Web-to-print is easier said than done for some, as evidenced by a recent conversation with someone working at a high street print chain. Frustrated by a lack of action on this front from head office, they were investigating how they could implement such a system themselves.

Looking at the websites of Prontaprint, Kall Kwik, Printing.com, Minuteman and AlphaGraphics I can't see a facility to place immediate online orders for everyday print items unless you already have some sort of account with them. At Printing.com I need to download an order form, which came as something of a surprise as my perception was that I could order online through them.

Perhaps the focus for these businesses is on passing trade that's attracted by their shopfront displays or convenient location, rather than via the web. But it seems a bit odd that print chains that have been named "Superbrands", in the case of Prontaprint and Kall Kwik, are not leveraging those brands more in the online space.

For franchisees it must surely be a worry that customers can go online and order business cards and similarly straightforward printed matter from the likes of Vistaprint or Easyprinting via their web-to-print interfaces. Easyprinting is notable as the only printco I know of to advertise on London Underground.

In fact, a Google search this morning for "business card and letterhead printing" produces a result that doesn't include a single mention of those established franchises on the first page of results - not even Printing.com which I'd understood to be a big spender on Google Adwords.

Is there a Craig's List type of lesson to be learned here? New online players are entering a bread and butter print space with a slick, convenient and often very cheap offering. I'd be interested to know whether franchisees are concerned that they are losing business as a result.