Printing Services

Printing is a highly competitive industry; not only here in St. Paul and Minneapolis, but around the entire United States. There are printing services and companies that specialize in a wide-ranging area of expertise, and offer various price-points and turnaround times. Choosing a printing service for your organization, business or event can be difficult, especially if you’re not exactly sure where to start.

Before we get into details about how to choose the right printer, keep this in mind …

The quality of the printer you choose reflects on your company or organization … and on you!

When a prospective client, customer, or attendee at your event looks at your printed material whether it is a brochure, event schedule, poster, ticket, newsletter or business card, they are not judging the printing company … they are judging you! If the quality and design are not professional, it is your company or event that will suffer. So choosing the right printer is much more than just getting the best price for your printing, it’s about choosing one that will help represent your organization appropriately.

How do you choose the best printing service for your project?

With all of the choices locally and online, how do you go about choosing a printer that you can trust, who will give you the quality you need, the turnaround time you expect and at a price that you can afford?

First, identify your printing needs

In selecting a printing service you first need to clarify your printing needs. You need to have a clear idea of what you need, when you need it, and have a good idea of your budget. The clearer the overall project is in your mind, the more likely the printing process will go smoothly.

What services if any do they specialize in?

There are hundreds of local and online printing companies you can choose from, and many of them will claim to be the best at the lowest price … and they’ll claim they can pretty much print anything. So how do you choose? We suggest you choose a printing service that specializes in the type of printing you need. If you are a non-profit organization or putting on a conference, how much specific experience do they have in that genre? And don’t take their word for it, get samples of work, and references … and if they don’t have quite a few of each, move on to someone that does!

What is the quality of their work?

Remember what we said earlier, the quality of your printing materials reflects on your company, the people previewing it will be judging you not your printer … so subpar quality just can’t be tolerated. If the quality is poor then the price and on-time conversation doesn’t really matter does it!

Make sure the company you choose offers a quality that matches your needs … and keep in mind, when they show you samples they will be showing you their best work, which we all do. Make sure it isn’t for show … go to their print shop and ask to see work that is currently being completed—you’ll get a quick answer to the quality question!

How fast will you get your order—what deadlines do you have?

Don’t get stuck planning your conference or event around the printing company’s schedule. And make sure that they can handle all of your needs and they don’t have to farm out other services, which can end up costing you both time and money. Before you pick a printer get a clear answer on the printing schedule as well … and don’t forget the review process which can add days and even weeks to the project. When you find a printer who treats your job no matter how small as the most important print job they have, then you know you’ve found the right printer.

What about online printing … isn’t that cheaper?

In some instances, yes online printing can be cheaper than a local print shop, especially if it comes to business cards or regular size postcards. But when it comes to quality, control of the project, on-time printing and even pricing, online printing can be a disaster. There are thousands of online printers in the United States all fighting for your business, and if you need a huge quantity and don’t need them quickly, they be a good option.

But if you want to see a physical proof of your printed material you may be out of luck! There is also the question of long turnaround times and the cost of shipping. If you don’t mind the thought of being just “another customer” in the pipeline, then online printing may be the answer. But if you are looking for a long-term relationship with a printing service that understands your business, your needs, and you want to hear the same friendly voice every time you call, a local printer like Griffith Printing may be a better option.

Why choose a local Printer like Griffith Printing?

It really comes down to quality and service. With a printer like Griffith Printing you are not just a number in the pipeline, you are a business with a face, and the relationship we have with you is critical to the success of the entire project.

There is something comforting in being able to pick up the phone, or simply drive over to take a look at your project on the presses. Your printer is truly a partner in your business, especially if you are a non-profit organization or need conference fulfillment.

With Griffith Printing you will get …

• Top quality printing
• Lowest possible pricing
• Non-profit pricing
• Just in time delivery
• Digital and traditional printing
• Minimum quantity ordering
• FTP connections for online viewing
• Design services
• Personal attention every step of the way!