The products offered<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Partnering with a printing company is a big decision. Before you dive into specifics, you\u2019ll want to make sure the company offers the products you\u2019ll need. While you\u2019re doing your research, make sure you compile a list of their capabilities, benefits, and physical products they offer, as well as information such as the packaging shapes and sizes, materials and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is an often overlooked question, but an important one. A manufacturer plays a different role in the product distribution process than a distributor, so knowing the difference will help you determine what works best for your business’s needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A manufacturer creates the product (in this case your shipping supplies). They are available through the entire production process of your boxes and are able to keep an eye on your order at any point. They are also able to keep their prices lower as they are not a reseller. A manufacturer doesn\u2019t have the means or channels to sell the product to retailers or customers directly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A distributor focuses on the actual selling of the goods and has a direct relationship with the manufacturer. Unlike a manufacturer, distributors have the channels and marketing abilities to distribute products to wholesalers and even directly to retailers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An extremely important question to think about when you are looking for a printing company is if they have a minimum on their orders and what that minimum is. If you know you\u2019ll need hundreds or even thousands of boxes every time you place an order, you may not need to be as concerned with this answer. If you are a small to medium-sized company that doesn\u2019t ship a high number of items each month, you won\u2019t be able to afford spending money on excess shipping supplies you may not need. Knowing how much you are required to order is an important factor to consider when deciding if you want to partner with a printing company or not. Depending on your shipping volume, you may want to prioritize looking for a printing company that offers low minimum orders. Pro tip:<\/strong> if you know you will want custom sized boxes, check with the company to make sure they offer this option. Ordering custom sized boxes in only the quantity you need will save you money in two ways. First, you won\u2019t have to waste money on shipping extra space. Second, you won\u2019t have to pay for extra boxes that will end up lying around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The timing on your order is another important factor to consider. Partnering with a printing company shipping supplies from China will add a significant amount of time as opposed to partnering with a company shipping from closer to where you are based. You\u2019ll want to keep this information in mind when planning your shipping strategy to ensure you account for all the time involved, including the time you are waiting for your shipping supplies.<\/p>\n\n\n Depending on the size of your company and what resources you have access to, you may not have the means to design your shipping materials. Many printing companies have designers on staff and offer design services to help you get yours just right. You don\u2019t have to use the design service, but you are able to get feedback on what may or may not work, or if you need a little bit of help with layout, it is there for you to take advantage of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Box](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.printivity.com\/insights\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pexels-tiger-lily-4481260-1024x683.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nManufacturer vs. distributor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Get](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.printivity.com\/insights\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/BannerBusinessCards-1024x256.png?resize=1024%2C256&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOrder minimum<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\nLead time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Designer](\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/Dxv1PqXWdHtt8xSZLq49KfJzZtV7SjPLGZzaXTPAYkSBmJ46Momfe_wl9XJYFXRehTdhpe7gJh779_v2652c6kgtTXjMR71Jrah9eBYZqV1tEiYzxF4YsWun9tRAWLMnnfR9bzIF\")
Designers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n