Invitation Printing — A 350-Dealer Network and Corporate Event Solutions with İklim Davetiye
Invitation Printing — A 350-Dealer Network and Corporate Event Solutions with İklim Davetiye
The invitation is an event's first physical touchpoint. Wedding, corporate gala, product launch or special occasion — as the first thing to reach the guest's hands, it conveys the tone, gravity and prestige of the occasion before a single word is spoken. İklim Davetiye, Printer Ofset's invitation sub-brand founded in 2010, is one of the pioneers of the premium invitation market, with a 350-dealer network across Turkey and a dedicated invitation production facility. In this guide we walk through invitation printing techniques, the role of bespoke invitations in corporate event planning, and İklim Davetiye's dealer and direct-order models.
Table of contents
Invitation printing categories — wedding, corporate, special occasion
The invitation market is organized around three main categories, each with its own design language and production technique:
1. Wedding invitations Turkey's largest invitation segment. Sub-styles include classic (cream stock + gold foil + vintage motif), modern (white + geometric + minimal) and rustic (kraft stock + handwritten font + ribbon). Typical run length is 200–800 pieces. Ordering 3–5 weeks ahead is standard.
2. Corporate event invitations
- Galas / awards ceremonies: Premium stock + luxury finishing (gold foil + spot UV)
- Product launches: Designs tailored to the product/brand, VIP personalized versions
- Conferences / training: Plain bulk invitations + name badges + program brochure
- Anniversaries / openings: Color, typography and technique built around the brand identity
Typical run length is 50–2,000 pieces; high personalization ratio, variable data (a different name/table number on each invitation).
3. Special-occasion invitations Engagements, circumcision ceremonies, graduations, birthdays, baby showers — high in variety, usually low in run length (50–200 pieces). Ready-made catalogs sold through the retail channel plus made-to-order pieces are common.
Together, Printer Ofset and İklim Davetiye serve all three of these categories — İklim covering retail through its dealer network, and Printer Ofset handling direct corporate and agency orders.
Premium invitation techniques — foil, emboss, laser cut
The invitation is the printed product that packs the highest density of finishing onto a small surface (12×17 cm being the standard invitation card). The practical techniques:
Gold/silver foil stamping (hot stamping)
- Stamping gold foil onto the stock using a heated metal die
- Standard for classic wedding invitations and premium corporate events
- Die cost of 500–1,500 TL (reused on repeat orders)
- Unit cost: ~1–3 TL extra
Embossing and debossing
- Raising the paper up (emboss) or pushing it down (deboss) — a 3D raised/recessed effect
- A tactile, premium feel for logos, names and decorative motifs
- Die cost of 800–2,000 TL
- Often combined with foil (emboss first, then foil — "foiled emboss")
Laser cut
- Cutting the stock into precise shapes — lace patterns, intricate contours
- The trend technique for bespoke wedding invitations (popular since 2015)
- Runs without a die — the design can be changed on every batch
- Unit cost of ~2–5 TL (depending on complexity)
Spot UV
- A glossy UV varnish applied only to selected areas (highlighting text + logo)
- A glossy contrast on matte stock — a modern corporate standard
Specialty stock selection
- Chromo board: Bright white; gold foil looks rich on it
- American bristol: Matte surface, premium with soft-touch lamination
- Kraft: Rustic vibe, natural binding, with twine or ribbon
- Metallized paper: The substrate itself is metallic — modern luxury
At the Invitation Production Facility in Bornova, all of these techniques are applied in a single chain. There is a dedicated team for projects that require manual finishing (hand painting, custom binding).
Personalized corporate invitations
The rising trend in corporate events (especially high-end galas + VIP launches): the personalized invitation. The invitation reaching each guest's hands contains something different:
- Full name printed directly on the invitation
- Table number + seating arrangement on a single invitation
- VIP discount code (post-event marketing integration)
- QR code (scan-in at the door + digital guest database)
- Personal salutation ("It is an honor for us to have Mr. Kayhan Kırbaş attend...")
The name for this technology is Variable Data Printing (VDP). It is a standard feature on the HP Indigo 12000 — different data can be printed on each of 500 invitations. The data source is usually Excel/CSV; the Printer Ofset prepress team prepares the data for print using PrintOS Workflow software.
