Monthly Archives: August 2021

Miles Cake Flyer

How to Hand Out Business Flyers Legally and Effectively

Marketing, Uncategorized, , ,

Business flyers (also known as leaflets or pamphlets) are a popular and traditional form of paper marketing. They’re perfect for advertising a particular product, service, sale or promotion, or your company as a whole.

Flyers have been used to advertise businesses, political viewpoints and more for hundreds of years, since the invention of the printing press – and they’re no less relevant today. You can hand out flyers to passers-by on the street, distribute them directly to letterboxes, or send them out with an order. You can even have a box of flyers on your premises for members of the public to help themselves.

This guide will describe what business flyers are used for, and the benefits and drawbacks of the four main methods of flyer distribution. We’ll also discuss the legalities of handing out flyers in the UK, and when you might need to apply for a license.

What Are Business Flyers Used For?

Flyers are one of the most valuable forms of advertising for small, medium and large businesses. You can use flyers to:

Spread awareness of your company, and get your name out there
Attract new customers with discounts or limited time offers
Make past customers aware of new products or services, and increase the likelihood that they’ll purchase again
Flyers are considered single-use promotional products, as most people will throw a flyer away after reading it.
But the important thing is that they do read it before discarding it. Most people can’t help reading a leaflet that comes through their letterbox, purely out of curiosity. Even if they’re not interested in your company at that precise moment, they’ll remember your name for the future.

Do Flyers Actually Work?

You may wonder, in today’s increasingly digital world, whether paper flyers are still effective at drawing in potential customers. Wouldn’t a Facebook ad, for example, be a better way of marketing your business?

While digital ads have their place, there’s still something that catches the eye about traditional paper letterbox marketing. It’s easy to scroll past an advertisement on a webpage without even giving it a glance. You’ve probably seen dozens of online ads today – yet how many of them can you name?

But if you receive a physical leaflet in your letterbox, you’ll almost always give it a cursory read-over, even if you end up discarding it. And the company’s name will likely come back to you when you are in need of that particular product or service.

This is because we pay more attention to what we read when it’s on paper, versus a screen. According to the DMA, 60.5% of people will read a flyer that comes through their letterbox.
And don’t forget, not everybody is online. Paper marketing is pretty much the only way to capture offline customers, such as older people who might not use the internet at all.

What Is the Best Way to Give Out Flyers?

Now you know what flyers are, and how they’ll give your business a boost. But how do you actually go about getting your flyers to potential customers?
There are four main ways of distributing advertising literature.

1) Letterbox Marketing (Door Drop)

The most popular form of flyer distribution is called letterbox marketing, otherwise known as “door drop”. If you’ve ever found a leaflet in your letterbox advertising a local takeaway, double glazing company or broadband provider, then you’ll already be well aware of this kind of marketing.
You can either hire someone to go door-to-door and drop leaflets into letterboxes, or you can mail flyers through the postal service, if you have a list of addresses (e.g. of past customers). This is known as “direct mail”.
With letterbox marketing, you’re able to target specific homes – such as people who live in a specific postcode area, or certain types of accommodation.

2) On the Premises

If your company has a physical premises which customers are allowed to visit – such as a shop – you can always hand out flyers inside the building. You could have a box on the counter full of free flyers that your visitors are welcome to help themselves to, for example.
Alternatively, you could have an employee standing near the door, handing out leaflets to people as they leave. This will keep your products or services fresh in their minds, even if they didn’t purchase anything that day.

3) With an Order

Another quick and easy way to get flyers out to clients is to include them for free with every order that a customer places. Simply pop a leaflet into the box with the customer’s order, and they’ll instantly be exposed to other products that you offer, which they may not have been aware of before. You could also include a coupon for a discount on future orders, for example.

Of course, this only really works if you’re selling a physical product, rather than a service. And you’re only able to target existing customers, rather than drawing in new clients. However, it may make customers more likely to shop with you again.

4) Hand to Hand Flyer Distribution

Hand to hand flyer distribution involves, as the name suggests, handing leaflets or flyers directly to customers or potential customers.
If you’ve ever seen someone standing in a busy town centre, offering flyers to shoppers as they pass by, this is an example of a hand to hand flyer campaign. They might also be dressed up in branded clothing or holding a sign to direct shoppers to the store or business premises.

