TEN COMMON PRINT BUYING ERRORS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM

TEN COMMON PRINT BUYING ERRORSAND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEMMatthew Parker

www.printandprocurement.com

Ten Common Print Buying Errors – And What To Do About Them

© 2010 Matthew ParkerThis book is published by Print & Procurement Ltd.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or incorporated into any information retrieval system without the written permission of the copyright holder. For information on getting permission for reprints and excerpts please contact [email protected]

Notice of liability

The information in this book and on the accompanying website is distributed on an “as is” basis, without warranty. Whilst every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, neither the author nor Print & Procurement Ltd. shall have any liability to any person or entity with respect to loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the information and instructions contained in this book or by any products or services described in it.

Training and consultancy

Print & Procurement carries out training and consultancy in all areas covered in this book. Please see p26 for more details.

Comments about this book are welcome and may be included in future editions.

Layout and design by www.higgs-boson.com

Pictures provided by www.picfree.co.uk Picfree is a site that gives a highly cost-competitive anytime use licence for its pictures. Designers can download lo-res versions for free to use in proposed designs to clients.

CONTENTSIntroduction 4

Testimonials 6

Error #1: Choosing The Wrong Supplier 8

Error #2: Not Talking To Your Printer (And Not Admitting You Don’t Understand What They Are Saying) 9

Error #3: Not Specifying Correctly 10

Error #4: Not Using The Right Paper Grade 11

Error #5: Spending Too Much Time Chasing Quotes 12

Error #6: Not Telling A Printer What You Want 13

Error #7: Not Sending A Written Order (And Not Checking The Order Acknowledgement) 14

Error #8: Not Managing Extra Costs On The Invoice 15

Error #9: Not Keeping Up A Good Dialogue Between You And Your Printer 16

Error #10: Not Reviewing Price Regularly 17

Choosing A Printer – A Practical Guide 18

And Finally… 25

Training And Consultancy 26


mailto:[email protected]

www.higgs-boson.com

www.picfree.co.uk

TEN COMMON PRINT BUYING ERRORS – AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM!

� © 2010 Matthew Parker | www.printandprocurement.com © 2010 Matthew Parker | www.printandprocurement.com �


INTRODUCTION

Thank you for downloading this e-book. I hope it will give you some new ideas on how you might approach your print buying differently, whether you are an experienced buyer or just starting out.

The book consists of two parts. Firstly there is an outline of the ten errors that I believe are the most common in print buying. I hope you are already aware of these issues and practise none of them! However, if you feel that perhaps there are some areas where you might change things, I have included some action points to send you in the right direction.

The second part of the book is a more in depth guide on how to choose a printer. This is a complicated subject and the article aims to give an overview of the key factors that should be considered when deciding on if a potential supplier is suitable. In addition, the article outlines a four stage evaluation process.

When you have read through the book please take a few minutes to set out a list of things that you might do differently as a result of the ideas in here, and perhaps a timeline of when you might implement these action points. Display the list where you can see it, and remember to have a look at it every couple of weeks and review your process. You may wish to consider setting yourself targets with a timeline.

I am always delighted to receive feedback: please drop me an e-mail at [email protected]. You can connect with me on LinkedIn at http://uk.linkedin.com/in/printandprocurement. I also regularly link to articles of interest to the print industry (not just mine!) at http://twitter.com/PrintChampion

You have probably received this book as a result of signing up to my weekly newsletter. If you haven’t, please sign up! If you subscribe, you will get an inci-sive article every Wednesday on:● How to make your print buying more effective● How to make your print buying more efficient● How to reduce your costs● How to improve the quality and effectiveness of your printed products

Whilst we focus on the print industry, you will find that much of the infor-mation is also relevant to general procurement in other sectors. The blog also features guest writers from the print industry. You can subscribe at www.printandprocurement.com

Finally, please let me know of any changes that you put into place – it’s always nice to hear other peoples’ success stories and share in their celebrations!

Best wishes




http://uk.linkedin.com/in/printandprocurement

http://twitter.com/PrintChampion





TESTIMONIALS

“Matthew is a consultant who is totally committed to his

clients and to delivering on his promises. He has an excellent

understanding of both the challenges of the print channel

and the opportunities it presents. As a result, companies

that engage with Print & Procurement will certainly have an

opportunity to re-evaluate their current processes, come up

with practical solutions to any challenges that they face and come away with

tangible results. I would have no hesitation in recommending Matthew as a

consultant and trainer who really wants his clients to come up with the best

results. Plus, he’s a lot of fun to work with!”

