Why Use a Print Broker?

To survive in our fluctuating economy, several major printing companies have merged, or sold off their specialty printing plants, or closed their doors. And new, smaller printers have popped up in their place. In most cases, their equipment lists look identical, and their own marketing brochures are equally beautiful. So how do you know which one is better at printing your corporate identity products, and which one is right for the annual report or magazine you need printed?

Your ability to order a print project over the Internet has increased in recent years. But you don’t always know exactly where the online printer is, what quality work they produce, whether they can deliver on time, or if you’ll make up the cost savings of online printing in the cost to ship your finished product back to you. Wouldn’t you prefer to have a local affiliate that can manage those details for you, and make sure your job gets done the way you expect, with no hidden charges?

In your own business, you’re being asked to do more with less. How do you balance the focus you need to give to the strategy, creative, message, and design that are going into your piece with the need to bid out the job to find the best printer? And when your needs change, from quick turn-around to budgetary constraints, to green initiatives, to getting the best quality on a specialized project, does your “go-to” printer always deliver? Are they really the best fit?

That’s where MECK Print comes in. Our professional staff takes those worries away for you. It’s their job to know which printer specializes in what type of project, and who can return the best result for you, even if you’re on a tight timeline or a tight budget.

Think of us as your personal print buyer. We take the time to understand what’s most important to you, and then we match your project with one of our print providers to deliver. If you’re new to print buying, we’ll help you avoid the creative and production pitfalls that eat up your budget. And if you don’t have time to keep up on the myriad changes in postal service regulations, we can help guide you through creating and designing a product that will mail, no questions asked.

I’ve come a long way in 20 years as a marketing professional, and the team at MECK Print has been by my side for most of them.

My first job out of college was as a print production coordinator for an international accounting firm’s marketing communications department. It was pretty easy: We had a contract with a local printing company, so there really wasn’t any “shopping” of printers. I always knew who was doing the printing, who to call for prepress, where distribution was handled, and who to talk to when I needed answers.

It also meant that I had no real comprehension of the print buying market, or what it really took to get a job from inspiration to completion.

A couple years later, I started working at my current employer, and reality set in. There was no multi-million dollar budget, no National Director of Purchasing to negotiate contracts (or tell me where to get my jobs processed), no department manager to point the way, no mail center to keep up on postal regulations for me.

I was making it all up as I went along. I tried working with the print rep I’d used at the accounting firm, but I found his company wasn’t the best fit for my needs (or my now limited budget).

I was introduced to Kristian Frumkin by an associate, who’d been using his services for forms production and printing letterhead and business cards. I found him to be a very useful ally in getting my jobs done with my limited budget and tight deadlines… and not having them look that way. We’ve been working together ever since.

In a small company, I’m expected to do a lot of different jobs, and I don’t often have a lot of time to get them done. It’s been a real relief to know I can just pick up the phone and call MECK, and they’ll handle the details for me.

It leaves me the time and freedom to focus on what’s important to my company: the look and the message of the publications I produce.

I’ve used MECK for standard forms and stationery, trade show slicks, brochures, postcards, and my company’s many catalogs. We’ve even worked together on promo items, like CD cases, pens, screwdrivers, and hats.

Through our association, I’ve been able to learn more about doing my job better. I guess I think about the MECK team as my on-the-job trainers. I’ve learned about laying out projects to get the most out of a press run, setting up mailers so they meet postal service automated specifications, knowing when to use a specialty stock, and when to opt for the printer’s house standard. It’s nice to know that somebody’s keeping an eye out for me.

I guess it comes down to a few simple questions: Does your printer rep really help you get your projects done, or does she just give you a price? Does he make recommendations that’ll save you time or money? Does she help make sure your print files will run, without the up-charges of problem prepress files? Does he introduce you to stuff that impresses the boss? Does your print rep routinely make you look like a hero?

So why do I use MECK Print? It’s simple: whatever I need, they find a way to deliver.