Back to school season arrives faster than anyone expects. Furthermore, for schools, churches, nonprofits, and organizations across the country, it brings a long list of printing needs that can't wait until the last minute. Additionally, getting your printing ordered early means better turnaround times, less stress, and materials that arrive exactly when you need them.
In other words — the time to start planning your back to school printing is right now.
Who Needs Back to School Printing?
Back to school season isn't just for schools. In fact, it affects a surprisingly wide range of organizations. Here's a look at who benefits most from planning their printing early:
Schools and Educational Institutions From handbooks and calendars to newsletters, programs, and classroom materials — schools rely heavily on professionally printed materials at the start of every year. Additionally, signage and banners help set the tone for a welcoming, organized environment from day one.
Churches and Faith Organizations Fall is one of the busiest seasons for churches. Moreover, fall program bulletins, event flyers, welcome packets, and ministry materials all need to be ready before the first Sunday of September. Starting your printing in July gives you plenty of time to review proofs and make adjustments.
Nonprofits and Community Organizations Fall fundraisers, membership drives, and community events all require printed materials. Furthermore, postcards, brochures, and banners are essential tools for getting your message in front of the right audience at the right time.
Sports Leagues and Athletic Programs Banners, schedules, team rosters, and event programs — athletic programs have a long list of printing needs as fall seasons kick off. Additionally, getting your signage ordered early means it's ready for opening day without any last-minute scrambling.
Small Businesses Back to school season is also a prime time for local businesses to reach families and students with seasonal promotions. Postcards, flyers, and window signs are all effective tools for driving foot traffic during this busy time of year.
What to Order — and When
The key to stress-free back to school printing is knowing what you need and building in enough lead time. Here's a practical guide:
Order in June — July (Right Now)
- Handbooks and booklets — these take the most time to design, proof, and print. Order early.
- Banners and signage — welcome banners, directional signs, and event displays need to be in place from day one
- Presentation folders — welcome packets and orientation materials for new students, members, or families
- Stationery and letterhead — get your official communications materials updated and ready
Order in Late July
- Calendars and schedules — once your dates are confirmed, get these printed and distributed early
- Brochures and flyers — program guides, ministry overviews, and event materials
- Postcards — direct mail campaigns to reach your community before the season starts
Order in Early August
- Event programs — opening day, welcome Sunday, fall kickoff events
- NCR forms — permission slips, registration forms, and administrative paperwork
- Last-minute signage — any remaining banners or signs needed for opening events
Why Order Early?
There are several compelling reasons not to wait until August to start your back to school printing.
First, turnaround times vary by product. Booklets and multi-page documents take longer to produce than single-page flyers. Additionally, allowing time for proofing means you can catch errors before thousands of copies are printed.
Furthermore, August is the busiest month of the year for printers nationwide. As a result, ordering early means shorter wait times and more flexibility if you need to make changes.
Finally, having your materials ready early gives you time to distribute them effectively — mailing postcards, putting up banners, and assembling welcome packets before the rush begins.
How Double River Printing
Can Help
At Double River Printing we work with schools, churches, nonprofits, sports leagues, and small businesses on back to school printing projects of every size. Moreover, our 30+ years of design and publishing expertise means we can help you get every piece looking exactly right — from a single-page flyer to a full handbook.
We offer fast turnaround, professional quality, and nationwide shipping — so no matter where you are, your back to school printing arrives on time and ready to impress.
Additionally, not sure what you need or where to start? Request a free same-day quote and we'll help you figure out exactly what makes sense for your organization and your budget.
Don't Wait Until August
In summary, the organizations that have the smoothest back to school season are the ones that start planning in June and July. Furthermore, a little preparation now saves a lot of stress later — and ensures your printed materials are ready exactly when you need them.
Visit doubleriverprinting.com to browse our full product catalog, or request a free quote today. Let's get your back to school printing taken care of — before the rush begins.
Your organization. Our expertise. Ready when you need it.
See you at Double River Printing!