Catalogue Printing for Wholesalers and Retailers

Paper, Covers and Page Count

Inner pages are usually silk or gloss paper between 115 and 170 gsm, which reproduces product photography well. Silk is the most popular because it reads easily under office lighting without glare. Uncoated paper suits catalogues where buyers write on the pages, such as order books and trade price lists.

Covers are printed on heavier stock, typically 250 to 350 gsm, and often laminated in matt or gloss to resist scuffs and coffee rings. A soft-touch cover suits premium homeware, fashion and furniture brands, while a gloss cover with spot UV on the logo gives a sharp, modern look.

Saddle stitched catalogues must have a page count divisible by four, so plan your layout in groups of four pages. Perfect bound and wire-o catalogues are more flexible, which is useful when a range is likely to grow.

Paper weight also affects postage. A heavier stock feels more premium, but it can push a mailed catalogue into a higher postal band. If you plan to post copies, weigh a sample or ask us to estimate the finished weight before you settle on paper. The board and card types explained guide lists the cover boards and their weights.

Planning Pages That Buyers Can Use

Start with structure. Group products by category, give each section a coloured tab or header and include a contents page and an index by product code. Buyers who order regularly look for codes first, so make them prominent and consistent on every page.

Keep prices separate where possible. A loose price list or a centre insert can be reprinted when prices change, leaving the main catalogue valid for longer. An order form at the back, with space for account numbers and quantities, makes placing an order by email or phone much quicker for your customers.

Use clear, consistent photography. Products shot on the same background at the same angle make a catalogue look professional and help buyers compare similar items quickly.

Number the pages clearly and repeat the section name in the page header. Buyers often photocopy or photograph a single page to share with a colleague, and a page that carries its own context is far more useful than one that relies on the page before it.

If your catalogue includes technical data, such as dimensions, materials or pack quantities, use the same table layout on every page. Consistency makes comparison easy and reduces ordering errors. The same page grid carries over to a printed magazine for seasonal ranges.

Artwork and Proofing

Supply print-ready PDFs with 3 mm bleed and images at a suitable resolution, or send your files and we will check them for you. We look for low-resolution images, missing fonts, text too close to the trim and page counts that do not suit the binding. The free design proof shows the full page sequence so you can check that spreads line up across the spine.

For larger catalogues, check the proof against your price list and product codes carefully. We can correct layout issues, but product data must come from your own records.

Colour accuracy matters most for products sold on appearance, such as paint, fabric and furniture. Screens and printed paper never match perfectly, so if exact colour is critical, tell us and we will advise on how best to manage expectations in the proof.

Supply images in CMYK where possible, or let us convert them. Very bright screen colours, especially greens and oranges, may print slightly duller. Our print and finish options compared page explains why some screen colours print duller.

Who Orders Printed Catalogues

Wholesalers use them for trade shows, rep visits and annual mail-outs to existing accounts. Manufacturers use them to show full ranges to distributors. Retailers send them to loyal customers or include them in parcels, and garden centres, furniture showrooms and gift suppliers use them as in-store browsing copies.

Smaller businesses often start with a thinner saddle stitched catalogue and move to perfect binding as their range grows. Both are quoted per job, so short runs for a trade show and large runs for a mail-out can both be priced sensibly.

Some businesses print two versions from the same files: a full catalogue for trade accounts and a slimmer selection for consumers or new prospects. Because the pages share artwork, the second version adds little cost beyond the extra run.

Sales reps appreciate a smaller format they can carry to visits. An A5 version of the main catalogue fits in a bag and still shows the full range clearly. Reps who present at a client's desk often pair the A5 version with the A4 presentation folders for price lists.

Fix the Page Count Before Choosing a Binding

Catalogues are priced and bound by page count, so settle that number before anything else. Stapled binding needs pages in multiples of four and works to around 64 pages; above that a perfect-bound spine is needed, and the spine width then has to be allowed for in the cover artwork. List your products, decide how many fit on a page with the table layout you want, and round up to a multiple of four. Then send the page count, the size, the paper weight you prefer and the quantity, and a custom quote arrives by email within one working day.

A free proof of the cover and sample inside pages comes before printing. Production takes 4 to 7 working days after approval, free tracked delivery to UK mainland addresses follows in 2 to 3 working days, and minimums are quoted per job, so a short run for one trade show is fine. Copies that arrive misprinted or damaged are reprinted or refunded if reported within 10 days. If you ship catalogues to buyers, a printed catalogue mailing box keeps them flat in the post.