Something I’ve observed from years of working in print is that people often leave asking for a print quote to the very last minute and as a result, they typically need the quote and then the actual print work produced very quickly. All just human nature I think.
Thinking this through, it probably comes down to the fact that many people don’t naturally know how to request a quote in a manner that will achieve the best print pricing for them.
Tips on how to ask for a print quote
But if you need to get a print quote quickly how can you help to speed the process up?
- Be as clear as possible about what you’re actually asking for.
Overly vague print quote requests tend to produce inaccurate or even misleading estimates. So try to narrow down your quote request criteria in advance by considering the following:
- How many do you need?
An important element of the price of your printing will be the quantity. Always ask for a base number, but then ask for a couple of run-on numbers too. TIP: Run-ons in printing are often inexpensive. - Which type of stock do you require?
Stock or paper is critical to the pricing of your work. If you’re producing a brochure consider whether the cover will be on a different material to the inside. If it’s a leaflet then do you want it to be on a gloss or matt paper. TIP: People often think that glossy paper is expensive. In reality it’s no more pricey than most other papers. - Who will design your printing?
Good design is usually the difference between an impressive looking printed item and something that comes across as amateur. So don’t skimp on the design work! Knowing whether you’re providing finished artwork or asking someone else to do the design for you will be crucial to the eventual outcome.
The quickest way to ask for an accurate quote is to use a print quote form which leads you through the various questions that need to be answered in order to provide a print estimate. Good printing companies will provide such a form on their website and it’s definitely well worthwhile taking advantage because the person who then produces your printing quote will know that they have all the information required to produce it quickly for you.
Do you need a nearby or London printers
Of course, there are many other factors to take into account when you request a print quote. If proximity matters, perhaps to assist you with print delivery speed or even to provide you with the ability to go and view a proof or the first print-run of your work being produced, then you might want to select a printing company who are nearby.
Here’s our Print Quote Request Form which asks all the relevant questions very quickly. You can visit our print quote request form here.
Request a print quote. Fast!
Sometimes you might not have the time wade through a lengthy form to get a print quote. Whilst some printers seem to insist on you being the expert before they’ll even talk to you, a good design and print company will make this part easy. A short form can allow you to get a printing quote faster.
We provide such a short quote form on our website. This allows you to contact us and we’ll follow that up by simply getting back in touch. That way we can discuss your print quote request, over the phone, via email or even in person.
You’ll find the quick contact form to the right of this post.
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Dan Jacobs is the Sales Director at PrintHouse Corporation. With over 30 years experience Dan can provide you with an expert print quote for your next design or print project. Use our print quote request form here.
Dan updates his Linkedin most days and is well worth following if you’re considering asking for a printing quote anytime soon. If you’re looking for a print quote in London then great, but PrintHouse also prints for national and many international companies too.
Requesting a print quote seems rather basic, but for some marketers and designers, it can be unfamiliar territory. After all, there aren’t many classes or resources that teach you how to work with printers.
If you haven’t had much experience with print and direct mail, you can easily overlook important details a printer will need to quote your project accurately. Sometimes even experienced print buyers—who know how to articulate specs well—go through multiple rounds of quote revisions that can delay a project by days, weeks, or even months.
More often than not, the delay is a result of missing project variables, such as paper or mailing requirements. And when your marketing team’s next deadline is right around the corner, you can’t afford to waste this precious time!
The good news is that a little print knowledge and preparation will make the process much smoother. By answering these five questions BEFORE you request a print quote, you’ll get your quote right the first time and avoid unnecessary quote revisions and project delays in the process.
Want to streamline your quoting process further? Download Shawmut’s Best Practice Guide for Print Quotes including our helpful questionnaire to ensure a smooth and consistent process with every quote request.
1. What is Your Project Goal?
Who is the audience for your print or direct mail project? How long will the piece be used? What is the action you want recipients to take? The answer to these questions can and should affect your print quote.
If you haven’t supplied this information to your printer, they should be asking the questions! Your printer should guide you through every phase of the quoting process—and that starts with knowing your project goals.
Although you may have provided key pieces of information, such as the size of your piece, it's important that your print rep understands the bigger picture. For example, if your print piece is intended to drive sales, how much is one sale worth? How much of an impact do you need for your product to sell? Historically, how many times do you need to get your brand in front of someone before they raise their hand?
Knowing the answers to these questions—and making sure your printer knows them too—will get your quoting process off on the right foot and ensure the final product reflects what you intended.
2. What is the Quantity?
Quantity is crucial when quoting your print project. Not only will it affect the cost of materials, but quantity can also affect other aspects of the quote such as the method of printing (offset vs. digital), postage (if the piece will mail), and shipping costs.
3. What is Your Budget?
Your budget also plays a huge role in determining your quantity, which is why it’s best to determine the budget before you request your quote. Letting the format of the print piece drive the budget isn’t a good idea because you’re not working with the end-goal in mind. Instead, figure out what reaching your audience is worth and let that drive your budget.
A clearly defined budget provides parameters for your project and helps printers make recommendations to help you get the best bang for your buck.
4. What’s Your Deadline?
If you haven’t determined a deadline, your printer will ask! Even if your project doesn’t have a “hard date” (such as delivery to a trade show or promotional mailing), it’s important to communicate your timeline expectations when requesting your quote. We also recommend that creative teams think beyond the final “in-hands” date and identify other project milestones such as pre-production samples, press checks, or stakeholder approvals.
The project timeline can have a significant impact on the production method used for your piece. For example, holiday catalogs must arrive in time for shoppers to browse products, evaluate purchase decisions, and ultimately order and receive products in time.
To accommodate that, you need to be aware of average turn times for order fulfillment and any fluctuations due to the busy shopping season. From there, work backward to determine your catalog mail date—which ultimately will help the printer price and schedule your job. If it’s a rush, they may need to make adjustments to pay overtime, suggest design modifications or alternative printing methods, or recommend a different mail class—all of which should be factored into your quote.
5. Do You Have a PDF of your Artwork?
Articulating print specs isn’t always the easiest thing to communicate. That’s why a picture (or a PDF) is worth a thousand words.
Supplying a PDF with your quote request is one of the best ways to make sure the process runs smoothly. The PDF doesn’t have to be the final design, but it should help the printer get a good sense of the product you want to make (with your end goal in mind of course!).
A preliminary PDF will give the printer an overall flat size and allow them to quickly identify production processes they’ll need to include in your quote. The PDF can also help printers spot potential issues and ask clarifying questions before the quote is approved and the job is put into production. In general, a PDF will take the guesswork out of the quoting process and makes sure your designer and the printer are on the same page.
More Info Leads to a Better End Result
Remember: When requesting a print quote, the more information you can provide to your printer upfront, the better the end result will be. Being thoughtful about your goals, quantity, time frame, and artwork plan will help ensure your quote process is quick and as accurate as possible.
Although these five areas seem pretty basic, if any one of them is missing it can lead to project delays and confusion. Avoid that by taking the time to answer these five questions thoroughly before requesting a print quote.