The printing industry’s declining rapidly thanks to digital innovation and its expected to decrease by over 14% in 2020. That means you can expect to pay more for your printing needs in the future.
Yet, despite the advent of the digital age, most companies still use conventional printing methods. They’re best for packaging, flyers, product labels, pamphlets, and more.
Wholesale printing can save you a small fortune on your running costs and offers numerous other benefits too. Keep reading to find out how your business can benefit.
What is Wholesale Printing?
Wholesale trade printing services offer professional print services to businesses wanting to create high-end printed materials for marketing and distribution to clients.
Conventional office printers simply can’t replicate the high-quality glossy finishes produced by these professionals.
Wholesalers can print on much thicker materials, much faster, and in huge quantities. They also offer a wide range of specialized custom print services.
It would cost a fortune to print vast quantities of equivalent marketing materials in-house.
Professional Printing Services
Commercial printers have all the different kinds of machinery needed to print large runs of complex orders at high speed.
These include:
- catalogs
- brochures
- large-format posters
- billboards
- business stationery
- t-shirts
- promotional materials
They can even print rush jobs overnight if necessary.
Some of the services you can take advantage of when printing wholesale include:
Offset printing
This technique produces printed products of the highest quality in both small and large batches, or even singly as required.
Traditionally, offset printing uses wet ink and printing plates to create the finished product and gives the printing technician infinite control over color.
Due to this, offset printing produces vivid colors and clear images and suits superior quality materials.
Of all the print techniques offered by wholesale printers, offset printing takes the longest and costs a little more than digital printing.
It’s important to note that for print runs of over 1,500 items, the cost of offset printing is comparable to that of digital printing, except you’ll get slightly better results.
Digital Printing
Digital printing is the most up-to-date and quickest printing method available today. Nowadays, the results achieved with digital printing are comparable to those achieved by offset printing.
It’s by far the quickest way to produce large-quantity short runs of printed materials cost-effectively.
You can also use on-demand printing services for digital printing. This service means the commercial printing company keeps a digital copy of your work and can re-print runs whenever needed.
With on-demand printing, you could receive your order within 48 hours after requesting it.
On-demand printing means you don’t have to order large quantities of prints in advance to save on costs, which means you don’t need to worry about storing extra prints or destroying them if you don’t need them.
It’s currently the most efficient way to reap the benefits of commercial printing.
Wholesale Screen Printing
Screen printing is a technique used to print on unconventional materials, like:
- Fabric
- Wood
- Glass
- Plastic
It’s most often used for signage or branded promotional items.
During the screen printing process, the printer transfers the image to a fine mesh with a substrate covering any areas that are to remain blank during printing. The screen printer then pushes ink through the mess onto the desired material.
What Types of Businesses Can Benefit from Wholesale Trade Printing?
Any business stands to save when they make use of these services.
However, most wholesale trade printers work via intermediaries or resellers, such as:
- Advertising agencies
- Graphic designers
- Marketing agencies
- Publishers
- Promotional product distributors
- Professional photographers
- Artists
This means that clients with little understanding of the print industry needn’t worry about the finer details. The reseller will arrange all the graphics, choose the best type of printing service, and arrange the most cost-effective price for your needs.
Whether you need an ongoing supply of high-quality printed materials or a once-off order, you can benefit from commercial printing services offered by wholesale trade printing resellers.
Qualities of the Best Wholesale Trade Printers
If you’re one of the above types of agencies your business depends on producing top-quality work. So, you want to partner with an expert, reliable printing service to uphold your good name.
These are the qualities to look for in a wholesale printer:
A Great Track Record
Quality and reliability are imperative in your line of work. Always ask to see samples, so you can review the quality of their work. You should also check how long the printer’s been in business so you can gauge their experience levels.
Expertise and Capabilities
Your chosen printer should have solutions when you’re feeling a little out of your depth with a client’s order. Ask about their past experiences with complex orders and ask to see what type of finishing and paper options they offer.
A good trade printer will always have suggestions about how you can improve the quality of your client’s work, rather than going blindly with your initial suggestion.
Top-Notch Customer Service
Does the printer offer telephonic assistance when needed? Did they answer your requests for information promptly and willingly?
Do they have any online self-service options available? All these issues can affect how well you’re able to serve your clients.
Ratings, Testimonials, and Guarantees
Does the printer offer a guarantee on their work and what are their policies regarding errors and returns?
You should also look up testimonials from previous clients before making your decision. If you can’t find any of these online, ask the printer if they can put you in touch with some of their existing clients.
More Modern-Day Tips for Growing Businesses
Having access to cost-effective services is one of the best ways to ensure the success of your business, and wholesale printing is a great way to maximize savings.
Not only will you save money, but you can improve your offering too. Keep reading our blog for more ways to streamline your business and boost profits.
