What Smartpress does

Smartpress is a premium online commercial printing platform operated by Chanhassen, Minnesota-based parent The Bernard Group, founded in 1999, with Smartpress.com launched in 2009 and 100% employee-owned since 2013. The company serves creative professionals, small businesses, and distributed enterprises with a broad print product portfolio spanning business cards, booklets, brochures, signage, banners, direct mail, packaging, and promotional products, plus specialty finishes such as Foil Sleeking, Raised UV, and Soft Touch laminate. Production runs on one of the largest fleets of HP Indigo HD digital presses in the world, backed by 676,000 sq.ft across eight locations in Minnesota, New York, Washington, and South Carolina (the latter opened in 2024). The company's money mix is hybrid: one-time transactional print purchases via a self-serve e-commerce store, a subscription-style Marketing on Demand (MOD) Platform for enterprises with $50K-$50M annual print spend, a Print Reseller wholesale channel, professional Layout Services ($99/hr), and managed enterprise services delivered through parent The Bernard Group. Customer segments span creative agencies, retail and e-commerce, franchises, finance and insurance, education, nonprofits, events and hospitality, restaurants, and healthcare, served through a multi-channel GTM that combines e-commerce, enterprise field sales, video consultations, custom quotes, and a reseller program. Sustainability credentials (EcoVadis top 2%, carbon neutral since 2020, ISO 14001, EPA Green Power Partner, UN Global Compact signatory) are positioned as a procurement-relevant differentiator, and 2025 additions include Smartpress Intelligence for AI-informed guided ordering and an A+ BBB accreditation.

Name

Smartpress

Legal name

Smartpress

Website

https://sp-test-b.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Smartpress is a 100% employee-owned premium online commercial printing platform serving creative professionals, small businesses, and distributed enterprises across North America with digital printing, specialty finishes, and a centralized Marketing on Demand platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Printing Services

NAICS

Commercial Printing (except Screen and Books) (323111), Printing and Related Support Activities (3231), Direct Mail Advertising (54186), Graphic Design Services (541430)

SIC

Commercial Printing (2750), Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330), Services-Direct Mail Advertising Services (7331)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Printing (Short-Run, Variable Data) (MPAJALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Production & High-Volume Printing Systems (HDACAEAJ), Printing & Business Forms (continuous forms, checks, tickets) (IMAMAHAH)

Keywords

• Premium online printing
• Commercial printing services
• Enterprise print management
• Promotional products printing
• Direct mail services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chanhassen

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Print Product Sales: One-time purchases of customized print products including business cards, brochures, booklets, marketing materials, promotional products, signage and more. Revenue from per-order transactions.
2. Marketing on Demand Platform Subscription: Subscription-style model for enterprise clients with minimum $50K annual spend, providing centralized print management, brand control, and fulfillment services across distributed locations.
3. Enterprise Services: Full suite of enterprise solutions including on-site project management, design routing, and API integration managed by parent company The Bernard Group.
4. Print Reseller Program: Wholesale print services for brokers and resellers with tax exemptions and blind shipping options, earning points through Print Points loyalty program.
5. Layout Services: Design services at $99 for first hour with additional 15-minute increments for professional design assistance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Smartpress operates a premium online commercial printing platform that produces customized physical print products (business cards, booklets, brochures, signage, promotional products, direct mail, packaging) for businesses and individuals across North America. The company sells through a self-serve e-commerce storefront, an enterprise Marketing on Demand Platform for centralized distributed print management, and a wholesale Print Reseller Program, all backed by one of the world's largest fleets of HP Indigo HD digital presses.

Product overview

Smartpress is a premium online printing platform designed for creative professionals and enterprises. The core offering consists of the Marketing on Demand Platform (MOD) for enterprise-level print management with $50K+ annual spend, complemented by a comprehensive self-service print shop. The product portfolio spans multiple categories: print products including booklets, brochures, business cards, cards/invitations, designer folds, direct mail, marketing collateral, signs/banners/displays, and promotional products. Specialty finishes include Foil Printing (gold, rose gold, silver, holographic, clear spot gloss), Raised UV, and Soft Touch laminate. Add-on services include Layout Services, Custom Quotes, Digital Laser Cutting, Kitting/Assembly/Warehousing, and a Print Reseller Program. The Business Hub provides template management for businesses with recurring print needs. A Print Points loyalty program rewards repeat purchases. In 2025, Smartpress launched Smartpress Intelligence for AI-informed guided ordering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Marketing on Demand Platform: One-stop shop print marketing portal for businesses with $50K minimum annual spend, offering print management, customization and fulfillment.
• Pressy
• Print Points
• Smartpress Intelligence

