Monthly Archives: September 2011
How managing expectations will improve your print buying relationships
I was excited! I had pressed the order button at the online store. My new mountain jacket would be on its way to me shortly!
But there was a problem. Shortly after I had placed the order I received an e-mail. The store wanted to warn me that they were snowed in. They would be unable to despatch my jacket in the next few days. I could take a refund or wait.
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Print buyers: do you have a plan B?
It was just another routine dive – until his air supply failed
I have a friend who is a keen scuba diver. His latest dive was nothing out of the ordinary: it was the sort of dive that he had done many, many times before.
But one moment on this dive moment he was breathing air. The next moment there was no oxygen coming from his diving tank.
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How versioning will reduce print problems by 60% or more
The phone is ringing constantly.
People are getting bad tempered with each other.
Artwork is late.
Paper has not have been ordered by the printer.
Deliveries are made before warehouses are ready.
If people are not informed about changes to jobs, problems rapidly happen! And those problems can translate into reprints, claims for compensation and losses for all concerned.
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Why print buyers should not buy print
Have you ever asked a supermarket shopper what they are buying?
Chances are they’ll give you a list of ingredients or ready meals. But that’s not what they’re really buying.
Here are some of the things that a supermarket shopper is really buying:
- Nourishment
- Health
- A treat
- The sense of having found a bargain
None of these things are directly related to what is in their basket. There is a less obvious reason as to why they have chosen the contents of their basket.
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Why tenders should be an essential part of the print buyer’s toolset
The word tender conjures up visions of procurement teams in large organisations dealing with multi-million spends. They create huge tender documents and spend months in negotiations. There are teams which deal with nothing but tenders. Tenders aren’t for the average company
Nothing could be further from the truth.
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Client Testimonial
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
Read the testimonial from Andrew PearceClient Testimonial
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
Read the testimonial from Rhoda DayClient Testimonial
If you think you are on top of your print buying you might be in for a surprise! We asked Print & Procurement to undertake a print audit. Matthew said ‘’If we do not find savings sufficient to earn back our fee
Read the testimonial from Rod FletcherClient Testimonial
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
Read the full testimonial from Jacky MorganClient Testimonial
Apart from being a thoroughly decent chap Matthew is scrupulously professional, ruthlessly efficient and always delivers excellent results.
I genuinely have no hesitation whatever in recommending Matthew. He
Client Testimonial
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
Read the full testimonial from Andy DowenRecent Posts
Do you struggle to find enough hours in the day? Whether you’re a full-time purchaser or managing a more general administration role, the pressure on your [more]
Why beating printing companies down on price is not the best way to reduce costs
For me, few things are better than standing on the summit of a mountain The route up a mountain is hard. There’s a lot of work [more]
Three reasons why print buyers should challenge supplier choice
My daughter was about to burst into tears I had asked her what flavor of ice cream she would like. She gave me the same answer [more]
Why print buyers who stick to cost-cutting are failing to do their job
Wouldn't a garden look bare without anything in the flowerbeds? My wife is a keen gardener. One of her most regular jobs is the weeding. It's [more]
Three specification questions that can reduce the cost of printed items by over 30%
The print industry is dying There are huge amounts of overcapacity. Printing companies are tendering suicidal prices. So all a print buyer has to do is to [more]
Three questions print buyers must use to challenge process and prevent 30-address syndrome
Can you imagine writing the same address over 30 times? Wouldn’t it be a complete waste of your time? Aren't there are so many better things [more]
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