print buyers

As a Print Buyer, what’s your LIMFAC (limiting factor)?

What holds you back as a print buyer? When the military makes plans, they consider what could hinder success. It’s referred to as the LIMFAC, or the limiting factor—the one big element or condition in a situation that you have to overcome in order to succeed. We all run into limiting factors when we try […]
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A World of Complexity Confronts Print Buyers and Vendors

On a daily basis, on our phones and television screens, we’re seeing the effects of complexity—and how leaders struggle to deal with it and often fail. Complex environments and systems share certain hallmarks: There are ongoing, nonlinear interactions of numerous, sometimes millions, of interrelated parts/events. Unpredictability: no one can predict how the interactions will play […]
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What the Print Industry Can Learn From The Last Dance

The late and great Chicago Bulls GM Jerry Krause once said, “Players and coaches don’t win championships, organizations do…” This statement sent shock waves throughout the sports community and raises conversation today with the release of the “The Last Dance.” A documentary highlighting the legendary run of the Chicago Bulls in the ’90s. I would […]
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Increase your marketing —but first, refocus it

While many businesses are contracting during the COVID-19 economic downturn, this could be a good time to step up your marketing.  It’s an opportunity to reach people with your message when there’s less “noise” from a variety of competing messages. In addition, while people are spending more time at home, your direct mail package may […]
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Beyond Email: Re-envisioning the Print-Buying Process

There’s nothing like a crisis to highlight weaknesses. The current economic and health crisis is prompting a reassessment of nearly every business practice, including print-buying.  The printing industry historically has been responsive to changes in the technology of printing, but when it comes to handling orders, it’s stuck to traditional, low-tech manual processes. Many print […]
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Buyer and Printer Communication: Wandering or Guided?

Consider for a moment these two approaches to the same conversation. Wandering Conversation: John: Hey Sean, let’s get together for drinks after work Sean: Great! John: How about the Pub Sean: Great! John: How about 7? Sean: Sounds great? John: Do you want to meet up or drive together? Sean: Let’s meet Guided Conversation: John: […]
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Brand Consistency: Print Buyers are the backstop

In the world of sales and marketing, it’s hard to overstate the importance of brand consistency. The brand is the company’s face and voice, and an enormous amount of effort and money goes into building a brand and maintaining its consistency. A consistent, well-managed brand may be worth up to 20% more than a competitor’s […]
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Creative Versioning: It doesn’t have to complicate print buying

Versioning—or customizing a print marketing message for a specific audience—is increasingly important to sales success. Customized messages get the attention of busy consumers, and they boost response rates or sales. But versioning also makes print buying and print projects much more complex and increases the likelihood of mistakes. There’s a solution designed specifically for print […]
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