Products and services

• Marketing on Demand Platform (MOD) Enterprise-level print marketing management portal for businesses with distributed teams and $50K+ annual spend. Enables customization, print-on-demand, inventory management, ordering, fulfillment and total brand control across all locations from one centralized platform.
• Print Reseller Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Carbon neutral operations since January 2020
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Bernard GroupcoreOthersParent company of Smartpress, which built its reputation serving luxury brands. Smartpress was launched in 2009 as a better way to print online.
• Trees, Water & PeopleminorOthersNonprofit creating economic opportunities for local Indigenous people through reforestation and renewable energy projects. Smartpress partners to plant trees in South Dakota, Colorado and New Mexico.
• Open Hands Foundation / Hope HouseminorOthersEmergency shelter for youth ages 14-19 who are homeless or at risk. Smartpress donations help support young people's lives through reconciliation and family unification.
• Neighbors Inc.minorOthersLocal charity supporting low-income households with food, clothes and toiletries. Smartpress employees adopt families in need during holiday season.
• Operation Christmas Child / Samaritan's PurseminorOthersOrganization helping victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease and famine. Smartpress employees pack shoe boxes annually for children in impoverished countries.
• Dress for SuccessminorOthersCharity providing clothing and skills development to empower women. Smartpress donates professional attire.
• PROP (People Reaching Out to People)minorOthersLocal food shelf providing food and comprehensive support to neighbors in need. Smartpress employees donate food items and fresh produce.
• Kids in Need FoundationminorOthersOrganization providing school supplies to students in under-resourced communities. Smartpress hosts annual backpack building events.
• Feed My Starving ChildrenminorOthersOrganization where volunteers hand-pack meals for children worldwide. Smartpress employees volunteer and donate.
• SAIL Transition ProgramminorOthersPartnership with local school providing work to people with disabilities. Transitional work program offering skill-building and career training for young people with special needs.
• Toys for TotsminorOthersProgram collecting new toys for economically disadvantaged children. Smartpress supports annual toy drives.
• HP (Hewlett-Packard)coreTechnology or IntegrationHP manufactures the Indigo HD digital presses that Smartpress operates - one of the largest fleets in the world. HP presses were made with recycled materials and recyclable parts, and manufactured CO2-neutral.
• Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental reporting partnership for transparency and accountability with stakeholders on environmental matters.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• PsPrint: PsPrint is an online commercial printing company offering business cards, brochures, banners, postcards, and marketing collateral with custom quotes and design services. It directly competes with Smartpress on the SMB/agency online print storefront with overlapping product categories and self-serve ordering.
• AlphaGraphics: AlphaGraphics is a franchise-based commercial printing and marketing services network offering business printing, signage, direct mail, and marketing solutions. It overlaps with Smartpress on enterprise/franchise print management, centralized brand control, and multi-location fulfillment, though it operates through a franchise model rather than a centralized factory.
• 4over: 4over is an online trade printing marketplace serving print brokers, resellers, and agencies with commercial printing at wholesale pricing. It is directly comparable to Smartpress's Print Reseller Program, offering similar blind shipping, trade accounts, and broad commercial print SKUs to the same broker/reseller buyer.
• Mimeo: Mimeo is an online printing platform focused on enterprise document and marketing print with on-demand production, API integration, and centralized ordering. It is comparable to Smartpress's MOD platform targeting distributed enterprise customers needing print-on-demand, brand control, and managed print services.
• MOO: MOO is a premium online printing company specializing in business cards, marketing materials, and branded stationery with a focus on design quality and specialty finishes. It directly competes with Smartpress in the SMB/creative agency premium print segment and overlaps strongly on specialty finishes, online configurator experience, and brand-driven positioning.
• UPrinting: UPrinting is an online commercial printer offering business cards, flyers, brochures, postcards, banners, and booklets with next-day production options. It directly competes with Smartpress on the SMB online print storefront with similar product breadth, online configurator, and quick-turn positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Cimpress: Cimpress is the parent company of Vistaprint and a portfolio of mass-customization printing businesses serving small businesses and consumers globally. It is comparable to Smartpress as a broader incumbent in online/mass-customization printing with greater scale, geographic reach, and capital flexibility, but serving lower price points than Smartpress's premium creative/enterprise niche.
• Taylor Corporation: Taylor Corporation is one of the largest privately held commercial printing companies in the US, offering marketing collateral, direct mail, labels, packaging, and print management services. It overlaps with Smartpress on commercial printing, direct mail, and enterprise print services but at a far larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Vistaprint: Vistaprint, owned by Cimpress, is the largest mass-market online printing platform offering business cards, marketing materials, signage, and promotional products. It overlaps with Smartpress on the e-commerce print storefront but at a much larger scale, lower price point, and broader SMB/self-serve audience rather than Smartpress's premium creative/enterprise niche.
• FedEx Office: FedEx Office is a national chain offering walk-in and online printing, copying, signage, and shipping services across 2,000+ US locations. It competes broadly with Smartpress on SMB and enterprise print needs but operates a retail/storefront model and a wider portfolio beyond commercial printing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/smartpress
• YouTubeyoutube.com/smartpress
• Facebookfacebook.com/smartpressprinting
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smartpress-com
• Instagraminstagram.com/smartpress
• Pinterestpinterest.com/smartpress

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Smartpress