Card printing - advice?

[theunicorntoldmetoeatit]

Hello

Just wondering if anyone is able to offer some advice

I've got some designs that I would like to print onto card, with the hope of selling..

Does anyone have a take on whether it would be best to invest in a printer to print myself or to find somewhere that could print them for me - and where this could be done?

Thank you

Hi there,
I'd advise against buying your own printer. There are very few circumstances where the costs (including ink) would pay for itself over time.

What quantities were you thinking? What size? You've not given enough information. Do you mean card as in thick paper, or as in greetings cards?

For greetings cards, posters, flyer type jobs use an online printer.
I'm a graphic designer and my usual three affordable printers are media29.co.uk, helloprint.co.uk and phroomprint.co.uk.

For printing onto sheets of card at smaller quantities, approach a print shop in town and speak to the staff. You will be able to see what type of stock (paper/card) they have on offer, and will assist you with getting the best from your files.

Hope that helps!

Hi, thank you so much for your response.

I'm looking to do greetings cards/prints onto a5/a6 matt card, possible around 50-75 to start just to see where the land lies.

I'm starting off small. I'm in the middle of setting up a website and possibly an etsy page.. I don't have any experience in starting anything like this, so I'm just focusing on getting something to show first and then figuring the best way to sell them I suppose.

In being a graphic designer yourself, do you design greeting cards etc?

thanks again for the advice!

Ah, great. Thanks for that extra info. Yes, in this case you're best off using an online service… if they don't offer matte paper on their website, drop them an email. They will be able to explain coatings and textures available for the matte look. Most printers will do a minimum of 100… don't be scared that it's a higher number than you initially want. It won't be any cheaper to print fewer… and the more you order the greater your profit margins will be.

Yes, I do make greetings cards, for either clients or myself, but don't sell them individually.

All the best with your new venture, that is very exciting.

Ah that's great, I'll have a look at that today then. Thank you very much for your help!

Really appreciate it.

All the best!