Hand to hand flyer distribution is generally not as cost-effective as letterbox marketing. This is because you’re handing out leaflets to anyone who walks past – so you’re unable to target your distribution to certain demographics (such as age, affluence level, postcode area, and so on).
You’ll also need to apply for a license if you want to hand out leaflets in the street. We’ll get onto this now.

Is It Legal to Hand Out Flyers in the UK?

The U.K.’s laws on flyer distribution are fairly simple, but it’s essential that you know them well. Before you decide how, when, and where you want to hand out your company’s flyers, you must make sure you can do so legally, or that you have the correct licence (when applicable).

You do not need a license to hand out flyers if:
The flyers are for a charity, or based on political, religious or ethical beliefs
You place the flyers directly into people’s letterboxes (door drop), or you send them out via the postal service
You’re handing out flyers inside a building, bus, or taxi
You’re including the flyer for free with an order that a customer has placed

If you’re using any of the above methods, you don’t need anyone’s permission. You can get started straight away. However, if you plan to hand out flyers to people in the street, the rules are different.

Handing Out Flyers in the Street (Hand to Hand Distribution)

If you want to hand your flyers out in the street (hand to hand flyer distribution), you must apply for (and be granted) a license first.
For example, let’s say you plan to hire someone to stand outside your premises to hand out leaflets in the street. You’d need a license for this kind of distribution. If you were to hand them out inside the building, you wouldn’t. But as soon as you set foot outside the door, it’s another ball game.

It’s illegal to hand out business flyers on the street without a license. If you are caught doing so, or you breach the terms of your license (e.g. hand out flyers in an area that your license doesn’t cover), you could receive a fixed penalty notice of up to £150.
For repeat offences, or if the matter goes to court, you could face a fine of up to £2,500 and a criminal record. So, it’s well worth making absolutely sure that you know the rules!

How to Get Permission to Distribute Leaflets

If you’re planning on distributing your company’s leaflets in letterboxes, in the post, with an order, or inside a building, you don’t need to seek any sort of permission or license. You can go ahead and order your flyers straight away.
However, if you’ve decided that you’d like to go the hand to hand route, and hand out flyers on the street (outside your premises, for example) you’ll need to seek permission from the relevant local authority.

Different local authorities (councils) will have different rules on when, where and how you can hand flyers out. The fee you’ll have to pay to obtain the license may also vary. Some councils may issue a badge that whoever is handing out the leaflets will need to wear.
If you’re in England or Wales, head over to this page and input your business’s postcode to find out how to apply for the relevant license.

Can I Hire a Company to Distribute Flyers For Me?

There are plenty of companies that exist purely to assist small, medium and large businesses with leaflet and flyer distribution.
These companies are well-versed on the law and will ensure they operate within the parameters set out by your local council. They will work with you to determine which households will be most likely to respond to your advertising campaign, and outline a target distribution area.

There are two main services offered by leaflet distribution companies:

Direct mail. This involves using the postal system to directly mail flyers and leaflets to potential customers.
Door drop. This involves the hiring of one or more individuals to go door-to-door in your chosen area and drop flyers into letterboxes.

Both services often incur a hefty fee. You can save money by designing and ordering flyers yourself, and having your employees hand them out.

Where Can I Order Flyers for My Business?

At 123Print.co.uk, you can use our handy flyer printing service to design fully personalised flyers for your business. To get started, choose whether you’d like A4, A5 or DL flyers, and quickly and easily upload your own artwork (e.g. your company’s logo, and a background image).

Miles Cake Flyer

You can select your preferred font and colour scheme, and add text anywhere on your design. If you don’t have time to finish your design in one sitting, you can save it and come back to it later. Once you’re finished we’ll print your flyers on high quality 130 gsm paper and ship your order directly to your door.

Our prices start from only £10 for 50 flyers, and we aim to dispatch all orders within 2 working days. We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so if you’re not happy with your order for any reason, we’ll give you a full refund. What are you waiting for?

