Let me tell you something that might sound a little backward at first: right now, during one of the messiest trade climates we’ve seen in years, it might actually be the best time to find a new print supplier.
No, I’m not kidding.
Yes, I know—tariffs are up, freight isn’t exactly cheap, and political tension is thicker than grandma’s Thanksgiving gravy.
But hear me out.
The Hidden Layer Cake of Trade
If you’ve ever bought printed books, catalogs, or displays for your business, chances are you didn’t buy them straight from the factory. You likely worked with a distributor, who bought from a wholesaler, who bought from a trading company, who maybe found a factory — after adding their own margin.
Now stack those costs like pancakes.
Each layer = more syrup = more money out of your pocket.
The truth is, in many international supply chains, the factory is four or five steps removed from you, the actual person who needs the stuff. And during normal times, that’s annoying.
But during a trade war? That’s a disaster.
So Here’s the Twist…
When the tariffs hit, guess who’s paying the final bill?
You!
But what if I told you that even with tariffs, going direct-to-factory might still save you money compared to the old layered model?
That’s not a pipe dream. That’s basic math.
You cut out the middlemen, and suddenly, 25% tariffs don’t look so bad when you’re saving 40% on markups.
A Real-World Example? You Got It.
We had a client in California — small publishing house, lovely team, super creative. They were printing through a local vendor who, it turns out, was two layers removed from the actual production. They were used to paying $3.20 per unit for a run of 1,000 softcover children’s books.
They found us — Call2Print — through a referral. We quoted them factory-direct, bilingual support, proper binding, and delivery to their door (with all the paperwork handled).
Even with the tariffs, landed cost came in at $2.35 per unit.
They were shocked. And a little annoyed… at themselves for not finding us earlier.
But hey, better late than never, right?
This Isn’t Just About Printing
Honestly, this whole idea applies to way more than just printing.
In any industry, when times get tough, the smartest companies don’t just cut spending — they cut fluff.
They trim the fat, simplify the chain, and find ways to do more with less.
And the easiest way to do that?
Go to the source.
So... Are You Ready?
Now, I’m not saying everyone should fly to China tomorrow and start shaking hands in factories. But I am saying this:
If you're still buying through a chain of middlemen, you might be spending more than you need to — even during a trade war.
At Call2Print, we’ve always worked factory-direct. We serve companies big and small, and we've been doing this for nearly three decades. Fast turnarounds, real humans on the phone, bilingual service, and no layers to hide behind.
So, if you're a business owner trying to cut through the noise, maybe it’s time to think smaller — fewer steps, fewer margins, fewer surprises.
And if that sounds like something you’d be into, well… our inbox is always open.
Let’s weather this craziness together.
Factory-Direct Since Day One.