Printers of Discworld Cinderellas

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   Some 'Trade' printers are set up to only handle business from other printers.  They rely on their reputations to do their advertising for them.  Traditionally printers specialised in different types of work - some would be known best for their single or two colour work; some for their full colour, six or eight colour work.  So for example a single or two colour printer can take on bigger projects by subbing the job out and still maintain their business relationship with their customers.   Trade printers rarely have reps out on the road stirring up new business.  I suppose much of it goes back to the Guild days when printing was a bit of a black art and it was all about knowing who had the right press to produce your work.

Nowadays trade printers are more likely to find thir business due to economic reasons. A trade printer might be able to run three production shifts where a smaller printer might only keep office hours, or will work bank holidays and seasonal breaks, and will be fed work from smaller printers who will shut down on those occasions. 

It might seem arcane but it works, printing is a very social business and there are strong bonds (and a great deal of friendly competition) betweeen different firms local and nationally, staff will often 'transfer' from one firm to another according to their skillset, often when a machine becomes out of date and is sold, the staff who specialised in operating that machine will move with it.

To most printers our little bits of paper are no more than that. I haven't yet met a philatelist printer - which is a pity because I would absolutely make the most of that!  Alan and I are currently involved in a project where we hope to be able to employ some traditional presses and technology - and possibly the last generation of craftsmen trained to operate them - on some very special stamps  next year.