Comments on: Color, Quality and Consistency: 2017 Print Buyer Survey Results Are In

By: Deborah Corn

Deborah Corn — Fri, 09 Feb 2018 17:32:58 +0000

In reply to P Erik F.

Thanks for taking the time to share – and yes, a real QC process that flags and prempts “gotcha” moments woudl be nice 🙂

By: P Erik F

P Erik F — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 16:36:55 +0000

Interesting article, thanks for the research and sharing Deborah. I especially like the comment on print buyers appreciating the printer being transparent with issues. Having experience from both sides, and with the smaller margins printers are facing it is difficult for many to “fess up” until “caught”. A pro-active printer which the right processes in place could catch things earlier; “catch the drift” correct for wandering color or finishing issues but it may be too late to “tighten up” until the next run. The “catch 22” or dilemma from the printer’s perspective is just releasing the packaging, or having that conversation with the customer to release and correcting next time or just reprint and refinish!

By: Deborah Corn

Deborah Corn — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 18:38:47 +0000

In reply to newton keenan.

Neither… the buyers answered the questions from their perspective in this case. Thanks for the comment – and question!

By: newton keenan

newton keenan — Sat, 30 Dec 2017 12:36:52 +0000

Great insight & thought provoking article. Did you base your questions specifically around litho or did you include digital? Keep up the great work

By: Sheryl Sharp

Sheryl Sharp — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 03:28:40 +0000

Thanks for sharing the research, makes sense and yes bad finishing can ruin a beautifully printed piece. Look forward to reading more.

By: Athena M. Lakis

Athena M. Lakis — Sun, 26 Mar 2017 00:12:35 +0000

Hi Deborah,
Thanks so much for this feedback. Very important info that all printers should receive. Also wanted to thank you for giving a shout-out to the CSRs. They are the ones who live in the print trenches everyday.

Being a CSR in the Printing Industry is my career choice. There’s no better satisfaction than hearing a client say they loved their book and it was received on time. Quality begins with understanding the client and their needs. They trust in me to get their order printed, delivered on time and in great condition. Incidents inevitably occur and it’s the CSRs job to handle them in a professional and timely fashion to retain the client’s trust.

There’s so much more to quality than just ink on paper, you are correct. Coating, the finishing factor (especially the ‘lost art’ of spot lamination.) Quality goes all the way to the end of production too…the bindery in sewing, casing-in a book…is the spine imagery centered on the book, do the folios back up…right up to how the book is cartoned. Too tightly packed, the top book is damaged. Too loosely packed and the books will scratch in transit. The devil is in the details. A good printer thinks about all parts of production to obtain a quality product.
Looking forward to reading more of the results of your survey!

By: Greg Hill

Greg Hill — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 18:13:41 +0000

It is very interesting, but not surprising, that finishing plays such a large role in this survey. In my experience it is something that is seldom discussed between printer and client until there is a problem. Then you know what hits the fan! It is one of the last operations of a project and if not done right it negates all the positive things that preceded it.

By: Deborah Corn

Deborah Corn — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 17:56:13 +0000

In reply to Robert Johannes.

Hi Robert! Since I know other questions I asked, I can’t give you a blanket agreement on your “given” assumptions… though I will agree that these buyers are certainly more aware and perhaps even more focused on things like that when they choose printers to work with. It’s also important to note that the question was how they define QUALITY… it wasn’t related to color. They could have said “great color is quality to me”, but they didn’t. Most said finishing was how they measured quality.

By: Robert Johannes

Robert Johannes — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 17:41:42 +0000

Hi Deborah,
I think what may be overlooked here, especially since the contacts exist in top-tier, critical brand companies, is that color control/consistency/compliance is a given. Whether it’s ISO or G7 or vendor specific; you don’t get in the door if you can’t produce consistent color and in many cases, prove it.
Finish and print finishing related properties are more “I know it when I see it” type of quality attributes. So yes, show and tell! Show your plant, show your people, show your processes, show your results.
Another interesting question might have been who these buyers want to interact with. Bet it isn’t a salesperson… So attracting these type of clients is a “holistic” sell: See what WE can do for you.
Thanks for sharing this.

By: Jeff Snyder

Jeff Snyder — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 16:26:16 +0000

Deb,
This was a very good read. I especially like the fact that print buyers were willing to be specific when it came to quality. After 30 years in the business, it is refreshing to specifics instead of blankets!