Print Estimator / Customer Service Representative

Location: Minneapolis, MN

Schedule: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

Job Type: Full-time, fully on-site

Pay: $18.36–$20.00 per hour

Overtime: Available

Position Overview

Minuteman Press Uptown is seeking an experienced Print Estimator with strong customer service skills to join our team.

This position is responsible for reviewing customer requests, gathering and confirming job specifications, preparing accurate estimates, and helping customers identify the best production options for their projects. The Print Estimator will communicate directly with customers, vendors, and internal departments to ensure each estimate is complete, accurate, and appropriate for production.

The ideal candidate has previous commercial printing experience, understands common printing materials and production processes, and is comfortable managing multiple estimates and customer requests in a fast-paced environment.

Primary Responsibilities

Estimating and Job Specifications

• Review customer quote requests and determine what information is needed to prepare an accurate estimate.
• Communicate with customers to clarify quantities, sizes, materials, colors, finishing requirements, deadlines, delivery needs, and other job specifications.
• Prepare accurate and timely estimates for commercial printing, digital printing, wide-format printing, finishing, mailing, promotional products, and outsourced services.
• Determine appropriate production methods based on job requirements, cost, quality, and turnaround time.
• Calculate material, labor, equipment, finishing, shipping, vendor, and outside-service costs.
• Request pricing from vendors and outside suppliers when necessary.
• Compare internal and outsourced production options to determine the most effective solution.
• Review estimates for accuracy, completeness, and profitability before presenting them to customers.
• Maintain organized records of estimates, vendor pricing, and customer specifications.
• Update or revise estimates when job specifications change.
• Clearly document assumptions, exclusions, turnaround times, and special production requirements.

Customer Service

• Communicate with customers by phone, email, and in person.
• Provide friendly, professional, and timely customer service.
• Help customers understand available printing, material, finishing, and production options.
• Ask detailed questions to ensure customer needs and expectations are understood.
• Explain pricing, production requirements, and turnaround times clearly.
• Follow up on open estimates and respond to customer questions.
• Build and maintain positive customer relationships.
• Address routine concerns and escalate complex issues when appropriate.
• Communicate professionally when a requested deadline, material, or production method is not feasible.

Internal and Vendor Communication

• Work closely with customer service, design, prepress, production, bindery, shipping, and management.
• Provide clear and complete job information to the appropriate departments.
• Confirm that estimated specifications can be produced as quoted.
• Communicate special instructions, deadlines, vendor requirements, and potential production concerns.
• Coordinate with outside vendors for pricing, availability, turnaround times, and production requirements.
• Assist with identifying alternative materials or production methods when needed.
• Help prevent production issues by identifying missing, unclear, or conflicting specifications before a job moves forward.

Qualifications

• Previous commercial printing industry experience is required.
• Previous print estimating or print quoting experience is strongly preferred.
• Previous customer service experience is required.
• Knowledge of common printing methods, papers, substrates, finishing processes, and production terminology.
• Ability to review detailed job specifications and identify missing information.
• Strong mathematical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.