TrendWatch Graphic Arts, a research firm that monitors changes in the graphics arts and design markets, has compiled seven years worth of survey data in a 100+ page report entitled “The Seven Year Itch: Mining the TWGA Database.” The report summarizes noteworthy trends in plant productivity, technology concerns, business challenges, sales opportunities, and planned investments that have occurred since TWGA first began gathering data in 1995. Some examples are listed below.
“? Prepress-related processes have become commodities, causing printing companies and service bureaus to look elsewhere for new profit centers and competitive differentiators.
“? Large format printing is regarded as one of the bright spots, showing consistent and steady growth as a planned investment.
“? Many shops no longer see the need to acquire the latest and greatest technology in order to be competitive.
“? Parterning with other graphic-arts firms and working with print brokers are becoming more common. When it comes to increasing sales, printers are starting to adopt the “no overhead” option.
“With seven years of data, you begin to see very obvious trends,” notes Vince Naselli, director of TrendWatch Graphic Arts. “The trends we analyzed in the report tend to be very consistent in terms of either upward or downward slopes, given the predictable spikes from technology or economic change.” The report sells for $1595. (TrendWatch Graphic Arts: 866-873-6310; www.trendgraphicsarts.com)