While uncommon, some publishers may opt to supply paper to their printers; however, the benefits of allowing your print vendors to supply paper are hard to ignore:
- Printers often buy large quantities of paper, which in turn gives them price breaks for the volume that is ultimately reflected in pricing for your products
- A publisher who doesn’t order in high quantities will lose out to paper mills that prioritize lead times for their top customers
- Due in part to the struggles the paper market is facing, it’s likely your printer already has ready-to-print stock on their production floor
- If sustainable sourcing is important to you, your printer will be certified in SFI and FSC chain-of-custody so you understand what materials the paper is made from and whether or not it was sustainably and ethically sourced
Plus, your printer is an expert in all things paper and print. They can:
- Save you time by streamlining the paper purchasing process in-house as opposed to having your team coordinate purchasing, shipping, and receiving from your warehouse to theirs
- Recommend comparable stocks that will give your products the same look and feel for a lower cost
- Analyze your paper needs and leverage your total spend to your advantage
- Tell you what stocks are best suited for their equipment. While it may seem advantageous to purchase your own stock, there’s a chance that it may not be compatible with your printer’s equipment
