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…

Banner material

Just what is this banner made of? To use your banner outdoors and have it last longer than a few hours, it must be made of no less than 13 ounce vinyl scrim material. Don’t be fooled by shops trying to pass off paper banners. They won’t make it outside.

Weight

This spec is the one most likely to be hidden from you in an online ad. Chances are that if the advertisement doesn’t specify what the banner weight is , they are hiding something.

You should never order a banner that uses less than 13 ounce banner material. This is the standard for outdoor durability. Most of these cheap offers are giving you 10 ounce and maybe an option to upgrade to 13 ounce at an additional cost.

Hemming

Banner hemming is the process of tucking under about an inch of the banner material and securing it. This is done to add to the strength of the banner and to give a clean edge to the design. You shouldn’t have to pay for hemming. Banner tape is my preferred method of hemming since it doesn’t mar 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 finishing: 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.

Conclusion

Banners can be a fantastic way to advertise your event or business. They are considered the most cost effective form of advertising. Don’t be fooled by those ads for cheap banners, they might not be that great a value after all.

Looking to find the best deal on Oregon Banner Printing, then visit oregonbannerprinting.com to find the best advice on banner printing for you.