Litho Print Brokering Services
Some people are hesitant about using a broker. It's a natural assumption that, if a middleman is involved, print is bound to cost more, take longer and be more problematic. Yet most of us think nothing of using a broker to get a better deal on our car or household insurance because we know it avoids having to contact a dozen insurance companies ourselves! The principle with a print broker is exactly the same. Provided your broker's doing their job properly, you should find:
1. Your print should cost less - because your broker has greater buying power and wider knowledge of where to place each job. For example, a print job best suited to a B1 press can rarely be run as competitively on a smaller B2 or SRA3. If your current printers have one of these presses they're unlikely to be able to provide the best price for that particular job. Your broker, on the other hand, can use his or her contacts to match your job to the most cost-effective press and finishing process.
2. Your print should reach you faster - because your broker is constantly monitoring the progress of every job and, where necessary, chasing the printer to meet your deadlines.
3. The range of printed materials from 'under one roof' is much greater. In addition to brochures, leaflets, folders and forms, your broker should be able to supply a range of items - like stickers, plastic cards, manuals, presentation binders, CD-roms, exhibition stands and promotional goods - at competitive prices.
4. Service is better and the risk of problems minimised. Your broker is continually checking for accuracy and potential pitfalls at each stage of your job. So, if a problem does occur, he or she acts on your behalf to ensure you don't end up paying for something you shouldn't.
5. Quality is assured. No print brokers worth their salt will use printers that can't produce work of a very high standard. Many brokers' suppliers will be trade-only print houses with state-of-the-art equipment and technology, often operating 24/7 and out of the 'loop' of the general marketplace. Your broker will also check and monitor all production processes and materials to ensure consistency of your corporate image and colours.
