Working with That Printing Guy

Working with a print broker...

Printing companies have in-house sales and service representatives who locate and serve customers. However, they are limited to selling only what their employer manufactures. The print broker is a similar type of middleman, although he/she is an independent agent, which affords them the flexibility of choosing the best solution and provider. 

What is the "value add" of a print broker?

Print brokers add value to print projects through effective planning and management. Their experience allows them to precisely match the requirements of your job to the most approriate vendor. Then, they follow the job through every step of the process to ensure that it is done correctly, on time, and within budget. If you have a custom project with lots of problems to solve, an experienced and committed print broker can be worth his/her weight in gold.

Why wouldn't I just go directly to the printer?

Defining specifications and locating a printer, even if you're an experienced print buyer, can be time consuming and costly. Within a 75-mile radius in a major city there may be as many as 2,000 printers. Do you really have the time to call each one? Quotes from any three of these printers, even if they are located within blocks of each other, can vary by as much as 35%. Do you know which one is offering the best deal?

Is printing really that complicated?

Not all print jobs are complicated. However, the print industry is comprised of thousands of highly specialized companies, each with a unique tool and/or skill set. It is not unusual for a complex print project to run through four or more manufacturers before completion.

A print broker can integrate this fragmented manufacturing process so that each transition is done in a coordinated and precise manner. 

What types of jobs can you handle?

• Publications:  newsletters, newspapers, magazines, books, catalogs
• Direct Mail:  letters, inserts, post cards, flyers, self-mailers
• Collateral:  letterhead, brochures, booklets, spec sheets, price lists, rate cards, presentation folders, ID cards, membership cards
• Forms:  invoices, labels, reply devices, letters, integrated label forms, bills of lading, packing slips
• Digital Print:  print on demand
• Fulfillment:  kitting, assembly, distribution, order processing
• Promotional Materials: buttons, hats, mugs, pens, pencils, portfolios, T-shirts and many more  

Who are your customers?

We work with virtually any company or individual who needs print, promotional products, and/or fulfillment services, including companies as large as United Way and as small as the self-publishing author. No job is too big or too small. See the Clients page for a list of clients.