Blue Flyer

Are Flyers Really Cost-Effective for Small Businesses?

Flyers, Uncategorized, , , , ,

One often debated topic in marketing is whether or not flyers are still a cost-effective tactic for small businesses.
When done correctly, flyers (also called leaflets or pamphlets) are an excellent marketing tool – both affordable to produce and effective in making your business known. But there are a few ground rules to follow.

We’re going to give you advice on crafting a flyer so it’s even more effective at getting people to respond. We’ll discuss the best time to send your flyer, and how you can make them more compelling. You want your business flyers to pull people in, engage them and get them interested in what you’re offering!
By following these best practices, you’ll start to see how flyers are still an affordable and effective marketing tool for small businesses.

Understanding Junk Mail Blindness

People receive so many advertisements in the post these days that they’ve developed what’s known as “junk mail blindness”. Their minds don’t even process what’s in their mailbox – they simply see that it’s an advert, and throw it away.
This creates a problem for small businesses. Even if your flyer is delivered to the right person at the right time, they may overlook it since their brain isn’t processing advertisements.

So how do you get around junk mail blindness?

The first thing to understand is that most people will not read a flyer unless it speaks directly to them. So here’s a piece of advice: don’t try to be everything to everyone.
If your business is local, then target your flyer at a specific location or group of people. For example:

• If you run a nursery and only service the local area, focus on distributing flyers to the districts that you cover
• If you’re running a landscaping business and have many customers in one neighbourhood, target that area in particular
• If your company is particularly popular with older customers, focus on postcodes that are more likely to be home to those age groups – for example, small towns rather than city centres
If you’ve got an evergreen business (one with customers all year), then target your flyer in the same way. For example, if it’s a local hairdresser, send flyers to anyone within a 20-mile radius of your shop.

The AIDA principle (Attention Interest Desire Action)

Another way to combat junk mail blindness is to use the AIDA framework. This is one of the oldest marketing techniques around. It stands for Attention, Interest, Desire, and Action.

This means your flyer should:

• Capture their attention immediately
• Pique their interest with a compelling offer
• Focus on their desires to solidify that interest
• And tell them what action to take to claim your offer
People have been seeing advertisements using this framework for so many years that they are almost conditioned to respond if it is used effectively. So be sure to take advantage of decades of marketing research and incorporate the AIDA principle into your flyers.
Here’s an example of an AIDA framework for a flower shop called “Sally’s Flowers.”

Attention:
Do you love fresh flowers?
Interest:
We have a fantastic selection of fresh, high-quality bouquets and arrangements that are perfect for any occasion. You’ll find something for everyone at Sally’s Flowers.
Desire:
We want you to see our beautiful selection and pick out your favourite flowers today! Get 10% off on all purchases over £50 with the code “10OFF”.
Action:
Bring this flyer to our shop at 123 High St., or visit us online at sallysflowers.com and enter the coupon code for your special discount. But hurry! This offer expires on August 12th!
By following this flow, you’ll quickly move through all of the psychological triggers that compel people to act on an offer.

How to Create a Cost-effective Flyer

Flyers can absolutely be cost-effective for small business, provided that you follow the AIDA principle and target your specific audience. But what’s also key is creating a flyer design that will immediately catch your readers’ attention, and make people want to read it, rather than discarding it without a second glance.
Here are our top tips on creating a flyer that will effectively spread brand awareness, and translate into sales for your company.

Make People Notice Your Flyers

Flyers are more likely to get picked up or opened if they’re different from what people typically see. You’ll get more responses if you utilise a colourful flyer that includes photos and has an exciting design. It’s a better idea for your flyers to be eye-catching than bland and simple. Ensure you include your business’s logo prominently on the design, to help build brand recognition.
123Print’s flyer creation tool allows you to design striking flyers with the click of a button. You can customise the background colour, add your own artwork, and choose an attention-grabbing font with ease.

