Commercial Printing in Kent: Everything Local Businesses Need to Know

We may live in a tech-driven era, but print still plays a huge role for companies. Full-colour brochures, printed cartons, labels and professional booklets all help brands distinguish themselves in times of digital fatigue and, ultimately, engage with their target clientele in an increasingly crowded market. With so many choices available, finding the right print provider isn't always straightforward. Here, Kent-based commercial printing supplier, Scarbutts, explains what sets the good print experts apart from the great ones.

The nation's appetite for physical media remains strong. According to the British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF), the UK is the world's fifth-largest producer of printed products. The South East alone is home to over 1,000 printing firms, with a regional turnover of £1,893m.

Among the Kent printers, Scarbutts has built a reputation as an established partner for businesses throughout the county. With over 60 years’ experience serving nearby organisations – from independent retailers to nationally recognised, Kent-headquartered names – the print expert combines deep market knowledge with the personal approach of a local provider, delivering professional printing services that standard desktop equipment simply can't replicate.

What is Commercial Print?

Going far beyond the quality and limited capabilities of home and office printers, commercial printing uses industrial equipment to create large volumes of premium printed pieces with specialist finishes, paper stocks and customised formats.
These services – which, at Scarbutts, include digital printing and lithographic processes – give businesses access to more print copies, exceptional quality and key guidance that ensures your marketing materials best reflect your company's credibility.

What Does Commercial Printing Cover?

This type of printing produces a variety of collateral, from printed cartons and labels to large-format possibilities such as roll-up banners and signs. At Scarbutts, our full spectrum of offerings allows you to work with one print supplier for all projects – one who really understands your company and its unique expectations.

Who Benefits Most?

With one printer, consistency across all your outputs is guaranteed. This ensures every item – from digitally printed labels to full-colour brochures – adheres to the tone, quality and overall style guide you strive to maintain.

This uniformity is particularly valuable in the public sector. Schools are a prime example. With a constant demand for resources like certificates and awards, reports, exam papers and prospectuses, engaging with one printing company confirms that all hard-copy items are polished and cohesive – especially important for parent-facing communications. Similarly, councils can gain from a supplier who appreciates procurement procedures and strict colour and branding guidelines, streamlining workflows, ensuring compliance and making sure tight deadlines are met.

For SMEs, having a single trusted source for all print demands means there's less admin, quicker fulfilment and staff are free to focus on core activities. Event planners see similar advantages, too. Often racing against the clock, these agencies typically require programmes, roll-up banners and signage quickly. In these instances, using a printer who knows your specifications and performs at pace makes all the difference. For larger organisations, value-added services such as variable data printing (VDP) and personalisation and short-run bespoke printing allow for impactful, high-quality campaigns that have a bespoke appeal. 

Why Choose a Local Printer in Kent? 

When comparing Kent printers, it's worth understanding what local suppliers offer. By partnering with Scarbutts, you'll benefit from:

• Rapid turnaround & flexibility: Being in close proximity results in quicker deliveries, shorter timelines and even the potential to accommodate last-minute changes or urgent requests.
• Reduced environmental impact: Swift delivery leads to fewer miles, cutting carbon footprints. This is well-suited for sustainable organisations tallying up their eco-credentials.
• Backing community prosperity: Your investment will remain here in Kent, supporting employment and contributing to the economy of the area. Scarbutts proudly works with local companies like Maidstone United FC, Kent Wildlife Trust, Big Motoring World and Jewelultra Ltd (Diamondbrite).
• Face-to-face communication & facility tours: Visit our premises to discuss detailed project specifications in person, explore our entire scope of offerings and discover printing possibilities you may not have realised were even possible.
• Hands-on sample evaluation: See and touch real-life samples of commercial printing Kent companies rely on. Compare digital print vs litho, paper stocks, vegetable-based inks, metallic finishes, spot UV and a selection of additional printing processes.
  
  

Popular Commercial Printing Options for Kent Businesses 

From local independent businesses to multi-site brands, companies across Kent rely on commercial print to promote, inform and ultimately drive sales. At Scarbutts, we offer a range of solutions that can help your business communicate with your target audience clearly – and with impact. They include: 

• Booklets & brochures for professional branding: Professionally printed, full-colour brochures remain one of the most trusted ways of showcasing services and products and strengthening credibility. 
  
• Cartons, labels & packaging: For those seeking to elevate their presentation, printed cartons and labels are both practical and sleek.
• Large-format printing: Banners, posters and exhibition materials that make bold impressions at trade shows or point of sale. 

What to Search for in Kent Printers

Alongside printing services and capabilities that match your demands, there are a couple of extra considerations to bear in mind as you choose your print supplier.

Vast Experience Spanning Various Fields 

Look for a supplier who's worked with a diverse industry base, such as retail, hospitality, educational institutions and NHS Trusts. At Scarbutts, our wide-ranging client portfolio gives us a distinct understanding of each division's needs and enables us to deliver tailored approaches that suit sector requirements and preferences.

The Ability to Handle Complex & Large-Scale Jobs

Whether you're looking for 100 full-colour flyers or 10,000 luxury catalogues, your printer should not only have the appropriate facilities and capacity to switch between project-specific briefs, but must also demonstrate the print expertise to recommend the most cost-effective path for every job.

Benefits of Local Printing

For Kent companies, working with Scarbutts means faster service, technical guidance and genuine partnership – and this is what separates a good printer from a great one. We're proud to provide the business printing Kent relies on, helping those in the region stand out and connect with their audience.

To learn more about our commercial printing, contact our customer service team today.