In need of postcards or print-outs? Postage or pamphlets? Your friendly neighborhood Concordia print and mail shop has got you covered!
Thanks to the professional connections and industry knowledge of Les Smith, manager of auxiliary services, Concordia recently added a brand-new printer to its arsenal, significantly increasing the department’s printing capacity. Faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of Concordia are invited to take advantage of CUW’s cost-effective Print Center and Mail Center.
The perks of an on-campus shop
Concordia’s in-house operation offers users several benefits. Chief among them is the cost savings, says Smith. Print jobs can be done at roughly a third of the cost of a retail shop, and the mailroom is able to offer consistent savings thanks to its membership with the National Association of College and University Mail Services (NACUMS), which guarantees Concordia customers membership rates on shipping.
Additionally, Concordia’s auxiliary services department supports student workers and provides a training ground for their professional growth.
“We have capacity and we want people to know that we’re available to them,” Smith said. “It’s an especially nice benefit for our alumni, and I’m not sure that they’re all aware of the fact that they can continue to utilize us even after they’ve graduated.”
What the print and mail centers can do
Most people in the university are aware of the print shop’s most basic offerings, like posters and brochures, but the center’s scope extends far beyond that, says Smith.
Below is a list of some of the more common options. If you have a request for something that’s not on the list, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Print Center staff to ask if it’s possible.
Print Center
- Invitations, thank you’s, Christmas cards, and other greeting cards
- Envelopes
- Postcards
- Business cards
- Magnets
- Pamphlets and rack cards
- Programs or booklets
- Posters (Can print signs as large as 100 x 42 feet)
- Lamination
- New! Metallic gold ink options
Concordia’s Mail Center utilizes a variety of services, such as the U.S. Postal Service, UPS, and Speedy, in order to find the most efficient and cost-effective options for your deliveries.
Mail Center
- Stamps
- Metered mail service
- Certified mail
- Package shipping
- Next-day shipments and postage options
- Reliable international mailings
How you utilize them
Priority is given to internal orders—i.e. those placed by faculty, staff, or students, especially orders for academic purposes or university operations.
The standard lead time for internal print orders is 3-5 business days, but oftentimes orders are completed sooner than that. Alumni or friends of the university should plan on placing orders approximately one week in advance. If a rush order is needed, a courtesy email or advanced notice is greatly appreciated.
When placing a print order, users have a few different options:
- Stop by in person—This is the preferred route for students. Bring your order on a flash drive (PDF formats only!) and a staff member can give you a cost estimation on the spot. Payment can also be made upfront. The print shop accepts credit, debit, check, or cash.
- Email Les Smith at leslie.smith@cuw.edu—Be sure to include:
- Quantity
- Format (Black & white or Color)
- Dimensions (Make sure you provide a PDF that matches your dimensions or you’ll end up with a pixilated print)
- Paper preference
- 20lb Standard
- Brites/Neon Cardstock
- Brites/Neon Standard
- Pastel Cardstock
- Pastel Standard
- Desired pick-up date
- Any other special instructions
- Utilize NowDocs (for employees only)—NowDocs requires a one-time registration to get started. Benefits of the NowDocs platform are that it stores previous orders, calculates and displays your print costs before you place your order, and conveniently syncs with your department’s account for payment. NOTE: If you’d like to place a personal order through NowDocs, you can add a note in the Special Instructions box: “Personal order. Void charge to university account.” Payment can then be made at pickup in the print shop.
All Mail Center orders must be done in person, but feel free to email Les Smith if you have questions before you arrive on campus.
The Print Center and Mail Center are staffed Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. They’re located in lower Stuenkel on Concordia’s Mequon campus, 12800 N. Lake Shore Drive.
— This story is written by Kali Thiel, director of university communications for Concordia University Wisconsin and Ann Arbor. She may be reached at kali.thiel@cuw.edu or 262-243-2149.
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