When an opportunity presents itself that will reduce your workload while also reducing your costs, you have no choice but to jump at that chance. Outsourcing your print and mail services is just that opportunity.
The benefits of outsourcing are incredible. You save time, lower your overhead, and enhance your team by partnering with professionals with a specialized skill set. You are tapping into the increased efficiency that only an expert can provide while allowing them to assume all the responsibilities of your print operation. No more managing in-house mail projects, supply inventory, and machine upkeep.
How do they do it? How is a print shop able to save so much time and money? We will cover that and explore ideas to help give you even more control over your costs. Just think of the potential ways your company can reinvest the resources you free up by outsourcing your large-scale mail projects.
How Can Print and Mail Services Save You Money?
When it comes to mail, pennies matter. For an average person sending a single letter, the cost is inconsequential. But when you deal with mail in huge volumes like many large companies, a few cents per piece can add up to thousands of dollars. The secret to print and mail services cost savings comes down to saving pennies in a few different areas.
Volume
Print and mail services do one thing: print and mail. All day. Every day. The machines run constantly, achieving high output numbers. Their employees are efficient and have refined skills. They follow an intricate and involved process. They have invested in state-of-the-art equipment and run it at a much higher volume than a typical in-house operation can expect to. The extremely high volume drives down the cost per piece.
Bulk
Professional print companies order a massive amount of supplies. Because they are ordering such huge quantities, they pay less per item—reams of paper, boxes of envelopes, toner, ink, and maintenance supplies. The cost savings of supplies can add up to a considerable sum. And even if it breaks down to pennies per piece of mail, we know by now that pennies add up.
Controlled Costs
Cost predictability is especially important when you are talking about labor costs. A mail service pays employees a consistent salary and produces enough volume to support those salaries. In-house operations are generally less consistent with less volume, resulting in higher (and less predictable) labor costs per piece of mail.
Efficiency
Professional print services are keenly aware of the important role efficiency plays in an operation. A streamlined and efficient process allows these companies to produce higher quantities and drive down costs. A print and mail shop constantly evaluates every step of its process for efficiency. Because of this, they can guarantee a fast turnaround for your project and take on even more clients to keep their prices low.
Cutting Additional Costs
If you are looking for ways to increase your savings even more, you can work with your printing services to explore options.
Specialized Mail Services
You can work with your mail expert to identify niche mail services that might save you even more money. The USPS offers special rates for customers that meet specific requirements. You can potentially qualify for a reduced postage rate for bulk mail or by doing an Every Door Direct Mail campaign.
Communicate your budget concerns to your mail company and ask how the savings from specialized mail services can benefit you.
Print Format and Material Choices
Another way to tap into savings is by making conscious decisions about what you print. Identify your budget and your objective, and work with a professional to determine the best product you can get to fit within that budget. Consider what you want to mail (catalogs, letters, postcards, etc.) and the quality of materials you desire (paper quality, special coatings, etc.). Adjusting these two variables allows you to create a solution that meets your needs and fits your budget.
Maintain Mailing Lists
A basic way to save money is to maintain good mailing lists. By eliminating duplicate and outdated addresses, you can count on your mail to have a low rate of returns. Every piece that goes out to a bad address is a wasted cost. By maintaining your mailing lists or partnering with a mail professional who will provide this service, you can reduce waste in your mail projects.
Tax Savings
A unique way to save money with print to mail services is to partner with a company that can save you money because of tax laws. A mail service that operates in a state without sales tax can pass those savings on to you. Operating in Montana (a tax-free state), we can pass the tax savings on to our customers.
Whatever mail project you need, there is a solution for you. By partnering with a mail service, you not only lower your mail costs but also have access to professionals who understand the industry in ways that can save you even more.
