Short Run Printing on the Rise
In today’s modern data-driven world, the demand for shorter print runs is on the rise. For instance, a recent survey by Print24 America revealed that 67% of companies in the US want to see an increase in short run printing capabilities. The top three reasons they cited were: better inventory management; quicker turnaround times; and lower costs.
But what is a short run? It’s simply any print job with fewer than 1,000 impressions. In contrast, “longer-run printing” typically refers to jobs of 10,000 or more copies. A typical long-run print job might be a newspaper insert, a business card, or a brochure.
The short-run printing industry is booming. This is largely because short runs are more affordable than longer runs. Furthermore, print jobs with short run capabilities are quickly changing to digital for various reasons: cost savings; scalability; and ease of design and control. More so, these jobs can be printed on demand, which makes them perfect for one-time printing needs like invitations, postcards and holiday cards.
Shorter run printing also has its benefits when it comes to faster turnaround time from proof to press and shipping to customer. And that’s definitely a plus for a lot of businesses who want to increase their marketing reach and customer interaction.
Many short-run printing jobs start with digital print files uploaded to Print24.com , which is the online printing service from Print24 America . In this case, the company offers a digital short run calculator that enables printers to look up running costs based on the number of copies required for their print job.
There are plenty of ways for individuals or small businesses to take advantage of shorter runs, and shorter runs in general with POD, as well as Print On Demand options. For example, it’s easy to find holiday cards and invitations that are print-on-demand on websites like Tiny Prints or Vistaprint . Let’s take a look at some of these options.
Taking advantage of digital printing services is the best route for a variety of reasons. First, no matter how small the order or the size of your operation, you can still get great quality – at a very reasonable cost. The flexibility in design and ordering makes it easy to cut costs when printing runs get out of control. And if you’re using Digital Printing you can rely on the same great quality and service every time.
There are now more than 25 POD services that make it possible to print on demand, with more coming online all the time. Here are some of the best options available:
1. Tiny Prints: A popular choice for tiny print jobs, tinyprints.com provides a variety of materials and custom options so you can increase profit margins or make your work stand out from the crowd. With a variety of sizes for various products, like holiday cards, invitations or business cards you can easily find exactly what you need.
2. Vistaprint: A more recent option for short runs is Vistaprint . They have made a name for themselves by offering customized greeting cards, business cards and more with a variety of materials to choose from. They provide superior quality and they also have one of the best designs available. However, their prices may be a little higher than competitors in the same market. Still, they’re an excellent option for POD services.
3. MyMemory: This is another service you can use if you want to expand your product line or if you are looking for new options in the marketing space that allow you to offer something new and fresh to your customers or clients.
4. PrintingIntoAir: PrintingIntoAir is a newer POD service on the market, with a few different options to choose from. They have expanded their options on many of their products and have amazing designs in both color and pre-designed materials. For example, they have great business cards for sale with either a laser or offset print finish.
5. Printweave: As another newer option for short runs, Printweave makes it easy to get copies in less than a week instead of the standard 2-3 weeks offered by most POD services. Their product choices are extensive and they also offer a variety of quality materials for your printing needs like cardstock, heavy-duty paper and more.
6. Blurb: Blurb provides custom printing for personal products and gifts. You can use the great designs available to make your products stand out from the crowd. And professionals like photographers and graphic designers can also take advantage of their on-demand printing program to print pictures on a cheap and easy basis.
What you need to know about short runs
Short runs are certainly a growing trend and there are plenty of ways that you can take advantage of it in your business. The important thing is that you understand the types of short runs available, how they work, what they look like and what they can do for you when it comes to getting your printed materials on time or even ahead of schedule.
Most short-run printers use Digital Printing because it’s a fast and affordable way to get your printed materials done, either on demand or in bulk. Plus, you can still get great quality with Digital Printing, even when you’ve got a run of less than 1,000 copies.
Another advantage of digital printing is that it gives you more control over the when and where of production: your print files are sent digitally to the printer so they wait for your go-ahead before they start production. And while short runs can cost less than longer runs, there are some instances where shorts runs actually cost more (like larger prints). But as long as you understand any potential fees associated with the cost or quality of your product, it’s really a good deal.
How can I start using short runs in my business?
Once you’ve decided to take advantage of short runs in your business, you can find exactly what you need on websites like Tiny Prints, Vistaprint and MyMemory for printed items like holiday cards and invitations. In addition to offering holiday cards and custom invitations and more, you can also choose from branded items such as promotional postcards that have a recognizable look or feel.
But there are different options available if you’re looking for short runs, especially for bigger projects. To get started with short runs and POD services, we recommend contacting the following companies that offer short runs:
1. UPrinting: One of the best options for a Digital Short Run is UPrinting. They make it easy to design your order and you can do so in plenty of different formats, including Microsoft Word and Adobe InDesign. It’s an affordable option without sacrificing quality or service, making it a great choice for many businesses.
2. Moo: Moo provides business cards and other printed items at very affordable prices.
Conclusion
Short runs is a growing trend in the industry, offering low-cost, get-it-done printing that can make a big difference in time, cost and quality. Short runs and POD services are great options for both new and experienced business owners because they allow you to keep costs down while still printing at an affordable price. For example, if you’re running out of handouts for your clients or stock for your store’s products at regular intervals, there are affordable options available that can easily handle those needs.
Short runs and POD services give you the option of printing when you need it to deliver just the right message each time, keeping costs down with minimal stress.