A lot of businesses buy their print through general office equipment suppliers. I had a client recently come to me for a quote and they were shocked when I saved them over £100 on a single order. Having a single point of contact for all kinds to procurement is convenient but is not always good value.
If you regularly order brochures, business cards, letterheads, folders, forms, NCR pads, labels, signage or other printed items from a company that is not in the print industry, it is worth checking what you are paying. You might not be getting a good deal.
Why your print might be costing more than it should
Office equipment suppliers are useful for plenty of things. Printers, copiers, paper, toner, furniture, stationery — all the usual office bits. But print is its own trade.
A good print job is not just about putting ink on paper. It is about choosing the right paper, the right size, the right quantity, the right finish and the right way to produce it.
When print is sold as an extra service by a general office supplier, you may not always get that level of advice and in most cases, the work is simply passed on to real printer, with a mark up added on top. Your Sales rep will also very likely be on commission. Print is my day-to-day business and being a small business I have low overheads and can work on much lower margins.
In most cases, the work is simply passed on to real printer, with a mark up added on top.
Convenience can be expensive
Most businesses stick with the same supplier because it is easy. Nobody has time to shop around for every order. So the quote comes in, it looks about right, and it gets approved.
The problem is that print prices can creep up without anyone really noticing.
A small difference on business cards might not matter much. But regular orders soon add up, especially if you are buying multiple things like:
- Brochures and leaflets
- Business stationery
- NCR pads and duplicate forms
- Folders
- Labels and stickers
- Posters and signage
- Menus or price lists
- Flyers
- Custom Forms
If you order these items throughout the year, you could be paying a significant amount over the odds.
Come to me for a free print price check?
A print price check is very straightforward. Send a recent print quote, invoice or order details, and I will take a look at it for you. I’m also happy to quote blind on any order – just provide the job details without the price.
I’ll check things like:
- Is the price fair?
- Is the specification right?
- Is the paper or material suitable?
- Is the quantity sensible?
- Is the finishing needed?
- Is there a better way to produce the job?
- Are the turnaround and delivery costs reasonable?
Sometimes the price is fine. Sometimes there is a better option. Sometimes the quote is not wrong, but the job could be printed in a smarter way.
The point is to give you a clear, honest second opinion..
Are office equipment suppliers always more expensive?
Probably yes – some may have the facilities to print in house but those are rare cases, most outsource it, add a mark up and pass it on to you.
I can provide all kinds of print
I can review any business printing, including:
- Brochures
- Flyers
- Leaflets
- Business cards
- Letterheads
- Compliment slips
- Branded folders
- NCR pads
- Duplicate and triplicate forms
- Invoice books
- Order forms
- Labels and stickers
- Posters
- Signage
- Menus
- Price lists
- Large format
Get a second opinion before you approve your next print quote
Before you place your next print order, it is worth getting it checked. If you already have a quote from an office equipment supplier, copier company, stationery provider or another print supplier, send it over and I will review the price and specification and let you know whether it looks fair.
No pressure. No hard sell. Just straight advice from someone who deals with business printing every day.
Get your free print price check
Send your latest quote or invoice today and I let you know if there is a better-value way to produce the job or if I can beat the price.
Call 01493 249349, email hello@plantcreative.co.uk or use my request a quote form
