Printer's Tip

Use Your Printer's Supplied Paper

Choosing the right paper for your magazine can sometimes prove challenging. In a tight market where paper prices constantly fluctuate, using your printer’s supply could be a great option for you.

Here’s why:

• Going straight to the source has several benefits. For example, no one knows how to best keep presses running smoothly and efficiently than your printer. As such, using paper from their supply ensures any surprises, delays, or press malfunctions will be kept to a minimum. Not only that, if pricing is a concern, they can help you find a good, less-expensive option. Most printers have paper experts on site that can work with you to determine which paper is right for your magazine. These experts can also educate you on how the paper industry works so you can make the best decision on whether to ride out price increases or make necessary changes to compensate for fluctuations.
• Purchasing paper in bulk as many printers do ensures they receive better prices, more choices, and greater availability. Relationships between paper supplier and printer are also established, giving printers more leverage when it comes to last-minute purchasing or special orders. Paper experts also have experience negotiating with paper suppliers in order to get the best rates available. These savings can then be passed on to the publisher.
• When talking to your printer about your paper needs, don’t immediately object to using their private-label stock. Using your printer’s private-label can translate into a cost savings for you. Private-labels are generally less expensive since they’re purchased at a higher volume. Don’t get automatically stuck on name brands without first considering this option.
• When publishers use their printer’s supplied paper, they can eliminate extra work such as billing, shipping, and inventory considerations that are associated with keeping their own supply. Printers generally take responsibility of ownership, inventory, and performance issues since they know which paper runs best on their presses. Plus, last-minute changes to your publication such as trim, page count, etc. can significantly change how much paper will be needed for a specific job. Using your printer’s supply means you won’t have to worry about running out of paper, reordering more for a particular job, or storage costs associated with left-overs.
• Eco-friendly printing is becoming increasingly important to many publishers, and paper containing varying amounts Post Consumer Waste (PCW) is also in great demand. Printers are able to purchase an assortment of environmentally friendly paper options in order to meet their customer’s environmental standards. And buying power means you won’t have to worry about issues like availability.