Finding the Right Printer

The best way to find a good printer is to use one that comes highly recommended and that is well suited to the type of printing you need. If you know someone who does lots of business printing, find out which print vendors they use and for which types of jobs. Chances are good that they use different shops depending on the size and scope of the work.

If you don't have a savvy printing consultant to advise you, start by carefully evaluating your own needs. The most important questions you should ask yourself are: How complex is the printing job (colors, papers, binding, etc.) and how large is the job (quantity)?

Assess print vendors by finding out what types of printing they specialize in, and what kinds of jobs they perform most often. If their answers sound like the type of work you need done, ask them to send you some samples. Also, does the print representative put you at ease, appear knowledgeable, and ask questions that qualify your needs? A sales rep should have ready answers to all your questions, have a few of their own, and be eager to show you their work. If this is not the case, move on to another rep, or better yet, another printer.

Larger shops generally have expensive, full-color presses designed for complex print jobs such as magazines that also require large print runs. Small and mid-sized presses are usually fine for cards, stationery and simple brochures.

The proper materials are also an important component of a good print job. Ink comes in a vast array of colors, and there are almost as many paper types, textures, weights, and name brands to choose from. Be sure you balance cost and quality when selecting the paper and ink(s) for your job. A great print job is wasted on the wrong paper.

Once you decide on a vendor and which materials to use, have the rep walk you through the printing process before it starts. Understand the timeline of the project; be sure you know when you're able to make changes and at what point the option to make changes costs extra.