Are Those Banners Cheap, or Just Cheap?

We have all seen the ads for cheap vinyl banners everywhere on the ‘net. Those ads where you can get a 4′x8′ banner for $60-$70. Sounds great doesn’t it, but is there a catch? Have you really looked closely at the specs of those banners…

Material

Let’s examine the banner material that they are using. If you want to use the banner outdoors, it must be 13 ounce vinyl scrim if it is going to hold up. Never be fooled by anyone selling you any banner made of paper, they won’t last outside at all.

Vinyl weight

For some reason, this spec is the one most likely to be hidden from you in an ad. If the ad doesn’t clearly state what weight banner they are using, they are hiding something.

Never buy any banner for outdoors that is less than 13 ounces. Experience has shown that this is the minimum weight banner for long lasting outdoor use. You can probably move up to 13 ounces for an additional cost.

Banner hemming

This is the process of folding over one inch of the material and securing it with either tape or stitching. This process will increase the strength of the banner dramatically and should be a FREE option on all banners you order. I prefer using banner tape as you get a clean edge that doesn’t damage the face of the banner.

Quite a few printers use sewing as their method of hemming. The problems with sewing are that it makes the edges pucker and distort the image.

Also, sewing machine can scuff the graphic as they sew. If they don’t include hemming in the price, expect to pay another $20+ to get your banner hemmed.

Banner grommets

This is a simple one…everyone needs some way to hang the banners that they buy don’t they? Grommets are super cheap, about $0.10 each, and should be included in the price. You should have one in each corner and then one every two/three feet along all four sides. Those shops that charge extra usually bill you $1.00 for each grommet. That is $12.00 for a 4′x8′ banner.

Summary

Vinyl banners are a super tool to promote your business or events. Banners offer the best return-on-investment of all advertising. Be careful when you see those ads for cheap banners, that might be just what you get.

Want to find out more about Oregon Banner Printing, then visit Michael Pingree’s site on how to choose the best banner printing for your needs.