Welcome to the amazing world of the print industry! A trade printer is a printing business that offers wholesale print materials to resellers. These resellers typically need to be employed in the printing industry or a related field. As one of the leading large-format trade printers in Canada, we at ButterflyGP are here to explain what trade printing is all about and why it’s so important in the print world. We’re committed to helping you understand this concept more clearly and how it can help grow your business.
Contents
How Trade Printing Works
Trade printing is a term used within the printing community to define a business model where print companies or print brokers, not normally engaged in printing, outsource print jobs to other print businesses. This relationship is B2B (business-to-business), meaning the services are provided to other businesses, not to consumers.
In the trade printing system, two print industry businesses cooperate to fulfill a job. The printing company (trade printer) prints materials requested by another print industry business (print broker or print reseller), which then sells them to an end customer.
A significant characteristic of trade printing is that the trade printer does not deal directly with the final consumer. Instead, they work behind the scenes, providing their services in a white-label manner. This feature means that the print broker or print reseller can sell the final printed goods to their customers under their brand.
The Importance of Trade Printing
Trade printing carries significant importance in the print industry, and its influence cannot be understated. First, it allows print brokers or resellers to take on any job, regardless of their in-house capabilities or workload. This advantage helps maintain workflow consistency, leading to customer loyalty due to prompt and high-quality services. Secondly, it allows smaller companies to compete in the market, even when they lack certain printing technologies, giving them access to a wider service range.
From a print marketing perspective, trade printing is beneficial because it enables a company to offer its customers extensive printing services without incurring the costs of owning and maintaining a print facility. As a result, these companies can focus more on marketing their services and customer relations—elements quite vital in developing a successful business.
Who Needs Trade Printing?
Several business players stand to benefit from trade printing. They include:
- Print Brokers and Resellers
- Graphic Designers
- Advertising Agencies
- Small Print Shops
- Corporations and Large Businesses
- Artists
- Photographers
- Event Planners
1. Print Brokers and Resellers
A print broker acts like the middleman in the print industry. They connect customers who need printed items with print service providers who provide printed items. Much like a friend who introduces you to someone who can help you get a job done.
On the other side, we have print resellers. They are kind of like the bargain hunters of the print industry. They purchase printed products in bulk with a better price. They then sell these products to their customers, typically at a higher price to make a profit.
In both these business types — print brokers and print resellers — none of them do any printing. They don’t have the big, expensive machines needed for printing. That’s where trade printing comes in. These businesses hire trade printers to do the printing for them.
2. Graphic Designers and Advertising Agencies
Graphic designers or advertisers often have ideas that need to be turned into beautiful printed products, such as posters, brochures, or even large-format banners. But buying and running a big printing machine is expensive and requires a lot of knowledge.
This is where trade printing comes to the rescue. By joining forces with a trade printer, they can get all sorts of items printed without having to buy their machinery. So, they can focus on what they love doing — coming up with amazing, creative ideas — and leave the printing to the experts.
3. Small Print Shops
A local print shop may do well with regular printing but might struggle with big, complicated jobs because they don’t have enough machines or people or might lack specific expertise. But they also don’t want to disappoint any customers who ask for such jobs.
A solution? They can partner with trade printers, who have a larger capacity and special knowledge. It’s like getting a more muscular friend to help move a heavy sofa. By doing this, small print shops can still satisfy their customers, fulfilling all sorts of requests without having to deny or decline them.
4. Corporations and Large Businesses
A large company needs a lot of prints. It could range from marketing booklets and large-format posters to everyday office items like notepads or business cards. It’s a huge demand to manage. Trade printing can be their saviour here.
They can manage all these varied and large-scale printing needs efficiently. So, the business doesn’t have to worry about the process because they can simply get all of their printed materials in one sitting. Indeed, trade printing can be a big help for large firms aiming for smooth and successful operations.
5. Artists
Artists often need to create high-quality reproductions of their original artwork for sale or display, especially in exhibitions or galleries. Trade printers can provide these services, enabling artists to sell multiple copies of their art pieces at a lower cost than the original.
Thanks to the cutting-edge printing technology available to trade printers, artists can share their work with a larger audience without sacrificing print quality, colours, or details. It also allows artists to focus on creating art rather than managing printing processes.
6. Photographers
In the photography business, trade printing can be a game-changer. Professional photographers often need to provide physical copies of their work to clients. Whether it’s wedding photography, portrait photography, or event photography, high-quality prints are a significant part of the job.
Trade printers often have access to premium paper stocks and large-format printing capabilities. So, photographers can provide their clients superior-quality prints, albums, or even customized photo products. Once more, this lets photographers concentrate on what they do best, leaving the intricate printing process to the experts in the field.
7. Event Planners
Event planners often require a wide range of printed materials, such as banners, flyers, invitations, menu cards, and table-setting cards, to name a few. Sourcing each of these elements from different providers can be exhausting and time-consuming.
With trade printing, event planners can get all their printing needs under one roof. This arrangement can significantly simplify the resource acquisition aspect of event planning. Also, trade printers’ extensive range of print capabilities enables event planners to offer their clients innovative and customized solutions.
Conclusion
Trade printing is a transformative force in the printing industry, allowing businesses to deliver top-notch services and expand their offerings. It is beneficial for businesses of all sizes and types, such as small print shops, graphic design firms, and corporations.
By working with a print partner such as ButterflyGP, you can easily take advantage of trade printing’s benefits. We place a high priority on client satisfaction, prompt delivery, and reasonably priced, superior products. We help businesses take advantage of the significant potential of trade printing by providing them with cutting-edge equipment and a dedication to excellence.