Help on poster printing prices

[Mo Gillis-Coates]

Hi denise, what epson do you have and are you using OEM inks? I have a wide format 8 ink epson and have been printing posters and canvases for years. Also photos and paper banners.

I have been using a bulk ink system in it for the last 2 years and have only had to change one damper so far (pretty easy job to be honest)

1litre of pigment ink costs me about £65 and I spend on average of £250 a month on ink.

Running material costs for me including canvas are about £5 per meter of full colour printed canvas.

I trade out 18×24 canvas prints on 38mm stretcher bars for around £35 each. When I say trade I mean I have a few customers who regularly buy 10-15 canvases a month in one go. I can turn out 10 quality finished canvases on my own in half a day no problem. They are all taped on the back and also coated with a scratch resistant coating. I retail these for about £60-£80 depending on how much work i have to do with the image.

Let me know if you need any advice in the canvas dept, it’show I got started.

Mo

[Denise Goodfellow]

Hi Mo

We have had a 7890 9 colour. We will be using original inks for the moment.

Canvases we are ok on, we already print them on the mimaki.

Its just what to charge for the posters????

[David Hammond]

What paper are you planning on using?

I know there can be slight variations on price – about £1 PLM. But the perceived value is much greater.

I now stock a 135gsm paper for those posters that are being thrown up for a week/cheap promo work.

I also stock a 200/220gsm paper, which I sell as a premium poster, it will last longer than the 135gsm, it’s a nicer finish, and is aimed more at long term promotions a-boards etc.

Another reason for the 135gsm is that we can print an A3 laser poster for just over £1 and then it’s a big jump to A2, so I am trying to close the gap.

I actually need to look at my poster pricing and see if get it set in stone – so to speak.