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3 Major Trends in Print Reselling

Jamie recently visited our major equipment supplier (Durst) in Europe and got the lowdown on the latest trends in print reselling. Watch the above video keep an eye out for more content to learn more ahead of 2023.

As a trade printer, we are committed to keeping our clients informed of market movements. During our visit with Durst (and nearby customer factories) we learnt of several noteworthy trends for our print partners.

Packaging (including Stickers and Labels) is a Fast-Growing Product Segment

One of the most significant trends was the growing demand for packaging, stickers, and labels. This is a product line that has seen significant growth in recent years. It is showing no signs of slowing down!

This is likely due to the fact that packaging, stickers, and labels are becoming increasingly crucial to businesses in order to stand out in the crowded, global marketplace. Branding is a key aspect of customer experience and perception for both eCommerce and traditional shopping experiences – packaging influences both these areas heavily.

Print resellers specialising in this product line can expect demand for new, innovative packaging products. There is a significant opportunity to expand offerings and increase revenue in 2023. It’s a good thing that we’re on the front foot at Mediapoint.

We have new, specialised equipment on the way. This will enable our wholesale print partners to capitalise on this growth and deliver high-volume, high-quality, packaging solutions.

Some Trends in Print Reselling Will Continue

Another trend we observed was the continued demand for outsourced, large format printing. Business overheads continue to skyrocket, capital for assets is hard to come by, and supply chains still remain somewhat fragile. So, we will continue to see businesses outsourcing large format printing rather than keeping things in-house.

Large format printing requires specialised equipment, expertise, and experience that many companies do not possess. A quick cost-benefit analysis leads many retail-customers (and traditional print shops themselves) to see that outsourcing is generally the most effective option.

Turnaround for Print Equipment Manufacture is Accelerating

In good news for us (and our clients) the manufacture of specialised print equipment is returning to pre-covid volume. Plus, turnaround time continues to decrease on new equipment. That enables our network to take advantage of growing product lines by having the right equipment in place ahead of peak demand. As mentioned above we have some new machines on order. These should be in place to extend our offerings by Q2 of 2023.

It’s also an encouraging sign for the industry as a whole. We can infer that the market for wide format, flatbed, and specialised printing solutions is getting back on track.

Positive Outlook for Print Reselling

Overall, our visit highlighted a return to normality for trade printers and print resellers globally. We forecast that trends in the print reselling that were interrupted by COVID-19 will continue unabated through the next couple of years. Print brokers who can move fast, establish good connections with trade printers, and identify new customers looking for growing product lines are in for solid growth through to 2025 and beyond.

If you’d like to learn more about our current packaging production capabilities, or be first in line for new stickers and label products, make sure you sign up for a PrintIQ account.

The Future Of Trade Printing

We discuss the future of trade printing and how Australian print resellers can stay ahead of the curve

The world of trade printing is constantly evolving, and it is important for print resellers and brokers to stay informed about the latest trends and developments in the industry. So here’s what we’ve uncovered through our recent research trip to European hubs.

The Future of Trade Printing Is About Volume

One of the key trends in the future of trade printing is the increasing demand for volume and capacity. As businesses and consumers continue to rely more heavily on print materials, print resellers and brokers will need to find ways to produce more materials in less time. This will require investment in new equipment and technology that can handle larger volumes and faster turnaround times.

Thankfully, Mediapoint has continually sought new equipment, optimised production processes and strong supplier relationships. We’ve also designed out trade printing facility with expansion in mind. This allows us to meet the growing demands of trade print clients well into the future.

Optimising each element of our value stream means we have the capacity to do more for our clients with less waste. Less waste means more savings in time, money and resources. This creates a closed loop that leads to purchasing better equipment, optimising production and increasing output.

Print brokers should be evaluating a trade printer based on their capacity, equipment and capabilities. Doing so now enables resellers to capitalise on emerging trends and demands of retail customers.

Older Equipment Won’t Service High Volume Resellers

This increasing demand for volume and capacity means traditional print shops will need to find ways to produce more materials in less time. In order to meet this demand, they’ll need to identify trade printers who have the knowhow and equipment. This ability to meet expectations also requires innovative technology such as automation tools (like our PrintIQ portal), Lean processes and effective operations teams. Each of these elements helps to streamline production and improve efficiency. This leads to better outcomes for both reseller and customer alike.

