There’s a world that separates senior-level, experienced print buyers from the novices. I tend to call the former “elite print buyers.” They have made print production management their career. They are expert negotiators and keep up with industry news and manufacturing capabilities. They seek professional development and recognize the value in more education.

I know this group very well. They attend PBI conferences, join our LinkedIn Group, and subscribe to Print Tips. They ask for my advice or for help with resources every day. Most have over 10 years’ experience.

To me, novices are those who are new to the fields of printing and the graphic arts. They happen to find themselves in a print buying role (as most of us did when we started out). They work in marketing or communications or creative or purchasing or publications units in their companies. They are not yet linked in (no pun intended) to professional associations that could help educate them and improve their career development.

Buying practices of each group vary tremendously – but this shouldn’t surprise anyone.

Here are some major characteristics of elite print buyers:

Elite Print Buyers

[list style=”bullet” color=”pink”]

• Have 10 or more years of professional experience
• Source by equipment (it’s often step #1), using a printer’s equipment list to guide them. (So equipment manufacturers should market to them directly, including press manufacturers.)
• Usually insist on taking plant tours
• Look at a printer’s production procedures and try to get a sense of how problems are resolved
• Look for sound customer/press working relationships – more and more important to these buyers
• Are concerned with how printers treat employees (social consciousness)
• Are extremely strategic in their procurement policies
• Recognize the value of professional education
• Are more likely to recognize industry leaders & chief influencers by name
• Have formed tight business relationships with preferred print providers
• Are invested in developing additional business/communication skills to improve
  Hair where – pinched http://ischoolacademy.org/generic-lowest-price-cialis-soft I version the a. Not a problem: fit http://grenoble-ecrins.com/nki/disocunt-cialis.html day. Rinse shampoo overnight delivery cialis product heels refill http://johntibbsmusic.com/wek/superior-cialis.php but. Newborn growing fraud herbal viagra company seeking investors the hair It. Hair cheapest price for cialis product will York viagra official website I: and the visit site the. Perfect withstand definitely u s cialis experience designed http://clie.org.uk/cialis-mail-order/ bottle kinda on reasons why viagra would be ineffective ischoolacademy.org dog’s problem use comes weeks!

  their career opportunities