Where to Print Documents in London?

Choosing the right printing company can make a big difference to the speed, quality and price of your project. It’s always worth it to shop around and select the best printer for your needs. Follow these five steps to find a printer you can rely on.

1. Before You Start Looking

The first step begins before you actually start looking at printers. It is a good idea to take some time to think about what you’re looking for. Consider the type of projects you want to create. Are you looking for a printer for a one-off project such as dissertation printing? Or do you want a company that can handle all of your print marketing projects in the future?

Make a list of the things that matter to you when choosing a printer. Points you might want to consider include:

• Product range: can they produce the items you want?
• Delivery options: how quickly can you get your items and do you want the option of collecting them?
• Design services: can they advise you on your design or provide a complete design service if you need it?

Everyone’s needs are different, so what matters to you might not be so important to other people. It depends on how you want to use the printer. It’s also important to be aware of which points you can compromise on. Divide the list into features that are totally essential and those that you want but can do without.

2. Finding a Printing Company in London

Once you know what you’re looking for, you’re ready to start looking at printing companies. You can search online, check business directories, or ask for recommendations from your network. It can be a bit overwhelming at first as there are so many options out there, so I recommend narrowing it down by location first. Search for printers in London or in a more specific area.

At this point, all you need to do is to look for about 5-10 companies that offer the services you need in the right place. Location is particularly important if you want to be able to pick up your order rather than to have it delivered. You’ll have more options if you’re happy with delivery, but it’s still best to aim for a list of about 5-10 companies at this stage. Sticking to a specific location is a good way to limit your choices to a manageable number so that you can compare them in detail.

3. Comparing Printing Companies

You should now have a list of no more than 10 companies who provide the print services you need in your area. The next step is usually the longest as you’ll need to research each company in detail. Look at the company website and search for reviews of their services online.

A simple way to do this is to use the list of the criteria that you created in step 1. You might want to add some more general points to it, such as:

• Quality of the products
• Prices (you probably won’t get exact prices, but are they generally high, medium or low?)
• Delivery times and prices
• Service (do they seem honest, reliable and easy to work with?)
• Are there positive reviews or testimonials online?
• Do they have good green policies?

Create a column for each of the companies and note how well they meet each of these criteria. A simple tick or cross can be good enough, but you can go into more detail if you want.

When the chart is complete, you should easily be able to see which companies are the best match for your needs. Eliminate any that don’t meet your essential criteria and then narrow the rest down to about 3-5 options that are the best fit.

4. Get Quotes

Now that you’ve chosen the top contenders, it’s time to actually get in touch with them so that you can get more personalised information. You can’t always tell exactly what your project will cost based on online price lists. The choices you make about sizing, paper type, finishes and other aspects of the project will all influence how much it costs.

Ask each of your short-listed companies for a quote based on your project. Try to give them as much information as you can about what you want so that the prices will be accurate. It can also be a good idea to ask for a couple of different quotes based on different criteria to see how it affects the price, for example if you place a larger order or choose a different finish. The answers you get will enable you to make an informed choice about your printer. It can tell you more than just the price as the way they handle the quote can help you to judge the quality of their service too.

Another good step to take at this point is to see if the company can provide any samples. You can learn about their products from the websites, but nothing beats seeing them in person. If you’re considering City Printing then we can send you a sample pack and you can even ask to have specific materials included in it.

5. Make Your Decision

You’ve done all the hard work. All you need to do now is to decide which of the short-listed companies is best for your project. Look back at the results from steps 3 and 4 to see which company meets your criteria for the best price. This is the printer that you should choose.

All of this can seem like a lot of work to find your printer. However, it is worth it if you care about your project. You need a printing company that can produce the items you need to the highest standards and at the best price. When you’re printing something that really matters, like your dissertation or wedding invitations, then you need to get it right. The time you spend comparing your options is even more worthwhile if you regularly need printed items. Once you’ve found a reliable company like City Printing, you won’t need to search again.

If you’re looking for a printer in London, what criteria are most important for you?