8 Tactics to Save Time, Money ...
1. Marry and involve both your production and creative team members at the very beginning of each project. Their insight and experience will identify pitfalls, time-saving technology opportunities, and ways to streamline the production and proofing process.
2. Take full advantage of your vendor relationships to minimize paper, postage and printing costs. As the paper and printing industries consolidate, the relationships you’ve built with your vendors will serve you well.
“Volume speaks volumes” to vendors, since they like to line up future work just as much as you do. Use them to help you:
• identify lower basis weight or high-bulk papers to make your pieces weigh less, then test against your current weight;
• examine dummy samples with various page counts to see if you can make cuts;
• look at different formats or trim sizes that print more efficiently or offer savings in mailing;
• consider buying paper up front and storing it for future use rather than on a per project basis; and
• catalog size must sort and mail with the maximum discounts.
