Do it right. Start with the invitations! Instead of picking up a generic set, splurge on a few custom upgrades with linen finish, matching envelopes and be sure that both sides are in full color. You’ll impress guests and set the tone for party – garish balloons and goofy clowns will be nowhere in sight!

Think twice about a theme party. Resist the urge to throw a cheesy party. If you elect for a theme, make sure elegance and class are the names of the game. Instead of printing silly pictures and images on décor like banners and table cloths, try to take a more subtle approach. Opt for soft colors, muted palettes and an overarching theme – not a heavy-handed one.

Delight their sensibilities. Instead of chips and dips and cake and coke, why not wow the birthday man or woman with hors d’oeuvres and canapés? And don’t bother visiting the local store for generic cake, lay out a sampling of posh desserts instead – everyone will ooh and ahh with pleasure! Still searching for the perfect party favor? Fill an eco-friendly tote bag with samplings of adult beverages, a customized T-shirt or beautiful note cards.

You’re now ready to throw a wonderful bash – get to it!

1. 1. Pick a Theme. Is the birthday boy or girl a huge Star Wars fan? Maybe they’re addicted to Sex & The City or they’re dedicated football fan. Then half your work is done for you! Go out of your way to plan a party theme that caters to their whims. The perfect theme requires absolute consistency, so get creative in your effort to tie everything back to it. Start by creating custom invitations that reference the theme in design and color choice. And don’t forget that the little things can have a big impact. You want to make sure that décor like napkins, tablecloths, streamers and banners, are working double-duty to communicate the overall message!

1. 2. Keep the Guests Happy, Too. The guest of honor isn’t the only one you should care about pleasing. Making sure your guests are content is a key task of the perfect party planner. Keep the buffet of snacks plentiful and the bar stocked, because a satisfied guest is a happy guest. And why not create a little tote bag packed with party favors to match the theme? Your guests will love you if you fill it with useful items like candy, pens, fun knickknacks or a keychain emblazoned with the birthday boy or girls picture.

1. 3. Your Work is Never Done. Even after the big day has passed, there’s still one more thing you can do to ensure that your party planning skills will never be forgotten. No party is complete without a cameraman on hand to document the big day. Once you’ve compiled all of the fun photos, it’s time to share! After you post these gems on Facebook, Myspace and other social networking sites, you should create photo cards to send out to attendees. And if you want to hold the title of the Greatest Party Planner Ever, take the time to create a photo flip book or notebook  for the guest of honor and close friends and family. That way, you’ll create a keepsake that they’ll cherish forever.

See, that wasn’t so hard. Now you’re ready to party the night away knowing that you planned a wonderful bash. Give yourself a pat on the back, you’ll never throw a boring birthday party again!

Eye-catching banners printed on high-quality vinyl are great for any occasion.  Create a festive summer banner to promote a big sale at your sporting goods store, or a something trendy, announcing that the outdoor dining area at your café is ready for business.

Designing custom banners is easy.  Just upload your own design or customize and online template to suit your needs.  Try designing a vertical banner or create different colored banners for different seasons!

Your business cards, address labels, letterhead, envelopes, postcards, and pens do not need to march exactly.  However, they should complement each other.  Once you perfect your logo, decide what products you need most.  Be sure to include all relevant contact information in the design , so it will be at your clients’ fingertips.  The colors and themes should mesh nicely, and all your marketing materials should go with each other if they were combined in a package. 

Having custom marketing materials is important, but it isn’t difficult to accomplish.  For example, Vistaprint is a great resource for small businesses.  Vistaprint makes it simple to design marketing materials.  Simply upload your own creation, browse online galleries, or work with creative services to find the perfect design for your business.  Vistaprint also offers free business cards, pens, and more.  All you pay is shipping!

Customize your marketing materials today!

When you’re in the animal or pet care business, being creative is easy! Our four-legged friends can provide so much inspiration.  Start with a well well-made business card.  Try a card with a simple animal pattern background, or print your contact information on a custom dog tag. 

An eye-catching banner is a creative and cost-efficient way to announce your grand opening or any special event!

To create a sense of unity among all of your marketing materials, create matching address labels, envelopes, and letterhead, too! 

Designing marketing materials for your animal or pet care business is quick and easy.  Simply upload your own work of art or browse through hundreds of designs online.

As a small business owner, your time and resources are limited. However, you can do your best to promote your business with an attractive banner.

Whether it is announcing the grand opening of your boutique, promising a free carwash with a gas purchase, or supporting a charity event, an eye-catching banner is a quick and easy way to market your business.

Use a design and font that compliment your business. Try choosing different sizes and colors for different seasons, or think outside the box and create a vertical banner that can be hung alongside a door.