Trade printers who do not invest in key areas will struggle and may not be able to offer the level of quality and service that clients are expecting. Additionally, as the market evolves, these laggards will be unable to access the technologies and techniques that emerge falling further behind.

Bespoke and Custom Printing Solutions Will Move In-House

Despite the future of trade printing moving prioritising volume there will still be a need for bespoke and custom print solutions. Some trade printers may choose to focus on filling production gaps in these areas. However, these jobs will be more likely to be produced in-house due to the decreasing costs of necessary equipment.

At Mediapoint we are very focused on how and who we support when it comes to trade printing. We have a specific definition of a trade client and don’t intend on changing. What we do intend on, however, is continually evolving to meet their needs and helping them grow.

If you’re a high volume print reseller or a print shop looking to grow your capacity, set up a PrintIQ account or contact us to discuss your needs.

A Gamechanger: Our New Flatbed Printer

We are excited to announce that we are procuring a Durst P5D4 flatbed printer. This will significantly increase our flatbed printing volume without sacrificing quality. This new machine is a major investment for Mediapoint. We believe it will be a game-changer for print resellers and brokers.

The Durst P5 D4 printer is a state-of-the-art flatbed printing machine that is designed to handle large volume orders with speed and precision. It includes key automation features that integrate seamlessly with our existing systems and processes. This allows us to take on more print jobs at good quality, with faster turnaround times, and higher volumes.

Jamie takes you on a tour of our new Durst printer and explains how it will significantly benefit print resellers in Australia.

There are several reasons why we are investing in this new equipment:

It’s a Highly Automated Flatbed Printer

The Durst P5D4 printer is equipped with automation features that integrate with our existing systems and processes. It will make our already solid printing processes even more efficient. This will enable us to take on more jobs, complete them faster, and with better quality. As you should know by now that means more savings for us that we can pass onto our clients.

Our Clients Can Offer More For Less

Thanks to the benefits mentioned above (and in Jamie’s video) our print resellers will be able to offer more. Faster service, higher volume, and new product options are all on the table. This will help Mediapoint customers stand out from the retail printing competition. I

The efficiency of this machine will further add to savings we offer print brokers, enabling them to onsell with greater margin: The Durst P5D4 printer will also help us to save costs, which we can pass on to our print brokers. This will enable them to onsell our products with greater margin, which will help them grow their business.

We Can Fulfil Massive Flatbed Printing Jobs

This new machine can fulfil orders and meet turnaround times that were previously uncatered. This will enable us to take on more jobs and meet the demands of clients. We’re all about helping our trade clients grow alongside us – and this is certainly going to support that aim.

Mediapoints flatbed printing capacity will triple thanks to this new printer – meaning even greater savings, less waste and more margin for all. We believe that this new equipment will be a game-changer for our print resellers and brokers.

Access all the benefits above by signing up for a PrintIQ account today and utilising our automated print portal for your trade printing needs.

Maintaining Relationships With Suppliers

Jamie discusses the benefits gained from maintaining relationships with suppliers in the print industry. Read on to learn more.

As a trade printer that specialises in working closely with print resellers and print brokers, we understand the importance a solid customer-supplier relationship. This is why we make it a priority to maintain strong partnerships with several leading equipment manufacturers. One of our longest, and most beneficial, relationships is with Durst. We recently visited their HQ in Europe to learn more about new equipment, print industry trends. It was also another opportunity to experience firsthand the benefits that a solid relationship provides ourselves and our customers alike.

Maintaining Relationships with Suppliers Leads to Savings for All

One of the biggest benefits of having a close relationship with equipment suppliers is the ability to pass on savings. The biggest of these are reduced turnaround time on new equipment, minimised equipment costs, and priority access to efficient equipment.

Thanks to having a good working relationship with our suppliers, we can often negotiate better prices and priority ordering. This allows us to offer our trade printing clients in Australia more competitive pricing per square metre. It also enables them to offer new product SKUs, higher volumes, and better pricing to their own customers ahead of the competition. This is of significant advantage in the fast-paced, competitive print industry.