Make It Clear What You’re Offering

If you’re trying to sell something in particular, then let people know what it is that you’re offering. If someone doesn’t know what you’re selling, how will they be able to respond?
Keep the number of words on your flyer limited so people can see in a second or two precisely what it is that you want them to do. Less writing and more design will mean more responses because people won’t have to stop and read a novel on your flyer.
Use “Free” to Draw People In

If you’re trying to get people interested in sampling your products or services, or pull in new customers, then put something free in their hands. It’s incredible how many people look at flyers but immediately discard them if the offer isn’t compelling enough. It’s the free stuff that will get people to look at your flyer, but it’s also what may give them an idea about how you can assist them with their problems.

Include a Personal Note

When you have flyers made up for your business, include a note on each of them, which lets people know who they’re talking to. Tell them a little about yourself and what your company does in a friendly, conversational tone.
This reveals the human side of your business, and makes you seem more appealing. People are always more willing to spend money on companies that they perceive as having real people behind them, rather than faceless corporations.

Include a Call to Action

Don’t just advertise your products or services: give whoever is reading the flyer a clear action that you want them to take. For example:
• Visit our website today!
• Call us now to place an order – spend over £50 and get free shipping!
• Order before 1st December and receive 10% off!
You don’t necessarily need to have a long list of things that people should do if they want to get in touch with you. In fact, the more detail you go into, the less likely your customers will read it all. Make the call to action simple, attractive, and easy to follow.

Make Your Flyers Time Sensitive

If you don’t give people a nudge, then they’re going to forget about what you’re offering them. So, when introducing a special offer, sale, voucher or coupon code, always include a deadline.
By including a deadline for action (i.e., “Sale ends this Friday”), you’ll add an element of time-sensitivity to the message that will keep your offer at the forefront of their minds. If you don’t, they might place your flyer in a drawer and think “I’ll do that tomorrow” – and tomorrow never comes.

Keep Things Short and Sweet

Don’t be tempted to include several paragraphs of text on your flyer – keep things brief and easy to read. Nobody wants to read an essay that they didn’t even ask for!
Short, punchy copy is the key to capturing attention and motivating people to action. So be concise and to the point on your flyers. Tell them your offer, the timeframe available, and what they need to do to act.

Get Others’ Opinions

Even if you’ve designed several different flyers on your own, it’s still a good idea to take some time and get feedback from other people on what they think. You can either ask friends and family members for their honest opinions or post the flyer online and try getting responses from potential customers and clients about what they think of it.
By asking for open and honest opinions of your designs, you can save money by catching a bad campaign before it even gets started.

Order Professional Flyers Today with 123Print

Flyers are a very effective marketing tool for small businesses when done effectively. So there is no need to feel like you have to abandon this time-tested marketing tactic just because it’s not a digital medium – especially if your budget doesn’t allow for more expensive advertising methods.

It’s always best to source your flyers from a true industry professional, like 123Print. We offer high-quality, full colour, glossy flyers professionally printed at unbeatable prices.
Using our easy editor, you can create the perfect design in no time at all – and we always aim to dispatch orders within 48 working hours. With a 100% satisfaction guarantee offered with all orders, you have nothing to lose!

How to Throw an Awesome Kid’s Birthday Party on a Budget

Design, , ,

Gone are the days of jelly and ice cream, musical chairs and pass the parcel in the local community hall! With the birth of social media, and documenting every moment of our lives online, sometimes we feel pressure to compete in hosting the biggest and best kid’s birthday party.

But with the price of living increasing, it may not seem to make financial sense to spend all our time planning something that will only last one day. What if we told you there was a way that you could have a great celebration, whilst still sticking to a budget!
Follow our step-by-step guide, and ensure that you throw a party that will last in your memories, not break the bank, and leave you with enough spare change to treat yourself for a job well done.

1. Plan in Advance

Planning is the most crucial part of the process, and is potentially more important than the party itself. The earlier you start, the easier it will be to:

 Narrow down details, such as where you’re going to host the party (more on that later)
 Research what you need to know
 Ensure you stick to your budget, without impulse buying
 Spread out the expenses over a few months, rather than spending all at once

Start a few months early with a rough plan; when do you want the party? Can you be flexible with the date? How many guests do you want to invite? Do you want to book a venue, or use your garden?

And as early as you can, start to think about your hard limit on your budget. Figure out how much you can spend on each aspect of the party, and stick to it!

