If you’re a multi-site retailer with stores scattered across the UK, you already know the unique challenges that come with managing tech in multiple locations. Printers and copiers might seem like small potatoes, but trust us – they can quietly eat into your time, money, and sanity.
At Evolve Document Solutions, we’ve seen it all. From high-street chains juggling mismatched devices and five different lease contracts, to warehouse teams panicking mid-shift because someone forgot to order toner (again). That’s why we’re here – to take the hassle out of print management for UK retailers with multiple sites.
So, if you’ve been wondering whether leasing your photocopiers or going all-in with Managed Print Services (MPS) is worth it, grab a brew, because we’re about to take a closer look.
We’ll tell you what we’ve seen, how we sorted it and how all our experience comes as standard for every valued Evolve client. It could be the difference between chaos and control, giving your multi-site retail business complete peace of mind.
Why Leasing Photocopiers Makes Sense for a Multi-Site Retailer
Buying your own photocopiers outright might feel like the obvious choice. But let’s face it – that upfront cost can be significant. And with tech moving as fast as it does, what’s cutting-edge today might be clunky in 18 months.
Leasing, on the other hand, spreads the cost out. It keeps your capital free for more exciting stuff (like boosting your online sales or opening a new store), and lets you upgrade more easily when better kit comes along. It’s predictable too – you know exactly what you’re paying each month.
But the real benefit for a multi-site retailer? Leasing gives you the flexibility to scale. Opening a new store? No problem. Closing one down? Also manageable – especially if you’ve negotiated the right contract terms.
At Evolve, we don’t just hand you a leasing agreement and walk away. We help you plan strategically – choosing the right devices for each site, based on your actual needs. No over-spec’d machines gathering dust, and no underpowered ones groaning under the pressure.
The Next Level: Managed Print Services (MPS)
Now, if you really want to stop thinking about printing altogether (and we mean that in the best way), this is where MPS comes in.
Managed Print Services means we take full responsibility for your print environment. We assess every site, figure out what’s working and what’s not, and then design a setup that saves you money, time, and stress.
Think of it like having a print-savvy team member who’s always watching your back:
- Toner low? Already on the way.
- Printer down in Dundee? Engineer dispatched.
- Costs creeping up? We’ll flag it before it snowballs.
And you get network-wide visibility – so you can see who’s printing what, where, and how much it’s costing. No more blind spots or mystery invoices.
15 Problems a UK Multi-site Retailer Like You Might Face (And How We Fix It)
If you’re managing print across dozens or even hundreds of retail sites in the UK, you’re probably juggling more than just toner levels. Here’s our no-nonsense, ultimate list of the most common photocopier leasing pain points multi-site retailers face – and why knowing about them is the first step to getting your print setup under control.
1. A Patchwork of Contracts (And None of Them Talk to Each Other)
One site’s with Vendor A, another’s with Vendor B, and head office has its own thing going on. Different lease terms, different service standards, different pricing models. Keeping track is like spinning plates while blindfolded.
💡 What retailers really want: One contract, one provider, one plan that covers everything – and everyone.
2. Print Costs That Are All Over the Shop
Without centralised oversight, print costs balloon. You’ve got no idea which stores are guzzling toner or printing colour when mono would do just fine.
And with no visibility, you can’t challenge it.
💡 The fix: Consolidated, network-wide reporting with cost-per-site breakdowns. That’s where a decent MPS (Managed Print Service) partner earns their keep.
3. Devices That Don’t Fit the Job
Some stores have mega multifunction beasts they barely use. Others are stuck with ancient machines that wheeze every time someone tries to print a label.
Mismatch = wasted money and frustrated staff.
💡 Smart move: Use a tiered standardisation model – right-size devices based on what each store actually needs.
4. Hidden Costs That Sneak Up on a Multi-Site Retailer
Watch out for these budget-busters:
- Excess usage charges when you print more than your contract allows
- Toner, staples, maintenance or software fees that weren’t mentioned upfront
- Costly penalties for ending leases early
💡 Top tip: Scrutinise the fine print. Better yet, get someone who knows the traps to negotiate the terms for you.
5. Remote Sites Getting the Short End of the Stick
Your flagship London store gets a same-day engineer. Your outlet in rural Cumbria? Good luck.
💡 Reality check: Nationwide SLAs matter. A proper provider will deliver the same service quality whether you’re in Birmingham or the back end of nowhere.
