small print runs

[kar-po]

I've looked around to see if this question has been addressed and can't find it... so bear with me if it's been discussed already...

My issue is that I have expanded from just desktop publishing and designing logos etc into specializing in invitations and announcements.

As you know, these are small runs - no one needs 500 invitations!

So I am stuck in regards of getting quality printing on short runs, and have it still be cost effective to my clients.

I don't really have the funds to put into printing tons of invitations and then overprinting for each client who orders that particular design... Besides, I also do custom/one-of-a kind invitations, so that wouldn't work for that either?

Do any of you have ideas/suggestions???

I'm at a loss...

Thanks,
Karla
Fruition Designs

[budafist]

Offset printing using 1 colour only
This saves money on plates and you can make something really beautiful using some unusual paper/card stock. Try metallic or colured papers, textured and recycled stocks.

Digital (photocopiers)
Print quality of photocopiers differ immensely. You should give the same file to several local copy centres for a print sample to see which ones you can work with.

Also look at personalising invitations with ribbon, twine, embossing, foil stamping, glueing objects such as: shells for a beach wedding; leaves and dried flowers for a garden wedding.

You might also do some interesting diecuts that can be overprinted.

You can photocopy text onto vellum or transparent paper and then attach this onto beautiful stock. That way you are only paying for the printing of the transparent stock.

[PrintDriver]

Find someone with a digital press (an Indigo or similar). Web search for short run digital press. Or call around your local shops.
There are size and paper thickness limitations. Design within your parameters. Don't think of anything as a limitation. Think of it as a challenge.

[kar-po]

thanks for the ideas.

I've done searches on digital press short runs... not a lot turns up.

It really is such a pain to find a printer that is both reasonable and does a good job (I know "reasonable" is a relative term--- to them, what they charge is reasonable. For me, if means tiny little profits from clients)

Do you think it would be "acceptable" to print invitations for paying customers on a laser printer??

[PrintDriver]

Maybe you need to charge more.
Or maybe you need to gang your print jobs.
As for the laser printer, the ink cracks when folded. Would that be acceptable to you personally?

[kar-po]

No, it wouldn't... most of my designs don't get folded. But I don't like the look of the laser printer either. Right now, I am just grabbing for a solution...

I hate the thought of charging more than I already do.

And doing gang runs won't really be an option for me until I save up a bit more "fund-age". I've just started out on my own, and the funds I have for throwing towards it are limited, at this point.

[onoyouditn]

If you're only using a laser printer, why would anyone order invitations from you? Most people have laser printers nowdays, so they might as well print their own.

Could you print invitation "shells"? You would leave areas blank for the name of the couple, location, date and time of the wedding. With the right stock, you could then run them through your laser to fill in the pertinent info, yet you would still offer a more designer looking piece than if they did it all by themselves.

Could you partner up with another designer in your area to cut the cost of a run? No official partnership or anything, just a method of reducing costs.

[milano.design]

I think your best bet is find your local shop that understands your business needs. Don't call them. go in and meet with the owners. I know of two here that i use for smaller runs. one is a franchise (minuteman) but the owner is an old press operator from one of the larger shops. And i like sending him some of my smaller run invites or any job. he takes great care in his work. and it shows. So get to know the owner... He will also do any fulfillment oddity requests that i have. For you, this would work if the two of you set up some kind of pricing structure based on paper weights and intricate needs. then you can have it already in motion when the orders come in.

Great idea btw.... and hope it takes off. your site is great and clean and neat. I just estimated a batmizvah invitation and had been researching costs they can get online vs. what a hand done creative concept would be.... there is a lot of junk out there. And yours is fresh looking from what i saw. where in tennessee are you ? i have an old boss in memphis that would know all the good printers in that area...

[Kesh]

Go to Kinko's

[kar-po]

thanks milano! I am in the Nashville area, so there are a lot to choose from. A bit overwhelming actually. It wouldn't be so much so if I had worked here and had some contacts, but we just moved here last year, and trying to weed through the garbage is like trying to find the proverbial needle in a haystack... That's what I want to find, is the printer who will take care of me (don't we all??!!)

Kesh - have you found any benefits to Kinkos? I don't know that they are able to run thicker stock through their copiers.

[chongo]

Have you thought of using photo processing? A lot of your designs look like birth announcements, etc. That might be an option for some of your work.

[kar-po]

chongo -- I see others using that (competitors), but I'm not familiar with where I would even start...

[CSGdesigner]

I just saw output from a Xerox, IGEN short run printer... pretty amazing. Printer salesman propaganda aside, it is suppose to print on virtually any stock, and has strong pantone matching capabilities.

Try contracting with one or two local vendors you trust. Maybe you can you get special pricing from a local printer for volume? Kinda keep them on retainer?

What is reasonable? I just got married and dealt with the whole custom vs off the shelf problem. Truth is you can easily spend $1,500 for a stock design. Maybe the problem is your clientele. Are you marketing yourself to the right audience? You are providing a one off custom product. Shouldn’t the customer expect to pay a premium price? Just a thought.

[jimking]

I just saw output from a Xerox, IGEN short run printer... pretty amazing. Printer salesman propaganda aside, it is suppose to print on virtually any stock, and has strong pantone matching capabilities.

Try contracting with one or two local vendors you trust. Maybe you can you get special pricing from a local printer for volume? Kinda keep them on retainer?

What is reasonable? I just got married and dealt with the whole custom vs off the shelf problem. Truth is you can easily spend $1,500 for a stock design. Maybe the problem is your clientele. Are you marketing yourself to the right audience? You are providing a one off custom product. Shouldn’t the customer expect to pay a premium price? Just a thought.
I have some experience with the iGens. They do print on any stock and it can be a bear matching spot colors, not all however. I do not like their solids. The iGen and the Indigo are toner based machines which is good for variable data work. If you really want good quality printing with a good price and turnaround, find a shop that has a Presstek digital offset press.
This press's image delivery is completely digital. Great for short run work and it does spot colors too. And it does a damn good job.

[drlew]

Another option is to find someone with a large format printer (Epson 7600, etc) and ask if they will print on your paper preference. They generally charge by the square foot. You'd just have to layout multi-up and cut them down to size afterward.

[Tikamars]

I am just curious, when you priced the job to the client, did you not include the printing price into the quote? This would of allowed you some lea way to incorporate the printers price.

There should be some printers in Nashville to work with you. I would try the smaller printing companies around town. Look at some of the mom and pop type printers. Their cost don't generally seem to be as high or 'fixed' as the larger printing companies. I use to work in Western Kentucky and worked with some designers out of Nashville at the printing shop I worked at, so I know there are companies out there that will help.
Good luck.

[jimking]

Another option is to find someone with a large format printer (Epson 7600, etc) and ask if they will print on your paper preference. They generally charge by the square foot. You'd just have to layout multi-up and cut them down to size afterward.

We've ran tests with different papers on a Epson 9600 and most of the papers failed. A lot of runny ink. These papers were for offset printing.

[budafist]

We have an Epson 7600 and I wouldn't recommend it for printing wedding invitations.

[RJSfreedi]

The best is to search for Digital Offset Machine (like HP indigo) around ur area.

[panzer]

couldnt you hire a digital machine ??/

you get very reasoable prices now

some were you just pay for the paper click
as its against rules to discus pricing i wont
BUT if you have the steady clients maybe that is a way forward

[stickleback]

indigo's the waytogo