Jacky MorganUp Marketing – marketing services geared specifically to the print sector

“In an industry renowned for its pressure, Matthew Parker

delivers a very gentle but insightful intelligence about the

ways of print. Somewhere between art and science there is a

place that defines the balance of what describes this industry,

Matthew Parker hits that nail right on the head. Highly

recommended book, highly recommended individual.”

Nigel CliffeCEO of PrintMediaCentr & Senior Partner of Cliffe Associates

“I have worked with Matthew for just over a year now and he

has delivered a number of highly successful training events for

the IPIA during that time. He is very organised and produces

seminars which are full of relevant, useable content. He is

extremely delegate-focused and this is borne out by the excellent

feedback we have had on all Matthew’s training events.”

Andrew PearceCEO, IPIA

“Print Buying is both a skill and an art, so who better do

seek advice but from a true artist. As more and more people

are asked to take on this role as an additional task to their

daily job, where can individuals go to find out how it’s done?

Matthew’s new e-book is an excellent introduction for those

entering the fray and an extremely useful aide memoir for

those more seasoned practitioners. I particularly liked the way he has tagged

on a longer and more thoughtful piece about how to go about actually choosing

the right printer. Print Buying is a broad canvas and I look forward to Matthew’s

next presentation.”

Andrew WilsonUnity Print and Publishing Limited

“Matthew provided an excellent “Print Processes” training session for myself

and some of my colleagues. The feature that I liked most about the training, was

that the day itself was very interactive - which not only helped us to remember

the information, but also made the day much more fun than an average training

course! At the end of the session, each of the team left with a matrix of the print

methods, with specific points for each method, which was (and will continue to

be) incredibly useful. I would definitely recommend this training course, as the

day is both interesting and fun, and the course content is excellent.”

Rhoda DayPrint Buyer for multi-national consulting company






ERROR #1

CHOOSING THE WRONG SUPPLIER

There is a huge number of print buy-ers who are using the wrong suppli-ers for their products. Printers with large presses suited to magazines and brochures are never going to produce small runs of in-house stationery cost-effectively. Equally, smaller printers may not be able to physically produce larger products. Whether the printer prints litho or digital, or sheetfed or web, will also have an effect on the way your product looks. However, a plant list is only one issue to consider when selecting a supplier. For more issues to con-sider, turn to the article on page 18 of this booklet.

ACTION POINTS● Review the press sizes at your printers. Consider how your products fit on

those presses.

● Is the sheet size you are using appropriate for your product?

● Are your products producing economic run lengths for your printer’s presses?

● Can your printers fulfil all other service and quality needs? Do they understand

your types of products and the culture of your organisation? Do they produce

similar jobs to that which you require?

● If you have a lot of printers, consider running a supplier evaluation exercise to

check that they are all meeting the minimum criteria that you need.

Will this press produce your job at the right cost and to the right quality? (www.picfree.co.uk)

ERROR #2

NOT TALKING TO YOUR PRINTER (AND NOT ADMITTING YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE SAYING)

E-mail is a wonderful thing. It has transformed our way of communicat-ing. However, there are times when it is much better to pick up the phone! If you are not quite sure how to specify your product, then talk to your printer. They should be able to guide you to define exactly what you want, as well as com-ing up with great ideas on alternative methods of production. If they can’t then you should consider changing supplier. Many people are scared of talking to a printer because of the amount of jargon that is used in the printing trade. I am still learning many new phrases and many new techniques! If you don’t understand what the printer is saying, ask them to explain in plain English! It is far better that you admit that you are unsure than that you end up with some expensive mistake.

ACTION POINTS● Pick up the phone!

● Learn some new printing phrases (and consider creating some rhyming

phrases to help you remember them!).

● Ask your printer to come and visit you with some inspiring samples of their work.

Sometimes it is better to talk than e‑mail. (www.picfree.co.uk)



www.picfree.co.uk

www.picfree.co.uk


10 © 2010 Matthew Parker | www.printandprocurement.com © 2010 Matthew Parker | www.printandprocurement.com 11


ERROR #3

NOT SPECIFYING CORRECTLY

It is vital that your printer has every detail of a job if they are to produce an accurate price. I have a quote template with eighteen fields to be filled in before it should be sent to the printer. Areas such as delivery (overnight or direct?), post (first or second class, pre-sorted or not, Royal Mail or another provider?) and packing (in bulk or in boxes?) can all make a big difference to the final price. Equally, it is vital to specify and final finishing, such as varnishes or laminates correctly, ensuring that you receive the look and feel that you had envisaged for a finished item. When you are happy with the technical specifica-tion and are satisfied that you have included all the details, don’t forget to think about the paper – see the next point.