6. Your IT Team Is Drowning in Printer Problems
No offence to printers, but they’re not what your IT team signed up for. Yet somehow, printer issues account for up to half of all helpdesk calls in some retailers.
💡 Smarter approach: Outsource print support. A solid MPS deal means proactive maintenance, remote monitoring, and fewer “have you tried turning it off and on again?” conversations.
7. Security Risks in Every Store
Uncollected documents, unsecured devices, staff printing sensitive stuff and leaving it lying around. Sound familiar?
In retail, with GDPR and PCI-DSS breathing down your neck, one mishap can cost more than just a slap on the wrist.
💡 Must-haves: Secure print release, user authentication, and automated data wiping at the end of each lease.
8. Over-Spec’ing vs. Under-Spec’ing – Both Cost You
Get too fancy and you’ll overpay. Get too basic and you’ll lose productivity (and annoy the staff).
💡 Answer? Base your fleet design on a proper data-led usage assessment. Gut feel doesn’t cut it anymore.
9. Old Machines That Just Won’t Quit (And Not in a Good Way)
You want to replace that 8-year-old relic in store #87, but you’re still locked into a lease. Or worse, the lease expired but no one returned the device, so it’s still sitting there costing you money.
💡 Watch for: Rigid lease terms, vague end-of-lease clauses, and sneaky auto-renewals.
10. Seasonal Surges That Smash Your Print Limits
Christmas. Black Friday. Clearance sales. Your print volumes explode – and so do your contract overage charges.
💡 Retail-savvy MPS partners build in flexible usage allowances or pooled volumes across stores to handle those peaks without penalties.
11. New Stores = New Headaches
Every time you open or close a store, it kicks off a domino effect of contract amendments, device redeployments, and logistics nightmares.
💡 What you need: A provider who can scale with you – fast deployments, quick swaps, minimal admin.
12. Nobody Knows What’s Going On
You’d be shocked how many retailers have no clue what devices they’ve got where, what they cost, or how much they’re being used.
💡 Get visibility: A modern print management dashboard can show you everything – and even alert you when costs spike or a device is underperforming.
13. Forgotten Toner Orders (Cue Panic in Aisle Three)
Toner runs out. No one’s ordered any. Print grinds to a halt. Everyone scrambles.
💡 Upgrade to automation: MPS with live supply monitoring will reorder consumables before they run out. Problem solved.
14. Confusing Invoices That Make Multi-Site Retailer Finance Cry
Multiple contracts = multiple invoices, inconsistent billing, random surcharges, and time lost chasing credits.
💡 Finance-friendly solution: One provider. One invoice. Clear line items by store. Everyone’s happy.
15. No Room for Innovation
Want to go paperless in HR? Digitise delivery notes in the warehouse? Enable secure mobile printing for regional managers?
Not going to happen if your print estate is stuck in the past.
💡 Your MFPs should be enablers, not obstacles. If your provider isn’t talking to you about digital workflows, it might be time to find someone who will.
What a Multi-Site Retailer Should Look for in a Print Partner (👋 Spoiler: It’s Us)
If you’re going to trust someone with your nationwide print setup, you need a partner who gets retail.
That means:
- UK-wide service coverage (even in remote areas)
- Proven retail experience
- Bulletproof SLAs (we’re talking guaranteed response, not vague promises)
- Easy integrations with your existing systems – POS, stock control, HR, you name it
- Ongoing optimisation, not just set-it-and-forget-it
That’s what we do at Evolve. And we do it well.
What You Can Do Next
If your current setup feels messy, expensive, or just plain old frustrating, don’t settle.
Start by asking yourself a few questions:
- Do we actually know how much we’re spending on print?
- Is our print setup supporting our growth, or holding us back?
- Are we confident about compliance and security?
If the answer to any of those is “not really” or “not sure”, then it’s time to chat.
Challenge Evolve to Simplify Your Multi-site Retailer Copier Solution
At Evolve Document Solutions, we help UK multi-site retailers get their print infrastructure under control – without the faff. Whether it’s straightforward leasing, a full MPS rollout, or just a conversation about what’s possible, we’re here to help.
Because printing should be simple, secure, and cost-effective – no matter how many stores you’ve got. And with the right support, it can be.
Want to know what an ideal setup could look like for your business? Let’s talk. We’ll even bring the biscuits.
