Low cost pocket calendars

October 24, 2016 12:30 PM

I would like to order a couple dozen pocket calendars for low cost.

These are to give out to clients who are homeless and often have some cognitive and/or physical impairments that might impact calendar use. The idea is they can write their medical, social service, and personal appointments in these calendars. My requirements:

1. I'd like to be able to customize a few pages in front or back with phone numbers for our program etc.
2. I'd like these to genuinely fit into a reasonably sized pocket.
3. A moderately durable cover and good enough binding the the whole thing won't crumble by February would be a good idea. (I think printing these myself is not a great idea for this reason)
4. Large enough print/sections that people with mild visual impairments can use them.
5. Our budget is... very small.
6. Ideal world: ethical printing/recycled/etc.. however, I understand that is in conflict with goal 5.

posted by latkes to Grab Bag (7 answers total)

There are a ton of promotional pocket calendar options out there on a wide variety of marketing swag sites that'll let you customize the info on the exterior cover. (Generally these are made of a heavier textured plastic and stand up reasonably well to use and abuse.) Price point for a low number run like you want will probably put you around a dollar-$1.50 each.

I honestly don't know what you're looking at if you want/need to be able to customize pages in the calendar itself, but I would expect that to raise the per item cost significantly. I think if I were you I would search for pocket calendars that have a sleeve--most of the plastic covered ones will, because those plastic covers just slip right on top of a ready-made paper calendar. You can easily print up a sized insert on cardstock with all the info you want (it could even be two-sided) and slip it right inside that little sleeve. It's sorta like having custom printed pages, but it'll be much more cost effective.
posted by phunniemee at 12:39 PM on October 24, 2016

I would check with any small local credit unions in your area, or community banks if they have been around a long time. Many still print those pocket calendars every year because their older members/board of directors still use them.
posted by headnsouth at 12:49 PM on October 24, 2016

Dollar stores have pocket size calendars in plastic jackets. I would print out stickers to add your program information to paste over one of the pages.
posted by sarajane at 12:54 PM on October 24, 2016 [4 favorites]

That and a sticker with your info on it and you might be all set!
posted by advicepig at 12:54 PM on October 24, 2016

Response by poster: The sticker is a good idea. I'll check the dollar store - don't recall seeing calendars there but maybe I wasn't in one at the right time of year.
posted by latkes at 1:25 PM on October 24, 2016

Check out the selection at 4-imprint. You can inquire about customization, order free samples and maybe even source stickers there, too, if you go that route.
posted by amanda at 8:31 PM on October 24, 2016

Get some dollar store calendars, as suggested above. Then lay out your desired insert, using a colored background -- and submit it to a photo place.

With a coupon, a few dozen 4"x6" prints should be cheaper than custom-printing stickers. (I think Amazon Photos is doing "free fifty prints" promo now, for example, but almost any time there are deals available if the regular price is too high.)

You might even be able to lay out the insert as two copies side-by-side, so you can print half as many and then quickly cut them in half with a scissors.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:49 AM on October 26, 2016