You’re attending a trade show to promote and showcase your products or services to a large-scale audience which means you have an array of trade show materials you need to have printed.

You begin jotting down everything you’ll need, including business cards, brochures, promotional merchandise, banners, etc. You then need to find the best trade show printing company.

There is a lot that goes into finding the best printing company and you need to decide whether you’re going to go with a local printer or an online printer.

The decision is often a tough one, so let's weigh the pros and cons of working with an online commercial printer vs working with a local printing company when getting your trade show materials printed.

Online Trade Show Printing Companies vs. Local Printing Companies

Shopping locally and being able to speak with your printer in person are attractive qualities of working with a local printing company. However, the benefits of working with an online printing company are why more and more printers are expanding their e-commerce presence to provide their audience with the ease, speed, and affordability that online printers offer.

Here are some benefits of working with an online trade show printing company and the benefits of getting your trade show materials printed with a local printer to help you decide which is the best option for you:

Benefits of Working with an Online Trade Show Printing Company

Ability to Order Trade Show Materials from Anywhere

Circumstances such as working from home, traveling from one trade show to the next, or traveling for work in general, make it hard to order your trade show materials from your local printer. Plus, you can’t order your printed trade show materials outside of business hours.

When working with an online printing company, you can order your materials whenever and wherever it’s most convenient for you. If you can connect to the internet, you’re prepared to place an order for your banners, table tents, promotional items, event brochures, and more.

Instant Pricing

Many local printing companies require you to visit their location, email, or call to get a quote on specific trade show materials and then pay over the phone or in person. With online printers, this isn’t the case.

Many online trade show printing companies have built in product calculators so you can get an idea of how much your trade show marketing materials could cost within seconds.

On top of this, when you’re ready to place your order, you can securely checkout from wherever you are.

Simplified and Faster Ordering Process

Online printers offer faster turnarounds—some materials can be printed and shipped out in just one day. In addition, their streamlined process makes the entire shopping, ordering, checkout, proofing, and printing process much quicker which results in saved time and increased productivity

Lower Printing Costs

When you participate in a trade show, you’re constantly handing out materials and samples which you paid for. On top of that, you need to weigh the costs of your booth and traveling expenses. The amount of money you end up spending on trade shows adds up quickly.

This is one of the main reasons why marketers choose online printers over their local printers. Online commercial printers have a national reach and lower overhead costs, which means they're able to offer much lower prices compared to local printers.

Shipping When You Need It

Online printing companies market to a wide audience. They do this not only because they have the ability, experience, and technology to do so, but because they have facilities all over the country allowing them to expand their reach.

This is important because while you may think ordering from an online printing company who has a headquarters across the country will result in a longer delivery time and higher shipping costs, this isn’t true. Their headquarters may be in one place, but chances are they have a facility closer to you and will ensure that your trade show materials are printed and shipped from the closest facility. This not only saves you on shipping costs, but you also receive your materials much quicker.

Reordering Made Easy

One of the best parts of online printing companies is that their ordering process creates a portfolio so you can view all your previous projects. This is beneficial, because if you need to print more of the same items—for example, your business cards, trade show banners, or catalogs—then all you have to do is click the reorder button to quickly print the exact same product. You can even request to use the same art files as before.

Proofing Trade Show Materials is Easy

Proofs are so important when buying printed materials as they will show you what your final product will look like before it is printed, which prevents errors and wasted money. Unfortunately, many local printers don’t offer digital proofing or don’t have the technology to accurately display printed materials digitally.

When working with an online trade show printing company, they can produce an accurate and free digital proof within the same day. If your proof looks good, you press approve, and your printer will begin the printing process. If there is an error in color, a typo, or anything else, all you have to do is upload a new file and your online printer will create a new proof for you all for no cost at all.

Direct Mail Solutions with In-House Mailing

Some online printing companies, like Conquest Graphics, also offer direct mail marketing services which include mailing directly from their in-house mail center.

