Factors that Affect Catalog Printing Costs
The cost of catalog printing is greatly affected by a variety of different factors. We’ve broken down these factors below to give you a better idea of how each one will affect your final printing cost. Once you understand how they work together, you’ll realized how catalog printing can fit into any budget!
Binding Style
The binding style of your catalog has a huge impact on the printing cost. Different binding styles require different amounts of material and labor and therefore come with different price points. The most common binding styles for catalogs are saddle stitch binding and perfect binding.
Saddle stitch binding uses two wire staples to secure sheets together along a folded spine. This binding method is one of the most affordable options, but it does have page count limitations. The total catalog length must be between 8 and 60 pages, including the cover. The page count must also be a multiple of 4 in order to be saddle stitched. Despite this, saddle stitching is still our most popular catalog binding choice.
Perfect binding is also a common choice for catalogs. Also used for paperback books and magazines, perfect binding is created by applying a thin layer of glue to a trimmed spine and pressing it into a large cover. The unbound edges of the booklet are then trimmed to create pristine, “perfect” edges. Since the spine is flat, text or images can be printed on it. This style of binding has no page limitations, meaning it is a great choice for catalogs with higher page counts. It is more expensive than saddle-stitching, so keep that in mind if you are on a tight budget.
Either of these binding styles can create beautiful catalogs. You should pick whichever option matches your budget and page count. If these options aren’t quite what you’re looking for, consider our other catalog binding choices: Wire-O binding or spiral coil binding. These choices may not be as common, but they can still make amazing catalogs.
Size
The final trim size of your catalogs determines how much material is needed to produce each booklet. More paper and ink are needed to create larger booklets, leading to higher costs. The most popular size for catalogs is 8.5×11 inches. This size will use much more paper than a 5.5×8.5 inch catalog. This means that the larger 8.5×11 inch catalog will cost more to print than the smaller 5.5×8.5 inch catalog.
Page Count
Similar to size, your booklet page count affects how much material is used to create each copy. Higher page counts require more paper and ink and will therefore cost more to produce. Different binding styles will have different page count guidelines, so make sure to check that your preferred binding style is compatible with your desired page count. This is true for all booklets, including catalogs, zines, lookbooks, journals, and more.
Paper Type and Ink
The materials you choose to create your catalog from will influence how much your catalogs cost to produce. More expensive materials will lead to a more expensive final product. At Greenerprinter, you have full control over which paper types you use in your catalog. We recommend thicker cover stocks for the covers of your catalogs. These thicker stocks will add to the durability of your booklets and protect the interior pages during mailing. However cover stocks are more expensive, due to their thickness. This is why we suggest making the interior pages from less expensive text stocks. Text stocks are available in the same finishes as cover stocks, but they are slightly thinner and therefore less expensive. By using a combination of text stocks and cover stocks, you can get the benefits of both paper types, while saving money. This idea also works for all other booklet types, including comic books, programs, coloring books, and activity books.
Ink will also add to the cost of your catalogs. Full-color printing is the most popular choice since it showcases the beauty of your products and increases brand recognition. However, colored ink costs slightly more than black ink. You might notice a slight price difference between full-color catalogs and black-and-white catalogs.
Quantity
The number of catalogs you order is another factor that has a big impact on the total price of catalog printing. The more catalogs you order, the higher the overall price will be. To combat this, we offer discounts for higher quantities. The higher the quantity you order, the lower the price per catalog will be. Ordering catalogs in bulk will save you money when compared to placing multiple smaller orders. These discounts are built into our catalog pricing calculator, so you can always get an accurate price estimate at any time.
Turn Around Speed
We offer a few different turnaround times for you to choose from when ordering catalogs. Turnaround is the time it takes for us to produce your catalogs. Turnaround time starts as soon as you approve your proof and ends once we ship your order to you or your customers. The longer the turnaround time, the less expensive your catalogs will be. Fast and rush speeds are available, but they will cost more. Slow turnaround times are preferred and often lead to a discount on your order total! It pays to plan ahead!
Shipping and Distribution
In addition to printing, shipping and distribution is a major cost when creating catalogs. You must consider postage costs, the cost of producing or buying a mailing list, and where you will ship from.
Postage Costs
Postage costs will depend on the size and weight of your catalogs. Heavier and oversized catalogs will cost more to ship than smaller, lighter catalogs. The mailing service you pick will determine how much your postage costs. USPS is a popular choice because it offers Marketing Mail services. These services are specifically for bulk direct mail, like catalogs, postcards, self-mailers, and folded cards. If your catalogs do not fit within the size or weight requirements, you may need to find a different mailing option like USPS First Class.
You can also choose to have Greenerprinter mail your catalogs for you! We offer a few different mailing services. With our variable data printing services, we can print individual addresses on each catalog to ensure that each one makes it to the intended recipient. Choosing to print and mail with us can save you time and money. There’s no need to worry about making it to the post office in time when we can mail it directly from our facilities.
Mailing Lists
To do any sort of direct mailing, you will need a list of addresses to which you want your catalogs to be delivered. Mailing lists can be created or purchased. It is less expensive to make your own mailing list, but it does take time to create it. If you choose to use your own list, we can help make it more effective by cleaning your data for you. Mailing lists can be made by collecting customer data. Mailing lists can also be purchased. They may be expensive, but they can help you reach new customers. If you need help purchasing a mailing list, let us know! We will help find good, affordable options for you.
How Can You Reduce the Cost of Printing Catalogs?
You can use many strategies to reduce the cost of printing catalogs. Here are some ideas.
- Buy in bulk. Buying more catalogs at once means that the price per catalog is reduced. If you know how many catalogs you need, it is better to order them all at once instead of in smaller batches. This tip also works on all other Greenerprinter products, including stickers, product packaging, hang tags, business cards, and other eco-friendly booklets.
- Simplify the design. Reducing the number of pages or the size of each booklet can seriously reduce the cost of printing catalogs. Keeping your designs simple, and avoiding extra finishing, like foils, embossing, or die cutting, is also more affordable.
- Choose economical materials. Picking less expensive materials is a great way to reduce overall production costs. Think about picking text stocks or leaving the catalog interior black and white. Choosing saddle-stitched binding is a great, inexpensive binding option.
- Plan ahead. Make the most of turnaround time discounts and cheap proofs by starting your catalog order as early as possible. Take care when reviewing the proofs to reduce the need to order more. Starting early makes the whole process easier and more cost-effective. It’ll also save you the stress of working against a tight deadline!
- Carefully consider shipping and distribution. It’s a good idea to double-check that your catalogs fit any size or weight specifications for your intended mailing method. This will help you avoid unexpected costs caused by being forced to switch to a different mailing method at the last minute.
Ready to Print Your Own Catalogs?
Greenerprinter is ready to help you print your next catalog! Our affordable catalog printing services are the perfect choice for your catalogs. We offer full customization of your catalogs which gives you total control over your final product. You get to choose the size, paper type, page count, binding style, and finish to create a catalog that meets your needs and fits your budget. We can even do all of the mailing for you! Let us know what you need and we’ll make it happen.
Ready to get started with sustainable print & packaging? Check out Greenerprinter’s Packaging Sleeves & Hang Tags