What to Look for in a Commercial Printing Company

When your company needs professional flyers, banners, brochures, or anything else to help present your brand to the world, you need to work with a commercial printing company. Plenty of companies will print the various products that you need. However, not all companies offer the same services or the level of quality that you demand.

Knowing what to look for in a company will ensure that you get the professional products needed for mailings, trade shows, and even within your storefront.

Range of Services

It’s important to work with a professional commercial printing company like axiom printing that offers a wide range of services such as brochures, banners and flyers printing. What you need to be printed now may not be what you need in a few weeks or months. The company you choose should be able to do everything so that you’re not having to pick and choose between the services you get with each printer.

You should have the ability to choose between digital and litho printing to ensure you get the colors, shapes, and designs that you need to showcase your brand.

Confirm that the commercial printing company is capable of printing the size and quantity that you need, too. Wide-format printing can be more difficult to find because of the equipment and technology needed.

Consider all that you might need:

  • Flyers
  • Business cards
  • Brochures
  • Door hangers
  • Stationary
  • Banners
  • Notepads
  • Posters

When your commercial printer can do it all, while also allowing you to pick and choose from different paper types, it gives you the diversity you need.

Customer Service

Explore the level of customer service that you’ll get with a commercial printer. Some companies demand that you upload a file and work completely online without ever speaking to someone. Others, such as Custom Printing, Inc., will have a number for you to call to speak to a live agent. This way, you have someone to talk to, get recommendations from, and ensure that your project is the best that it can be.

Part of a good customer service experience is developing them into a business partner. You want to have a resource that you can go to anytime you need something printed. They’ll know your industry and know your expectations. It will make it easier for you to order printed materials with confidence knowing that they will be just what you need.

Quality of Work

You should be able to order product samples to see what the commercial printing company is capable of producing. You’ll want to pay attention to the quality of the paper, the consistency, and the trueness of the colors. Don’t be afraid to fold the printed item, rub your finger across the ink, and more. You’ll want to know if the print is capable of withstanding the elements based on what it is and how it will be used.

The last thing you want to do is spend a considerable amount of money only to learn that the quality isn’t there.

Reputable printers will give you the names of past customers for you to contact. Ask them a few questions about the quality so that you can get an idea of what to expect.

Turnaround Time

Deadlines can be problematic for you. It may be that you just learned about a particular event or that you forgot to order flyers for an upcoming promotion.

“How soon can the order be ready?” This is one of the most commonly asked questions that printers here. Many are capable of providing a fast turnaround – and some have the capabilities of emergency services.

The moment you call a printer, consider what your average turnaround times are. Ask what they can do so that you can determine whether they are capable of meeting your regular printing needs. Keep in mind that not all jobs can be turned around within 24 hours, though.

Pricing

While pricing shouldn’t be the top consideration when choosing a commercial printer, you do have to factor it in. The cost of the materials will often impact the return on investment of a marketing campaign.

When you get prices, be sure that you’re factoring in all costs – setup, printing, and shipping.

A company should offer competitive pricing. When you want to get the most for your money, find out about their bulk discounts. If you order large quantities, the price per print should be going down as you order more and more.

Data Security

There are going to be instances when you need to have a variety of items printed that you don’t want the general public to see. This can be anything from company trade secrets to financials.

Your files are likely going to be uploaded onto the company’s website. From there, the file will be stored so that it’s available if you need additional prints.

Ask about how they handle the data and what kinds of policies are in place for backup, disaster recovery, and more. Especially if you work within an industry where there are a lot of compliance and regulation issues, you’ll want to know so that you don’t encounter problems.

Eco-Friendliness

Find out if the printing company has an eco-commitment in place. More printers are looking for ways to show that they are taking an eco-friendly approach to print. Some may hold a certification with the Forest Stewardship Council to show that they are upholding the highest standards of environmental criteria.

Companies may be as electronic as possible to avoid unnecessary printing. Additionally, find out how they eliminate harmful chemicals – including how plates are processed for offset printing.

Reputation

The reputation of the printing company should be taken into consideration, too. You want to work with a company that has been around for a while. It shows that they have standards and competitive pricing to stay in business year after year.

You can explore the company’s reputation by reading reviews online. Talk to others who have used the company to learn about the customer service levels and the overall ease of working with them.

Ultimately, when you choose to work with a commercial printer, you need to know that they can meet your expectations. With so many printing companies available, it’s critical to vet them appropriately. Otherwise, you’re risking your company’s branding due to poor printing quality or overpriced print materials.

A good commercial printer will want to create a longstanding relationship with you. They’ll provide you with reasons why they’re a worthwhile partner. Further, they’ll make sure that you have all of the printed materials you need to succeed within your industry. As your business grows, your need for printed materials will, too. Having a company that will always be able to provide you with what you need will be invaluable.