Pick up the yellow pages, or type “printing” on-line and you will find a multitude of companies vying for your business. How do you know which one to choose.
Amongst the lists of printers there will be some who are really good printers who provide good quality print jobs at a reasonable cost, then there are others whose quality and price is questionable. How to tell the good from the bad?
Firstly you need to decide whether you want to deal directly with a printer, or whether you want to leave that to your Graphic Designer or Marketing Agency. That’s a personal choice that we won’t go into today. If you choose to deal directly with a printer, then here are some tips on ensuring the printer you choose is a good one:
Word of Mouth Referral
Without doubt, the best way to find a good printer is by personal referral. Ask other business colleagues or companies who you do business with which printer they use and ask them about the quality of printing and service they receive.
Your Own Research
If no one can refer you to a good printer, then you will need to do your own research. Look to see how many printers are located in your local area. It’s much easier to build a good relationship with a printer who is close-by than by a printer on the other side of Australia. Once you have found a list, give them all a call. Ask them to send you some samples of a letterhead, some business cards and a promotional flyer. If they are proud of their work, they will be more than happy to do this. Ask them to include a quotation for a promotional flyer, lets say 1000 DL flyers, 150gsm Gloss, Full colour. (Don’t ask for a quote for business cards. Many printers price business cards well below cost just to get new customers in the door). Make a note of which ones were the most helpful and easy to deal with then wait and see what turns up in the mail.
Once you have received your samples, you may have already eliminated a number of printers from your list. Using your telephone notes, samples and quotation, you are now in a much better position to make your choice. Look carefully at the printing, ensure it doesn’t look blurry, and that the text is crisp (look for pink or yellow shadows on the text – this often shows lack of registration – not a good look). Rub the coloured areas onto some white bond paper, does it smudge easily? If its not varnished, it may rub a little, but it shouldn’t be too much.
Large Amounts of Printing
If you intend ordering a large amount of printing, then I would make one final suggestion. In today’s market it is often difficult to tell if a company is a genuine printer, or a print broker. The best way to find out is to visit their premises. Most printers are happy to show you around their factory, they are proud of their operations and will always show you their latest printing press, or digital press. These machines can be quite impressive, so you’ll find it quite an interesting exercise.
It doesn’t matter how big or small your company is, you are an important customer, who knows how big your company might grow. A good printer will recognise this and treat you with respect.
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