Why does it cost so much to print low quantity items? Why are you so expensive in general?

Why does it cost so much to print low quantity items? Why are you so expensive in general?

We understand and empathize potential frustrations you have with our pricing. We think about this question a lot and we know it's one of our biggest barriers to helping more people.

Ultimately, we hyper-focus on being a place where you can expect centerpiece-level intensity for whatever product we run.  It may seem like that should be a given for any business, but the cost is incredibly high. We could write an entire thesis on this topic, but here are a few factors that you might appreciate:
  1. We have to spend a lot of time understanding what our clients want. We found the most success using our WINDOW framework to understand the intricacies of your project. This has been the only thing that has given us a fighting chance to have almost every client thrilled while managing budgets and deadlines.
  2. We rarely run your project along with anyone else's.
  3. The machines we use to print are over $2,500,000 retail. We have some of the best equipment in the world, but that also means each hour and even each minute has a significant opportunity cost.
  4. We're located in the creative capital of the world, Hollywood, so we're used to working with the most particular clients and we also have the highest expenses.
  5. We invest in automation and technology to help our team stay lean while also executing at the highest level. I think our team is genuinely happy and appreciative of the effort we've put in to create a more sustainable and dignified workplace.
We know that the price for a piece of paper is high and that you have a plethora of other options and we respect that. We're not for everyone, but I think people keep coming back because they see the intensity we bring to the craft while also juggling the challenges of building a lasting organization.

The Future
I, Leiman the owner, certainly won't be surprised if you think everything above is worthless. In some ways, I agree. It's not exactly where I want to be either so I'm tirelessly looking for ways to increase access to making beautiful new things. I think Nonstop Printing will mostly focus on people who need centerpiece-level intensity, but I hope we can build something new that allows for more creativity through lower pricing. With all the fancy equipment we have we could do so much more and we haven't even begun the journey. It's my lifelong goal to increase access to amazing technology so that makers can innovate more easily. It's my obsession and my play. If you made it this far, thank you for reading!

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