The Print Industry’s Powerful Presence

Print by the Numbers
In the age of ever-increasing digital content, the print industry can seem an outdated and dying industry. However, this perception could not be more wrong.
Print industry statistics illustrate that the print industry greatly surpasses the auto-industry in terms of profits and scale; it is a $640 billion business with the auto industry only $432 billion. With 45 trillion pages printed annually, the print industry affects nearly every world market.

Advantages of Print 
Although reaching out through social media and emails can be effective, print stands out to customers as a result of its personal, tangible qualities. Just as a hand-written letter or personal thank you note from a friend means so much more than an email, so does a print flyer or brochure to the customer. For example, direct mail brings in 78% of total non-profit donations.
Print is used in conjunction with online industries; many companies sell print online or reach their audience with both an online and print presence.

The New Printing Industry
Although thriving, the print industry has not escaped the effects of the digital revolution. The days of meticulously preparing for the printing stage are gone. With the ability to print content formatted and designed online, printing has become more colorful, personalized, and faster than ever before.

Ken Custer of Advertising and Marketing Review examines the new printing industry by interviewing various print shops in his home-state of Colorado. Jeannette McMurty, Vice President of G.A. Wright Marketing, is excited about the changes in the print industry: “Printing has always been a part of marketing and it’s an exciting transition as we move away from traditional to personalized marketing…you have to build a relationship and printing is a big part of that.”
Printing, an ever-evolving media, is here to stay.