Direct mail services, including targeted mailing options, allow you to advertise your brand and increase the number of people who attend the trade show. On top of helping with exposure, online printing companies' in-house mail centers allow you to save money and time by mailing your direct mail materials directly from their facility without you having to run to the post office.

Better Quality Control

Online trade show printing companies use advanced technology which produces higher quality and consistent products. Even if you order the same trade show posters as you did for your trade show last year, your new posters will be of the same exact quality. In addition to their advanced printing technology, online printers typically have a larger team, including a quality insurance manager. With more eyes on each printed material they produce, you can guarantee the best quality every time.

Web to Print Portal Technology

Many companies who attend trade shows attend more than one each year and some businesses have multiple locations with each attending specific trade shows in their area. Because of this, each trade show material, from pop-up tents and signage to event brochures and business cards, needs to be consistent with the brand.

Luckily, many online commercial printers offer custom-built online storefronts—also known as “Brand Portals” or “Web to Print Portals." These streamlined and private interfaces save businesses money and time by storing their brand's trade show materials in one place. If you have a location out in California attending a local trade show, they can access your company’s Brand Portal and order materials that are brand-compliant and the exact same as your location’s materials in North Carolina.

For certain materials, individuals can even customize certain elements like names and contact information on business cards or addresses on flyers, while never compromising your brand’s identity.

Inventory and Fulfillment Across the Country

As mentioned above, online commercial printers have multiple facilities across the country. This means, not only can they print and ship your materials from the closest facility, but they can also inventory your trade show materials in their warehouse, kit (or package certain materials together to save on shipping costs,) and mail from the facility that saves you the most time and money.

Warehousing is especially important when it comes to trade show materials. If you attend multiple trade shows a year, it’s cheaper to order certain materials like pens, banners, and brochures in bulk but it’s not ideal to store extra materials in your office. Your printer can inventory them in the closest warehouse to you so that as soon as you need them, they can ship your trade show materials to you, or you can pick them up.

Eco-Friendly Printing

Eco-friendly promotional products at trade shows are a huge hit and show that your company is environmentally conscious. So why stop the line at recycled cotton tote bags and reusable water bottles with your logo on them? If you choose an online printing company, chances are they’re an eco-friendly printer as well which shows you support sustainable practices, and it helps you reduce your carbon footprint.

Benefits of Working with a Local Printing Company

Support Local Businesses

When working with a local printing company, you’re supporting your local economy. This helps to keep and create jobs and keeps money in your local area.

Contract Poofs Are More Ideal

Contract proofs, or physical samples of your printed product, typically cost money no matter what trade show printing company you choose. If a company offers free contract proofs, chances are they’re able to offer free physical proofs because their products are priced much higher.

While contract proofs aren’t as popular anymore due to the advancements in color matching with digital proofs, if you require a contract proof, working with a local printer is more ideal. This is because with online printers, your printer needs to print the proof and then ship it to you for review. With a local printer, you can visit their shop and approve or request changes within minutes.

Ability to Pick Up

While working with a local printing company typically costs much more than an online printing company, the ability for you to pick up your trade show materials saves you on shipping costs.

What Is the Best Trade Show Printing Company?

When it comes down to it, you need to carefully weigh your goals and budget when searching for the best trade show printing company for you.

If your main objectives are brand consistency, speed, affordability, flexibility, and quality, then choosing an online printing company for your trade show marketing materials is your best option.

If your trade show takes place near you and a contract proof is needed, then working with a local printer might be the better option.

At Conquest Graphics, we started out as just a local printing company, so we understand the importance of building relationships that make our customers feel more like a partner rather than a client. We have facilities across the country, and our customer service team is always available via phone, email, or live chat so you can get the help and guidance you need during your entire trade show preparation.

In addition, our capabilities offer every benefit listed above and more. If you’re interested in the benefits of working with an online trade show printing company, then we invite you to explore some of our most popular trade show printing materials. If at any time, you have questions or need assistance you can contact us via email, chat, or phone, at 800-707-9903.