Custom Printing: Common Timelines and Turnarounds

by Sarah Izzo

Plan to Save

The reality of almost any business is bound by picking two of the three factors: time, quality and cost. If you need top quality fast, it’s going to cost more. If you need top quality affordably, it often will take longer.

START WITH A CONSULT

In your first steps of planning and design concept, it’s the right time to establish how the piece will produce—email, social media, direct-mail, etc. Work with the designers and production teams to discuss budget, guidelines and production time to avoid delays later.

GET PRICING EARLY

Designers can imagine the most amazing concepts, but sometimes they don’t produce affordably or at all. There are still ways to make the design come to life without breaking the budget. At OEX, our designers work directly with our sales team and clients to create designs that produce affordably and timely yet still look great. Having the pricing conversation about design early is key.

COMMON TIMELINES AND TURNAROUNDS

When discussing these timelines, the turnarounds are broken down by stages: consultation, quoting, design, production and delivery. It does not always go in that order, or as planned - like when the design changes from the original concept discussed at consultation or when production rejects it. For simplicity’s sake, we will stick with only the print production stage for these common examples.

• Glossy Business cards 3-5 business days

• Standard black envelopes 4-5 business days

• Apparel in lower quantities 14-16 business days

Everything in printing is custom, but there are common stocks and productions. There are many ways and machines that produce the same finished piece—it is just a matter of quantity limits and timing. OEX Print Department works to find the best options to give you the best quality product at affordable price when you need it. Let us serve as your expert advocates and start the conversation by contacting us today.

    PRINT TEAM l Phone: 248.307.1842 l Email: print@oexusa.com l Website: print.oexusa.com