There are dozens of reasons why you might need professionally prepared printed materials, especially in the business world. From creating signage and banners for your storefront or your convention booth to printing brochures, business cards, direct mail marketing flyers, and more, the more professional your printed materials look, the better your company’s reputation and brand recognition. Therefore, hiring a printing company to provide you with the services you need is so crucial.
But not every single printing company is created equal. There are many great ones out there capable of turning your ideas into reality and creating absolutely gorgeous printed materials of any kind, but there are also printing companies that might not provide you with the right value for your investment. If you’re looking into hiring a printing company for your needs, here are the kinds of things you should know.
Hiring a Printing Company Can Be Easy if You Know What to Look For
There are plenty of challenges to finding the perfect print partner for your business. The right printer for you will have the capabilities to create the materials you want, work with you to implement your design ideas, and adapt them so that they’re the most effective and do so without blowing your marketing budget completely. On top of that, your print projects need to be completed in a timely manner as well. That can be a tall order sometimes!
But hiring a printing company need not be as difficult as you think. If you know what you’re looking for, it becomes much easier to evaluate whether a potential print partner will be a good fit for your business needs. A few good ways to measure fitness are by finding out the answers to the following questions:
How long has the printing company been around?
We’re not saying that brand-new printing companies can’t be fantastic, but let’s be honest – plenty of small businesses have trouble surviving over the long term. Believe it or not, 70 percent of businesses fail within their first ten years, so if a print provider in your area has been around forever, that’s a good sign that they know what they’re doing.
Do they have a portfolio of completed projects?
Any print provider can tell you they have the ability to meet your needs but seeing is believing. Always ask to see samples of projects your prospective print partner has completed in the past. Most self-respecting printers will be happy to show you successful projects, as they should be proud of their hard work.
Are there any testimonials from happy customers?
Just as printers with a good track record are proud of their portfolio, they’re also proud of the good relationships they’ve developed with their customers over the years. Many printing companies will maintain several testimonials from happy clients; barring that, you can ask for the contact information of former clients yourself and talk to them personally. A printer that isn’t forthcoming with at least some type of consumer feedback may not be the best choice.
Are they willing to answer your questions?
Print providers need to provide excellent customer service. Hiring a printing company that will take the time to answer your questions about the design and implementation processes indicates that they value their customers. You’ll get the right kind of attention you need from a print partner who goes the extra mile in this way.
Are their rates competitive with other printers?
Cost should always be a consideration. Does your prospective printer offer rates that are in line with the other printers in your area? Unless you’re paying for truly specialized work, then you shouldn’t expect to see a price much higher than the average. Likewise, if a printer quotes you a severely low price, this may be a red flag as well.
What additional services do they provide?
Printing companies that go the extra mile by providing add-on services, such as direct mail fulfillment, can help you save a lot of time and even money. See if your prospective print partner offers any additional services that might help you achieve your goals.
Hiring a Printing Company? Turn to Las Vegas Color Graphics!
Looking for the perfect printing company for your needs? Turn to Las Vegas Color Graphics! For more than 40 years we’ve been the Vegas community’s local print shop. Contact us today!
