It doesn't matter if the customer is happy with the printing. If the designer doesn't like it, you'll never work for them again. Partnerships and a helping hand can calm potential commercial printing storms, Day says. He suggests building an association with a commercial printer in your region, but far enough away so you won't be competing against each other if the printer has a direct sales force. Day aligned himself with a firm that does commercial printing for him, and in exchange, Day provides business forms for the commercial printer and its clients.
Day relies on a graphic arts company to scan images and for some page layout.
Price is a sticking figure for any product, but especially so for commercial printing, where the cost of color can scare off potential customers. Let your clients know they have options. One of Lehman's clients is a college that wants to portray a professional image, but needs to stay within a limited budget. Lehman provides the college's catalog with a 4-color process cover and its registration bulletins with spot color on the cover. One of Johnston's customers is a real estate company that wanted to market a new housing development.