POLYPRINTDESIGN
About Polyprintdesign​: Printer Versus Printing Consultant & Broker
Polyprintdesign came into existence in 1999 to fill a need for a full service business offering offset printing, letterpress, die-cutting, stamping, and finishing, with an integrated graphic design studio adjacent to the shop. We have serviced clients in NYC in every sector from not-for-profit and foundations to thriving small businesses and legacy organizations ever since. In the evolving world of print with the advent of an overwhelmingly online marketing presence for organizations, we have shifted and grown into consulting, or print brokering, to make specialty work that services our clients in their current need, which means less printing that is typically more high-end or speciality, but not always. While we make an argument that consulting/brokering is an excellent role for us at this time, there are pros and cons to hiring a print broker.
Cost/Budgeting
Working with the right print broker can be a cost savings for clients in most situations, but not all. Because we are not dedicated to a specific manufacturing-based pricing model that print shops must use to survive, we operate with the flexibility that comes from having many relationships with printing shops, papers companies, binderies and other finishing businesses. We can put your job on the right press, in the right shop, to meet your cost, quality, and timing needs most effectively.
At times, there may be savings in working directly with the right printer, if you can identify that shop and have a good relationship with the business. Our promise to our clients is that we will tell you if a job is not right for us and recommend vendors who are better suited if possible.
Expertise
After decades in the manufacturing world of printing, Polyprintdesign brings an expertise that only a former print-shop owner can offer and it allows us to infuse a lot of specialization due to a deep and enduring knowledge of print manufacturing. This type of expertise comes from running presses, prepping jobs, creating layouts, and refining photos and other artwork while maintaining blistering schedules, and from utilizing other shops when necessary. Almost all printers send jobs out when it makes most sense, and print brokers do the same thing. Finding a print broker who has the expertise you require for your particular job is important, while a difficulty of choosing any vendor is in determining if they have the expertise and the right approach for your organization.
Team Communication
Running a printshop requires wearing many hats, particularly in New York City with soaring commercial rents alongside all of the other rising costs of running a small business. This means that customer service and quick response time for clients is often the first to suffer while businesses are plugging holes and putting out fires on the shop floor! Brokers/Consultants can offer vastly improved communication and leadership if they have the experience and people skills to do so. This is often an essential role to deliver a job that is on time, in budget and meets the specifications and preferences of the client.
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Project Management
A lot of things can and often do go wrong throughout any production process, including printing. This includes equipment failures to supply chain issues and staffing surprises. An essential quality of a good project manager is their ability to innovate in the face of problems, and in printing it can mean actions such as changing presses, vendors, paper, and having relationships with shops that are so strong they will do anything they can to help. Ensuring that your print broker or consultant is also an adept project manager who can see possible problems in advance, plan for everything, and pivot when necessary to deliver the job is important. At Polyprintdesign, we offer all of these services as your print broker, and we are happy to discuss your upcoming project at any time. ​
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Contact Polyprint
We are located in downtown Manhattan and can be reached by email, mail, or phone to set up a meeting or zoom appointment.
Polyprint & Design, llc 201 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014 (212) 629-3561 fb@polyprintdesign.com
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About the Author:
As a business owner with over three decades of experience in the New York City print industry, I have had a dynamic and storied career. My journey began in a 100-year-old print shop in the East Village, where I learned the craft of printing in an environment steeped in history. I’ve worked on everything from designing holiday cards on century-old letterpress machines to creating contemporary art catalogs, family memoirs, and full-length books.
My experiences as a self-taught printshop owner in a predominantly male industry taught me not only the art of printing but also the art of running a successful business. Over the years, I’ve collaborated with clients ranging from small businesses and not-for-profit organizations to curators and family historians. My work reflects a passion for storytelling—whether through graphic design or printed materials, I believe in the power of print to bring stories to life.
In addition to my extensive work in printing, I am also a historian with a deep interest in biography, memoir, and the history of books and manuscripts. My academic journey has taken me back to school, where I completed my undergraduate degree and now continue to explore the rich narratives that shape our understanding of the past.
-Frances Beebe
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