ACTION POINTS● Try to envisage a product as you are specifying it.

● Create a physical sample from the correct paper stock.

● Calculate the savings if you run to a smaller size of product where you can

print more to a sheet size.

● Check that you have ALL the details on your request for a quotation and that

your printer has quoted exactly what you have requested, so that extra costs do

not creep in at the last minute.

Does your printer understand your colour requirements? (www.picfree.co.uk)

ERROR #�

NOT USING THE RIGHT PAPER GRADE

Paper is an important part of both the look and feel and the cost of a product. Understand-ing the different grades of paper is important, especially in the current climate of rising paper prices. Reducing a 100gsm stock to a 90gsm stock on a brochure will typically save 10% of paper costs, and potentially reduce postal costs as well. However, you also need to consider how this will affect the feel of the brochure. Could you replace your standard grade with a bulkier paper (which could also be cheaper)? Could you add a heavier cover and reduce the weight of the text stock?

ACTION POINTS● Request different paper samples. How do they look and feel to you?

● Ask your printer or paper merchant how they will affect the look and cost of

your product.

● Discuss the implications within your company.

Paper is costly. Is your paper economic, and does it feel right for your product? (www.picfree.co.uk)



www.picfree.co.uk

www.picfree.co.uk




ERROR #�

SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME CHASING QUOTES

Writing out quotes for printers, chasing up the responses and comparing prices can be a time-consuming business, especially if print buying is not a core part of your job. If you have regular jobs, consider creating a price matrix with your printer. For each product have a price for a base quantity and then a run-on price (this is a price, typically per 1,000 items, that can be added to the base price if you require more cop-ies printed). And don’t forget to ensure you have negotiated reduced prices if you are printing up more than one version of an item at the same time! A good matrix will work out a price for you automatically if you enter the quantity you need. This is also a good time to review your pricing with your printer if you are committing to more work with them.

ACTION POINT

● Sit down with your printer and discuss the products you are printing and how

you might set up a price matrix.

A price matrix will save you time. (www.picfree.co.uk)

ERROR #�

NOT TELLING A PRINTER WHAT YOU WANT

I often see or hear of issues that have arisen because the buyer assumed that a printer would do something, even though they had not told the printer what they wanted. When an order is placed with a printer, it needs much more than the technical specifica-tion. What quality levels and service standards are you expecting from your printer? Do they understand your deadline requirements? If the printer has not been told what you expect, how will they know about any special issues that you consider important?! If you place work regularly with a supplier you should consider implementing an SLA (service level agreement). This should clearly outline what you expect from your supplier and what your supplier should expect from you.

ACTION POINTS● Map out the processes that you undertake with your printer.

● List the responsibilities of each party and the key quality and service level issues.

● Turn this into a written agreement between you and your printer.

Have you mapped out your workflow? (www.picfree.co.uk)



www.picfree.co.uk

www.picfree.co.uk


1� © 2010 Matthew Parker | www.printandprocurement.com © 2010 Matthew Parker | www.printandprocurement.com 1�


ERROR #�

NOT SENDING A WRITTEN ORDER (AND NOT CHECKING THE ORDER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT)

I once met a printer who had usually met his clients in the pub at the end of the month to agree the charges for the jobs that he had produced for them in the last four weeks! This is not the best way for either side to manage budgets! Although you may have agreed terms verbally with a printer, it is essential that this is backed up with a written order. Details that have been agreed in good faith on the phone can be forgotten or misinterpreted. Your order forms your contract with the printer and it is important that there is a clear written statement of work. Many printers will send back an order acknowledgement. If there is a dispute, the order acknowledgement will be the legal agreement, not your order (unless you have a very clear written agreement to the contrary). Therefore you must check any paperwork that the printer sends you, as mis-takes can creep in at this point when details are manually re-keyed.

ACTION POINTS● Review your order processes. Is everything clear and straightforward?

● Do you include your organisation’s terms and conditions of purchase with an

order? Read these through and check that these cover relevant issues for you.