2. Timing Considerations

A huge plus of planning in advance is that the earlier you look at venues, the more you can narrow down the perfect one – and the more you can save. The later you leave it before you book, the higher the chance that venues will be booked up, leaving you stuck with the most expensive ones.

Consider the day of the week – weekends are always going to be more expensive than weekdays. You can plan the party for after school on a weekday if you need to save a bit of cash. (The party doesn’t need to be on your child’s actual birthday!)
But also think about the time of day. If you have a party at midday or in the evening, you may be expected to provide a full meal for the kids. If you plan your party between 2pm and 5pm, guests will have already eaten lunch, and won’t be ready for dinner. This means you won’t have to spend money on set meals, but instead can provide a few snacks, which keeps the costs down.

3. Prune the Guest List

The best way to prevent large spending is to limit the amount of guests you invite. Consider sticking to a core group of 10 or fewer friends, rather than the whole class. This will help you save on your food and drink budget, and also allow you to choose a smaller venue.

Make the drop off and pick up times very clear on the invitation, so that parents don’t stick around expecting to be fed. You may also need to say if siblings are or aren’t invited – you don’t want to prepare for 10 children only for 20+ to turn up.
If your guests are under 6, their parent will probably want to stay with them. Be aware of this, and invite fewer kids if you can’t afford to cater for the parents too.

4. Choose the Invitations

These days, it is becoming more common to send a text or email instead of physical invitations. It makes sense – how many times has your child received an invite only for them to have lost it minutes later? Part of the birthday fun, however, is handing out paper invitations to their friends! This is a tradition that you don’t want to lose.

You could make your own invitations. But if you don’t have the time, try a website like 123Print that offers professionally printed party invites at low cost. There are many fully customisable designs to choose from, and they won’t break the bank.

5. Pick the Right Venue

Planning a party on a budget is all about the location. The most obvious choice is to throw the party at home!
Not only does this cut costs – you don’t have to pay a fee to hire your own home – but you can also decorate it exactly how you want (some venues may not let you hang things up). You also know how many guests can fit into your home.
However, renting another location makes clean-up easier, and you don’t risk anything getting broken – some people can get overwhelmed at the idea of children rampaging through their house!

Consider a community hall. If booked early enough, they offer reasonable rates, and usually come with a small kitchen, chairs and tables.
If you have good weather, heading outside can be a simple yet still creative way to throw a party – either in your back garden, or in a local park, which may have the added bonus of play equipment for the children.

6. Theme Ideas

Coming up with a party theme can be as simple as thinking of your child’s favourite toy or TV show, and also means you could use their toys to decorate (you don’t have to buy decorations).
Unless your child wants something specific, consider a generic theme such as pirates, princesses, superheroes, or even the colours of the rainbow. These will be very easy to shop for, and you’ll probably be able to find everything you need a discount store or pound shop.
You could even ask guests to dress up for the party, which would add to the decor without extra spending.

7. Source Cheap Décor

You may have seen pictures of Pinterest-perfect parties, but with the average one costing £300, you shouldn’t be pressured into spending more than you have. You can do so much with just some balloons, streamers and bunting, all of which are cheap and widely available.
With the internet and some basic supplies, you could even make your own decorations, such as tissue pompoms, DIY confetti balloons, and simple but fancy banners. Injecting colour into your decor is a great way to take something simple and make it look fun and exciting.
If you do choose ready-made decorations, stay away from party shops that come with premium pricing, and order well in advance to get the cheapest prices possible.

8. Budget for Food

Let’s face it: children are more interested in playing at parties rather than stopping to eat food. Therefore, there’s no need to over-complicate things. This isn’t a grown-up dinner party, after all!
Stick with small bites of finger foods. Home-made sandwiches, pizza slices (made from frozen pizzas), and mini sausage rolls are all cheap and tasty ideas that are big hits with the little ones.
Consider portioning out the food in advance in party boxes so you don’t overspend, and cut down on food waste! It also means that the kids can take home leftovers, leaving minimal mess.

