Investing in a wide-format printer can take your printing business to the next level. If you are struggling to find work, then the extra options presented by a wide-format printer can put your head and shoulders above your competition. However, as exciting as this all sounds, any success will be largely dependent on getting some key things right and taking steps in three important areas

#1 Tell customers about all of the new services you can offer them

You probably already have a database (however small) of satisfied customers. Your first step then is to tell all of them about the new services on offer – at a discount naturally – to get the ball rolling. This will be relatively cheap to do as you don’t have to pay to advertise to them, and you already have a relationship with them, so they know your quality standards.

Doing this can start the process of having the printer pay for itself and gaining positive reviews that you can use when it comes to marketing to new customers. The ability to print on a wide range of materials and create banners, signs, and posters as well as vehicle wraps, means your potential market just expanded, and you should make the most of that.

#2 set up a maintenance program

Of course, all of this relies on having a working machine, as poor-quality work or missing a deadline can wipe out any progress you might have made with your new acquisition. You would quite rightly expect it to work well to start with, but you still need to follow these printer maintenance tips from day one to ensure that it continues. 

With the influx of orders that this new resource could generate, your printer could see a ton of activity early on, so you need to get into good habits early to avoid any problems. This also extends to getting the right inks for your printer and ensuring that any software is updated regularly to stop any unplanned downtime and the knock-on effects this is likely to have on your business.

#3 Train your staff to use your new acquisition

Another important piece of the puzzle is training. After all, you do not want people using your newest and most expensive asset who don’t know what they are doing. This will have to occur across the board as your printer will likely run regularly. In many ways, training is just as important as maintenance – as effective training can cut down on downtime and waste.

If you usually see training as an additional expense and think your staff will just pick it up as they go along, then you need to weigh up the cost of training against unwanted repair bills and poor initial results. By putting a training program in place, you are also likely to get a boost from the increased confidence and morale that a well-trained workforce can give you.

By Manali