The State of the Print Industry – A Quick Recap

The recession that seems to be getting better but for which many companies are still recovering and/or feeling the effects, impacted the printing industry in numerous ways. Conventional manufacturers, for example, have taken the biggest hit as printers took many steps to try and conserve cash and are now trying to revitalize their businesses. Typically, as noted by the National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL), when the economy recovers, demand for print grows and the industry returns to normal. However, that is no longer the case as companies cannot simply sit back and expect recovery to simply happen.

Those in the printing industry must fully participate in the recovery, value their clients, put an emphasis on competitiveness, and, more importantly, build productivity. This is how the industry will not only survive but thrive in today’s economy. Also, there is now a shift in the industry to digital technology, such as inkjet. The addition of workflow automation and web-to-print becoming increasingly utilized in the printing industry, those companies that don’t adapt or outright ignore change are likely to fall behind.

One of the standards in the industry that will keep traditional printers afloat will be the fact that physical print boasts a security and virus-free nature. Nevertheless, a change toward catering to the client on an individual basis is really the trend that is driving the current industry. Clients now expect streamlined workflow, personalization, and very high quality, especially in light of the incredibly media-rich world.

According to the NAPL printing establishment categories, smaller operations rule the industry with more than 70 percent having 10 or fewer employees. Yet, nearly half of all industry sales come from companies with 100 or more employees. The result: Small companies focus on personalization while large companies focus on bulk printing.