NPC e-Newsletter

News & Notes - July 2008

10 Ways to Save Money on Your Print Projects

Piggy Bank

We rarely ask to pay more, do we? It is only natural to look for ways to save. With prices soaring on everything from fuel to paper, suave print buyers are asking themselves some simple questions to make sure they are doing all they can to save money. We at NPC, would like to help. We’ve developed this list of "10 Ways to Save Money on Your Print Projects" just for you.

  1. Flexibility matters. If you have a window of time to get your project produced or can be flexible on paper stock, trim size and, if appropriate, bind style you may be able to save some money. By explaining to your printer what the product is being used for, they can then evaluate whether the specifications meet the requirements and make any applicable recommendations for cost savings.
  2. If your print job is going to be processed or mailed, be sure your printer knows. Often potential problems can be avoided, saving you time and hassle down the road. On that note… (See item 3)
  3. Consider a full-service supplier. If your printer provides such services, give them the opportunity to bid the work. By not transporting the print to another facility to be mailed you incur one less expense. Printers that can cover the full spectrum of services, from composition through distribution, tend to operate more efficiently than the alternative of moving projects from plant to plant.
  4. Use soft proofs whenever possible. This not only reduces the cost and time to produce the proofs themselves, but also makes author’s alterations charges minimal. Did I mention the time savings? I hope so, because there sure is one!
  5. Take a look at your run length. Knowing the right quantity to produce is never a perfect science, but before cutting your run length to save a few dollars today, understand the likelihood and the cost of reprinting down the road. Longer runs have a lower cost per piece and the chances that resources are less expensive today than they will be in six months are weighted towards being less expensive today. (Again, to save on storage, talk to your printer about them warehousing and fulfilling your supply as needed; many will do this for a minimal charge.)
  6. Gang-run similar print projects. Take a look at your publications and group those that have similar specifications together and print them at the same time with the same printer. By not having to change paper or ink or trim sizes between runs, you could save yourself money overall.
  7. Consider using a house stock. Many times printers keep an inventory of their most commonly used paper stocks and can provide these readily at good prices. In this tight paper market and with the uncertainty of supply, work with your printer to make sure that your stock is available at a price that won’t upset your budget.
  8. Consider establishing a contract instead of bidding each job. When a printer is guaranteed your work over a period of time, they can more efficiently create processes around its production and plan for its time on their equipment. This translates into dollars in your piggy bank.
  9. Build a relationship with your favorite print suppliers. Invite your print representative to meet with you once a year to take a look at your publications. Let them tell you which ones they would be most suited for and listen to their suggestions on small changes that could make a big difference in price. As you redesign or reprint items throughout the year, you will have a clear picture of things to consider and be armed with good cost-savings information.
  10. Ask your printer about the paper market. Although you may cover this by giving your printer some flexibility in specifications, talking to your printer about the availability of certain papers and their current costs will help you in choosing an appropriate stock. Paper prices fluctuate but are currently very volatile.

If you are reading this then your browser has encountered difficulty accessing this page's associated style sheet or your browser does not support cascading style sheets.