Guide to Pricing and Costs of Calendars

How to set a budget for your custom calendars

By Emily Lugg

1. How many calendars do you need?
2. What type of calendar would you like to provide to your customers?
3. What other costs do you need to take into consideration when having custom calendars made?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Decide how many calendars you want to order

The number of calendars that you need to order may limit your choices as to which types of calendars your budget will allow. If you need 100 or more calendars, you can get 12-month custom wall calendars for around $2 each or 3'x5' magnetic calendars for less then $1 each. However, if you need less then 100 calendars, the prices may be up to $1 more per item and many places may not even allow you to order any fewer then 100 at a time.

I recommend: Calendars Now carries custom 12-month and Span-a-Year wall calendars for reasonable prices. Promos On-Time offers pocket calendars that can have your logo imprinted on them for $1 to $2, depending on how many you order.

Choose quantity or quality when it comes to corporate calendars

You need to evaluate what you are going to be using your promotional calendars for before placing any orders. If you are trying to reach potential customers by mailing out custom calendars or handing them out at conferences or trade shows, you can go for quantity and spend your money buying in bulk. However, if you plan on purchasing promotional desk calendars or an appointment calendar for current clients, you may want to consider going for quality over quantity. You can get quality yearly planners for under $10.

I recommend: The Discount Printer offers custom weekly desk planners on which you can have your logo imprinted. And Promo Direct offers a planner that comes complete with a calculator and a ruler for less then $10, depending on how many you order.

Factor in all the costs into your custom calendars

Some companies charge set-up fees for custom designs and at times it can be hefty, so it's important to shop around to make sure you are getting exactly what you want and that the set-up fee is worth it. You may be able to find a company that will do the same work, but without the set-up fee. Be sure to do the math and make sure that they aren't charging more per calendar to make up for the set-up charge. And if you are ordering from an online company or another business out of different state, take into account the shipping costs that you may endure.

I recommend: Be sure to read the fine print because some items at companies like 4 All Promos charge set-up fees for some products and not others. The shipping fees at companies like these are often times calculated based on how many calendars you have ordered and where they are geographically being shipped to. Cordial Greetings offers free imprinting of your logo onto any type of calendar you choose. Keep in mind with offers like these the only custom piece is your company name--not the pictures and layout.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Do a lot of research when placing such a large custom calendar order. Look at print shops online, in your company's city and the city down the road. You won't know you are getting the best deal until you have looked around at all of your options.

1. Personalized calendars help you keep track of important business meetings with clients and colleagues.
2. A calendar allows you to keep contact information where you can easily access it.
3. Add-ons to calendars can help you convert measurements, take notes or know when the year’s holidays take place.
4. Personal planners keep you organized by holding all of the information you need in one spot.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Consider the form of calendar that you are most comfortable with

Some individuals will want an electronic calendar, while others like the act of putting pencil to paper when setting appointments. Both forms have their pros and cons, which means that you'll need to weigh those options and decide which one is right for you.

I recommend: Stay organized with one of Palm’s electronic calendar products. Review the available PDAs at CNet and buy the one that fits your needs. Try a desk calendar pad to keep you organized at your desk.

Choose an attractive holder for your personal planner

If you like the idea of a hard copy calendar, you'll need to consider the outward appearance of the calendar. You'll want a cover that can be used for years to come and that looks professional.

I recommend: Use of the attractive options from Executive Essentials to help keep you organized for years to come. A leather bound planner always has a professional, executive appearance.

Use a calendar program that integrates with your email account

Several email providers offer calendars that can be accessed from your email account. If you spend a lot of time with your email program open, this can be a great option, particularly as the calendar will send you a reminder via email of appointments and meetings.

I recommend: Take a tour of the Google Calendar which features reminders via email for appointments and events. Try the demo of Calendar Script, a web-based calendar and appointment organizer.