ERROR #�

NOT MANAGING EXTRA COSTS ON THE INVOICE

Inevitably, things can change on a job midway though production. Some printers often try to put things right and then tell the cli-ent afterwards. Whilst they may have the best of intentions, it is important that you have control over your job and your budget at all times. So you, rather than the printer, should have the say on any changes in production. Only you can truly grade the seriousness of the issue. However, in order for this to work effectively, you need to make sure that you, or someone in your team, is available at any time when the printer may be producing your work. So you must be prepared for the odd call at anti-social hours!

ACTION POINTS

● Ensure that your orders and service level agreements have a clear statement

that prevents the printer from issuing extra charges without your prior

approval. If this is a new requirement for your company, talk to your printers to

make this clear to them.

Agree your prices on paper, not in the pub! (www.picfree.co.uk)

Were your packing and distribution costs all estimated correctly? (www.picfree.co.uk)



www.picfree.co.uk

www.picfree.co.uk




ERROR #�

NOT KEEPING UP A GOOD DIALOGUE BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR PRINTER

It is vital to talk to your printer on a regular basis. This enables you to review how well they (and you!) have been performing, tell each other how your businesses are evolv-ing and discuss how you might do things better together. Your printer will realise that you take them seriously and that you are keeping a watch on what they are doing. This in turn will motivate them to provide exactly what you want. This dialogue is also a chance for them to make suggestions about your products that you may not have thought of.

ACTION POINTS● Set out a list of issues that it would be worth discussing with your printer. Go

and visit your printer to discuss them.

● Are there any KPIs (key performance indicators) that you would like to review

as part of this exercise? Make sure that you then follow up on the meeting every

few months.

ERROR #10

NOT REVIEWING PRICE REGULARLY

It is easy to get into an easy relation-ship with your supplier where things progress easily from month to month. However, you should never be afraid to challenge you supplier! It is useful to talk to other suppliers every few months; just to make sure that every-thing is as it should be. As part of this process you should make sure that you obtain a price check and a review of specification and process. If you do dis-cover that that there are savings to be made and you have a good relationship with your current printer, then it is fair to give them the right to respond. Also, consider the cost of moving supplier.

ACTION POINT● Look at the trade print press and the internet. Find some new suppliers to

challenge your current supplier (but make sure that you choose the right type of

supplier as in step 1, and the article on page 18!).

Talk with your printer. (www.picfree.co.uk)

Make sure that you are not spending too much. (www.picfree.co.uk)



www.picfree.co.uk

www.picfree.co.uk




CHOOSING A PRINTER – A PRACTICAL GUIDE

Not all printers are the same! There are often very big differences between

the capabilities of printers that, at first glance, appear surprisingly simi-

lar. These differences can have a major influence on the cost, quality and

successful outcome of a print project. This article tells you how to work

out the strengths and weaknesses of printers.

As over capacity becomes an ever greater issue in the industry, today’s print market is becoming more and more competitive. Sup-pliers are busy expanding into dif-ferent markets to try and fill their presses. Furthermore, the primary issue concerning supplier choice is usually seen as price, arguably a trend that has been led by the print industry itself. Today there are a huge number of suppliers targeting buyers, and the task of differentiating between them can seem very daunting, especially as many sales pitches from printers seem very similar! At the same time, print purchasing has often been devolved to staff without specialist experience.

The purpose of this article is to encourage print buyers to consider in more depth what it is that they require from a supplier and the best methods to ensure that these requirements have been fully investigated. It is hoped that this will bring a two-fold benefit: to make it easier to draw up a suitable supplier short-list, and to prevent price becoming the dominant factor in choosing a printer and therefore risking the appointment of an unsuitable supplier.

Correct specification is vital

One important issue to review before thinking about choosing a supplier is the specification of your product. It is important that you know that your product will be produced to the right look and that you have examined how cost-effective the specification is against your budget. Equally, it is important to think of how

a product may develop, to ensure that a new supplier will be able to help you grow your business.

