Ink Matters

Most printers surveyed cited increased consistency, customer service, and technical support as their reasons for using one supplier. However, ink vendors, who were included in the survey for the first time this year, said there's more to a one-on-one relationship with a vendor.

"The advantage of using one supplier is that it enables printers to leverage more buying power, creating increased synergy—benefiting both parties," said Don Matthiesen, marketing manager at Environmental Inks & Coatings (Morganton, N.C.). "The vendors secure more volume, which gives them the ability to better support the printer."