Distribution is the final stage in any production process. It is when you say goodbye to the product of your labour and it becomes someone else’s responsibility. However, just because it is the final stage doesn’t mean that it should be an afterthought. The method of distribution should be a consideration even at the design stage of your project. Here are some ways that distribution methods can impact design.
Postage
The Royal Mail may be a venerable and valued service, but it is not necessarily a gentle one! Travelling through the post can involve being exposed to all conditions of weather, poured from sack into basket and back into sack, hurtled along conveyor belts and tossed across the sorting office. The envelope has evolved as a protective outer shell for delicate paper. If you are posting without an envelope, you’d better print on card.
Courier
When your printed product is intended for the hands of a courier – specifically employed to deliver your products – you can afford to be more imaginative with your designs. Intricacy and delicacy of design are less likely to be damaged by an accountable employee of your company.
Airmail
If your printed products are intended for distribution abroad and you are in a hurry, then you may opt to have them flown to their destination country. The alternative, shipping, is cheaper but can take weeks. Air freight is typically charged by weight. One way to keep costs of freight down is to use lighter paper. Our print experts can advise you on the options available.
Hand Delivery
Leaflets and menus are often designed to be delivered through the letterboxes of a particular neighbourhood by hand. Obviously, these printed materials need to be of a large enough size to fit the maximum information, but still fit through a letterbox. The tri-fold leaflet is a common solution to this problem.
At Colour Print, we offer a full printing service from design to distribution, because we know the whole system, we can take into account every part of it at any stage. To talk to us about a print project, call us on 01603 488001 or email sales@col-print.co.uk.
For regular articles on print and printing, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
From the Colour Print printworks in Norwich, we print and fulfil orders throughout the UK.
Get in touch to chat about your latest print project.
Call us on 01603 488001, email sales@col-print.co.uk or fill out this contact form and someone from our team will be in touch.