This is the scenario:

Some of your contact details have changed  – a telephone number or street address. You need new business cards  anyway, so you order a batch from your printers, giving them the new  details.

They make the changes and send you a proof which you  sign, granting them the go-ahead. You get the business cards and  everything’s just great. Things remain great till a few months later,  when you order letterheads. Only this time, you forget that the  letterhead template which the printers have on file for you still  contains the old contact details. You get the useless letterheads, and  now you’re mad at the printer for not having corrected the details and  they’re mad at you for blaming them.

Thing is, you’re the one in the wrong! You cannot expect your printer, who’s dealing  with hundreds or thousands of different clients, to think for you. Some  might, but then you’re lucky – and it’s best not to bank on luck!

The way things should have been done is:

• You place your order, giving them the new details – in writing.

• You  tell them – preferably in writing – that they must update the rest of  your corporate stationery at the same time. These could include  compliment slips, letterheads, note pads, invoice and quotation books  etc.

• You get them to send you proofs of the changes.

• You sign them, make copies and return them to the printer.

This  way, if something does go wrong somewhere down the line, you’re more  than justified to “kick some butt”! Plus, getting them all changed at  the same time can work out less expensive than being charged for one  template change at a time.

At the end of the day it is our  responsibility as business owners to ensure that all our communications  are correct and error free.

All photos and artwork used in my articles are fully licensed and were purchased from stock photo sites such as Dollarphoto, Fotolia, Adobe Stock, Depositphotos.

Planning on starting a new business, or Planning on starting a new business, or feel your company name and logo is not working? Starting my Business: My Name, Logo & Slogan provides all the information you need to consider when it comes to these three elements of your new enterprise. Find out more at Books 2 Read (Opens in a new window)
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