To become a print manager, you should first gain some experience in the printing or advertising industry. This will allow you to make connections with other professionals, as well as giving you a head start when branching out on your own or joining a print management team. Schooling or other related training may also be beneficial.
A print manager is a person or company who handles another company's printing and advertising needs. The services each manager offers may vary from business to business, but in most cases they coordinate the process of printing advertising materials. This means that the print manager directs graphic designers, advertising professionals, and printers in what the client wants, allowing the client to spend his time on other things.
In order to become a print manager, it is important for you to develop relationships in the industry. Although it is possible to find qualified professionals as you go along, it is often in the best interest of your own business and your client's to have an arsenal of advertising and printing professionals at your disposal.
You can begin by working at a print manager firm, but many print managers eventually become self-employed to maximize income potential. Working for someone else, however, is a good step to take in order to become a print manager in the long run, because it will give you valuable information on the business and job.
College may be beneficial when trying to become a print manager, but it may not be necessary if you intend to start your own business. If you do choose to attend college, degree programs in management, business, or advertising would be most beneficial. Having a degree will make it easier to find employment at a print management firm or ad agency, so if you intend to go that route, college may be your first step.
After a certain level of education is acquired as well as on-the-job experience, the self-employed print manager will continue by getting to know local professionals. This means graphic designers, printers, and advertising professionals. You can go about meeting these people through business-themed social networking sites, chamber of commerce meetings, and through your existing professional contacts.
Once you have your professional contacts in place, finding clients is the final step needed to become a print manager. You can do this one of many ways. Cold calling or emailing potential clients is one idea, although you may want to check laws for SPAM and telemarketing regulations in your area. You may also decide to partner with some of the contacts you have made and offer to refer one another to your own clients. Ads, websites, and professional organizations are all additional means of gaining new business.
