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coming through in April between 5% and 8% as they will try and recoup revenue that way,” he says. That said, prices are still way down from where they were a few years ago when there were strikes at key European paper mills and supply was disrupted for some time. “As paper became more difficult to get hold of, therefore the price went up to where it should be, really,” Steve explains. “But I knew that as soon as the product became widely available again, it’d be a race to the bottom in terms of price and that’s what happened. Now paper prices are low again because people tend to give it away as a ‘sprat to catch a mackerel’. Paper is sold at cost because resellers know the rest of the basket is going to give them the margin that they want on the overall sale.”
Paul says that Premier Paper’s creative paper range is diverse, supplying some of the leading brands in the industry. “We are seeing growing demand for speciality papers and boards in areas such as gifting and luxury packaging,” he says. “However, these products are not typically a core focus for many resellers. This shift highlights an opportunity, particularly for those looking to support short run, bespoke and high-end print through an expanded or partnered offering. Our lead times are as short as one day allowing us to support these requirements.” Reseller conversations When talking to customers about paper options, there are various facets that resellers should be highlighting. “When speaking to customers, resellers should focus on sustainability, reliability of supply, and cost-effective products that align with environmental expectations, including responsibly sourced papers and recyclable, plastic free packaging,” says Emma Oliver, creative papers director at Premier Paper. Scott adds that resellers play an important role in helping customers understand how paper choices
Contributors
Paul Bussingham
premier.co.uk
Speciality and custom demand But other areas of the market are
evolving, such as custom printing and the gifting industry, which can help to offset the decline in office paper sales and present opportunities for resellers. “As organisations place greater emphasis on quality, brand engagement and sustainability, speciality papers can offer clear value in supporting more impactful printed applications,” says Scott. “Businesses are increasingly using print to create more bespoke, high-impact outputs, where the look, feel and finish of the paper contribute directly to how a product or message is perceived. This presents an opportunity for resellers to guide customers towards solutions that support more creative customised applications and tactile finishes where speciality paper excels. “Outside of this, speciality papers such as our Red Label Zero wide-format range also demonstrate how these materials can extend beyond traditional applications, offering high-quality, sustainable solutions for large-format print projects where consistency and visual impact are key.”
Scott Smith
canon.co.uk
Steve Carter
advantia.co.uk
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