Find calendars that include the information you need

Consider how you'll use a calendar. Do you need to have short increments of time? Room to write notes? Additional information like sunrise or sunset time integrated in? Taking the time to think about what you need your calendar to include will help you get one that will actually work for you.

I recommend: Check out the different Quo Vadis planning products to see which best meets your needs. Create your own custom calendars at Day-Timer. Choose a planner created specifically for a particular industry, like real estate.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you have multiple personalized calendars, keep in mind that you'll need to transfer information from one to the other. Some electronic calendars can be accessed online and through a PDA which can help eliminate this problem.

Guide to Making the Most of Calendars

Enlist the practicality of calendars to benefit your business

By Emily Lugg

1. Create pocket calendars for those customers on the go.
2. Use calendars as gifts to special customers.
3. Design magnetic calendars to hold a central spot in the company breakroom—the front of the 'fridge.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Consider having pocket calendars printed on your business card

We've all been there--you're out and someone asks you the date of the Saturday after next. Why not save your potential customers some trouble and have pocket calendars made for them? Not only will they always know the date, but they'll thank you every time they rely on that calendar. A great way to do this is to have a tiny pocket or wallet calendar printed directly onto your business card.

I recommend: Smart Resolution carries wallet calendars you can fully personalize. National Pen offers a variety of folding business card calendars that you can personalize with your logo.

Give customers a quality appointment calendar as a gift of thanks

Businesses that function by appointment will keep you and your company at the front of their mind every time they go to make an appointment. This will keep your company name out in the open every business day of the year. And to receive a quality calendar will show your customer that you appreciate their business and will likely keep them coming back.

I recommend: Quality Logo carries a weekly time manager that you can have custom designed with your logo on the front of the hard cover. Personalized Leather offers customized and personalized calendars.

Try unique calendars that your customers are not likely to have

A hanging wall calendar, desk calendars, an appointment calendar--maybe your customers already have these things. Although everyone needs a calendar, they don't often need more of the same type of calendar. Think outside of the box for the client that has everything. Consider incorporating pictures from your last business event with a specific client.

I recommend: Go magnetic with a magnetic calendar from Magnet Street. Or to get even more personal, try these business photo calendars for your client's desk from VistaPrint.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider making different calendars for different clients. One size does not always fit all. And your customers will be likely to notice the personalized attention if their calendars are designed specifically for their business needs.

Guide to Calendars Key Terms

Let calendar key terms get you organized

By Emily Lugg

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Desk pad calendars

Desk pad calendars are large, month-at-a glance calendars that lay flat on your desk. They often have a pad underneath to double as a writing surface.

I recommend: Genoa Business Forms details many styles of desk pad calendars.

Wall calendars

Wall calendars hang on the wall and come in many-month increments, most often 12- or 14-months. The top half of a wall calendar typically has a picture of some kind and the bottom half is the actual calendar.

I recommend: Dolphin Blue explains the many options you have when it comes to wall calendars.

Lunar calendar

The lunar calendar is based on the position of the moon, as opposed to the more widely known solar calendar. The lunar calendar was widely popular among many cultures at one time, but now is only used by a select few cultures. An average lunar month lasts for 29 days.

I recommend: River Ocean provides the history of the lunar calendar.

Virtual calendars

Virtual calendars are online calendars that come in many forms. Some use virtual calendars as countdowns to significant events, while other virtual calendars can be used to merge several schedules together onto one calendar online.

I recommend: Yes-clock.com shows how you can use virtual calendars to add tickers to websites or your desktop.

Poster calendar

A poster calendar is a large, one-page calendar that displays the entire year. Most often, poster calendars just include the dates, not open space to write in appointments or reminders. Poster calendars are a mix between the visual function of art and the practical function of a calendar.

I recommend: Snapfish displays a poster calendar that you can have customized.

Academic planners

Academic planners are organized especially for those in school. They start and end in the order of a school-year rather than a typical calendar year. They also include designated space for assignments and reminders.

I recommend: Academic Planners Plus details the specifications of an academic planner for a primary school student.