Things to Consider When Choosing a Print Company

Print Quality and Consistency

• High quality printers produce clear and sharp images, with vibrant colors and exceptional detail. They are able to print at high DPI (dots per inch) to produce these results.
  • The Durst at Elevate97 can print at the highest DPI for any digital printer.
• Quality checks are done continuously throughout the printing process by our print production team and your specific customer service team member to ensure pristine pieces. 

Delivery / Shipping / Location

• Fulfillment involves the entire process of finalizing a customer order, encompassing warehousing, inventory control, and shipping. When a company is capable of both printing and fulfilling your project, it offers a comprehensive one-stop solution.
• Elevate97 has a 300k ft2 fulfillment center to store and ship materials on demand
  • Our warehouse space allows us to safely store all your marketing materials, promotional items and store fixtures, and get them to where you need them.
• Elevate97 offers a complete range of fulfillment services, including high-touch pick, pack + ship, storage, and warehousing. We help streamline ordering, processing, and inventory management through our custom approach.
• Your dedicated client team, coupled with our inventory and order management platform, ShopDev, provides an efficient, seamless experience.
  • ShopDev is a completely customizable, go-to-market platform developed by Elevate97 in response to our customers’ needs.
  • Streamline execution of all your retail marketing strategies through inventory and order management, campaign management, order tracking, budgeting, reporting, and more. 

• Centrally located in Midwest
  • Being centrally located is advantageous for cutting down on shipping and fulfillment costs due to its strategic position relative to suppliers and customers. When a business is centrally located, it can reduce the distance goods need to travel both from suppliers to the warehouse and from the warehouse to customers. This proximity minimizes transportation expenses, decreases transit times, and often allows for more efficient logistics management. Additionally, being centrally located can facilitate faster order processing and delivery times, enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty. Overall, geographic centrality plays a crucial role in streamlining operations and optimizing the supply chain, ultimately leading to cost savings and improved operational efficiency for businesses.

Environmental Considerations

• For a print company to be considered "environmentally friendly," it typically means they adhere to practices and policies that minimize their environmental impact throughout their operations.

1. Use of Sustainable Materials: Choosing paper and other materials sourced from responsibly managed forests or recycled sources reduces the environmental footprint associated with deforestation and resource depletion.
2. Energy Efficiency: Implementing energy-efficient technologies and practices in their facilities, such as using renewable energy sources or optimizing energy usage, helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Waste Reduction: Minimizing waste through practices like reducing paper waste, recycling materials, and properly disposing of chemicals and other waste products.
4. Non-Toxic Inks and Chemicals: Opting for eco-friendly, vegetable-based or soy-based inks that have lower volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions compared to traditional petroleum-based inks.
5. Certifications: Obtaining certifications such as Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) indicates a commitment to responsible forestry practices and sustainable sourcing.
6. Carbon Offsetting: Some companies offset their carbon emissions through various programs or investments in projects that reduce greenhouse gases elsewhere.
7. Transportation and Shipping: Minimizing the environmental impact of transportation by optimizing routes, using fuel-efficient vehicles, or partnering with carriers that prioritize sustainability.
8. Environmental Policies: Having clear environmental policies and goals, as well as engaging in continuous improvement efforts to further reduce their environmental footprint.

• Kraft Paper
• Corrugate
• Falconboard – rigid media board
• Cardstock
• Sustainable Styrene
• Luminous Renew Fabric Banners
• Lintec clear vinyl – 80%
• Bamboo

Customer Service and Support

• Sadly, the printing industry has been gradually steering away from personalized support. It seems many printers, especially those found online, have adopted an automated, self-service business model in an attempt to cut costs.
• For the best possible outcome, always choose a printer that offers personal attention. After all, you want your questions and concerns addressed in a prompt and professional manner, and you want to receive timely communication throughout every phase of your project.
• For example, providing a dedicated support person who monitors and manages your print job from start to finish can add tremendous value to a project because it reduces the risk of mistakes and delays.
• Other traits that add value include being easy to work with, patiently listening to your needs, being readily available for questions, providing thorough and accurate quotes, delivering timely, and offering a guarantee.
• A printer can also add value to a client's purchase experience by offering a wide variety of extra services, such as laminating, folding, die-cutting, embossing, variable data printing, sequential numbering, or mailing services.

Reference and Testimonials