostNet Far West, we have a high-tech wide format printer, which can print things as wide as four feet, and as long as the roll of paper will let us!

We can print out blueprints, building layouts, posters, and banners. We can also blow up photos for birthday parties, anniversaries, or bar mitzvahs. We can even take a wallet-sized photo and blow it up into an 18x12" poster! Get family prints enlarged, or make copies of the ones you don't have the negatives for.

We offer a variety of finishes, such as bond (which is a matte finish), gloss, canvas, and vinyl. The prices vary between the different materials, but we are happy to give you a quote over the phone or in person at our store, which is located at 3571 Far West Boulevard in Austin.

All you need is a digital file, or the original that can fit on the glass of our copier, and we can print it out for you!

(Pictured is the Canon iPF8000 that we use in our store.)

PostNet Far West

3571 Far West Boulevard

Austin, TX 78731

(512) 231-1321

tx157@postnet.com

We love printing color flyers on our Xerox Docucolor machines! We can print from a digital file, or just make copies for you while you wait.

Don't want to make two trips? You can email your files to tx157@postnet.com and we will print them out and have them ready for you when you come to pick them up at the store. Isn't it nice having a neighborhood business center that's located right here in northwest Austin?

Come in and see us today!

PostNet Far West

3571 Far West Blvd., Austin, TX 

(512) 231-1321

tx157@postnet.com

Here at PostNet Far West, we offer a variety of products and services that allow the people we do business with to succeed. We can pack and ship important documents, products, or gifts that need to be delivered to clients, and offer many different shipping options so that they can get there on time. 

We also work with a variety of businesses to print everyday materials as well as their important marketing collateral. We love to print business cards, create, print, and fold flyers, and mail envelopes. We have a variety of options for postcards and differently-shaped cards, and can score them according to your specifications. 

Most importantly, we take care of everything so that you can focus on your business. Next time you have an important project to do, trust PostNet on Far West to help you do your best!

PostNet Far West

3571 Far West Blvd., Austin, TX 78731

(512) 231-1321

tx157@postnet.com

Postcards are a great way to get a message across in a quick, friendly way. Your customers don't need to open anything when they get their mail: it's all right there, in front of them. We can print quality postcards at PostNet Far West so that you can communicate with your customers.

We can design your card right here in the store, according to your specifications. Perhaps a reminder message, a birthday greeting, or a current sales offer could be the focus of your card. On the back, you can put any message along with your address, or even include a photo of yourself!

Whether its to promote yourself or your business, or just to say hi and remind your customers that you're still out there, we can help you create and print a great postcard. If you'd like to do a large mailing, we can address and stamp your postcards for you -- you don't have to do a thing!

Stop in today, call, or email us and we can work up a quote. PostNet: we can help!

PostNet Far West

3571 Far West Blvd., Austin, TX 78731

(512) 231-1321

tx157@postnet.com

This past holiday weekend, PostNet Far West sponsored the Northwest Austin Civic Association's 4th of July parade. They allowed us to put up a banner (which, of course, was printed in our store)! The parade was a great time, with a great turnout. One of the many highlights was the Northwest Hills Lawnchair Brigade. Not quite sure what that is? Then check out the rest of the pictures on our Facebook page! 

PostNet Far West

3571 Far West Blvd., Austin, TX

(512) 231-1321

tx157@postnet.com

Here at PostNet Far West, we believe in doing the best work we possibly can. We also believe in letting our customers give us honest, straightforward feedback on the products and services we offer. So take a look at what others are saying about us by clicking the button above!

Sending an item to someone who lives out of town can be confusing: what is the best way to send it? What kind of packaging should you use? At PostNet, we can help. Just bring in the items that you need to ship, and we can get them to your loved ones or business associates when you need them to be there.

We offer ground shipping (which is usually the most cost-efficient option) along with air shipping, for those documents or items that need to be there within the next few business days or overnight. We can always tell you the estimated date of delivery, so that it can get there on time.

Don't have a box? No problem! We carry many different box sizes, and can measure your items and match them to a box to ensure the best fit and rate. We will expertly package your item for you, saving you time. We offer shipping through FedEx, UPS, the United States Postal Service, and DHL. When you bring your package in, we can tell you the best rate when it comes to the price or speed of delivery.

After we have completed the transaction, we will send your package out the same day. As an added service, we track every package that is sent through our store to ensure that it will make it to its destination.

What are you waiting for? Come in to 3571 Far West Blvd., Austin, TX 78731 soon and let us make it easy on you!

If you've ever searched for business cards online, you've surely run across a few sites that seem to be a great deal. "$14.99 for a set of 250 cards!" they proclaim. However, most of the time these sites end up charging you a substantially higher price than you may have originally thought.

We've put together a chart detailing our prices versus the prices that online card distributors charge. This will help you, as our potential customer, make an informed decision about your business card purchases.

