i've written a template that you could use to contact your suppliers if you get stuff professionally printed: https://pastebin.com/rHgR2aqm
with thanks to the writers of this template for contacting universities, which i adapted some wording & formatting from.
i have no doubt the messaging can be improved so please improve it & please share with your networks.
if you use the template, or your own version of it* please do share that you've done so, and publicise any response or non-response. if you have recommendations for print suppliers that don't use HP or have said they will divest, share that – it bolsters the campaign AND helps your colleagues. and if you have other thoughts or ideas or want to discuss/coordinate further on organising together as creators, hmu either in comments here or in DMs on twitter (@toritruslow) or discord (tor.tr)
*please, use as is, if that makes it easier OR adapt, rewrite completely, share your own versions, no need to ask or credit, the point of writing this was just to make a building block
i emailed mixam, who have been my go-to print provider, with a version of the template above including 2 main asks:
- to make it easier for customers to choose non-HP printers in the order UI (at the moment, the paper type you select will be tied to a particular printer)
- longer term, to end existing contracts with HP
my reasoning in brief – the second is a tall ask for a commercial printing company, but one i felt needed to be expressed anyway; the first is something that could actually be implemented without a major financial review.
i got a reply from a member of the customer support team, offering to put a note on my account to print with alternative printers, so i wanted to share that if you print with mixam you can ask for this, & i'd encourage you to do so! if enough customers ask for this it will send a message that business decision-makers can understand.
since they haven't yet engaged with my broader asks, i've let them know i'm considering my options and may go elsewhere until they can offer more information. i also tweeted a version of this update, tagging them in, and received the following reply (plus likes on all my tweets):
Hello Tori, thanks so much for your concern. And yes, you can always request non-HP print options for future orders. We will discuss your requests with our internal team for further consideration. Please do not hesitate to DM us with any additional thoughts. Thank you!
i was massively tempering my expectations here but i'm pleased to have received friendly responses which, to me at least, give an impression of some staff agreeing and wanting to see this go further. chances of that will be greatly increased by more folks engaging them! if you have ever printed with mixam or considered doing so, and want to do something as a creator to support the palestine movement (especially given donations are not being asked for at this time), please consider doing this?
