Catalogue Printing
High-quality catalogue printing for short and long runs, with the print capacity, binding expertise and mailing services to handle the whole job in-house. Get a quote todayShort-Run to High-Volume Catalogue Printing
Catalogue printing puts considerable demands on production: high page counts, colour consistency, multiple finishing requirements and, often, substantial volumes. Having the right print and finishing capacity makes those demands much easier to manage.
We produce everything from short-run product catalogues to high-volume publications using our Heidelberg litho and HP Indigo digital presses. Six litho presses give us the capacity for larger runs, while digital production makes smaller quantities commercially viable.
Then there’s the binding. We have two perfect binders, three saddle stitching lines, 17 folding machines and four guillotines in our factory. Keeping so much production under one roof gives us greater control over quality and turnaround times.
And because we buy around 10,000 tonnes of paper a year, our scale helps us stay competitive on price too.
Litho and Digital Catalogue Printing
There’s no arbitrary point at which a catalogue suddenly becomes a “litho job” or a “digital job”. Quantity is important, but pagination, size, paper, finishing, deadline and budget all come into it.
Our HP Indigo presses are particularly well suited to shorter catalogue runs, while our Heidelberg litho presses give us the speed and capacity to produce larger quantities efficiently.
Finishing matters too. Our investment in both a Horizon BQ-500 iCE perfect binder and a 16-station Kolbus means we can match the binding process to the scale of the job. For shorter runs, the Horizon helps keep production efficient and pricing competitive, without needing to run the high-volume Kolbus binding line for a relatively small job.
We have both. So we’ll quote the production route that makes most sense for your job.
Catalogue printing made simple
Whether you need someone to manage the whole process from design through to mailing, or a discreet production partner behind the scenes, we make catalogue printing straightforward.
Binding In-House
Most substantial catalogues are perfect bound, giving them a neat square spine and book-like finish. For lower page counts, saddle stitching can be a quicker and more economical alternative.
We handle both in-house, matching the binding method and production process to the specification, quantity and budget of the job.
Print Straight Into Mailing
If your catalogues are being mailed, there’s no need to send them on to another supplier.
The Mailing People, our fully owned mailing house, is just a mile from our factory. There’s no delivery charge for print transferred between the two sites, and we can take care of paperwrapping, polywrapping, envelope enclosing, data and postage.
Trade Printing Service
Around 70% of our customers are print professionals, so we understand exactly what’s expected when we’re producing work for another printer, agency or broker.
Plain packaging, anonymous labels, unmarked vehicles and no unexpected contact with your customer. Your client remains your client.
Catalogue Printing Tips
A catalogue can contain hundreds of pages, so seemingly small changes to the specification can have a surprisingly large effect on the finished job and its cost. It’s worth getting the basics right before the artwork is finished.
How Long does it Need to Last?
A catalogue that’s replaced every few months doesn’t necessarily need the same specification as one expected to sit on a customer’s desk all year.
Tell us how it’ll be used and we’ll help you choose a sensible combination of cover, text paper and finishing without adding cost where it isn’t needed.
Watch the Weight
Adding a few gsm doesn’t sound like much. Multiply it across 100, 200 or 300 pages and thousands of copies and it’s a different story.
Paper weight affects the cost of the print, the thickness of the catalogue, its spine width and potentially what you’ll pay to post it. Sometimes a lighter text stock with a more substantial cover is the better option.
Never Guess a Spine Width
The spine of a perfect bound catalogue is determined by its page count and the thickness of the paper, not simply its gsm.
Confirm the specification first and we’ll calculate the spine width for you before your designer finishes the cover artwork. It’s a small step that can prevent unnecessary amendments and delays.
Product Photography Deserves Good Print
If customers are making buying decisions from the page, colour matters.
Five of our Heidelberg presses use Inpress Control to monitor colour during production, while our HP Indigo presses give shorter digital runs excellent colour reproduction. It means we’re equipped to maintain the consistency a product-heavy catalogue demands.
Mailing It? Tell Us Before You Print It.
Size, weight and thickness can all affect postage.
If you’re producing thousands of catalogues, changing the specification before printing could make a meaningful difference to the overall mailing cost. Our mailing team can advise before the job goes into production.
Client Reviews
I just wanted to email you to thank you and your staff for an excellent job in both producing — magazine, the packaging and delivering the publication to a very high standard last week.
Helen G. Publisher
All good! The client is very happy, just received my copies also so thanks for that. Colours look great and they are already talking about doing another print run!!
Simon C. Print Professional
Lucy consistently goes above and beyond to ensure all our needs are met promptly and efficiently, and is always happy and a pleasure to deal with.
Danny B. Print Professional
This has got to be one of the best print jobs we have seen in quite some time! The print is sharp, the colours are good, the solids consistent, the binding and guillotining is neat. Well done Team Bishops!
Jane C. Print Professional
It really is SUPERB. The print quality, clarity, binding is great – and packaging in boxes was good too. A huge thank you. We really appreciate the effort [your team] put in over the holidays.
Caroline B. Super Yacht Publications
Why Choose Us
Customer Service
98% of customers say they would recommend us. We aim to pick up the phone within 3 rings, always answer emails, and deliver a straightforward, friendly and knowledgeable service.
