Insider Insight: Wide-Format Surprises in 2017

We asked seven of Big Picture's Editorial Advisory Board members to respond to the current state of the wide-format industry and reveal what we should expect in 2018.

Big Picture: What was the biggest surprise of 2017? If it was a challenge, how did you overcome it? If it was beneficial to your shop, explain.

Scott Crosby, VP Sales and Marketing, Holland & Crosby: The biggest surprise of 2017 was the continued growth in the world of P-O-P. Despite the talk of the death of brick-and-mortar retail, the demand for in-store signage and displays continues to grow. Successful retailers have discovered that it’s not one or the other – brick-and-mortar vs. e-commerce – but rather both channels working together that delivers the best results. This has led to greater demand for new and innovative P-O-P that creates an experience for the consumer. The benefit to our business is an increase in demand for all aspects of our service offering.

Kirk Green, President/CEO, Ferrari Color: Growth of online purchases. Our solution: strengthening our online presence with new designs and direction, consistent and meaningful social interaction, and support from our partner company, signs.com.

Jared Smith, CEO, bluemedia: Diversification and investment was 2017 in summary for us. Moving into the tech space with building projection, animation, LED, lighting, and interactive displays was a huge investment and has positioned us well moving forward. We also ramped up our involvement in the fabrication and electrical signage spaces as our client mix was demanding a lot more than print and install.

Get more insider insight on industry trend analysis, streamlining print production, market entry, social media for PSPs, what's next for large format, and goals for 2018.