Print Buying Consultant

Ten Money Saving Tips for Print Managers

Despite their stated desire to realize savings from streamlining the various components associated with the print buying process, it's been my experience over the years, that many print managers neglect to do some of the easy things that can add up to significant cost savings annually. We all know these things, but we don't always do them. Below are a few tips for saving money on print jobs, which might be old hat to some, but vital to remember.

1.) Check invoices line-by-line-especially when starting out with a subcontractor. If she knows you're checking, this will cut down on un-ordered extras, duplications, and so on. ($500-1,000 saved with each invoice with a long-time vendor)

2.) Develop a check-off sheet to track jobs. This sheet matches invoices against orders, so that you pay only for what you ordered. It's simply too easy to forget the details.

3.) Know when to go out to bid. For large-scale, repeat work bid-out every three years at a minimum-more frequently for smaller jobs. ($100,000 annual savings in switching prepress vendors)

4.) Are you going to a four-color process when digital will suffice? Consider image choice and positioning-if quality won't be compromised, go with less expensive digital. ($500+ saved on small quantity runs)

5.) Know your postal forms and regulations. I once questioned a postal employee (after I had done some research) on the use of a certain form. Turns out, he had suggested the wrong form, and we saved thousands in mailing costs by knowing the rules and asking the question. ($7,000 error caught)

6.) Be cautious about professional service recommendations. Rather than take a designer's recommendation about a printer, I went out to bid, took another printer, got a beautiful job, and saved loads. No one cares for your bottom line like you do. ($6,000 savings on press kit folder)

7.) Is your mail house doing all it can for you? Shop around; compare your current list of services with those offered by others. You may be surprised by what's out there, I was. ($1,000s saved)

8.) Get your database managers to submit in your preferred software (mine is Excel) for the sake of consistency and saving time and headaches. (Saves on outside vendors adding fees to correct data fields)

9.) Use the negotiation process to secure cost savings. When a company is keen to get your work, and they know they are competing head-to-head, you can get waivers of fees (such as for delivery), preferential timelines, and so on. (Eliminated three times monthly delivery charges of between $50-$125)

10.) Know the market, read industry news to keep up on cost-saving technologies. In the last few years, many Internet and e-commerce companies have emerged to serve the print-buying market. Integrating the right solutions can impact your bottom line immediately. If you're not aware of what's out there, you could be operating at a disadvantage to companies who deploy proven technologies for print buying.

About The Author

Since 1990, Judy Benjamin has managed operations for three major organizations, saving them hundreds of thousands of dollars by implementing new systems, directing internal staff and mailhouses, managing vendors, analyzing costs, coordinating print media and streamlining print buying processes. Ms. Benjamin is reachable at jbenjamin@cal.berkeley.edu; 617-797-8602.

johnhoward@stbcpr.com

---

Communicating with Offsite Workers

How do you, or would you, communicate with employees who... Read More

Argue Your Way To Business Success

"Jack" (not his real name) is a vice president of... Read More

Keep Your Good Workers by Building Good Leaders

A recent report from the American Hospital Association's Commission on... Read More

Problem-Solving Success Tip: Whatever You Do, Do It on Purpose

Decision-making shows up throughout the problem-solving process. The decisions may... Read More

Performance Appraisal - Ten Stupid Things Managers Do To Screw It Up

Performance appraisals aren't fun. But a lot of the time... Read More

Why Outsourcing Could Be The Best Thing You Do For Your Business

While it's probably not true to say that the traditional... Read More

The Red Phone - Management Consulting in 30 Seconds or Less

Modern business faces complex problems; management often calls upon highly-specialized... Read More

Delegation: When to Delegate, Who to Delegate to

There are some very simple guides for delegation.Most people delegate... Read More

Why Half of All Mergers Fail After the Honeymoon Ends

Marriages and corporate mergers in America have at least one... Read More

How to use NLP for Business?

What is Neuro-Linguistic Programming?Neuro-Linguistic programme is nothing but the study... Read More

Recycling, Reverse Logistics and?..Candy

The candy box is a container for all your favourite... Read More

Appraisal Interviews: What To Say & How To Say It

STEPS TOWARDS A GOOD APPRAISAL INTERVIEW:Don't say: "You just don't... Read More

How You Can Learn to be a Better Manager

When you first take over a department, expectations are usually... Read More

Ten Steps to Take the Work out of Work ? Replicate Yourself!

They say that management can be a lonely place. A... Read More

Implementing Change

There are different reactions that individuals experience during time of... Read More

Holding Effective Meetings Can Be Easier than You Think!

I'm sure you've experienced those typical "headache" meetings! You know... Read More

Jewelry Use by Employees

Many companies have dress codes, which include jewelry. Some companies... Read More

The Seven Cs: Partnership Danger Signs - The 4th C: Cumulative Money Problems

A series of articles exploring the seven critical areas that... Read More

Business Fit

I have been an entrepreneur for over twenty years and... Read More

Time Management Tip: Stop Micro-Managing Employees

If I was a fly on the wall what would... Read More

7 Tips for Growing Your Business You Do Not Want to Ignore: Business Strategies To Easily Implement

Growing companies must always be ready for the next challenge.... Read More

Truth or Consequences: How to Give Employee Feedback

In the bestseller, Good to Great, Jim Collins discovered that,... Read More

Problem-Solving Success Tip: Test Your Assumptions About Everything

Test your assumptions about everything.Assumptions have a way of creeping... Read More

Five Strategies To Strengthen Your Company?s Financial Management

Too many businesses wait until a crisis occurs before they... Read More

Motivation - It Starts with Acknowledgement

Acknowledgement is about recognition or attention from another person. It... Read More

Know the Source of Business

One of the first questions we ask a prospect or... Read More

Best Workplaces

The Best Workplaces report (Financial Times, April 28, 2005) notes... Read More

Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: A New Managers Tale

This article relates to the Manager/Supervisor competency, commonly evaluated in... Read More

Problem Solving - Think Cleopatras Ass

Picture the scene. Anthony pops down to the guardhouse, partly... Read More

Small Business Outsourcing: An Introduction

Outsourcing is the delegation of a business process to an... Read More

10 Critical Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Consultant

Talk to as many consultants as you can before hiring... Read More

Cultural Differences: Making it Work Virtually

Working virtually adds a whole new dimension to the phrase... Read More

5 Management Decision Making Lessons from a Long Shot. A Heartening Belmont Victory

Like many, I watched the 134th Belmont Stakes hoping to... Read More