How to Stand Out in a Crowded Print Market with Value-Driven Services

Not standing out from the crowd is the same as being invisible.

The print industry is changing. The World Economic Forum (WEF) projects a 20% decline in the global print industry workforce over the next five years; this is compounded by trends shaping the printing industry like AI, automation and sustainability.

To stand out and thrive, print businesses must now go beyond basic services and adopt a value-driven approach that enhances customer satisfaction, builds loyalty, and differentiates their offerings.

Here’s how YOUR print shop can rise above the competition by focusing on personalization, eco-friendly options, faster turnaround, superior customer experience, and strong brand identity.

Contents 

• 1. Personalization: Making Print More Meaningful
• 2. Eco-Friendly Printing: Meeting Sustainability Demands
• 3. Faster Turnaround: Efficiency is the New Competitive Edge
• 4. Superior Customer Experience: Happy customers buy more products
• 5. Develop Your Brand Identity: Stop Selling Just Print, Sell Your Story
• 6. Embrace Change
• How Print ePS Can Help YOU Stand Out in a Crowded Print Market

1. Personalization: Making Print More Meaningful

Customers today want more than just standard prints.

They’re increasingly seeking unique, customized materials that reflect their brand, personality, or special occasions.

According to Mckinsey, 76% of consumers say personalization makes them more likely to purchase, and 78% say it makes them more likely to repurchase.

Offering variable data printing (VDP), personalized marketing collateral, and one-to-one direct mail campaigns can provide added value.

How to Implement VDP

• Use customer data to create tailored marketing materials.
• Offer custom design services and templates for easy personalization.
• Integrate with e-commerce platforms like MarketDirect StoreFront to enable self-service customization.
• Offer personalized packaging solutions to appeal to niche markets.

"People don’t just want to buy print anymore. If it’s all about print, then people are going to struggle. The people who are paying for the product are the brand owners, and they are looking for added value." — Harry Skidmore, Easibind (Printweek, 2016).

2. Eco-Friendly Printing: Meeting Sustainability Demands

Sustainability is no longer a trend. Your customers expect it.

46% of consumers say they are buying more sustainable products to reduce their environmental impact, with Gen Z and millennials leading this shift.

How to Implement Eco-Friendly Printing:

• Use FSC-certified or recycled paper to reduce environmental impact.
• Offer soy-based or vegetable-based inks instead of petroleum-based ones.
• Promote on-demand printing to reduce excess inventory and waste.
• Highlight sustainability practices in your marketing to attract eco-conscious customers.

This is a great video from Konica Minolta that dives into strategic leadership, sustainability and data-driven decisions: 

3. Faster Turnaround: Efficiency is the New Competitive Edge

"If we promise to deliver something on Wednesday, it will be there on Wednesday come hell or high water. To me, it’s not about doing anything exceptional—it’s about doing things properly and being honest with your customers." — Paul Banton, Ruddocks (Printweek, 2018).

Speed is a critical factor in customer decisions, especially in today’s fast-paced business world. Customers need their materials quickly and reliably, without sacrificing quality.

How to Implement Faster Turnaround:

• Invest in workflow automation tools like Auto-Count 4D to track job progress and improve efficiency.
• Implement web-to-print solutions for faster order processing.
• Offer same-day or next-day services for urgent print jobs.
• Optimize scheduling with AI-driven tools like PrintFlow 4D to reduce production bottlenecks.

Learn how through continuous feedback on job costs and job types, Micropress can estimate with more speed and accuracy.

4. Superior Customer Experience: Happy customers buy more products

While high-quality prints are expected -  exceptional customer service can set your business apart.

Customers don’t just want a product; they want a seamless, reliable experience that makes ordering and managing their print projects effortless. Get this right and you will build trust, encourage repeat business, get referral business, and turn once one-time buyers into long-term clients.

Source: superoffice.com

How to Implement Superior Customer Experience:

• Provide real-time order tracking to keep customers informed.
• Offer multi-channel support (chat, email, phone) for quick assistance.
• Use CRM tools integrated with your MIS system (e.g., Monarch, Pace, or PrintSmith Vision) to build lasting relationships.
• Train staff to provide proactive service, anticipating client needs before they ask.

5. Develop Your Brand Identity: Stop Selling Just Print, Sell Your Story

Many printers still market their services with pictures of large machines and complex technical specs. But customers buy from people who offer simple solutions to their problems - not machines.

In fact, Edelman found 81% of consumers state that trust in a brand is a prerequisite for making a purchase.

Developing a distinct brand personality can help position your business as a serious creative influencer rather than just another print provider.

How to Implement a Great Brand Identity:

• Define your brand values and integrate them into all customer interactions.
• Develop a unique tone of voice and maintain consistency across all channels.
• Engage with customers on social media through storytelling and behind-the-scenes content.
• Encourage customer testimonials and showcase successful projects.

"We probably started to refine who we were about five years ago, but over the past 18 months, we’ve spent a great deal of time on our tone of voice and branding. We defined what our values are and really started to understand them and to live and breathe them." — Paul Banton, Ruddocks (Printweek, 2018).

6. Embrace Change

Businesses that lead are the ones that embrace change, while those that stick to the mindset of “we’ve always done it this way” risk being left behind. Just as no one arrives at work on a horse anymore, clinging to outdated methods holds a company back.

Innovation drives success, and the businesses that adapt will thrive—while those resistant to change watch progress pass them by.

How to Implement Change:

• Adopt a Growth Mindset: See change as an opportunity, not a threat.
• Stay Customer-Focused: Adapt to evolving customer needs and expectations.
• Encourage Innovation: Create a culture that values new ideas and continuous improvement.
• Be Data-Driven: Use insights to make informed decisions and guide change.
• Empower Your Team: Support employees with training and clear communication, and don’t be scared to remove change resistant team members from the project group.
• Start Small, Scale Fast: Test new approaches and expand on what works.
• Learn from Others: Observe industry leaders and adapt best practices.
• Stay Agile: Be ready to pivot and adjust as needed.

How Print ePS Can Help YOU Stand Out in a Crowded Print Market

By adopting personalization, eco-friendly solutions, faster turnaround, superior service, and strong branding, your print business can attract new customers and retain existing ones in an increasingly competitive industry. The key is to go beyond printing and provide value-driven solutions that meet modern customer demands.

Print ePS helps print businesses stand out by providing advanced automation, personalization, and AI-driven solutions that enhance efficiency and customer engagement. With MarketDirect StoreFront, print shops can offer seamless web-to-print customization, enabling customers to personalize their orders with variable data printing (VDP) and one-to-one direct mail campaigns.

AI-powered tools assist with design optimization, high-quality image generation, and layout refinement, reducing manual effort and improving turnaround times. Additionally, PrintFlow 4D and Auto-Count 4D optimize scheduling and production tracking, ensuring faster, more reliable service that meets modern customer expectations.

Beyond automation, Print ePS supports sustainability and customer-centric branding. Eco-conscious businesses can leverage on-demand printing, FSC-certified materials, and soy-based inks to reduce waste and appeal to environmentally aware customers. Integrated CRM tools within Monarch, Pace, or PrintSmith Vision improve customer relationships by enabling personalized service, order tracking, and targeted marketing.

Ready to elevate your print business? Contact us today and discover how Print ePS can help you streamline operations, boost profitability, and stand out from the competition. Let’s build the future of print together!

References: Dugdale, Helen. A Bit of Personality Will Set You Apart from the Crowd. Printweek, 2018. Creasey, Simon. Stand Out from the Crowd to Up Sales. Printweek, 2016.