Vistaprint Review: A One-Stop-Shop for Custom Printing and Marketing Materials

For over 20 years, Vistaprint has been helping small businesses and individuals create custom marketing materials to promote their brand. From business cards to banners to photobooks, Vistaprint offers an impressive range of personalized products at affordable prices.

In this in-depth Vistaprint review, we‘ll take a close look at the company‘s offerings to help you decide if their printing services are the right fit for your needs. We‘ll highlight some of their most popular products, share real customer reviews and photos, and provide tips for getting the best deals. Let‘s dive in!

Company Background

Vistaprint was founded in 1995 by Robert Keane, originally under the name Bonne Impression. The company started out selling specialty paper and printing services for items like brochures and stationery. In the early days, they worked primarily with small businesses.

In 1999, the company shifted to an online-based model and rebranded as Vistaprint. Since then, they have expanded globally, with 13 offices around the world. However, their headquarters and main production facility remain in Venlo, Netherlands.

From the very beginning, Vistaprint‘s mission has been focused on helping small businesses market themselves effectively and professionally without breaking the bank. Over the years, they have continuously added new products and services to become a one-stop-shop for custom printing and marketing materials.

Today, Vistaprint has served over 17 million customers worldwide. They differentiate themselves by offering remarkably low prices on short print runs, making marketing accessible for even the smallest budgets. The company takes pride in their commitment to innovation, customer support, and global sustainability.

Vistaprint Products and Services

So what exactly can you get made at Vistaprint? In short, just about any custom printed product you can imagine for your business or personal life. Let‘s break down some of their main offerings:

Marketing Materials

– Business cards
– Flyers and brochures
– Postcards and rack cards
– Stickers and labels
– Posters and banners
– Yard signs
– Car magnets and decals

Whether you‘re looking to drum up new business, promote a sale or event, or maintain contact with existing clients, Vistaprint has all the essentials covered. You can create a cohesive marketing campaign with matching designs across different print media.

Photo Products

– Photo books
– Canvas prints
– Calendars
– Wall decals
– Blankets and pillows
– Mugs and drinkware
– Phone cases

In addition to business printing, Vistaprint also offers a range of personalized photo gifts and keepsakes. You can easily upload your own photos from your computer, phone, or social media to create one-of-a-kind products for yourself or a loved one.

Stationery

– Note cards and thank you cards
– Notebooks and sticky notes
– Letterhead and envelopes
– Stamps and embossers
– Appointment cards
– Announcements and invitations

Vistaprint also has you covered for any custom personal or professional stationery needs. Create a branded look for your home office or a special design for your wedding invitations. The options for creativity and customization are truly endless.

Signage

– Indoor and outdoor banners
– Lawn signs
– Window decals
– Floor decals
– A-frame signs
– Feather flags
– Vinyl banners

Brand your office, storefront, or event with high-quality signage from Vistaprint. They offer signs and banners for any setting in a full range of sizes, materials, and finishing options.

Apparel and Bags

– Custom t-shirts
– Embroidered hats and outerwear
– Branded pens
– Tote bags
– Backpacks
– Aprons
– Face masks

Print your logo on apparel and accessories for your employees, event staff, or to sell as promotional items. Vistaprint uses high quality materials and printing techniques for products that look and feel great.

Digital Marketing

– Website design and hosting
– Email marketing
– Social media design

In addition to physical products, Vistaprint also offers digital marketing services. You can get a professional website designed and set up email campaigns to reach your audience online.

As you can see, Vistaprint really does provide any type of marketing material a small business could need, both in print and digital formats. They aim to be an affordable partner that entrepreneurs can rely on as they start and grow their business.

How Vistaprint Works

The process of creating a product on Vistaprint is designed to be as easy as possible:

1. Choose your product type
2. Select a size, style, and quantity
3. Pick a template design or upload your own
4. Customize the design with your text, images, logos, and colors
5. Finalize your options and check out securely

For each type of product, there are dozens if not hundreds of pre-made templates you can use as a starting point for your design. Vistaprint organizes their templates by industry and style, so it‘s easy to find a relevant look for your business.

The online design studio allows you to personalize the template with your own logo, photos, and wording. You can change the fonts, colors, and layout to your liking. The editing tools are beginner-friendly, so no graphic design experience is necessary.

However, if you do have print-ready designs prepared, you can skip the editing and just upload your file directly. Vistaprint accepts JPG, PNG, and PDF files, among other common formats. You can also upload images from your Facebook or mobile device.

Once you‘ve finalized your design, you‘ll be able to select your quantity, paper/material type, finish options, and turnaround time. Vistaprint clearly explains the choices and shows a preview of your final product. Then you simply add to cart and check out. Your custom creation will arrive on your doorstep in a matter of days!

Product Quality and Printing

Of course, the big question is, how do Vistaprint products look and feel in real life? Vistaprint uses professional-grade production equipment and premium materials to deliver top-notch quality printing.

For paper products, they offer a variety of thickness options and finishes, like matte, glossy, or soft-touch. You can also choose Vistaprint‘s signature premium paper for an extra luxurious look and feel.

Vistaprint does an excellent job with color reproduction – designs are vibrant, clear, and true-to-life. Even intricate artwork and small text prints cleanly and crisply.

The print durability is also great. Business cards have a nice weight to them and are coated to resist wear-and-tear. Signage like banners and posters are fade-resistant and designed to withstand indoor and outdoor display. Clothing and bags are printed with soft, retail-quality transfers that hold up to washing.

Overall, Vistaprint definitely delivers professional-caliber print products that small businesses can be proud to distribute. The quality is on par with or better than local print shops, at significantly lower prices and with the added convenience of online ordering.

