What to ask a printer before working with them.

Whether your next printing need is for is a small in-house presentation or a large promotional campaign, you want to work with a professional printing company you can trust. To help you get started, we put together some important questions to ask a printer before you hire them for your next project.

Can You Help Me with the Design of My Project?

The best type of professional printing company is one that's more than willing to help you on your project. Years of experience will mean that they've worked with a variety of companies on marketing campaigns, promotional products, in-house documents, and much more! They'll often be aware of what has worked for clients in the past and can help you from the ground up- or even with a tweak here and there.

What Are the Minimum and Maximum Order Sizes?

Printing companies will always be more than happy to make a few copies of certain documents, but there are some types of projects where you need to know their minimum and maximum order sizes. This typically applies to customized projects such as marketing mailers, promotional items, and others. You can also make sure that they store your information for future runs so that you can start off small and go bigger later.

Do You Have Availability to a wide variety of stocks? 

When choosing a printer, you always want to have as many options as possible. Many professional printers offer their favorites but should be able to guide you on what would work best for a particular project. When working with Bob’s Busy Bee Printing, we have a wide variety of papers in stock that we are happy to show you when discussing a project.

Which File Formats Should I Use?

There are several different types of file formats available, all of which a printer can typically work with on a variety of projects. However, it isn't uncommon for a printing company to prefer certain types of formats due to familiarity, ease of use, or other advantages. Asking which file format a printer prefers will help every project go more smoothly.

Can You Show Me Some Similar Projects? 

While it's never a good idea to blatantly copy another company's projects, the truth is that no business exists today that hasn't been inspired by the works of another. Plus, you want to make sure the company has handled your type of project in the past. Being asked to see samples of previous projects completed for other businesses will fulfill both of these needs.

What Are Your Average Turnaround Times? 

There are certainly many instances where a fast turnaround time isn't a priority, but you want to ensure that the printer can always handle your deadlines. Start off by asking them for their minimum and maximum turnaround times on any given project. Then, inquire about emergency deadlines and the extra costs involved.

Can I Preview My Project Before It’s Printed?

Wouldn't it be great if you could see your finished product before you pay a printer even a single penny? The good news is that you can - if the printer has the proper technology. Ask if they can provide you with a proof to show you what your project will look like before they begin working on it. This is much better than being shown a similar project.

Contact Busy Bee Printing for More Questions to Ask a Printer

Everything outlined above should give you a significant head start on your next printing project. If you're in search of custom printing in Tampa or would like to know more questions to ask a printer, contact the professionals at Bob’s Busy Bee Printing at (813) 933-2434 to schedule a consultation today.