How Much Does Catalogue Printing Cost?
Twenty five years ago, printed media was the main channel through which companies reached their target market. Today however, print is just one crucial part of a complex ecosystem; hence the need for businesses to use more effective catalogue printing strategies.
With the increasing trend towards marketing integration, it is more convenient to engage a company offering print services, graphic design, document audit and copywriting for their marketing campaigns, rather than a traditional print shop. Many modern companies, such as ourselves, can provide a comprehensive catalogue design and print solution which is more cost and time effective
So, What Costs Are Involved In Contemporary Catalogue Printing?
The answer is that printing costs vary, depending on the following factors:- Special finishes and binding
- The size and the format of the catalogue
- The complexity of the design pages
- Amount of content and images used on every page
- Print run volume – i.e. how many catalogues you need
- Whether postage and/or design is included in the price
Standard & Bespoke Pricing
It is rarely possible for a printer to offer standard pricing for catalogues as there are so many variables involved. Thus your quote will consider the length of time required for art direction, photography, planning and organisation, design and layout as well as the physical cost of printing. Industry averages estimate the cost of a professionally designed catalogue that has 8-10 products on every page to be between £150-£200 per page inclusive of layout, artwork, photography and printing.<
p>This rate may reduce if the catalogue requires more pages which could reduce the cost to £50 per page for a 200-page catalogue. Engaging a managed printing service will normally save cost.
Third Party Or In-House Printing?
Unless you already have established printing infrastructure it is invariably cheaper to use a third party print management company for your catalogues. If you were to print in house you would need to factor in the following costs:
Print Supplies
For regular printing a business would need an inventory of paper and consumables. Each item has a monetary cost and also requires space for storage (considerable for large print runs). Staff resource will also be required to manage the print process including maintaining the stock. Finishing the catalogues to a good commercial standard will require specialised equipment and time.
Staff
This leads us on to the expense of employing an in house printing team. You would need to employ people with skills in brochure layout, graphic design, copywriting, photography, marketing and operating a printing press, plus IT support – a cost which simply isn’t worth it for most businesses.
Hardware
Print management companies are equipped with state-of-the-art printing presses, design software and copiers – or have a reliable network of third party partners. This saves customers the expense of purchasing printing equipment themselves, and of managing multiple suppliers.
Our Catalogue Printing Service
At 21st Century Print we offer high quality printing at competitive rates for all types of catalogue. With rapid delivery and a suite of supporting services to help you attain a good ROI, printed catalogues have never offered such effective value for money. Contact us for more information.