print buying

Increase your marketing —but first, refocus it

By: Rich On: May 12, 2020 Comments Disabled
Increase your marketing —but first, refocus it

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 […]
Read More

Beyond Email: Re-envisioning the Print-Buying Process

By: Rich On: May 01, 2020 Comments Disabled
Beyond Email: Re-envisioning the Print-Buying Process

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 […]
Read More

Buyer and Printer Communication: Wandering or Guided?

By: Rich On: April 23, 2020 Comments Disabled
Buyer and Printer Communication: Wandering or Guided?

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: […]
Read More

Brand Consistency: Print Buyers are the backstop

By: Rich On: April 20, 2020 Comments Disabled
Brand Consistency: Print Buyers are the backstop

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 […]
Read More

In the coronavirus pandemic, expect printers to be survivors and innovators

By: Rich On: April 07, 2020 Comments Disabled
In the coronavirus pandemic, expect printers to be survivors and innovators

In the coronavirus pandemic, expect printers to be survivors and innovators

For many print buyers and marketers, dealing with printing and printers is just a job responsibility. For others, however, it’s more—a connection with a craft that’s very old yet still cutting-edge and an integral part of our society.  As the coronavirus has upended the global economy including printing, it’s worth remembering that printing has endured […]
Read More

Print Procurement Efficiency

By: Rich On: January 17, 2020 , , , , , Comments Disabled
Print Procurement Efficiency

Print Procurement Efficiency

,,,,,
Print buyers have competing demands for their time. They juggle multiple priorities and projects, some of which can be quite complex, requiring many decisions and levels of approval. Further, print buyers are responsible for meeting deadlines, budgets, and quality standards. Many try to get it all done by being more efficient. They have the right […]
Read More

Print Procurement in 2020

By: Rich On: January 10, 2020 , , , , , , , , , , Comments Disabled
Print Procurement in 2020

Print Procurement in 2020

,,,,,,,,,,
What’s ahead for print suppliers and procurers in 2020? As usual, reading tea leaves is an inexact undertaking—but it’s useful at this time of year to take stock of the market forces potentially affecting your goals. Analysts foresee continued challenges as well as bright spots for the printing industry in 2020. As a print buyer, […]
Read More

Spec-writing assistance tailored to your needs

By: Rich On: January 03, 2020 , , , , , , , , , , Comments Disabled
Spec-writing assistance tailored to your needs

Spec-writing assistance tailored to your needs

,,,,,,,,,,
Writing specifications is arguably the most important step in procuring direct mail, point of purchase, or marketing materials. Your specs are your instructions or road map for what you want the printer to produce — covering every detail.  When you get the details right, the production process goes smoothly and you get what you want. […]
Read More