9. Entertainment Options

Don’t feel as though you have to hire a magician, a balloon artist or a clown. Cutting down on the expense of entertainment doesn’t mean cutting down on the fun.
The internet is full of great games and activities that take no planning, minimal set up, and will cost very little if anything at all. For example:

• Pass the parcel. You can use recycled newspaper or even left over wrapping paper, and a small bag of sweets to pop in each layer. The final present doesn’t have to be expensive – a toy from the pound shop will do!
• Musical chairs is always popular, but if you don’t have seating, instead try musical statues – you only need a smartphone and a playlist.
• Pin the tail on the donkey: an old favourite that only requires paper, scissors, and a pin (or blue-tack). You could alter this game to fit the theme – for example, pin the eye patch on the pirate.
• “Simon says” is completely free, and a great way to get children to calm down and pay attention – perfect when waiting for pickup.

If you’re hosting the party in your back garden or a park, you could have a scavenger hunt. The kids could find things from a list (such as leaves and rocks) or you could hide things for them to find.

10. Cut the Cost of Cake

Every kid’s birthday party has to have cake – but you don’t have to spend a bomb on it! The cheapest choice, of course, is to make the cake yourself. A simple Victoria sponge goes down a treat, and isn’t difficult to make.
But not everyone is a baker, and with trying to prepare everything else, you may not have the time to make your own from scratch. If you’re not a confident baker, cupcakes or fairy cakes are easier, and you could even incorporate cupcake decorating as one of the party activities.

Another option is to buy a basic cake from a supermarket, and jazz it up yourself with decorations – then you can make sure it fits in with your theme! Chocolate buttons, sweets and sprinkles are cheap and easy options.

11. Party Bags?

There is an ongoing debate about party bags, and whether to provide them or not. It is completely up to you whether you want to provide them. If you want to, making them yourself can be much cheaper than buying ready-made ones.
But if your budget just won’t cover it, try to think of party bags as a bonus, and not a necessity. Provided your little guests can take home a slice of cake, and as long as you send out thank you cards after the party, there will be no hard feelings!

How Far in Advance Should You Send an Invitation for a Party?

Design, Party Invitations, ,

Planning a party is a lot of fun, there’s no doubt about that. But it can also be stressful – particularly when it comes to the guest list.
Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, an anniversary, a baby shower, or just hosting a casual dinner party, you’ll need to know who’s coming and who isn’t. Otherwise, you’ll struggle to make arrangements when it comes to things like catering.

Generally speaking, it is best to send out party invitations at least a couple of months in advance of your event. This can vary depending on what type of party you’re hosting (its tone, size, and the importance of the occasion) and what preparations are needed.
In this guide, we’ll reveal the best times to send out party invitations, no matter what kind of celebration you’re hosting. We’ll also find out where you can order beautiful, professionally printed invitations for a low price.

When Is the Best Time to Send Party Invites?

No matter what kind of party you’re planning, always send out paper invitations with RSVP cards (or that incorporate a tear-off RSVP section at the bottom).
Paper invitations work so much better than digital ones: they’re more exciting, more personal, and much more memorable. Your guests will take your party much more seriously when receiving a paper invitation compared to a casual text or email.
A good rule to follow is to give your invitees at least four weeks’ notice of the party. However, if any of these apply to your celebration, be sure to give your guests some extra time.

1. Are your guests travelling? They may need extra time to find and book transport to and from the venue.
2. Will your event mean some of your guests need to stay overnight? Even if the party is close, they may not want to drive home afterwards – so they’ll need time to organise accommodation.
3. Is your event being held at a time of year that is particularly busy? For example, in the school summer holidays, or a Saturday in December? You’ll need to get in early, otherwise your guests may already be booked up.
4. Are you asking your guests to bring anything to the party, such as food (a potluck, for example)? They’ll need time to prepare it!
5. Also, consider whether any of your guests have children or pets – they may need extra time to find childcare or pet sitters for the event.

What Else Should I Consider?

You should also think about what kind of party you’re having, as this will have an impact on how early you need to know guest numbers (or whether you need to know them at all).
If any of these apply, you may want to send invites early to give yourself more time.

