Category: General discussion
Later topic: New Press Questions
Earlier topic: Photopolymer number

Questions from someone starting a letterpress business

  • rebpow
  • on 13 Nov 09 (13:30)
  • Updated 13 Nov 09 (13:31)

Hi all,

I’m starting a new letterpress business in Oakland, California and I have a few questions about the industry. I would really appreciate some feedback from those who have been in the business for a while. And of course, if you have any other advise or feedback, I’d really appreciate that as well.

I’ve created a survey with just 9 questions. Here is the link to it: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=D3_2brebmpsA25diGTP2_2fgig_3d_3d

Thanks,
Rebecca Peters
-Reb Peters Press

Log in to reply   5 replies so far

Thanks so much to everyone who filled out my survey. I really appreciate it!

All the best,
Rebecca

Rebecca, would you mind sharing the results with the rest of us?
just curious…. I think a lot of us on here would find the results interesting.

  • rebpow
  • on 27 Nov 09 (21:54)
  • Updated 27 Nov 09 (21:55)

I put out a survey (via www.surveymonkey.com) for letterpress business owners in the US and got 22 responses (4 from the SF Bay Area, 3 from Southern California, the rest were from all over the US) that gave me the impression that printing business cards and wedding invites are their 2 biggest areas of sales. Some mentioned that they don’t offer business card printing because they don’t make as much money. They said that the majority of people who did request business card printing were designers (75%), photographers (33%), and artists (16%) * more than one answer was allowed for this question. The majority said that their business is the same or worse than in previous years and that they have less business than they’d like to. 24% said business has been better for them recently.
The majority (78%) said their business came through referrals from clients or through friends. Most didn’t notice having more male or female clients. Most advertise through word-of-mouth or on blogs. Seven responders said that they don’t advertise at all.

If anyone has any other comments about Letterpress business, I’d be happy to hear more about it. Thanks!

-Rebecca
www.rebpeterspress.com

  • jfitz
  • on 27 Nov 09 (22:02)

Rebecca-

Don’t limit yourself, there is plenty of work out there for you if you have a 10 x 15 or larger press. We offer services to other local printers doing their scoring, perforating, die cutting, as well as crash numbering. Don’t forget there is even foil stamping and embossing options.
Good luck-

Thanks for you advice jfitz. I hadn’t thought of that. I just have no idea how to price for those sorts of things. I don’t have the equipment to do that yet, but was planning to look into acquiring it soon.

Thanks!
-Rebecca