Fourteen capabilities to

investigate

Many procurement exercises today begin with a price gathering exercise and it is only later that the capabilities of a supplier are con-sidered. However, this can lead to an uncomfortable situation later in the process when a buyer may be trying to find a supplier who is well placed to produce an item at the price tendered by an unsuitable supplier. I therefore believe that it is worth considering the capabilities of a supplier before going out to tender. I have expanded on some of the most important areas to consider below:● Plant list: buyers need to understand the most efficient and economic ways in which their products should be manufactured. How will the pre-press workflow manage the client’s files? Are a supplier’s presses well matched to the product specification? Will a supplier have all the appropriate finishing equipment in-house? If not, how will they manage any outwork? How will the supplier man-age any mailing requirements? The correct choice of press can also mean great differences in paper costs.● Financial stability: for most publishers, print is a core part of their business. It is therefore important to understand the trading position of potential suppli-ers. Unfortunately, in today’s economic climate, using standard credit checking is unlikely to give a true picture of actual trading. Instead it is better to ask for copies of printers’ management accounts, have an open dialogue with the financial director and understand their exposure to their key clients.● Quality control processes: nearly all suppliers have some form of quality control process in place, but the standard of these will vary. The “tick box” standard is ISO9001. However, this only demonstrates that suppliers have a system in place for producing to set quality standards, not that these quality standards are to a particular level. It is worth understanding what a supplier

Do your printer’s staff care about your jobs?

Knowing a printer’s plant list in detail is vital.






considers acceptable quality, the production tolerances to which they work and how this compares with your demands. ● Colour management: this is still an area where many suppli-ers are improving their standards. How are presses calibrated? How accurately will suppliers’ proofs match the final product? How is the printed colour actually meas-ured by the supplier? It may be worth ensuring that suppliers work to ISO12647 or similar standards.● Market position and strategy of supplier: two suppliers with very similar plant lists may still produce very different prices for the same specification. A printer specialising in the magazine market will be set up to produce magazines and nothing else. This means that it should be able to produce a magazine much more competitively than a general commercial printer, but may well be less used to producing some ancillary work as efficiently as its commercial competitor. In addition, the magazine printer should have a better understanding of relevant areas such as correct presentation for news stand distribution, and offer other magazine relevant services. However, it may not have the same understanding of downstream access postal prices as a direct mail specialist.● Account handling and resources: it is important to understand the level of customer service that a supplier can offer. Is the client expected to manage most aspects of the job, or will the printer offer a level of project management. How proactive will the customer services team be, and are they actually empowered to resolve your problems? These issues can have an immense impact on the in-house resource required at the client. And what will happen when the main account handler goes on holiday?!● Other services available from the printer: often, printers will today offer more than pure manufacturing services. Magazine printers should be offering suitable mailing services as standard, but may also offer services such as the production of digital editions. Other services may include advertisement sales,

subscription services, data man-agement, digital asset manage-ment and storage and logistics. A buyer will need to understand the extra requirements of their busi-ness and whether a potential sup-plier can add value to the business in other ways than just print.● Ability to reduce costs through

process: print buyers also need to evaluate the total cost of produc-tion, not just look at the invoiced price. There are many digital workflow opportunities and these can dramati-cally reduce production schedules and the amount of skilled work required from the client. This article is not the place to cover these options, but a good starting point is to ask a supplier how they can help you reduce your production costs.● Paper management: if a client is purchasing their own paper, a printer will have to demonstrate suitable storage and relevant reporting procedures. Will a change in printer mean any changes to paper purchasing and specification, or the opportunity to reduce paper usage? ● Sustainable paper accreditation: the most widely recognised standards for sustainable paper are those issued by the FSC and the PEFC. If an item requires the printing of an FSC or PEFC claim number the printer will also need to be FSC or PEFC certified. It is worth noting that this certification has to be re-evaluated annually.● Environmental policies: there is a huge variation in the environmental policies of printers today and how they are applied within a company. What is required will depend on a client’s own CSR policies.● Security issues: for items with sensitive data, printers should have suitable confidentiality agreements with staff. They should also have suitable policies for the destruction of manufacturing waste sheets. Financial products may also require a supplier to comply with specific on-site security and monitor-ing requirements. It may be worth ensuring that suppliers work to ISO27001 or similar standards.

Good colour management by your supplier will ensure consistent output on presses.

This press uses a lot of paper: ensure you manage your stock well and have the right environmental practices.






● Data policy: a regular off-site data backup should be in place at a supplier, and it is surprising how many printers do not have this in place. In addition it may be impor-tant to understand how long data is archived and how data security is achieved.● Disaster recovery plans: a dis-aster recovery plan may not be so important for the supplier of peripheral print, but is important to understand what may prevent printed items that are core to a business going out on time and how a supplier may address these problems. In these times of over capacity, it may be tempting to assume that it will be easy to find another supplier, but the cost and effort in changing a supplier should not be underestimated. Equally, you need to consider how your order/contract cover this sort of eventuality.