Print Equipment Suppliers Prefer to Work With Us

It’s not just Australian print resellers and print brokers who prefer to work with us. Another advantage of maintaining relationships with equipment suppliers is that we can leverage our reputation, experience, and size. By partnering with us they benefit from having their equipment showcased in a best practice facility. Plus, they can see how the equipment works in a high-volume environment and get solid feedback. Just as we want be utilising the best equipment, large format equipment suppliers want to work with the best trade printers.

As a reputable trade printer, operating for over 18 years, we’ve become known for our reliability and professionalism. This reputation helps us to secure better deals from suppliers that others can’t match, leading to more savings for our clients.

Our size also allows us to make larger purchases and access equipment that isn’t viable for in-house production. Smaller print shops can then access the products they need through us without the capital outlay for new equipment.

Mutually Beneficial Knowledge Sharing

Another key benefit is the sharing of trade printing best practices and trends. We can work closely with our suppliers to stay informed about the latest trends in the industry. This knowledge allows us to provide our clients with the most current and effective solutions. Plus, since we’re maintaining relationships with suppliers in other markets we often see trends well in advance of Australia.

Our suppliers also benefit from our knowledge and experience in the industry,. This enables collaboration on new product development, and sharing of best practices for improved efficiency and quality.

Both parties are able to stay ahead of the curve and offer innovative products / solutions. This is particularly important in a still evolving industry like printing. New technologies and techniques are constantly being developed – early adopters have a distinct advantage.

Maintaining relationships with suppliers is crucial for our business, and it also offers many benefits to our clients. Through the combination of our experience and their knowledge we can secure better equipment and better deals. This all leads to customer value for you and the retail client.

To see just how competitive these relationships make our prices – sign up for a PrintIQ account today.

Australian Print Industry Vs Europe: 4 Things We Learned

The Australian print industry and Europe are, naturally, quite different. From the way they approach the business of print through to the elements of production they prioritise.

In this blog, we discuss the main differences we identified on a recent trip to visit trade printing facilities in Europe.

European Printers Prioritise Quality

The European print market seems to value print quality over speed and volume. This is due to the expectations and diversity of customers in this market. Therefore the throughput is generally lower and print modes set finer to achieve those small percentage gains in resolution. This is evident in the way that European printers invest in equipment that offers more control over quality optimisations than throughput. Additionally, the European market is home to many high-end print shops that specialise in luxury and bespoke prints at volume – albeit with much slower turnaround.

That’s not to say that resolution in large-format printing in Australia is significantly worse. We’re talking minimal differences in quality – it’s just that Australian resellers prioritise volume.

Sustainability Efforts Are More Mature than Australian Print Industry

Another major difference between the European and Australian print markets is the emphasis on sustainability. There is a greater emphasis on using environmentally friendly materials and reducing energy consumption in print. Not only is less concern about costs associated with sustainability.

Greater (and more regular) Investments in New Equipment in Europe: In Europe, printers tend to make greater and more regular investments in new equipment. This is because the European market is more competitive and printers must stay ahead of the curve to remain competitive. Additionally, European printers also tend to invest in new equipment to ensure that they can produce prints of the highest quality.

Staff turnover is much lower in Europe and staff stay with companies – buying into the vision and mission of businesses: Finally, the European print industry is known for having a lower staff turnover rate compared to the Australian print industry. Staff in Europe tend to stay with companies for longer periods of time, and they tend to buy into the vision and mission of the business. This is because the European market is more mature and stable, and staff are more likely to find job security and stability in the European print industry.

An Australian Printer Success Story For Durst

As a leading Australian printer we have established strong relationships with our equipment suppliers. See how we work in tandem with Durst – one of the global names in print.

You’ll often hear us say Mediapoint is the best-equipped trade printer. We stand behind that statement and pride ourselves on always looking for the right machinery for each job.

Luckily Mediapoint has also established a strong relationship with Durst – manufacturers of some of the best printing equipment in the world. We are able to trade ideas and discuss ways to do more with our equipment. This ensures we’re running our equipment optimally, providing the best output for trade printing customers.

Recognised as a Leading Australian Printer

Our continued efforts to match leading printing equipment with efficient processes led Durst to feature Mediapoint as a leading Australian printer in their case study series. The team was honoured to share our story along with feedback on the way we work with the global Durst team.

See the full case study video below:

Why Durst Printing Equipment?

