Publishing Advice - UK/European Short-run Printers

Posted by: Malcolm Craig On: Mar 13th 2010

Due to changes in exchange rates and increases in shipping costs, Paul and I are looking at perhaps shifting some of our printing from the US to the UK or Europe (print for, for example, IPR, will still be done in the US).

Setting aside Lulu and Lightning Source, are there any printers which people have used and could recommend? Or, even that they have heard are reliable and produce a quality product for a reasonable price?

Cheers
Malcolm

Posted by: Rich Stokes On: Mar 14th 2010

I've sounded out Anthony Rowe in Eastbourne. Basically they're the main printer for Lulu in the UK, so their printing/binding is fine. If you deal direct, you get proofs and customer support (as opposed to Lulu, where you get neither) and can control things like crop. Price wise though, they're not that far off Lulu. I priced up 100 Umlauts and the first run was going to cost ever-so slightly more per copy than Lulu (although there was flat-rate shipping which made the overall cost slightly less). The second run of 100 would have worked out much cheaper, since the setup fee and proof wouldn't be needed.

Posted by: Malcolm Craig On: Mar 17th 2010

Thanks for that Rich. I've contacted Rowe for a print quote, so we'll see how that pans out. I'm also waiting on some info about printing in Poland, which I'll share as soon as I have it available.

Cheers
Malcolm

Posted by: Malcolm Craig On: Mar 18th 2010 edited

Further to the suggestion from Rich, I've now got a quote from Anthony Rowe. For a print run between 1 and 300 copies, the print cost is £3.30 per copy for a 204 page, A5, 80gsm internal stock, colour gloss laminate cover book such as Hot War. There is a £95.00 setup fee. Shipping is estimated at £25.00, giving a final total of about £450.00, or £4.50 per copy. For a second or subsequent run, the setup costs can be taken out of the equation, giving a per unit cost of £3.55.

Including all ancillary costs such as shipping, this now compares favourably with printing in the US (the printing is cheaper, but shipping is a killer). From the CGS point of view, we're now looking at using Fidlar Doubleday for stuff that goes to IPR and someone like Anthony Rowe for all our UK/European needs.

Cheers
Malcolm