Don’t get me wrong. I’m not trying to rain on industry efforts to better define quality expectations in printing. Certainly industry standards, such as SWOP, GRACoL, SNAP and Bridges, are noble and important. These standards seek to help buyers and their print solution providers communicate quality issues more effectively. And when used properly, they are effective. But with the exception of perhaps SNAP, print buyers for the most part aren’t paying that much attention to industry standards. And some print buyers don’t even know what they are.
In a Print Buyers Online.com survey of over 62 top print buyers, buyers were asked “How relevant are industry print standards such as SWOP, GRACoL, SNAP and Bridges to you as a print buyer?” Respondents stated the following:
21% — “Very relevant. I find them useful guides when working with my print suppliers.”
48% — “Somewhat relevant. I find them somewhat helpful, but I don’t rely on them often.”
18% — “Not relevant at all. I really don’t think they are very practical or useful for what my company produces.”
13% — “I don’t really know what these industry print standards are.”
Only 21% of respondents said that our industry standards are very relevant. While that’s great, consider the 31% who either aren’t familiar with those standards or do not feel that they are helpful. Those clients may require extra communication to make sure that you are both talking the same language on quality expectations.
Why aren’t industry standards more meaningful to print buyers? Is it a marketing problem? Perhaps our industry has to do a better job of getting the word out. Or is it because print buyers just don’t find the standards that useful? Share your opinion by posting a comment below.
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Print Oasis 2008 Print Buyers Conference & Exhibit
February 9-12, 2008
Amelia Island Plantation, Amelia Island, FL
www.printoasis.com
- People:
- Bridges
- Online.com
- Places:
- AMELIA ISLAND