Cold Outreach Doesn’t Need to Feel... Cold

Let’s be honest—cold outreach is tougher than ever.

Too many shops are blasting the same templated email or DM to every business on their list. And guess what? It sounds like every other shop... generic, pitchy, and irrelevant.

Here’s what we know from working with 100+ print shops across the country: Personalized, relevant outreach wins. Every time.

Here Are 3 Cold Messages You Can Steal (And Make Your Own)

1. If they’re hiring or growing fast: “Saw your team is expanding—congrats! We help growing teams with branded apparel for new hire kits and events. Would it help to see a few quick examples?”

2. If they’re launching something new (event, product, campaign): “Looks like you’ve got a new product hitting the market soon—exciting stuff. We’ve worked with similar teams on launch-day merch and promo kits. Worth a quick brainstorm?”

3. If you’re calling out a common pain point: “A lot of local brands we talk to are struggling with promo that stands out—especially at trade shows. If that's ever been a challenge for you, happy to share what’s working now.”

What Makes These Work?

• They’re specific.

• They show you’ve done your homework.

• They focus on the client, not your catalog.

• They end with a low-pressure ask (not “Can I send you a quote?”).

Quick Outreach Tips for Print Shops:

• Don’t lead with pricing—lead with relevance

• Reference something real (a hiring post, new store opening, event mention)

• Use friendly, conversational language

• Avoid “salesy” intros like “We’re the #1 screen printer…”

• Always give them a simple next step (“Worth chatting?”)

Ready to Make Cold Outreach Work for Your Shop? At Sales Ink, we help print shops build predictable pipelines through better messaging, smarter targeting, and a repeatable outbound system.