As the publishing industry transforms, printers and book manufacturers must constantly innovate and adopt new technologies to best serve their clients.
In this environment, forward-thinking manufacturers who are willing and able to take risks and try new things have a distinct advantage. As a family-owned and -operated business, Publishers’ Graphics has more freedom to make such moves, says VP of Operations Cara Lahey. “In a world where private equity is buying up the competition, being privately owned and operated has its perks,” Lahey says. “No board to run things by, no hoops to jump through. If there is an innovative idea that our publishers want to take on with us, we can do it!”
Specializing in print-on-demand and digital short-run printing services, the 29-year-old digital book manufacturer has a history of pioneering leadership. Publishers’ Graphics was the first U.S.-based Amazon Direct Fulfillment partner and the first to partner with some of the largest academic and science, technical, medical (STM) publishers with print-on-demand workflows. Its zero-inventory model made it eco-friendly long before sustainability became a buzzword.
“Since 1996, we’ve led the way in innovation and technology, always looking for ways to partner with our publishing and author clients and find solutions that work for their businesses,” Lahey says. “We aren’t afraid to take risks and try new things, and we always keep automation and technology in the forefront of our decisions. When others have said that they can’t do something, we have done it.”
Operating from locations in Chicago, St. Louis, and Winnipeg, Publishers’ Graphics collaborates with clients ranging from independent authors to global publishers. In addition to printing services, the company offers warehousing and fulfillment services, direct e-commerce offerings, various binding styles—including hardcover, softcover, coil, French folds—and more.
In the first quarter of 2025, Publishers’ Graphics is adding hardcover capabilities to its POD facility in Winnipeg. And in keeping with its quality oriented technological advances, at the end of the second quarter in 2025, Publishers’ Graphics will have Smyth-sewn capabilities for both hard and softcover, and for both short run as well as POD production.
As the rising costs of goods and labor keep publishers up at night, Publishers’ Graphics is leveraging its strong relationships with vendors and its technical savvy to contain costs without sacrificing quality. New services and innovations keep coming. In 2024, Publishers’ Graphics partnered with Login Canada Distribution to offer in-plant book production in its Winnipeg distribution center called LoginPOD, a move that cuts out the duties, taxes, and high costs associated with shipping into the Canadian market.
The company’s global print partnership ensures books are produced and fulfilled near their delivery destinations in the U.K. and the E.U., bypassing the duties and taxes associated with Brexit. The newly launched PGDirect app is a unique e-commerce fulfillment solution aimed at untapped consumer markets and enables customers to seamlessly manage files and orders 24/7.
Despite the various industry challenges, Lahey sees a bright future with ample opportunities for enterprising printers that have publishers’ and consumers’ needs in mind. “We believe that print is important and timeless,” Lahey says. “The overwhelming data shows that consumers prefer printed books, which is extremely promising. We’re excited to be a part of the next generation of printers that use technology to our advantage to bring print to the market.”