A personalized corporate invitation costs 30–50% more than a standard one — but the VIP guest experience and the post-event ROI (loyalty, marketing-data enrichment) more than offset that cost.
İklim Davetiye's 350-dealer network
İklim Davetiye was founded in 2010 by Yolcu Matbaa Malzemeleri Ltd. Şti. and, as Printer Ofset's sub-brand, has served the Turkish invitation market ever since. Its 350-dealer network lets the retail channel reach all 81 provinces.
How does the dealer network work?
- Dealer locations (wedding shops, print sales outlets, gift stores) show customers products from the İklim Davetiye catalog
- The customer orders their chosen model (e.g. classic gold-foil invitation, model 124)
- The dealer submits the order through a digital system to İklim Davetiye's production facility
- Printing + personalization is carried out at the Bornova facility
- Shipment goes to the dealer location, where the customer collects it
The dealer's role:
- Catalog presentation + selection advice
- Collecting personal data (guest names, date, venue)
- Customer service (revisions, delivery tracking)
- Local marketing (regional advertising, referrals)
On the İklim Davetiye website (iklimdavetiye.com.tr):
- A catalog of 2,000+ ready-made invitation models
- Dealer assignment via online order
- The option to order directly from the İklim center in Izmir
Direct corporate order model
For corporate and agency clients, the Printer Ofset direct-contact model is preferred over the İklim dealer channel. The reasons:
- Volume: A corporate event involves a minimum of 200+ pieces; that volume is too large for the dealer network
- Custom design: A brand-dedicated graphics team + work beyond the ready-made catalog
- Confidentiality: VIP launch invitations never surface in the dealer network
- Delivery coordination: The agency/event coordinator works directly with a Printer Ofset project manager
The standard workflow for a corporate invitation order:
- Taking the brief: Event type, target audience, brand identity, run length, delivery date
- Design (Printer Ofset design team or the client's agency): 2–3 alternative moodboards
- Proof (digital + inkjet): Verifying color, typography and finishing
- Personalization data (corporate list → Excel): Full name + contact details
- Production (8–14 working days): Printing + finishing + packaging
- Delivery (to the event address or the agency): Courier or freight
With a daily capacity of 20,000+ invitations, the Bornova Invitation Production Facility keeps the dealer-network production running in parallel with agency projects.
Frequently asked questions
How many weeks ahead should I order a wedding invitation?
For a standard invitation, 4–6 weeks is ideal. For premium invitations that require laser cutting or custom hand painting, 6–8 weeks. Rush orders (2–3 weeks) may not be economical — though they are possible with in-stock ready-made models + personalization.
Isn't a digital invitation enough for a corporate event?
For an RSVP, yes — but at VIP and high-end events, the message a physical invitation carries is different. Research shows that attendance at corporate events is 23% higher among those who receive a physical invitation (Event Marketing Institute, 2023). A hybrid approach: a digital save-the-date + a physical invitation three weeks out.
How much color and finishing can I use on an invitation?
There is no practical limit — the presses can lay down 7 colors + 4 finishing layers on top of one another. But beware: excessive finishing creates clutter on a small (12×17 cm) surface. The most effective approach: 1–2 Pantone spot colors + a single prominent finish (gold foil, laser cut or emboss). Minimalism reads as premium.
Is there a difference between buying from İklim Davetiye dealers and ordering directly from Printer Ofset?
There is no major price difference; the İklim channel carries a dealer margin, while the Printer Ofset direct model may carry a consulting fee. The real difference is the service: an İklim dealer offers ready-catalog selection + local delivery, whereas Printer Ofset direct offers fully bespoke design + high-volume coordination. Dealer for a small special occasion, direct for a corporate event.
Do you produce the invitations together with their envelopes?
Yes — the envelope is part of the invitation. Standard, windowed and non-windowed envelope types are available. Printing (logo, event name, return address) can also be applied to the envelope. Envelope + invitation combo production runs as a single chain in Bornova.
For your event invitation, turn to İklim Davetiye for retail, or for bespoke corporate design, contact Printer Ofset →