Expresta

Expresta is an online printing company that runs its own print production and sells through expresta.eu in English and expresta.cz in Czech. It describes itself as "an online printing company with more than 15 years of experience", and its catalog runs from business cards and flyers to books, calendars, stickers, labels and rubber stamps. For sellers and self-publishers, the part that matters is its print-on-demand book service: a book file sits in the customer account, and a copy is printed, packed and shipped to the author or straight to the end customer only when someone orders it.

Print-on-demand books

The Czech print-on-demand page lays out the flow in three steps. The author adds the book file to their Expresta customer account. When a reader orders the book, the author places a print order in the account or sends it through the API. Expresta then prints the book, packs it and ships it to the author or to the author's customer. The page sums up the pitch as publishing and selling books with no upfront investment, no storage costs and no unsold stock.

Orders can reach Expresta two ways, according to the same page. Manually, the author logs in, adds the book to the basket, enters the delivery details and submits. Automatically, the author connects the Expresta platform to their own e-shop through the API, and every customer order is sent to print without further steps. The English site lists a "Print API" and an "Order Desk API" among its publishing services, and the page mentions an online panel for placing orders, requesting reprints and tracking production.

There is no minimum. The FAQ answers "Je stanovený minimální počet kusů na objednávku?" (is there a minimum order quantity?) with "Ne. Nemáme žádné minimum." (No. We have no minimum.) An author can print one copy or several at once, and the page states that the price per book stays the same regardless of how many copies are ordered.

The pricing model has two parts: a one-time fee that depends on the chosen service package, and a price per printed book that depends on its specifications, such as format, page count and binding. Packing and preparing the book for shipment are included in the print price. The page describes two packages:

• PoD Standard is free, with no commitment or subscription; the author pays only for each printed book, calculated in the PoD price calculator. Books ship within 10 working days of the order. The page recommends it for smaller volumes and for customers who do not need express production.
• PoD Express carries a one-time fee that covers printing and storing 10 copies of the title, so orders ship within 1 working day from the pre-printed stock. It is aimed at authors who print larger volumes, which the page puts at 5 or more books a month. If a title is not ordered at least once in the last 6 months, Expresta moves it back to PoD Standard, warns the author by email first and offers to send the remaining copies home.

For higher demand, the page points to an "Automatic Stock Replenishment" service, a hybrid that keeps books in stock ready to ship and lowers the price per copy. The English menu also lists short-run and large-run book printing, fulfillment and warehousing, and self-publishing services, so an author can move between print on demand and conventional runs with the same printer.

Print equipment and quality

Expresta says it prints in its own facility. For print-on-demand books, the Czech page says it prints mainly on a Canon ColorStream 8160, which it describes as giving "výjimečnou kvalitu srovnatelnou s klasickým ofsetovým tiskem" (exceptional quality comparable to classic offset printing) while staying economical for small and medium runs, alongside HP Indigo digital presses that it calls ideal for premium jobs. Binding runs on a Horizon Smart Binding System from Japan.

The English homepage describes the production as a modern ecological hall with a green roof and controlled humidity and temperature, with offset and HP Indigo machines, a Japanese folding and bookbinding line, and cutting, punching and laminating equipment. It states that it guarantees full color match according to ISO 12647-2:2013 and that it holds the Trusted Shops certification. It also says packaging materials are eco-friendly and that products can be printed on paper from sustainable forestry or receive their own FSC certification.

The binding types on the English site include perfect binding, hardcover, saddle stitch, wire-o, plastic comb, tape and pad glue binding. The paper list includes FSC-certified book papers in creamy and white, and recycled stocks such as the 100 percent recycled Impact paper, which the site recommends for book pages at up to 115 g/m².

Stickers, labels and calendars

The same configurator drives the non-book range. The stickers page offers custom stickers and decals of any size and shape on paper or vinyl, in white or transparent material, including business stickers, window and wall decals and door or floor stickers. Stickers come kiss cut on sheets, kiss cut in pieces or die cut in pieces, and the site cuts non-standard shapes by laser, plotter knife, oscillating plotter knife or a custom die-cut mold, choosing the method automatically unless the buyer picks one. The labels page adds product labels, honey labels and bottle labels on matte, glossy, vinyl or paper foils.

The desk calendar page, titled "Desk calendars printing in Europe", lets a customer upload 13, 28 or 54 photos for a photo desk calendar, and the site also prints wall, poster and pocket calendars. Every product shows its price as it is configured, on the principle the site repeats on each page: the more copies, the lower the unit price. Surface finishes include UV varnish and glossy, matte, non-scratch, soft touch and canvas-structure lamination.

Production speed, shipping and guarantees

Every product can be ordered at one of three production speeds, RELAX, EXPRESS or LIGHTNING FAST, set in the price calculator or the basket. The English site says it delivers worldwide and "To Europe within 1 – 4 days", with times and prices for each destination in its shipping price list. The Czech site offers free delivery within the Czech Republic on orders over 1500 Kč and up to 50 kg.

The English site carries a satisfaction guarantee on all printed matter up to 250 €: if the print quality disappoints, Expresta refunds the money or reprints right away. The Czech site states the same guarantee up to 6500 Kč. On products worth more than 250 €, the English site offers a free sample print on request, and anyone can order a free sampler of papers and stickers.

Design help and support

The site reviews a customer's graphics before printing for free and includes 30 minutes of graphic work at no charge; further design work costs 39 € per hour. Designs are archived in the customer account for easy reordering. Support runs by phone, online chat and email, with phone and chat staffed Monday to Friday 7-19 CET, and a team of printing specialists handles special requests such as non-standard sizes, special materials, variable printing with a unique text on each piece, leaflet insertion, storage of printed materials and dropshipping. The English homepage counts 216561 customers, from large and small companies to individuals.

Who it suits

Expresta suits self-publishers and small publishers who want a printer that can move a title from single-copy print on demand to stocked express shipping and conventional runs, and who are happy to connect their own shop through the API. It also suits sellers who need short runs of stickers, labels and calendars priced instantly online. It is less suited to sellers who want a ready-made marketplace or storefront integrations, since the pages describe an API and manual ordering rather than named platform apps.