Industry Advice
Five signs your print shop is ready to scale – and what to do next
Your calendar’s jam-packed, your inbox is overflowing, and your team keeps asking where that one order is. Sound familiar? In this article, Michal Gembrowicz, DecoNetwork’s UK, Europe, Oceania and Asia sales manager, provides advice on how you can scale.
to look for answers, they don’t have to ask you every five minutes.
4) Your clients want more – faster Customers are getting used to Amazon- style service: fast, easy, and online. If you’re still manually handling every order and approval through email chains, it won’t scale – and it won’t impress. What to do: Set up faster approval processes. Consider offering online order forms or client-specific portals, even if it’s basic. Print shop software platforms often include storefront tools to help regular clients reorder without the back-and-forth.
I
f your print shop feels like it’s constantly running at full speed – but you’re still not growing – it might be time to scale.
Scaling isn’t about hiring a dozen people or buying more gear. It’s about knowing when your current systems are maxed out and making the right changes to grow sustainably.
Here are five signs you’re ready to scale – and what to do next.
1) You’re turning down orders You’ve had to say ‘no’ to new jobs because your shop is too busy. While it may sound like a high-class problem, turning down work means turning away money and possibly future repeat customers. What to do: Take a closer look at your capacity. Can you adjust your workflow to fit more in? Are you wasting time on manual tasks that could be automated with print shop software? Sometimes growth starts with making your current setup more efficient, before adding more people or space.
| 40 | June 2025
2) You’re drowning in admin work Quoting, invoicing, chasing artwork approvals, updating spreadsheets… It’s all vital, but it’s also time-consuming. If admin work is taking over your day, it’s a sign your systems are working against you, not for you. What to do: Look for repeatable tasks you can simplify or automate. Software that generates quotes, tracks orders, and handles approvals can save hours each week. If that’s not an option yet, even hiring a part-time admin or using templates can give you breathing room.
3) Your team can’t move without you
Are you the one who knows everything about every job in the shop? If your staff constantly asks you for pricing, status updates, or what’s next, it’s a bottleneck problem. And you’re the bottleneck. What to do: Document your workflow. Use whiteboards, project management tools, or print shop management software to show where every order stands. When your team knows where
5) You’ve hit a revenue ceiling You’re working harder than ever, but your numbers have flatlined. That’s frustrating – and totally normal when your current process can’t support more growth.
What to do: Take a step back. Are you underpricing your services? Are your top-selling jobs the ones draining your time? Review your pricing, turnaround times, and job types. Often, a more efficient workflow or a system upgrade can help you grow without burning out.
Ready to level up?
If two or more of these signs sound familiar, take it as a win, not a warning. You’ve built a solid foundation. Now it’s about building systems that let you grow without working yourself into the ground. Print shop software can be a game-changer, but it’s not the only solution. Whether you choose to automate with tech, hire smart, or just tweak your workflow, small steps can lead to big gains.
www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk
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