Pricing and Shipping

Vistaprint is known for having extremely low prices, especially on small batch printing. Their business card prices start at just $15 for a pack of 100 standard cards. For premium options like ultra-thick paper, raised print, or metallic finishes, prices begin at $24 for 100.

Signage and larger items like posters and banners are also quite affordable. For example, a 2‘ x 6‘ vinyl banner starts at just $30. Considering most custom print shops charge hundreds for the same type of sign, Vistaprint offers a fantastic value.

As for shipping, there are several options depending on how quickly you need your order:

• Economy (up to 8 business days): starts at $5
• Standard (up to 5 business days): starts at $8
• Express (up to 3 business days): starts at $16
• Rush (next business day): starts at $27

So you do have to factor shipping costs into your order, but the rates are very reasonable for custom printing. In some cases, you can also find coupon codes for free or discounted shipping.

It‘s also worth noting that Vistaprint frequently runs sales on their website, with select products available for up to 50% off. If you can be flexible on timing, you can save a lot of money by waiting for one of these promotions.

Customer Reviews

To get a sense of what real Vistaprint customers think, we looked at reviews across multiple third-party sites. On the company‘s own website, their top products consistently rank above 4 out of 5 stars. Here‘s a sample of ratings at the time of this writing:

• Standard Business Cards: 4.2/5 stars from 21,171 reviews
• Custom Postcards: 4.3/5 stars from 2,853 reviews
• Custom Mugs: 4.2/5 stars from 907 reviews
• Vinyl Banners: 4.4/5 stars from 1,177 reviews

Positive reviews frequently mention the ease of designing and ordering, helpful customer support, and impressive print quality for the price. Customers appreciate the huge selection of products and design templates for different industries and occasions. Many reviewers were thrilled with how professional their final products looked.

The less favorable reviews tend to reference inconsistent print quality, shipping delays, or disappointment with the design interface. However, in most of these cases, Vistaprint‘s customer service team reached out to offer reprinting or other solutions.

On independent review platforms like Trustpilot, Vistaprint has a more average 2.7 out of 5 star rating. While there are still many 5-star reviews that praise the company‘s quality and value, there are a number of complaints related to delivery issues, billing problems, or poor print jobs.

It seems that while the vast majority of Vistaprint customers are satisfied, the negative experiences tend to be memorable enough to bring down the average rating. To the company‘s credit, their support team does appear to actively respond to complaints and work to make things right.

Overall though, Vistaprint has an established reputation for providing reliable printing at hard-to-beat prices. With millions of customers served over the past two decades, they are clearly doing a lot of things right. Most small business owners find that the affordable cost and convenience is well worth the occasional error.

Sustainability and Charitable Efforts

Beyond simply being a cost-effective printing service, Vistaprint also stands out for their commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. Some key initiatives include:

• Using renewable energy sources like wind and solar to power their offices and production facilities
• Sourcing paper exclusively from sustainable forestry programs and recycled materials
• Offering carbon-neutral shipping and eco-friendly product options like recycled paper stocks
• Donating to global reforestation projects that plant trees to offset the environmental impact of printing
• Supporting and highlighting small businesses, especially those owned by women, minorities, and veterans
• Partnering with organizations like the NAACP to provide grants and resources for BIPOC-owned small businesses

In 2021, Vistaprint pledged to become completely carbon neutral by 2040. They have been making major investments in cleaner technologies and more efficient printing processes to reduce waste. The company is also working to phase out the use of plastics in their packaging in favor of biodegradable materials.

For eco-conscious entrepreneurs, it‘s reassuring to know that Vistaprint is actively working to minimize and offset the environmental toll of printing. Customers can feel good about supporting a company that shares their values around sustainability and social impact.

Vistaprint Alternatives

While Vistaprint is certainly one of the biggest and most popular online printing services, they are not the only option out there. Some other companies that offer similar products include:

• Moo: Known for premium papers and finishes for business cards, postcards, and stationery
• GotPrint: Offers competitive pricing on a wide range of marketing materials and signage
• PsPrint: Specializes in affordable short-run printing for small businesses
• Zazzle: Focuses on personalized gifts and promo products, with some business printing options
• 48HourPrint: Provides quick turnaround times on business cards, brochures, and other essentials
• FedEx Office: Brick-and-mortar print shops that also offer online ordering and shipping

Each of these companies has its own unique selling points, whether it‘s rock-bottom pricing, lightning-fast shipping, or specialized product options. However, Vistaprint remains one of the most comprehensive and user-friendly choices for small business printing needs.

In most cases, Vistaprint will be the most economical option, especially if you want to order a variety of different marketing materials. Their design interface and huge template selection also make them ideal for non-designers who still want professional results.

Conclusion: Is Vistaprint Right for You?

There‘s a reason Vistaprint remains a go-to choice for small business owners, independent creatives, and entrepreneurs of all types. The company is truly a one-stop-shop for all things custom printing, with a user-friendly online platform and design process.

The sheer variety of products is impressive, and the affordable pricing makes quality marketing accessible for businesses of any size. While delivery hiccups and print errors can happen, the company has a good track record of making things right for customers.

Ultimately, if you‘re looking for a reliable, cost-effective partner for your business printing and promo needs, Vistaprint is absolutely worth checking out. With low minimums, fast turnaround options, and frequent discounts, they offer a lot of value for the money.

For those who want more specialized options or premium finishes, it may be worth comparing with other services. But for most solopreneurs and small businesses, Vistaprint provides everything you need to grow your brand professionally and affordably.

We hope this in-depth review has given you a clear picture of what Vistaprint has to offer. Have you printed with Vistaprint before? Let us know about your experience in the comments below!