Four ways to see if a supplier makes the grade

Once drawn up, how should a list of requirements be evaluated with a poten-tial supplier? I have suggested four stages below. I am not suggesting that all stages are carried out with all suppliers: rather that the stages are used as a filtering process so that time is only spent on a factory visit with the most relevant suppliers.● Evaluation forms: a good way to obtain a swift overview of whether a poten-tial supplier will be suitable is to develop a supplier evaluation form. However, these documents can be regarded suspiciously by printers who may regard these as box ticking exercises. It is therefore important to consider what is required from a supplier and how this should be translated onto an evalua-tion document. For instance, if a printer with a strong environmental policy is required it is easy to simply include a check box that asks whether a printer is ISO14001 certified. However, is it right to exclude suppliers who have opted for certification to other standards, or who have a rigorous environmental policy that is not yet certified? And how does one distinguish between suppliers that

comply with ISO14001 as opposed to those that use ISO14001 as one of a range of solutions to really try and make a difference to the envi-ronment? Careful wording of an evaluation form is necessary and also appropriate communication so that the supplier understands how they may gain through com-pleting such a form. Finally, it is important to make sure that eval-uation forms are not too lengthy in order to ensure that not too much time is wasted for either supplier or buyer in processing these forms. ● Customer testimonials: these can play an important part in the evaluation process. A printer will only nominate their best customers, but even the most satisfied can be more honest than a printer would like! My experience shows that concerns are more likely to be raised through an informal conversation rather than a rigid audit document and that the most useful responses are in regard to specific questions rather than a request for a general overview of a supplier.● Visit from the supplier: an initial sales visit from a prospective supplier can be surprisingly revealing. The knowledge of personnel attending, and their ability to expand on an evaluation form will show much about a company’s culture, and whether the values that they publicise are lip service or ingrained in all staff.● Factory visit: the final stage of a supplier evaluation should be a factory inspection. It may be that this is only carried out with suppliers that are short listed after a price evaluation exercise. One should expect to see all areas of a factory and receive a detailed explanation of all aspects of the operation that will be relevant to the end-product. These may include: customer service, sched-uling, paper control, pre-press, print, finishing, warehousing and despatch. One should also expect to see quality control and production processes in action and that they should match the processes outlined in the evaluation document! It is always useful to try and speak to the staff on the factory floor: after all, they will

What will happen to you if this machine goes down?

Visit the factory to make sure you really know your supplier.






be producing the final job! If there are minor shortcomings with what is seen, it is worth being honest: a supplier may be prepared to make some changes to their processes in order to gain work.

This may seem a very thorough process. However, it will ensure that a sup-plier is genuinely capable of delivering the results that you require, and that you will be comparing like for like pricing when beginning price negotiations. Now the tendering process can begin!

This is an updated version of an article that was originally published in the July/

August 2009 edition of Inpublishing Magazine.

AND FINALLY…

Finally, enjoy your role! The printing trade is full of great characters and crea-tive companies. We should all be taking time to get as positive experience as pos-sible from the jobs we do.

Make sure you enjoy working with print!






TRAINING AND CONSULTANCY

Print & Procurement carries out training and consultancy in all areas covered in this book.

Our training

Our training offers you the opportunity to upskill your staff through practi-cal training that will relate directly to their jobs. Courses are run in-house so

discussions and exercises can focus on the exact issues that your company faces. All training from Print & Procurement is delivered using ITOL accredited brain friendly techniques. These are designed

to involve participants and ensure that they retain what they have learnt! Fol-low up programmes are also available, as well as courses that are created to suit your bespoke requirements.

Our courses include:● Print and paper specification● Choosing a print supplier● An introduction to print processes (litho, digital, screen and flexo)● Practical Purchasing● Negotiation skills● Practical Supplier Management● E-procurement and procurement strategyYou can see outlines of these courses and more at http://www.printandprocurement.com/ (please click the training tab).

Our consultancy

Our consultancy centres around realistic help and process improvement. We concentrate on creating strategies which can be easily carried out on a day to day basis by your staff. Typical projects where we have assisted include:● Running print tenders● Benchmarking prices● Creating contracts and service level agreements● Advising on product specification

● Advising on suppliers● Procurement strategy● Paper purchasing and management● Creating supplier review systems

Please contact [email protected] if you are inter-ested in finding out more. We endeavour to respond to all enquiries within 24 hours. Although based in the UK, we are happy to offer international consul-tancy where appropriate. This can often be carried out off-site, without the need for expensive travel.






2� © 2010 Matthew Parker | www.printandprocurement.com



Documents

TEN COMMON PRINT BUYING ERRORS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM