A trade printer is a wholesale printer that only sells to other businesses who resell print: sign shops, print brokers, designers and marketing agencies. It never sells to the end customer. The reseller wins the job and manages the client. The trade printer produces the work at wholesale rates and ships it blind, with no printer branding, so the reseller can supply it as their own. This guide explains how trade printing works in Australia, who counts as a trade client, how to choose a trade printer, and how to open a trade account.
Trade printer vs retail printer
| Trade printer | Retail or online printer | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it sells to | Resellers only | Anyone, including end customers |
| Pricing | Wholesale trade rates, leaving margin for the reseller | Retail prices |
| Branding on delivery | Blind shipped, no printer branding | Usually printer-branded |
| Contact with your client | Never | Direct |
| Service model | Automated ordering, print-ready files expected | More hand-holding, higher cost |
What counts as a trade client?
A trade client is any business that resells print rather than buying it for its own use. You don't need to own a print shop. Trade clients include:
- Sign shops and signwriters
- Print resellers and print brokers
- Graphic designers and design studios
- Marketing and advertising agencies
- Consultants and promotional product suppliers who supply print to their own clients
If you're the end user, for example a business ordering signs for its own shopfront, you're not a trade client.
How trade printing works
- You win the job and handle the client, brief and design.
- You order through the trade printer's portal at trade rates and supply print-ready artwork.
- You approve the proof.
- The printer prints, cuts, finishes and packs the job.
- It ships blind, to you or straight to your client.
Each side owns a clear part of the job: the printer owns production, and you own the artwork and the client relationship. That split means fewer crossed wires and faster turnaround.
Why resellers use trade printers
- Your client stays your client. A genuine trade-only printer never deals with your customer, so there's no risk of them going around you.
- Margin. Wholesale pricing leaves room for your markup.
- No equipment. You can sell corflute signs, banners, pull-ups and labels without buying, staffing or maintaining the machines.
- A wider range. You can say yes to products you couldn't produce in-house.
- Time. Hours spent on production go back into selling and servicing clients.
For a head-to-head on cost and control, see in-house printing vs trade printing.
How to choose a trade printer
Match their model to your volume
If you only outsource the odd job and need help fixing artwork, a printer with a dedicated account manager may suit you, but you'll pay for that service. If you order regularly and can supply print-ready files, look for a lean, automated printer: online quoting and ordering, fixed cut-off times, and standard products always available. You get better margin and faster turnaround in exchange for less hand-holding.
Check the pricing model
Look at how prices change with quantity, and at lead times. Long lead times and steep quantity breaks suggest a printer built for big batch runs; flatter pricing and short lead times suit frequent smaller orders.
Check print consistency
Your clients expect a reorder to match the last one. Compare repeat orders for colour shifts or banding, and ask whether the printer locks in one print mode per machine or changes it job to job.
Check the shipping
Where the printer ships from, how it ships and whether it blind ships all affect cost, delivery time and whether your brand stays front and centre.
Check the dates are real
A production date you can quote to your client is worth more than a vague turnaround promise. Look for a printer whose system shows real production dates when you order.
Opening a trade account with Mediapoint
Mediapoint has been a trade-only wide-format printer in Derrimut, Melbourne, for around 20 years, and supplies more than 1,000 resellers across Australia. Our portal shows:
- Live trade pricing on corflute, banners, pull-ups, rigid boards, labels, stickers and more
- Real production dates when you order
- Online proofing
- Blind shipping Australia-wide
We run a deliberately lean, automated model: print-ready files, fixed cut-off times and one locked print mode per machine for consistent reorders. That keeps our prices sharp and turnaround fast. If you need hands-on artwork help on every job, a full-service printer may suit you better.
Register for a trade account and we'll send you a sample pack.
Frequently asked questions
What is a trade printer?
A wholesale printer that only supplies businesses who resell print, such as sign shops, brokers, designers and agencies, and never sells to the end customer.
What does "trade only" mean?
The printer deals exclusively with resellers and never takes orders from the public or contacts your client.
Who can open a trade account?
Any business that resells print to its own clients. You don't need to own a print shop.
What is blind shipping?
Delivery with no printer branding on the packaging or paperwork, so the job arrives as if it came from you.
Is a trade printer cheaper than a retail printer?
For resellers, yes. Trade printers run at volume and price at wholesale rates, which leaves room for your margin. The trade-off is an automated service rather than hands-on help.
How do I open a trade account with Mediapoint?
Register online. Once approved, you'll see live trade pricing and production dates in the portal, and we'll send a sample pack.
Key takeaways
- A trade printer supplies resellers only, at wholesale rates, and ships blind.
- If you resell print, you're a trade client. You don't need a print shop.
- Choose a trade printer by matching its model to your volume, and check pricing, consistency, shipping and real production dates.
- Mediapoint is trade only, with live pricing, real production dates, online proofing and blind shipping.
