Commercial Printers Embrace Digital Printing-But From a Distance

Fast Fact # 237
Commercial Printers Embrace Digital Printing-But From a Distance
June 8th , , 2004

THE FACTS
Six out of 10 commercial printing establishments offer digital printing services.
THE DATA
'We Offer/Do Not Offer Digital Printing Services,' Commercial Printers, Spring 2004
WHY YOU SHOULD CARE
Although 60% of commercial printers say that they offer digital printing services, 41% do it in-house, while the remaining 19% 'offer it' by outsourcing it to another printer who does the actual digital printing. (And in case you're wondering, nine out of 10 quick printers offer digital printing services, so it's likely that it's the quick printers who are getting this outsourced work.) Since we've been tracking a migration of jobs from traditional offset to digital presses, this 'printer as print broker' approach to digital printing is a good way for commercial shops to retain work and clients, even if they're not doing the actual printing.

[PrintDriver]

If I want my digital work done by a Quickprinter... I would go direct to one. Why pay a markup?

PrintDriver is a large format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing

[Keyare]

You're not exactly a regular kinda client there PD.

I outsource all my printing. LOL!

I am the third party. Acually I'm half of the second party cause you can't really print business cards with having them designed first.

I just find it interesting all these facts. It just gives me a better idea of what is going on out there. I can tell right away when I deal with a third party. They usually charge about 30% more then the other guys.

[lump lump]

I make a habit of knowing the equipment that my various service providers actually have in house. It makes it much easier to match up the job to the printer. Unfourtunatly, some like to keep that information close and it is almost a power struggle to get it out of them. Best way I find is simply to do a plant walkthrough.

If you talk with the art guys they usually tell you even though they don't know excaly how to run the press but hey will let you know what they are using, at least in my case they do. I'm a nice guy I guess. LOL!