Why don’t you have an online shop, where I can order and pay for my prints upfront?
Projects often shift and change in scope during the initial phase. This may be due to file limitations, changes in your needs, or guidance offered by us during the file-checking stage. If we were to charge upfront, there would be scenarios where we overcharge, and others where we don’t charge enough, requiring us to either issue credits/refunds or request additional payment. Both situations lead to unnecessary administration and a suboptimal customer experience.
Every print order is unique, and we offer custom solutions tailored to our clients' needs. Assuming that every order will fit a certain mold, or forcing customers to order predetermined items would be mismanagement on our part. Therefore, we don’t raise an invoice until we’ve reviewed your files, explored the possibilities, and discussed everything with you.
Do you offer trade pricing?
Because our client base primarily consists of artists and galleries, our advertised prices are our trade prices. Fine art printing is a labor-intensive process, and we focus our attention on quality. We choose not to outsource any work, nor do we compromise on the materials we work with. We are a small but experienced team who go above and beyond to achieve the best possible results for the artists we work with. Being a small operation, our studio is very hands-on, and this is reflected in the quality we provide.
However, we do offer tiered discounts for clients printing in volume. If you are considering a bulk order, please contact us for a quote - we’ll be happy to discuss a custom pricing arrangement.
I have an exhibition coming up – do you offer an exhibition discount?
We do what we do because we love supporting artists, and we aim to make exhibitions as cost-effective as possible. Depending on your project, this might be through a payment plan or sponsorship. For the latter, we’ll provide a discount in exchange for a branding opportunity and social media coverage. Full sponsorships, in which Hound & Bone donates all printing costs, are exclusively offered to non-profit and other charitable organizations. If your exhibition is donating proceeds to a charity, let us know the details, and we’ll see what we can do. Sponsorships are necessarily limited per annum, so get in touch as soon as possible.
We also offer a 10% discount on exhibition printing for clients who book an Exhibition Planning Consult, which we highly recommend for anyone planning a solo exhibition. We assess your print files, explore editing for optimal print results, and discuss paper options to suit your imagery and exhibition setting. One 24 x 8” test print is included, along with a 10% discount on your final exhibition prints.
How are payments handled?
Once your order is confirmed, you'll receive an invoice. Payment in full is required to finalize your order. We accept payment via direct deposit, Stripe, or over the phone (a 1.7% surcharge applies for Stripe and EFTPOS payments). All invoices must be paid in full before the order leaves the studio, unless otherwise agreed.
Can you price match?
No, we don’t price match. We are a small business, and while we can’t compete with the buying power of larger companies, which allows them to offer cheaper print prices, we make up for it with our experience and personalised service. We are also committed to quality and refuse to cut corners with cheaper materials. Our prices are carefully set to reflect the quality of our materials, the expertise of our staff, and the exceptional customer service we provide.