Low cost per sq ft pricing

[Jr gong]

Hi all,

Overseas operator here (Caribbean) i saw some really crazy pricing by a vendor locally (like $1USD per sqf for banner for example)
I was just curious to know how is this achievable. They use brand-name materials and original inks.
Is volume printing a factor? They run all day not stop..I j just wanted to know for my own good, I'm still learning the industry(5 years in)

 

[victor bogdanov]

banner 1usd per sq ft is doable. Bulk blank banner can be had under 10 cents per sq ft and with the correct printer ink in under 10 cents per sq ft

 

[kcollinsdesign]

$1 sq.ft. is reasonable if you have the space and material handling equipment to use bulk rolls and enough jobs to gang together print jobs. You will also need an efficient way to process orders and package and ship final products.
Small shops (say under $1M annual sales) that serve local clients with a variety of products will have a hard time matching those prices without bulk material handling and high speed/large volume automated equipment. Shipping will kill you if you do not have volume discounts and a dedicated, efficient shipping and staging area in your facility.
Some of us have found we can offer competitive pricing outsourcing print jobs to large printing service providers. I can offer banners in the range of $2 sq. ft. (hems and grommets) and still make a tidy profit. I outsource all my printed products. I no longer have printing and laminating equipment (although we still have a vinyl cutter for the occasional small lettering job).

 

[StarSign]

Is there small print involved, meaning banner $1 sqft, design $65, set up $50. Not saying this is the case however this is how you can get pulled in. You are only focused on the price of the banner and then here comes all the other costs.

 

[kcollinsdesign]

Is there small print involved, meaning banner $1 sqft, design $65, set up $50. Not saying this is the case however this is how you can get pulled in. You are only focused on the price of the banner and then here comes all the other costs.

I add the design and set-up costs to the invoice. I can outsource the printing and fabrication for less money than it costs me to do it in-house. I can be very competitive with my prices without production and fabrication equipment overhead.
We do have significant overhead costs for service and installation, and pay our service techs close to union scale (we are not a union company). We miss some jobs by not being in the union, but there is nobody sitting at our local electricians union who know anything about signs, so we do not get too much grumbling. When we do, we pay prevailing wage.