A couple years ago we partnered with a local commercial printer where we'd broker some deals with them. Real nice people, gave us decent pricing and commissions, and had a cool setup. Whenever I'd go in they seemed to always be busy but just a few years later they shut down with little notice.
Being in the printing industry is definitely tough right now. I'd say for about 90+% of the printers out there, there's always someone who can afford to charge less or do it quicker but not necessarily better. Unfortunately it seems to be an industry that is trying to recover from too many printers and too many customers that are only looking to pinch a penny.
I think you need to be in a specialized niche' printing market, something rare that not too many people do, then just do that or it seems you need to be one of the big players with the largest most technologically advanced presses to make gang runs and supplies the most efficient; otherwise it seems dismal that you're going to survive.
It's a tough predicament because you don't want to be the guy that competes on price alone but it's hard to say no to any order that will keep the press running and maybe make a little bit of money on. Unfortunately then that customer knows that you will discount your offering to that low price and may hold out or get someone else to match it. This then puts pressure on the printers which puts them in a position to put pressure on the copier dealers.
It's a tough world out there!
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