in-house print

Elevate Your Print Quality

When it comes to direct mail, not all printers are created equal. In fact, many companies that use direct mail often struggle with errors and inconsistent print quality.

Why? The key lies in the choice of printer (or network of printers) they work with.

With over 30 years of industry experience, we’ve found that partnering with a direct mail provider that has in-house printing capabilities—rather than outsourcing to a network of printers—offers superior control, customization, turnaround, confidentiality, and cost efficiency, making it the preferred choice for delivering high-quality results.

Total Control & Unmatched Consistency

By working with a direct mail provider that manages printing internally, you eliminate the middleman, granting complete control over every stage of the process. Unlike batch printing, commonly used by large printer networks that manage multiple orders simultaneously, in-house production typically works on a job-by-job basis. This approach ensures consistent quality, as dedicated team members can monitor each project’s color consistency, scuffs, and data accuracy. They can even scan QR codes to verify correctness when needed.

A recent direct mail industry report indicates that 50% of consumers believe low-quality presentation is likely to create a negative first impression. Opting for in-house production provides the advantage of thorough inspections and immediate adjustments, reducing errors and ensuring that every piece of mail meets the highest quality standards.

Tailored Customization & Flexible Solutions

In-house printing also offers unparalleled customization and flexibility, particularly for time-sensitive projects. It allows up to a 1-3 day quicker turnaround on custom requests and changes compared to outsourced printing, which often faces delays due to multiple points of contact. Being able to directly communicate with an account manager who has direct access to the production floor ensures immediate adjustments, while outsourced services require navigating through layers of representatives without achieving the actual desired outcome.

Furthermore, with internal printing capabilities, you can make precise color adjustments, specifically color matching, and change paper stock to meet your exact requirements. This level of customization is crucial for brands that need to keep a consistent image across all printed materials. And, given that in-house teams are often more familiar with their equipment and materials, they can offer expert advice and innovative solutions tailored to your specific needs.

Speedy Turnarounds That Keep You Ahead

Let’s talk about turnaround times! Working with a provider that manages its production internally significantly reduces production times compared to outsourced services. Close management and efficient workflows can be crucial for meeting tight deadlines and ensuring prompt delivery, especially around holidays or seasonal activities.

The streamlined processes and direct oversight of in-house printing allow for a quicker project initiation and completion, avoiding delays associated with coordinating multiple external vendors.

Cost Efficiency Without Compromise

Switching to a provider with in-house production can save upwards of 40% on production costs compared to outsourcing. This is thanks to reduced vendor fees, lower transportation costs, and employee costs. Eliminating the intermediary also removes markup fees, with some facilities offering bulk discount options and in-house storage after job completion.

Additionally, in-house printing also ensures price expectations are met at an affordable rate, with a primary focus on customer satisfaction and building trust in services. By managing the entire process internally, companies can better control costs and allocate resources more effectively. This cost efficiency, combined with the high quality and reliability of in-house printing, makes it an attractive choice for businesses looking to maximize their return on investment.

After all, ease of mind is worth every penny.

Trust & Security

Finally, in-house printing also offers a higher level of service and trust. For instance, in-house printing providers typically require clients to approve live PDF data proofs before printing, ensuring accuracy and alignment with client expectations. In-house teams are also equipped to provide guidance, offer eco-friendly options that align with company values, and handle confidential materials for highly regulated industries like healthcare and finance with the utmost care.

Overall, the direct relationship with in-house printing teams fosters better collaboration and a deeper understanding of client needs and enables the anticipation and proactive resolution of any potential issue prior to it happening, leading to a smoother process and higher-quality outcomes.

Final Thoughts

At Strata, managing our print production internally allows us to maintain strict quality control by checking each step of the process. This ensures every order, whether placed today or years later, keeps the same high-quality standard. Our experts immediately address and resolve any issues using our robust system to check each print throughout the job, ensuring superior and reliable quality.

Are you ready to consider in-house options for your printing needs to avoid inconsistent results and achieve reliable, high-quality printing? Contact us today to learn more.

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