Looking for printing opportunities

Drorain · 01-19-2006, 02:45 PM

research designers locally, create sample packs to be able to send out, create a sales sheet. Cold calling would be tough, but you maybe able to position yourself so people will call you. Its weird you need to get your own leads though, I thought they would split up incoming calls to the sales force...

Unless your a sort of print broker?

Oh and are you offering design services or print services for your printer shop? Above all do not go near sites like elance. thats where people go to whore themselves out, and it would be a waste of your and the companies billable time

**morea** · 01-19-2006, 02:48 PM

Check out the job search threads here:
http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/fo...ead.php?t=7892

PrintDriver · 01-19-2006, 04:45 PM

What do you print?
And are you trying to sell the printing or your designing service?
If you just started for the company (and based on your earlier posts) do you have the chops to be selling product? Nothing I drop quicker than a salesman who doesn't know his product.

And unless they offer commission on top of your pay rate, I'd leave sales to sales. Who needs the headaches?

Dro, a lot of companies don't split up sales by incoming phone call. It's very cutthroat in a gentlemanly way...or not so gentlemanly, depending on the sales dude.

Drorain · 01-19-2006, 04:50 PM

yah I was just thinking of how they do it in my previous job. There were no cold calls, but my previous company also has one of the most aggressive marketing campaigns out there...some might even call it spam

Logo-Mechanix · 01-19-2006, 04:51 PM

I don't know how it is where you are Ice but print is right by nature salesman are usually pretty cut throat. If these guys think you are taking commissions away from them you may become very unpopular very quick, now I am not one for trying to please people other than clients but it is easier to work in an environment where people like you, it makes the day less stressful.

icetea1980 · 01-19-2006, 05:19 PM

I am not so much worried about the money part...although it's an issue but i really like to develope a career in the sales region. I am feedup in the production. I worked in a packaging company before, learned all aspects of die-cuts and sorts....then I worked as a freelance graphic designer... just making the cut.....then I worked for a pre-press company... where I learned the film production and printing production aspects.... then I was hired by this printing company...learning all sorts of printing from offset to web...graphic to film....and now I am in the marketing and sales department....

I started to hang out at network dinners and met quite some ppl...but the jobs are really minimal....I would like to try and do close bids for other companies... challenging on the price and quality.

Logo-Mechanix · 01-19-2006, 06:17 PM

If you like sales than go for it, I am not much of a salesman and I am sure that has not helped my freelance business. I believe sales is something either you are good at it or you are not, there is not much middle ground, a mediocre salesman would not make enough to survive since they are usually paid on commission.

icetea1980 · 01-19-2006, 06:30 PM

yea....definately going for it....just wish there are ways to get more leads...

Logo-Mechanix · 01-19-2006, 06:38 PM

I would look into some kind of mailing program or something along the lines of what Drorain was talking about.

MD · 01-19-2006, 07:16 PM

Cold Calling.
A friend of mine owns a print broker business and most of her business come from cold calling businesses. She make a couple calls a day and ropes the customers by undercutting the competition (usually giving short run stuff like business cards at cost or slightly above) . Later she aquires the rest of the businesses printing needs (Forms, Envelopes, promotional, etc.) and farms all the work out to cheap specialty wholesale printers. She may break even on business cards but will make a 400% markup on the more expensive longer run stuff.

icetea1980 · 01-23-2006, 02:14 PM

Has anyone heard of bidding for goverment printing jobs??

**Kool** · 01-23-2006, 02:50 PM

Originally posted by icetea1980

Has anyone heard of bidding for goverment printing jobs??

Yes, I actually know a lot about this. There is a lot of money to be made in bidding on GPO jobs but you really have to make a commitment to it. The margins are very small and since shipping is included in the price your geographic location is a big factor. You can find out more here http://www.gpo.gov/ and this sight has a lot of good information too http://www.governmentprintingsales.com/Home.aspx.

If you have any specific questions shoot em at me.

icetea1980 · 01-27-2006, 03:40 PM

Anyone know Canadian Government contacts for printing?

Looking for printing opportunities

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