The rise of Tradeprint: revolutionising printing one sheet at a time
Since its inception in Dundee, in 1997, Tradeprint has grown into a full web-to-print business serving as a print partner for numerous companies. Originally established as Fairprint, the company became part of the global Cimpress Group in 2015 and was renamed Tradeprint. Today, Tradeprint stands as one of the most well-known online print service providers and promotional goods manufacturers. With an expanded product portfolio encompassing cards, stationery, large format printing, posters, flyers, stickers, labels, packaging, brochures, printed merchandise, clothing and more, Tradeprint covers a wide range of needs for all sorts of businesses.
Dedicated to delivering five-star service to its clients, Tradeprint has implemented its recognised Tradeprint Pro programme to further support print professionals. As the company’s core clientele remains print resellers and businesses in the print trade, the Tradeprint Pro serves as a trade-only incentive scheme aiming to reward Tradeprint’s loyal customer base. The program was designed to provide a range of special pricing, services, and benefits to strengthen these vital relationships. Thus, Tradeprint Pro members enjoy substantial savings by way of a credit-based system for their orders, while also being granted access to exclusive Pro tools, an image library and an account manager who assists them with business spend audits, reviews, product launches, and white-label customisation. Tradeprint Pro members can earn credits on all their purchases and, each month, these credits are transferred to their online accounts. Consequently, members can enjoy discounts on the next month’s print projects. To date, Tradeprint has given back hundreds of thousands of pounds’ worth of credit to its esteemed reseller community.
Tradeprint boasts a diverse range of manufacturing capabilities, encompassing digital, offset, sublimation, and large format printing. Standing as a pioneer of mass customisation in print, Tradeprint has continued to invest in the best-in-class printing technologies. Most notable is its new Heidelberg XL 106 perfector. Rod Scrimgeour, Operations Director explains: “The press is the first of its kind in the UK, running LED-UV inks automatically pumped from 200kgs drums. The efficiencies gained with a dry sheet has led to better post press production flow: our WIP on the floor has been reduced by some 80 percent.” Indeed, the company leverages the best of technology to optimise its production processes and ensure extremely competitive print costs for its customers. By using its self-service dynamic design templates or clients’ own artwork, Tradeprint can print any design on any product within its vast catalogue. Such flexibility empowers Tradeprint to provide solutions even for customers who may not have a pre-existing design to hand. Furthermore, Tradeprint simplifies the customisation process by providing templates and guides handily located on each product page, detailing the technical specifications needed to quickly set up print-ready design files. This way, customisation of products on a large scale becomes as easy as tweaking designs and uploading files. Once the files are submitted to Tradeprint, the company takes care of the printing and sending via white label packaging.
Enhanced manufacturing processes
Over the years, Tradeprint has invested in cutting-edge print technologies to offer printing services of the highest quality while maintaining the most competitive pricing. To complement its sophisticated hardware, Tradeprint adopted colour management systems. This addition enables the company to guarantee precise colour accuracy in print, thus meeting the specifications of its customers. As such, Tradeprint installed a GMG ColorServer Hybrid (GMG) for colour consistency across multiple outputs, offering increased speed and cost reductions. The GMG is seamlessly integrated into Tradeprint’s operations, supporting multiple Canon high speed inkjet devices, Litho long perfectors as well as flexible and rigid large format and sublimation devices. By leveraging the capabilities of the GMG, Tradeprint establishes a comprehensive library of output profiles categorised by stock and device to ensure maximum colour consistency across different devices and output conditions. GMG’s ink optimisation function, known as the InkOptimizer, is pivotal in cutting the cost of consumables and reducing drying times, thereby ensuring devices operate at full speed. In fact, by replacing expensive colour inks with black ink and preserving the integrity of the black channel for an enhanced grey balance, the InkOptimizer reduces ink spend while maintaining high colour quality. Additionally, the InkOptimizer limits wastage caused by streaking and mottling, and decreases downtime thanks to reduced inkjet head wear. Tradeprint’s enhanced manufacturing processes are applied to many types of printed marketing materials such as banners, flyers, business cards and stationery or more tangible items such as mugs, tote bags, stickers, and cushions.
Sustainability initiatives
Working within the publishing industry, known for its high environmental impact, Tradeprint strives to integrate sustainability practices across its operations. As part of its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2040, the company is introducing more environmentally responsible products, allowing customers to make more sustainable choices. To that end, Anthony Rowell, Sales and Customer Success Director and Sustainability Lead at Tradeprint, has been appointed as Chair of the BPIF Environmental Forum. This important position empowers him to lead the forum in setting out policies and best practices for the British printing industry. Furthermore, Tradeprint is heavily focusing and investing in energy-efficient infrastructure and equipment, renewable energy sourcing, using lower emissions substrates, and employing more sustainable shipping options. Likewise, Tradeprint maximises recycling opportunities at its production facilities for consumables and waste substrates, while also ensuring that all the paper used for printing is Forest Stewardship Council certified and from responsibly managed forestry. In line with its sustainability commitments, Tradeprint is working towards meeting targets set by the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment and EU Plastics Pact. Co-sponsored by the United Nations Environment Programme and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, these initiatives aim to address the challenges of plastic waste and promote a circular economy. Recently Tradeprint was recognised for its efforts by winning the Sustainability Advocate Award from the Independent Printing Industries Association and it has been short listed for the Printweek Award – Environmental Business of the Year – Large Enterprise, which will be held in March. Lastly, Tradeprint enjoys a strong partnership with Two Sides, a paper and packaging advocacy group aiming to dispel myths around greenwashing and promote the benefits of paper use through unbiased research.
As well as sustainability, Tradeprint supports its local communities and businesses. One notable example is the company’s partnership with Street Soccer Scotland (SSS), a charity acclaimed for its efforts to assist those in need. Over the last few years, Tradeprint became a supporter of SSS’ newly refurbished Change Centre. Through this facility, SSS aims to provide personal development support and football-themed training to those struggling with addiction, mental health challenges, or homelessness. In support of SSS’ core mission, Tradeprint provides essential support for the Change Center’s printing needs, contributing to the positive impact SSS makes in the community.
Through its continuous dedication to quality, sustainability, and community initiatives, Tradeprint is poised to empower businesses and enrich lives for years to come.