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Switched to a local printer for my packaging and saved 30% in 2 months
I run a small skincare brand out of my basement in Edmonton and I was getting crushed by shipping costs from a big online printer. Last November I decided to give Prairie Print Shop on 99 Street a try since they're literally 15 minutes from my house. The owner showed me their stock paper options and I don't have to pay for custom cutting anymore because they keep common sizes ready. My first order of 500 boxes was $220 compared to $310 from the other place including freight. The color match on my labels is way closer too because I can physically go in and check proofs. Has anyone else made the switch to a local shop for their business stuff and seen a real difference in their bottom line?
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hayden14426d ago
You saved $90 on 500 boxes which is solid savings but I gotta point something out here. You're not really saving 30% when you factor in the time and gas for driving there to check proofs. That trip costs you something even if it's just 30 minutes of your day plus fuel. The difference is more like 20% if you're honest about it. Color matching in person is worth a lot though, especially for skincare where packaging sells the product. Just figure out the real numbers before you tell people it's a straight 30% cut across the board.
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wendy39117d ago
I mean, the other thing nobody's really talking about is how much extra stock you might end up ordering because you're standing there in person. When you see the colors and the packaging up close, it's way too easy to convince yourself you need a few extra variants or a backup run because it looks so good. I've done that before, and suddenly that 500 box order turns into 600 or 700 boxes before you even leave the shop. That eats into your savings fast, and it's not like you can just cancel those extras once they're printed. Plus, if you're not careful, you end up with stuff that sits around for months because you got carried away with the design. So even if the per-unit cost is lower, the total you spend can end up way higher than if you just ordered exactly what you needed online.
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