1. Are you preparing food or having catering? The caterers will need to know how many guests to feed (and be aware of dietary requirements).
2. Will your choice of venue change based on how many guests will be there?
3. Do you want to know numbers for booking of entertainment or equipment?
4. What is the parking or accommodation situation? Will you need to know exact numbers for this?
5. Does your event have detailed plans that you need to communicate with guests?
6. Are you giving guests gifts or personalising your celebration?

You might also consider how important the party is. If a high attendance rate matters to you, give your recipients more time. The later you send out invitations, the more guests will RSVP “no”.

When Should I Send Dinner Party Invitations?

If you are hosting a dinner party, you should aim to send out invitations about four weeks before your event. This allows you to get a good idea of numbers when purchasing food and drinks which saves you time and money.
You may also want to plan a table setting and if guests will be drinking, they might want to arrange a hotel or taxi.

As a formal dinner party can take some preparation, its best to give your guests (and yourself) plenty of time. This will help avoid stress leading up to your party and allow you to enjoy!
If you are having trouble choosing an invite for your dinner party, this Charming Elegance invite would be a perfect fit.

How Early Should I Send Birthday Invitations?

If you are planning a casual birthday party, three weeks before the event should be early enough to send out invites. This will give you enough time to prepare and if needed, book a small venue. If you are not booking a venue and hosting at home instead, two weeks should be enough notice.

When hosting a children’s party, remember that during school holidays families may be busier than usual. This means you may want to push forward your invites to four weeks.
Sending invites three weeks before the event would be recommended if you are hiring a bouncy castle or swimming pool for example. Even if your party will be held at home, this will take extra time and be dependent on availability and number of guests.
Choose a themed invitation for an added personal touch – or skip the stress and go with a classic invitation like Party Clown.

When Should You Send Out Surprise Birthday Invitations?

When sending invites for a surprise party, invitations should be sent four weeks in advance. This reflects the planning involved: more time equals less stress.
For surprise parties, especially if the party is for someone in your household, you should definitely use postal invitations. This reduces the chance for any overheard conversations that could spoil the surprise! Although postal services are usually reliable, sending early ensures that invitations will be received on time.

Sending an invite for a surprise party also allows you to inform your guests that your plans are in fact a surprise. This means that there will (hopefully) be no slip ups and the party will remain secret.
You will need to share more detailed plans for a surprise party so it may be best to customise your own invitation.

When Do You Send Out Baby Shower Invites?

If you don’t want friends and family to miss your baby shower, it’s best to send invites four to six weeks before you host. A baby shower typically falls between month six and seven of pregnancy. Because of this small time frame, it’s important that your guests are made aware of your celebration early. This gives them more time to make arrangements so they can attend your special day.

You also want your baby shower to be as low stress as possible, and although pregnancy can make this hard, having time to plan and an idea of numbers can lessen the pressure.
Many people choose baby blue or pink invitations for baby showers. But if you haven’t found out the sex of your baby, go with a neutral coloured invite like this Hey, Baby design.

How Soon Can You Send Christmas Party Invitations?

When inviting others to a Christmas or other holiday party, invites should be sent out at least eight weeks before the event. Christmas is a notoriously busy time, and if you want your party to fit into your guests’ seasonal plans, you should aim to send out invites extremely early.

This allows you plenty of time to plan, especially if you are planning on offering food or accommodation to guests. If your party will include gift giving, you will also be able to shop for those attending before the pre-Christmas rush.
Make sure you let your guests know what to expect on your invite. If you would like them to bring food or alcohol, make sure this is clear. As well as this, if you are gifting, it’s best to let people know in advance to avoid any awkwardness.
If you’re struggling to select an invitation for a winter party, Penguin Celebration would be an excellent choice.

Where Can I Order Party Invitations?

We now know that it’s always best to send out invitations with plenty of time before your event. This helps your guests and you to have a less stressful party experience. What’s also important is to order your invitations early, so that you have plenty of time to post them (or hand them out).

You can find hundreds of high quality party invitation designs at 123Print. If you don’t see a template that you love, feel free to personalise one using our ‘create your own’ option. We provide 48 hour shipping and offer a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee – so you can get your perfect invitations fast, and start collecting RSVPs!