As you can see, getting business cards from PostNet will save you at least twenty dollars, if not more. In addition to our lower prices, we check the cards for errors or layout problems before we send them to press. If they contain errors, we will redo them for free. You also get one-on-one service, and can call or email with revisions or questions at any time. Finally, if you have an idea in mind for a custom card, you can work with our graphic designer to create a card that will suit your needs.

Come in today for a free estimate from PostNet. We can help!

PostNet Far West

3571 Far West Blvd., Austin, TX 78731

tx157@postnet.com

(512) 231-1321

As you may know by now, PostNet is a full-service business center. But did you know that we are also a full-service printer? We can print almost anything according to your personal or business needs.

A few months ago, we printed a large mailing for Seton Hospital, advertising services at one of their smaller clinics. We printed a professional-looking postcard, addressed it to the chosen recipients, and mailed it out within a week. They didn't have to lick a single stamp!

We know that you might not have the budget for a large-scale mailing. How about some stickers and magnets, like we did for a Realtor with Austin Realty? Or perhaps some glossy, full-sized booklets like the ones we printed for the Real Estate Staging Association's national conference? Maybe some large signs like the ones we did for the opening of Moonie's Burger House?

We also can create almost every type of business card imaginable. Full-color, black and white, front and back, glossy, matte, rounded corners, you name it, we can do it. If you have an idea about the design you would like but can't do it yourself, our graphic designer can listen to your needs and create the perfect custom card. Countless businesses have trusted us to do their business cards for them, such as Anue, NTBS, Inc., and Austin Realty.

So what are you waiting for? Call, email, or come in for a free quote today!

PostNet Far West, 3571 Far West Blvd., Austin, TX 78731

(512) 231-1321

tx157@postnet.com

"I have been a fatihful customer of PostNet on Far West for close to a year now. As a small business owner, every penny spent is a carefully thought out decision.

PostNet not only designed my business cards, brochures and several other marketing pieces, but printed and delivered them in less time than promised at EXACTLY the price quoted. WOW! It's like having a relative in the printing business.

I had looked at using an online business card company using their 'stock' design. A member of the PostNet staff designed a signature card for a few cents more. It was well worth it.

My print material allows me to market my flower shop to prospective customers and let them know I'm a professional and am in business for the long haul. In this economy, impressions are even more important.

PostNet has helped me give my business a recognizable name and face in my community. The staff has always been pleasant, helpful and professional. I can only say very positive things about the staff at PostNet. I highly recommend them."

This five-star review can be found along with many others on our CitySearch page.

PostNet Far West: 3571 Far West Blvd., Austin, TX 78731

Contact Us: tx157@postnet.com or call 512-231-1321

Postal Inspectors report that Identity/Mail Theft has become the #1 white-collar crime in the country.

New reports indicate that mail theft is up 71% versus last year.

According U.S. Postal Inspectors, it takes a minimum of 44 months to recover from Identity Theft.

One in three cases involving identity theft occurs via the mail!

For the criminal, the mailbox is the gateway to financial fraud, and victims are left with empty bank accounts and shattered credit ratings.

Parcel Packages are at their most vulnerable when left unattended on your doorstep. With Internet shoppers increasing daily, more and more parcel packages never find their rightful owner due to thieves who follow these trucks and grab packages left unattended.

A private mailbox with PostNet can help protect you against mail/package theft.

We offer secure mailboxes with 24 hour security. Receive UPS, FedEx, DHL, and other courier packages safely at PostNet; no longer left unattended on your door step. Mail forwarding when you travel. Call in mail check.

Make your business look more professional with a physical address without a P.O. Box number. Come visit our store - 3571 Far West Blvd. Austin, TX 78731

Need to look good for a business presentation? Do you have a big report due at school? Or maybe just creating something special for your friends and family? PostNet has the tools to make all of your projects a success.

Printing, binding, laminating, folding, and more. Conveniently located at 3571 Far West Blvd. Austin, TX 78731

See how we made our customers stand out! Customer Testimonials

Are you a band, public relations company, or simply a fan? Do you want to immediately reach people that you meet during South by Southwest? We can print high-quality posters, flyers, or handouts quickly and inexpensively. Get someone thinking about your band, movie, software, or iPhone program when you hand them something printed by PostNet Far West.

We also have the capability to produce black & white and colored copies (or printouts) on white or colored paper and can cut large stacks of paper to your specifications (in half, in fourths, in eighths, etc).

Need to promote yourself? As always, PostNet offers great prices on high-quality business cards so that you can make sure that individuals that you introduce yourself to don't forget your name.

How about a pre-stamped, pre-addressed postcard that you can hand out to people to get their thoughts? We can make them for you!

You can bring in your own design, or our on-staff graphic designer can design something for you.

Call, email, or come in to PostNet Far West and see what we can do to help promote!

PostNet Far West

3571 Far West Blvd., Austin, TX 78731

(512) 231-1321

tx157@postnet.com

facebook.com/postnetfarwest