Overview of the Commercial Printing Industry

Do you need a commercial printer for your company’s printing needs? How do you know whether or not you should employ the services of a commercial printer or if you should attempt to fulfill your printing obligations in-house? Having a better understanding of the commercial printing industry will allow you to make a more informed decision when it comes to your printing projects. With this brief overview, you will be closer to making the right decision for your company

The Stats

With over 35,000 commercial printing companies in the United States alone, the idea of hiring the right printer can seem overwhelming at first. The fact is that most commercial printers are small or mid sized businesses that are scattered throughout the country. You can opt to use a local printer for your project or you can decide to use a printing company that is available online. Many companies offer their services online with an interactive website to accommodate their clients. Digital technology has created a very competitive environment in the commercial printing industry since it enables high quality printing to be offered at lower cost.

The Services

Commercial printing companies generally operate in bulk orders. Their advanced printing technology allows for larger orders to be processed at the same efficiency as smaller ones. Because of this, companies that need magazines, newspapers, advertising brochures, bulk labels, training manuals, catalogs and more rely on the commercial printing industry to meet their demand. Typically, a commercial printer will have a variety of presses and binding equipment to accommodate the different types of jobs that are ordered. This allows the printer to be more versatile in the types of projects that they can be of assistance on.

Beyond printing the actual products ordered, some commercial printing companies offer additional services such as design services if additional help is needed to plan the project. Some will also offer folding, cutting, binding and other finishing touches needed for certain projects, as well as fulfillment, which includes the packaging, storing and shipping of the finished products.

The Bottom Line

When you need large orders for your printed projects, utilizing a commercial printer is your best bet for getting the job done quickly and efficiently. If your printing project is on a smaller scale, chances are you can still delegate the project to your commercial printer. Again, with the advances in digital printing technology, you can most likely get your printing done at a competitive and affordable price. When your printing projects are being managed and executed on a regular basis you can afford to have an ally in the commercial printing industry.