Image via home.comcast.net/~eichler2
Stickers are an incredible promotional tool for bands of any style. Sticker bombing is a great way to get your name and logo into people's heads, as they can be put up just about anywhere you can reach.
With the power of the internet, there are a plethora of places that a band can get stickers printed. So many, in fact, that it can be overwhelming for somebody that's trying to order stickers for the first time. To help the process, I've compiled three of my favorite sites to order stickers and included some information about why they're great, any cons, and some ballpark price quotes.
1. CustomStickers.us
CustomStickers.us is a site designed to help any kind of business make stickers to represent them. They have a very easy-to-navigate website with a sidebar that links to a plethora of sticker types to get you started (including band stickers, auto stickers, bike stickers, and many more).
One unique thing about this company that I enjoyed was their live chat. Almost all other sticker places I researched take up to 48 hours to respond to an email, whereas on CustomStickers.us, you can get an instant quote or instantly have any questions answered. This is obviously a larger company, and though its products are pretty expensive, it seems that it would easily fill large orders on a deadline. Turnaround time for CustomStickers.us is 10 to 15 business days according to the website.
Cost: Around $100 for 100 5"x5" stickers
2. Sticker Guy
I love the vibe of Sticker Guy. The website is cartoony and very simple, making navigation easy. Its products are extremely affordable, and the prices are advertised right on the website.
A great thing about Sticker Guy that I didn't see with any other company is its samples. If you mail in an envelope, the staff will provide free samples of any of their sticker material so you can get an idea of what you want prior to buying. If your band has a particularly cool sticker design, you could get some free promo from Sticker Guy by getting featured as its "Sticker of the Week," which is shared across all of its social media.
The one massive downside to Sticker Guy is its turnaround time. On the website, it states that it takes 2 to 8 weeks to get an order to you, and rush orders are only available for full-color stickers that are ordered in bulk, at an additional cost. Yikes!
Cost: Starts at $21 for 250 black-and-white stickers
3. Contagious Graphics
Contagious Graphics was my personal favorite out of all the companies I found and is very popular on many forums. Though it's a full-service printing company, it really focuses on band merchandise and knows what bands need.
The best part about Contagious Graphics is its incredible customer service. Its staff promises a 10-business-day (plus shipping) turnaround time for standard orders, but specifies on their website that if you need a rush order, they'll do their best to accommodate, and they'll do it for free. Plus, if you need a simple sticker with your logo but don't have the know-how to send it in as a design, they'll do the design for you if you send in the font file that you use!
Not only does Contagious Graphics print stickers, but the company also takes care of posters and T-shirts for your band or business. They offer awesome package deals if you need to order all of your merch and also have competitions for free giveaways. They also seemed to be the cheapest of the companies I found.
Cost: $128 for 1,000 4.75"x2.75" stickers
Dylan Welsh is a freelance musician and music journalist, based in Seattle, WA. He currently plays in multiple Seattle bands, interns at Mirror Sound Studio, and writes for the Sonicbids blog. Visit his website for more information.
