The Dundee trade printer is offering a package of services for printers looking for an easy way to set up a web shop. 

It involves a shopfront using VB Media’s established e-commerce platform, which integrates “seamlessly” with Tradeprint’s own Print API. 

Tradeprint is part of web-to-print Cimpress and uses its Mass Customisation Platform (MCP) technology.

The package also includes The Online Print Coach’s Boot Camp, “a mini course designed to develop successful marketing strategies”.

“We've had a really fruitful collaboration with VB Media for almost four years. They sell their storefronts with a pre-plugged in connection to the Tradeprint API which in term connects dynamically with our production routing tools in MCP,” explained sales and customer success director Anthony Rowell.

“The joy of the platform is that VB Media provide the tools and training for non-e-commerce print resellers to develop a web presence – something that the pandemic has highlighted is crucial to helping business survive and recover.”

Rowell said that a basic set up was free when arranged via Tradeprint, and then involved a small monthly fee starting at less than £50 “so it represents very good value”.

When an order is received it can route directly to the Tradeprint workflow via the API, or the job can be produced in-house by the customer.

“This level of flexibility makes it perfect for print professionals who want to dip their toes in the world of e-commerce trading but without the risk,” he added. 

Sinclair McDermott provides marketing and sales support to printers new to e-commerce and is offering a free boot camp to customers that sign up via Tradeprint.

Rowell added that business in general felt like it was “coming out of the dip” with Tradeprint recruiting for a number of roles as a result.