Stable Prices
Our quotes are valid for a minimum 30 days and our low prices are consistently competitive. Printing 287.9 million sheets a year, our buying power is reflected in our prices. For regular publications, fixed pricing is available.
Quality
92% of customers rate us good or very good for quality. 70% of our customers are trade print professionals who trust us with their reputations and rely on our trade printing service.
Catalogue Pricing
Trade prices available. Please enquire.
A4 Catalogue Printing
From £695 for 250 copies
Based on perfect bound, 48pp + 4pp cover magazine, printed on 100gsm Silk with a 250gsm Gloss cover.
Choose from a wide range of FSC® certified paper stocks.
A5 Catalogue Printing
From £443 for 250 copies
Based on perfect bound, 48pp + 4pp cover magazine, printed on 100gsm Silk with a 250 gsm Gloss cover.
Range of finishes available, including: gloss lamination, matt lamination and spot gloss UV varnish.
Magazine Printing & Mailing
Everything you need, all under one roof – including flyer insertion, paperwrap, polywrap and envelope enclosing. Our swift, high quality magazine printing and mailing service is easy to use, time efficient and includes low-cost postage solutions.
Are You A Regular Catalogue Printer?
If you’re printing regularly, talk to us about it. We can look at the job as a whole rather than treating every edition in isolation, including the specification, quantities, production method, mailing requirements and pricing.
And if you’ve got an unusual size, awkward deadline or specification you’re not sure is possible, ask us. We’re used to finding practical ways to get print jobs done.
Environmentally Sensitive Printing
FSC® Certified Paper
We use FSC®certified paper and hold FSC Chain of Custody certification FSC-C141091.
Solar Powered
We've installed 1,500 solar panels on our 85,000 sq ft roof for sustainable energy and another 100 at our mailing house.
Everything Recycled
We recycle all our waste: aluminium plates, metal ink tins, plastic ink cartridges, the ink itself, cardboard and plastic wrapping.
Catalogue Printing FAQs
What is the best binding for a printed catalogue?
The best binding depends mainly on your page count, paper choice, budget and how the catalogue will be used.
Saddle stitching is a cost-effective option for catalogues with fewer pages and allows the publication to open relatively flat. For thicker catalogues, perfect binding creates a neat square spine and a more substantial, book-like finish.
If you’re unsure, we’ll happily quote different options so you can compare.
Can you print short-run catalogues?
Yes. Our digital print capability makes it cost-effective to produce smaller catalogue quantities, while our litho presses provide the capacity and economies of scale needed for larger runs.
We’ll recommend the most appropriate production method based on your quantity, specification, deadline and budget.
What paper should I choose for my catalogue?
Our house stocks have been selected to provide reliable all-round print performance, but there’s a much wider choice available if you want a particular shade, texture or feel. Coated stocks tend to give sharper detail and stronger colour reproduction, which can be particularly important for product photography, while uncoated papers offer a more natural, tactile finish with a softer print appearance.
We can talk you through the options and cost different specifications before you decide.
Can you print catalogues with lots of product photography?
Yes. Colour reproduction is particularly important for product-led catalogues, where customers may be making purchasing decisions based on what they see on the page.
Our litho and digital printing capabilities give us excellent colour reproduction across both larger and smaller catalogue runs.
Can you print bespoke catalogue sizes?
Yes. You’re not restricted to standard A4 or A5 catalogues. We can produce a wide range of finished sizes and can advise on bespoke formats where you want something different.
It’s worth discussing unusual sizes with us early, as the finished dimensions can affect paper usage, production costs and postage.
Can you mail catalogues directly to customers?
Yes. Through our fully owned mailing house, The Mailing People, we can manage your catalogue printing and mailing as one job.
Services include data processing, paperwrapping, polywrapping, envelope enclosing and bulk postage. Printed catalogues are transferred directly from Bishops to our mailing house without an additional delivery charge between the two sites.
Can you help reduce the cost of mailing a catalogue?
Yes. The finished size, weight, thickness and packaging of your catalogue can all affect postage costs, so it’s worth considering mailing before the print specification is finalised.
For larger mailings in particular, relatively small changes to paper weight, format or packaging can add up to significant savings.
Can you print catalogues for other printers and agencies?
Yes. Around 70% of our customers are print professionals, and our trade printing service is designed specifically to protect trade relationships.
We can provide plain packaging, anonymous labels, unmarked deliveries and a no-contact guarantee, so your customer doesn’t need to know Bishops was involved.
Can you accommodate regular catalogue printing?
Yes. If you produce catalogues regularly, talk to us about your schedule and requirements. We can help with repeat specifications, changing quantities, different editions and ongoing mailing requirements.
Why choose Bishops Printers for catalogue printing?
We combine substantial litho and digital print capacity with specialist binding, finishing and mailing services.
With six Heidelberg litho presses, HP Indigo digital printing, two perfect binders and three saddle stitching lines, we can handle a wide range of catalogue specifications and quantities in-house. More importantly, you’ll have an experienced team on hand to help you make sensible decisions about your specification, budget and deadline.