Durst has been a big part of how we’ve been able to expand our portfolio and enabled us to offer services to customers with confidence that our equipment won’t break down or be retired any time soon. Plus, as a leading name in print equipment worldwide, we’ve attracted clients because of Durst’s reputation.

As a business we also appreciated the openness and support of the Durst team. It can be hard for an Australian printer to establish open lines of communication with a global equipment manufacturer. In the grand scheme of things large format printing in Australia is a small market. However, Durst recognised our dedication to getting the most out of the equipment and our Lean approach to printing productivity.

This has led to a synergistic relationship where we can share feedback that helps the manufacturer improve products and services, whilst they do the same for us.

Want to see the quality produced by our lineup of Durst equipment? Sign up for our PrintIQ self-serve printing portal.

The Mediapoint Trade Printing Story

The Mediapoint trade printing story is one of ambition, learning, and dedication. Read on to learn where we’ve come from and where we’re going.

Mediapoint has been servicing trade printing for almost two decades. Throughout that time we’ve consistently developed our capabilities and focused on providing value wherever possible. Our wealth of experience, lean processes and wide range of equipment make us the perfect partner for enterprise resellers.

The Mediapoint Trade Printing Story Starts In A Lounge Room

Our first print run was in the family lounge room in 2006. We started with just $1000 and one offering – signage. Through contacts of the family business (a commercial cleaning company) we identified that local businesses needed quality signage. It was a truly bootstrap operation that took over the household. We learned a lot about printing very quickly – particularly that having the right equipment was key.

Our first plotter broke down within a year of use which led us to source new machinery. That’s when we found a large format printer that could print AND cut. This didn’t come cheap but it did open up new avenues and ways of doing things. The very process of sourcing new equipment – learning about model features, print modes, ink requirements etc. – as well as operating a growing business within a small family home, set up the foundations for the way we work today.

Diving into Large Format Printing

Along with the purchase of our first wide format printer (and some other machinery) we took a leap of faith and rented our first commercial space in 2007. At the time the space we had rented was massive for what we needed but it represented opportunity and room to grow.

For the next several years we continued to build out our product range, equipment inventory and capabilities. We can’t say it was a dream run but we pride ourselves on our ability to adapt, learn and build upon the issues that come our way.

By 2011 it became clear that there was a particular type of client that was ordering us regularly, that we could service efficiently, and that was fast becoming our main market.

Becoming an Exclusive Trade Only Printer

As it turned out, by 2011 a majority of our clients were trade customers – high volume print resellers / brokers looking for consistent quality at speed. Thanks to the addition of even more equipment, in combination with refined processes, we started to gain a reputation for being one of the most reliable trade printers.

Trade clients themselves were reliable, loyal and suited our lean approach to service – so we made the decision to focus on them exclusively. This turned out to be a smart move and we’ve seen nothing but benefits for ourselves and our clients since.

Our mantra is ‘helping businesses win’ and by aiming to be the best at print we relieve a burden on our trade customers. We allow them to be the best at what they do – reselling print. We enable our customers to offer more products, focus on fostering customer relationships, and grow their sales.

In 2017 we bought a new 2200sqm HQ in Derrimut, Victoria – where we are located today. This was a major step towards helping even more businesses around Australia access trade printing services.

The Mediapoint Trade Printing Story Continues

We’re proud to be one of the largest dedicated, large format printing facilities. With over 150 orders a day, and a wide range of equipment we need every inch of the space!

We’re still just as focused on matching the best in printing and finishing equipment with efficient lean processes as we were in 2007. So we don’t just rest on our laurels – the Mediapoint team is always looking to provide more products, more efficient services and more savings to our clients.

Our definition of quality, and even our definition of a trade print client, is different from many of our competitors. But after 16+ years in business, and with a loyal base of high volume resellers, it’s clear that the our way of doing things will continue to serve all stakeholders well. The Mediapoint trade printing story is far from over!

Want to work with us? Join our growing community of print resellers and access trade only pricing by signing up for a PrintIQ account.

Trade Printers Can’t Guarantee Shipping Times

Jamie Xuereb explains why we can guarantee printing turnaround but not shipping times

Our trade printing process is fast – we can guarantee that. What we can’t guarantee, however, are shipping times. This comes down to a few factors but it boils down to the fact that we don’t control the courier process.

