Sales of address embossers, monogram embossers, library seals and other personalized embossers have skyrocketed in the past few years as monogramming and personalizing has become more popular. And as the demand has increased so have the number of options for those planning weddings or simply looking to add a personal touch to greeting cards.
Understanding those options and determining what your needs are will make selecting the right personalized embosser easy. Below are five tips that will ensure the personalized embosser you purchase will be the right one:
- Understand the Look You Want to Achieve
Many customers think that using an embosser will create the same look as having something professionally printed or embossed; this is not the case. The look produced will be different and knowing how you want to finished product to appear will help you determine which method to go with. The main benefit of purchasing an embosser is that it saves you money – you will have to do some of the work (like embossing each of the envelope flaps by hand) but you can make as many as you want and use the embosser for years to come. - Determine What You Will Be Embossing
There are many applications for specialty embossers and knowing what you will be embossing will help you choose the type of embosser that will work best for you. Commonly embossed items are: standard paper, envelope flaps (lined or unlined), napkins (through all 4 folded layers), light-weight cardstock, and thick cardstock. - Communicate Your Embosser Needs to the Company You Are Purchasing From
There are several types of embossers available and each has its benefits and limitations. When ordering make sure to provide information about what your main use will be and find out from the company you are working with what their embossers will and won’t do. This will save you a lot of time and frustration. For instance, a handheld embosser is a good choice if you want something that is smaller, for easier storage, and lightweight, for portability. But a handheld embosser is not ideal for embossing thick cardstock because you won’t be able to exert the pressure needed to make the impression clear. Another example is purchasing a seal to emboss standard 20 lb. to 24 lb. paper and then embossing napkins with it – the embossing seal is likely to produce small holes or tears in a paper napkin.
From a manufacturing perspective the engraving depth on the dies can be adjusted to accommodate different surfaces – a deeper engraving for thicker paper and lighter engraving for thinner materials, such as napkins. In order to get the best embosser for your needs it is important that you are specific with the company you are ordering from – otherwise you will receive the embosser and then find out it doesn’t work for what you want to emboss. - See What the Embossed Image Will Look Like
It is good to get an idea of what your embossed image will look like; this presents a unique challenge since black and white text sometimes looks different when it is turned into an embossed image. See if the company you are working with can provide samples of embossers being used in a wide variety of applications and if they have close up shots of an embossed impression to give you a general idea of how your embossed image will appear. A company can also make you a “proof” so you can see the layout of your embossed information. It is important that you proofread the proof because you are responsible for making sure that the information you provide is correct. Most companies will inform you if you have too many lines of text but seeing a proof will let you double check to make sure everything you provided fits. - Go with a Manufacturer – They Have Faster Turnaround Times and Are Usually Less Expensive
When it comes to selecting a company to purchase your personalized embosser from you can choose to work with a specialty shop who resells embossers or work directly with an embosser manufacturer. Going directly to the manufacturer gives you more choices when it comes to type face and layout. Price-wise a manufacturer will save you money because the cost isn’t being marked up by the specialty shop that needs to make their profit on top of the original cost of the embosser. Also, a manufacturer will be able to provide the embosser to you faster because they can send the embosser directly to you and cut out the time spend sending it to the middleman.
No matter which you decide, keep in mind, you can choose to work with a company through their website, at a brick-and-mortar store location or over the phone. Choose whichever method works best for you but keep in mind placing an order online or working with a representative over the phone will save you the travel time to and fro the store.When purchasing a personalized embosser it is important to remember that it is a customized product so getting a full refund if you are unsatisfied may not be an option. That is why assessing your requirements and communicating with the company you are buying the embosser from is important – this will ensure that you receive an embosser that meets your needs.