noelward
Well-known member
Do More than Print
By Noel Ward, Editor@Large
The print market is changing. Instead of dwelling on how it used to be, look at what print in your market area can be in the future—and how you can be a part of it.
More than a few print business owners I talk with are seeing print volumes declining. They tell me margins are not what they once were and some are looking for other ways to keep their bottom line positive. I know bill and statement guys who are taking on direct mail. Converesely, I know direct mail guys adding local bills and statements and also a variety of commercial printing. Some shops are looking into short-run and POD books. Most are using their digital printers more and their offset press less. Others have simply cut shifts and reduced head count.
This all makes me very interested in what you have to say. As in my previous request for your insights, I will not divulge any names or locations. I’m just looking for what printers like you may be doing or are thinking about in this age of change. This is about how you can draw on your expertise in putting text and images on a page to create an additional line or two of revenue. Or, as an entrepreneurial friend puts it, “have multiple lines of revenue.” This friend owns a bar, a breakfast/lunch restaurant, and a contemporary art gallery. He does okay and it suits both his interests and ADHD.
Rather than ask a bunch of questions, I’m interested in your thoughts on any of the following topics that printer have said are top-of-mind to them: What might work for you, what wouldn’t, and so on. I know that in some cases an investment in equipment and/or software might be required, and that this can be a barrier. So can the transition to a new market. Every place is unique but we can all learn from each other. So tell me how any of these may or may not fit for you. And also what you would do if it’s not on the list below. Then I'll turn it into a story. It's by sharing ideas that we can all do and be more.
Shorter runs of what you already do
Direct mail
Bills & Statements
Books, mono and color
Wide/large format
Photo Printing
Fabric Printing
Metal printing
Packaging
Signage
Vehicle wraps
Please e-mail your responses to me at [email protected]. It’s secure (only I have access) and I delete responses once I import them to an encrypted folder on my computer.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Noel Ward
By Noel Ward, Editor@Large
The print market is changing. Instead of dwelling on how it used to be, look at what print in your market area can be in the future—and how you can be a part of it.
More than a few print business owners I talk with are seeing print volumes declining. They tell me margins are not what they once were and some are looking for other ways to keep their bottom line positive. I know bill and statement guys who are taking on direct mail. Converesely, I know direct mail guys adding local bills and statements and also a variety of commercial printing. Some shops are looking into short-run and POD books. Most are using their digital printers more and their offset press less. Others have simply cut shifts and reduced head count.
This all makes me very interested in what you have to say. As in my previous request for your insights, I will not divulge any names or locations. I’m just looking for what printers like you may be doing or are thinking about in this age of change. This is about how you can draw on your expertise in putting text and images on a page to create an additional line or two of revenue. Or, as an entrepreneurial friend puts it, “have multiple lines of revenue.” This friend owns a bar, a breakfast/lunch restaurant, and a contemporary art gallery. He does okay and it suits both his interests and ADHD.
Rather than ask a bunch of questions, I’m interested in your thoughts on any of the following topics that printer have said are top-of-mind to them: What might work for you, what wouldn’t, and so on. I know that in some cases an investment in equipment and/or software might be required, and that this can be a barrier. So can the transition to a new market. Every place is unique but we can all learn from each other. So tell me how any of these may or may not fit for you. And also what you would do if it’s not on the list below. Then I'll turn it into a story. It's by sharing ideas that we can all do and be more.
Shorter runs of what you already do
Direct mail
Bills & Statements
Books, mono and color
Wide/large format
Photo Printing
Fabric Printing
Metal printing
Packaging
Signage
Vehicle wraps
Please e-mail your responses to me at [email protected]. It’s secure (only I have access) and I delete responses once I import them to an encrypted folder on my computer.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Noel Ward
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