Everything up to the point of dispatch has been designed by us for efficiency. Automation, print modes, human inputs (where necessary), printing equipment placement – it’s all honed and continually reviewed. We’ve previously discussed how printing cut off times underpin our efficiencies – unfortunately couriers don’t operate the same way.

So whilst we can estimate when a pickup run may occur (particularly for couriers who do daily runs) it’s not an exact science.

When ordering with Mediapoint, and any trade printer really, be aware that there may be variance in delivery time. We can guarantee the printing will be done within our allotted timeframe – but not anything past the point of dispatch.

So let’s outline a few things print resellers can do to mitigate delays:

1) Provide all Label Information for Dependable Shipping Times

Shipping information is an often overlooked point of criticality in the production process. How fast an order can be completed and dispatched hinges on having correctly labelled items.

By providing all shipping information and labels when placing an order means no downtime when a print job hits production. Once a job is placed into our printing production line it cannot be changed – neither can dispatch information. For the sake of efficiency and accuracy printers will require this info upfront. It’s up to the customer to confirm all the courier details / requirements – but it’s really not that much of a burden. 

Whilst we cannot guarantee shipping times at Mediapoint, we can promise that your print job will be on the production floor within a short time when ordering by the cutoff. It’ll be ready for dispatch the next business day at the latest.

2) Leverage Your Courier Options for Print Jobs

Mediapoint customers have the choice of multiple couriers for delivery of print jobs. We maintain strong relationships with many couriers to limit the impact that delays or unavailability of one courier can have on delivery times.

We have TNT, StarTrack and CouriersPlease completing daily pick ups to maximise distribution and mitigate delays for delivery across the country.

If customers prefer (or require) a bespoke/ or alternative shipping method that’s fine too. They just need to provide the label at ordering and time the pickup for when the job is complete. We encourage print resellers and print brokers to investigate the various delivery options available to them.

3) Use a Dependable Trade Printer

When you utilise a dependable, efficient trade printer you can be sure that the actual print process delay orders. Plus, a reputable printer will general have several options for delivery to give customers the best chance of receiving print jobs ASAP. Our Lean, efficient  processes and minimal manual handling or service not only enables us to pass savings onto our customers. It also means we can guarantee printing turnaround times to the point of dispatch.

Our customers love that they can on-sell print with better margins, and peace-of-mind that whilst delivery times can’t be guaranteed they are still likely to receive them within an adequate window

Mediapoint has made the print process easier for all parties by being clear about our requirements and guarantees. If you’d like a dependable, reputable trade printer – set up an account and give us a try.

The Value of Automated Trade Printing Quotes

Today we’re delving into what our automated trade printing quotes mean for customers and why we’ve invested in such a system.

Automation underpins the effectiveness (and efficiency) of our printing processes. It enables Mediapoint to deliver on turnaround guarantees for over 150 orders a day. This ability for a trade printer to deliver is critical. Without a slick process in place it would be very hard for teams to achieve targets. That’s not to mention that some trade printing businesses use a manual quoting process as throttle / delay.

Whilst we dictate our own internal processes we always ensure these are centred on delivering value for our trade clients.

At Mediapoint we identified that speed of service and the benefits of automation don’t just start when an order is confirmed. A majority of our customers require a system that allows them to get their print jobs done (including quoting) seamlessly and at speed.

Not only is much of our proofing and production driven by technology – so is our best-in-class self serve print portal.

Everyone Saves Time with Automated Print Quotes

The pricing process can really drag on (and be seriously delayed) without an automated quoting system in place. Think of the emails or phone calls back and forth, the different databases to connect to, and the possibility of human error switching between different systems. These elements are present on both the printer and customer’s side.

With an automated system there is minimal friction, less requirement for human input (meaning we can have our team focus on delivering quality print jobs), and the ability to shift from quoting to printing instantly.

Time is a valuable resource; wasting it costs you and your Trade Printer money. Not to mention lost opportunities to be focusing on more important work.

At Mediapoint any savings made in time and labour are passed on to our customers – through the automated system delivering the quotes!

Automated Trade Printing Quotes Minimise Errors

Through the use of automation we can leverage computing power and integration to ensure that prices are correct in real-time. In combination with our self serve print portal and embedded print pricing model ordering is easy, accurate and fast.

