What is Included in Commercial Print Production Services?

Commercial print production services include prepress preparation, offset and digital printing, bindery and finishing, direct mail, and fulfillment. Full-service commercial printing companies may also provide packaging, warehousing, inventory management, kitting, and distribution. These services help businesses manage the entire print production process, from preparing artwork to delivering finished materials.

EM Printing, a full-service commercial printing company in Memphis, Tennessee, provides these services for businesses, marketing departments, procurement teams, and print management organizations.

What Are the Main Stages of Commercial Print Production?

Commercial print production generally follows four primary stages: prepress, printing, finishing, and delivery. Depending on the project, additional services may include mailing, packaging, warehousing, and fulfillment.

1. Prepress and File Preparation

Prepress prepares artwork for accurate, efficient printing.

Services typically include:

• File inspection and production preparation

• Color management and proofing

• Imposition and layout preparation

• Plate production for offset printing

  
  

Identifying potential issues during prepress helps avoid costly mistakes and production delays.

2. Offset and Digital Printing

Commercial printing companies use different printing technologies depending on the project's specifications, quantity, and turnaround requirements.

Offset printing is commonly used for higher-volume projects requiring consistent color and economical unit pricing.

Digital printing is often a practical choice for shorter runs, personalized materials, versioned campaigns, and variable data printing.

A commercial printer offering both methods can recommend the most appropriate production process rather than limiting a project to one technology.

3. Bindery and Specialty Finishing

Bindery and finishing transform printed sheets into completed products.

Common services include cutting, folding, scoring, perforating, binding, die-cutting, and specialty coatings.

Depending on the printer, additional options may include soft-touch finishes, spot UV, foil embellishments, and folding carton assembly.

Finishing considerations should be discussed early because they can affect design, paper selection, production costs, and scheduling.

4. Mailing, Fulfillment, and Distribution

Commercial print production often extends beyond the printing press.

Businesses may need printed materials mailed directly to customers, assembled into promotional kits, stored for future use, or distributed to multiple locations.

These services can include:

• Direct mail production and postal preparation

• Variable data and personalized correspondence

• Inventory storage and management

• Pick-and-pack fulfillment

• Marketing kit assembly

• Store-level and distribution center shipping

• Online ordering portals for branded materials

  
  

Combining printing and distribution with one provider can reduce vendor handoffs and simplify project coordination.

What Services Does a Full-Service Commercial Printing Company Provide?

A full-service commercial printer typically manages multiple stages of production rather than specializing exclusively in printing.

Depending on its capabilities, one provider may produce brochures, catalogs, postcards, presentation folders, direct mail, signage, folding cartons, and other printed materials while also coordinating finishing, mailing, storage, and delivery.

For businesses with recurring print needs or multiple locations, this approach can help centralize purchasing, maintain brand consistency, and simplify inventory management.

What Commercial Print Production Services Does EM Printing Offer?

EM Printing provides commercial printing, direct mail, folding cartons, specialty finishing, large-format printing, warehousing, kitting, and fulfillment services from its Memphis, Tennessee facility.

Established in 1981, EM Printing operates a 45,000-square-foot production facility with integrated prepress, offset and digital printing, bindery, mailing, and fulfillment operations.

Its capabilities include:

• Commercial printing: Offset and digital production for marketing materials, publications, business communications, and promotional print.

• Direct mail: Personalized mail campaigns, postal preparation, presorting, and recurring transactional correspondence.

• Packaging: Folding cartons, die-cutting, scoring, specialty finishing, and carton assembly.

• Large-format printing: Signs, displays, and other promotional graphics.

• Warehousing: Inventory storage, tracking, and management for ongoing print programs.

• Kitting and fulfillment: Assembly, packing, and distribution of marketing materials and promotional kits.

• Multi-location distribution: Coordinated shipments to retail stores, branches, offices, and distribution centers.

• Online storefronts: Ordering portals that help organizations manage approved materials and maintain brand consistency.

  
  

EM Printing serves organizations with ongoing commercial printing needs, including marketing and procurement teams, manufacturers, financial institutions, retailers, healthcare organizations, and print management companies.

What Is the Difference Between Commercial Printing and Print Fulfillment?

Commercial printing is the physical production of printed materials. Print fulfillment involves the storage, assembly, packing, and distribution of those materials after production.

For example, a retailer launching a nationwide promotion might need signage printed, location-specific materials assembled, and individual kits shipped to stores.

A commercial printer with integrated fulfillment capabilities can coordinate these steps as part of one production program.

How Do Businesses Choose a Commercial Printing Partner?

When evaluating commercial printing companies, businesses should consider production capabilities, quality control, capacity, turnaround requirements, and distribution needs.

Useful questions include:

• Which production and finishing services are performed in-house?

• Can the printer support both short-run and high-volume projects?

• Does the company provide mailing, warehousing, or fulfillment?

• Can it manage versioned materials or multiple shipping destinations?

• What processes are used to maintain quality and meet deadlines?

  
  

For procurement professionals and marketing teams, the total cost of a print program may include more than printing alone. Freight, storage, handling, inventory, and supplier coordination can all affect overall costs.

Can One Commercial Printer Handle Printing, Mailing, Packaging, and Fulfillment?

Yes. Some full-service commercial printers have the equipment, personnel, and infrastructure to manage printing, mailing, packaging, and fulfillment through one coordinated production operation.

EM Printing offers these integrated services from its Memphis facility, helping businesses reduce the complexity of managing multiple production and distribution vendors.

Looking for a Full-Service Commercial Printing Partner?

Whether you're sourcing commercial printing for a single project or managing an ongoing program across multiple locations, choosing the right production partner can make a difference in cost, coordination, and execution.

EM Printing has provided commercial printing services since 1981, with capabilities extending from prepress and printing to mailing, packaging, warehousing, and nationwide fulfillment.

Explore EM Printing's capabilities or contact our team to discuss your next project.