It’s no secret that most of the mainstream Western publishing houses use Chinese offset printing facilities to produce a large percentage of their books. We look at why so many books are printed in China and how anyone can enjoy the same benefits
Many mainstream publishers — such as Penguin Random House and Simon and Schuster — use Chinese offset printing services for a significant percentage of their book printing needs. Increasingly, successful self-published authors, board game designers, and independent artists also turn to Chinese offset printing services to fulfil their requirements. Clearly, there must be several advantages to outsourcing your book printing in China.
Nevertheless, in some quarters, there’s still hesitancy and doubt with regard to the pros and cons of getting your printing work done thousands of miles away rather than using your local print store. We can understand that. It’s perfectly natural to feel more comfortable with what you know locally. But at the same time, this is the twenty-first century and we live and work in a thriving global marketplace. It can bring many advantages. So let’s look at some of those doubts and also at the benefits of printing books in China.
Ecological impacts
One of the core concerns we’ve heard about printing in China is the environmental impact of the offset printing process and the issue of international shipping. But printing in China is not necessarily less environmentally friendly than printing in any other part of the world. It all depends on the individual company’s policies and practices.
For example, here at QinPrinting, we have established several measures designed to reduce the ecological impact of what we do. So, just a few examples of that commitment are:
- we use exclusively harmless, biodegradable soy-based inks for offset printing
- we’re FSC-certified to use paper and card products traced to sustainably managed forests
- we offer recycled paper products wherever possible
- and we specialize in large print runs, reducing energy use per-unit of product
- in terms of shipping, we try to send “full capacity” and calculate the most efficient shipping method with care to minimize the carbon footprint as well as the cost to the customer
All over the world, businesses are increasingly taking the lead in the transition to a greener economy. That’s just the same here in China as anywhere else.
Cost-effectiveness
The economic advantages of printing books in China are unquestionable. At least, for most products and scales of production. So, if you only need fifty copies of a short black-and-white brochure, then it may be cheaper and more convenient to go with your local, native print shop. But if, say, you need several thousand hardcover books, or a full-color product catalog with 700 pages, getting the printing done in China will be much more cost-effective than in North America or Europe, even taking into account shipping.
In most cases, because of the advanced technology available in China, the strong economy, and the well-trained and dedicated workforce, a good Chinese offset printing company — hello, that’s us, by the way! — will be able to offer high-quality products with a wider range of paper, binding, and finishing options than competitors elsewhere in the world. At QinPrinting, for most of our print products we can guarantee a saving of up to 40% compared with an offset printing service in the USA, for example. Of course, if you only need small quantities and the poorer quality of digital printing is enough for your needs, you’ll probably be better off looking locally.
Still, an excellent deal on price is one of the main reasons so many books are printed in China. It’s certainly a strong motivator for the big publishing houses. At QinPrinting, we’re committed to making those benefits as widely available as possible, including to small businesses, non-profits, and independent creatives and self-publishers.
Quality
There’s a common misconception in some quarters that if you get a bargain price, you get inferior goods. While that may be true in certain circumstances, it’s definitely not the case for the most reputable Chinese printing companies, of which QinPrinting is one of the foremost and best established.
Our offices and facilities are located in the beautiful city of Shanghai, a global center for technology and industry, known for its futuristic architecture, beautiful public gardens, and commercial innovations. We stock only the finest grade materials and maintain and upgrade state-of-the-art printing machines, information technology, and infrastructure. We’re also proud to say that every single one of our staff is a highly trained expert in their field; and as a team, we take great pride in delivering the best possible service to all our customers — wherever you are. Our print products are of unparalleled quality. Ask us for samples if you’re still not sure. We’ll be delighted to provide them.
Payment
It’s understandable that individuals and businesses that have never worked with a Chinese printing company before may worry that payment will be complex and unreliable. But nothing could be further from the truth. The Chinese printing industry is the most advanced in the world — both paper and printing were invented in China, after all! — and we have established trade agreements with countries all over the world.
Our own company, QinPrinting, for example, has clients from the USA, Canada, Australia, the UK, and Europe, to name only a few. What’s more, many of our customers have had active accounts with us for over a decade. Why? Because they are delighted with our high-quality products, our excellent service, and the ease of each transaction. We accept all the usual payment options, so paying for services with us is as simple and efficient as paying for services anywhere else.
Time
Of course, it takes longer to ship print products from China to North America, say, or mainland Europe than it would take from within those territories. That’s absolutely true. But the other advantages are so many and the disadvantages so few that it makes perfect sense economically and logistically to plan ahead and allow for a slightly longer delivery time when creating your publishing and marketing schedules. While if you have an urgent order, it may be in your interests to go local, it’s always worth asking us first. In many cases, we are able to “fast track” certain products. But as a rule, yes, it takes a little longer to ship goods from further away.
Limitations
There are certain natural limitations on the books you can print in China. For example, religious and political books are subject to content review. However, most of our clients are corporate concerns, marketing departments, entrepreneurs and small business owners, self-published novelists, board game designers, photographers and artists. So, it’s unlikely that it will be a problem. If you’re not sure, just ask. We’re very friendly and aim to be as helpful to you as possible on every step of your printing journey.
Talk to us about your next print project!
A well-designed and professionally printed product — whether a novel, a catalog, a calendar, a brochure, leaflet or flyer, or anything else — represents a powerful return on investment. At QinPrinting, we’ve been working with businesses and other clients from all over the world for the last 25 years and more, helping you to create beautiful print products at fantastic prices. Our global reputation for excellence is based on our high-quality products, our friendly and efficient customer service, our top-notch technology, and our genuine passion for all things paper and print. So, talk to us about your next print project. We can’t wait to be part of your success!