 It eliminates the need for our staff members to check over multiple pricing tables, inventory databases, and equipment availability before providing a quote. Plus, any ‘ghosts in the system’ will be flagged for review. This provides us with peace-of-mind that there is a system in place to highlight any issues that do arise.

As a fail-safe we do routine checks to confirm our system for automated trade printing quotes works as intended. Our priority however is for our staff to be on the production floor delivering on print jobs. That is where the real value of a trade printer is delivered and where having our skilled staff is necessary.

Resellers Love Our Self Serve Print Portal

The ability for clients to access live-pricing and get accurate quotes quickly is a significant factor itself. By expediting the ordering process our print resellers and print brokers can confidently estimate turnaround to their own clients. Plus, it eases the burden on their teams when it comes to pricing and project managing jobs.

Speed of communication is important for resellers and print shop managers wanting to establish (and sustain) good relationships with their clients.

Automated trade printing quotes support this from the very outset. After all – wouldn’t you as a customer of any business prefer to deal with those that have prompt and clear responses?  Any way we can help our clients in this area is something we take very seriously.

Mediapoint has grown to be one of Australia’s biggest and most experienced trade-only printers over 16+ years. If you’re looking for a printing partner who makes it easier to quote, produce and deliver on print jobs for your clients – sign up today.

Why Do We Need Shipping Information Upfront?

Learn more about the Mediapoint ordering process and why we require all shipping information / labels for print orders upfront.

Simply put: our print process is too fast to wait around for shipping information.

We need all info and necessary labels at the start of an order because once it’s confirmed every step of production and dispatch is locked in. We’ve invested time and money into creating a streamlined print process underpinned by leading edge technology. Once a job is placed into the production schedule it cannot be changed.

If you’re ordering any of our products with next-day turnaround guarantees (and order by the 12pm cutoff) it’s highly likely that your order will be on the production floor within a few hours and ready for dispatch the next business day.

Shipping information and labelling is an often overlooked point of criticality in the production process. How fast an order can be completed and dispatched hinges on having correctly labelled items.

Lack of Shipping Information Causes Delays

We run a double shift at Mediapoint and teams work until 10pm to ensure all jobs for the next day’s dispatched are finished, packaged and ready for collection by the various couriers. To have this completed on-time, everyday, we require all shipping information to be ready ahead of job completion. 

For other trade printing businesses, who leave this information until last, delays in dispatch are quite common. They need to chase down the required labels, destination and delivery partner while jobs are already in QA or waiting for dispatch. We think this is a particularly wasteful practice and want to ensure the most efficient turnaround for our clients. Any time a job is sitting idle in the facility is wasted time and potentially damaging to the reputation of our resellers.

Courier / Shipping Options from Mediapoint

Mediapoint customers have the option of selecting from a few different options at the point of ordering. There are a couple nuances for each option which we highlight below:

Direct Courier

If a point-to-point courier is requested (and therefore organised by the customer) the shipping information required a diamond label with the address. Simply select this option on our portal when ordering and note the address for shipping.

Road Freight

To ensure that our jobs can be dispatched across the entire country with ease and speed we have multiple carriers doing daily runs from our facility. As of September, 2022 we have TNT, StarTrack and CouriersPlease completing daily pick ups. To be included in these runs you’ll just need to create the label and provide at time of ordering.

Ad-Hoc Carrier / Shipping Method

If you require a bespoke/ or alternative method of shipping you’ll need to provide the label at ordering and time the pickup for when the job is complete. To accurately determine the required shipping information you can ask our team for an estimate of time for a job to be complete, or review our product guides. Most items will be ready for pickup next-day when ordered by the 12pm cutoff.

Clarity for Customers

Our Lean process and minimal manual service on the front end saves time and money. It enables us to price as well as we do and pass savings onto our customers. Being able to on-sell print with better margins, and peace-of-mind around turnaround times, is an appealing tradeoff for having to prepare shipping information at the time of ordering. It just requires a small process change from some customers to access the fastest trade printing turnaround times.

By being clear about our requirements we’ve made the ordering process much simpler for everyone leading to fewer mistakes, faster turnaround, and less time spent on administration.

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