Tag Archives: Printing

Printing in the US Industry Market Research Report Now Available from IBISWorld

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Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) September 04, 2012

The Printing industry has contended with a variety of challenges over the past five years. Consumers are increasingly favoring digital alternatives, such as online media, over printed materials. For many media products, the printed word has proven to be too slow to produce and too costly to distribute, says IBISWorld industry analyst Caitlin Moldvay. As a result, newer forms of media have been leeching away this industry’s demand. With revenue declining at an average annual rate of 6.2% in the five years to 2012, the Printing industry as a whole is in decline. In 2012, revenue is expected to continue declining, falling 2.0% during the year to an estimated $ 76.6 billion.

Over the past five years, decreasing sales volumes and downward pressure on unit selling prices have hampered industry profit margins. Further crippling the industry, printing requires substantial capital investments in new technology to remain competitive, even at times of excess capacity, adds Moldvay. Such overcapacity has led to industry consolidation. In the five years to 2012, the number of firms operating in this industry is expected to fall an average of 2.2% annually to 26,176. The Printing industry is highly fragmented, with privately-owned firms comprising the majority of commercial printers. Throughout the last three decades, there has been an increase in market share concentration due to mergers and acquisitions. Industry consolidation has allowed the larger printers, including major player R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company, to adopt more efficient equipment while slashing employment and wages. These trends were exemplified when Quad/Graphics acquired World Color Press in July 2010. The company subsequently closed several plants and reduced its employee headcount by 2,200. Plant closures have caused industry employment to fall at an average of 4.5% annually to 463,904 employees in the five years to 2012.

The Printing industry is projected to continue its decline in the five years to 2017, though at a slower pace. Substitutes to commercially printed material, such as online media and advertising, will continue to adversely affect industry activity. The industry is expected to continue consolidating due to overcapacity and the rapid pace of technological change, and rising barriers to entry and increasingly strategic and complex relationships with customers will contribute to this consolidation over the next five years. The industry will also continue to struggle as digital media replaces paper products. In order to adapt to declining demand, printers will diversify into cross-media products, including multimedia layout and design. For more information, visit IBISWorlds Printing in the US industry report page.

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IBISWorld industry Report Key Topics

Companies in this industry are primarily engaged in printing on paper, textile products, metal, glass, plastic and other materials, with the exception of fabric. The industry covers a variety of different printing processes, including lithographic, gravure, screen, flexographic, digital and letterpress. This industry does not include publishers that also perform printing, nor does it include companies that perform prepress or postpress services without traditional printing.

Industry Performance

Executive Summary

Key External Drivers

Current Performance

Industry Outlook

Industry Life Cycle

Products & Markets

Supply Chain

Products & Services

Major Markets

Globalization & Trade

Business Locations

Competitive Landscape

Market Share Concentration

Key Success Factors

Cost Structure Benchmarks

Barriers to Entry

Major Companies

Operating Conditions

Capital Intensity

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Annual Change

Key Ratios

About IBISWorld Inc.

Recognized as the nations most trusted independent source of industry and market research, IBISWorld offers a comprehensive database of unique information and analysis on every US industry. With an extensive online portfolio, valued for its depth and scope, the company equips clients with the insight necessary to make better business decisions. Headquartered in Los Angeles, IBISWorld serves a range of business, professional service and government organizations through more than 10 locations worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.ibisworld.com or call 1-800-330-3772.







Related Graphic Design Press Releases

Ikat Fabrics and Hand-Screened Prints from India Add Art to the Craft of Weaving and Printing

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Kennett Square, PA (PRWEB) June 18, 2012

Ikat fabrics may be a hot trend in home designbut there are very few genuine ikats actually used to create those looks. “That’s no longer the case,” states Lori Cropp, merchandise manager for the Calico Corners Calico Home stores across the country. “We’ve introduced a rich assortment of hand-tied and dyed ikat fabrics at Calico, all created in weaving villages in south India.

Pronounced ee-kat, the process involves tying sections of the vertical warp yarns in a set design, binding them tightly with strips of rubber so that the dye bath will not penetrate those areas. This is done over and over, tying off different areas of yarn, then dipping the warp or weft in various color dyes to create the designs or motif. “These fabrics are incredibly labor intensive to dye and weave,” says Cropp. “When you see the process, it’s absolutely amazing that Calico is able to retail them for less than $ 50 per yard.”

The true beauty of ikat is that it’s not a print, notes Kiran Singh, who began importing ikats from his native India 30 years ago. “Since each motif is individually hand-wrapped, no two motifs are exactly alike,” he explains. “It is this subtle variation in the motifs that gives the fabric its rich, organic look.” Every inch of fabric has been created by the hand and eye of the weavernot by a CAD system or a high-speed loom.

Working with wife Laura, the Singhs have built a wholesale fabric business weaving in India, and sell to the Calico stores, among others. They have revived the craft of ikat and hand-block style prints, finding that “the thrill for us lies in bringing contemporary colors and shapes to this ancient textile process,” notes Laura.

Hand-Screened Prints

For many years, the Singhs collected antique wood blocks that were used to print fabrics. The challenge of printing with carved blocks is that the repeat and color are a bit inconsistent because of the varying pressure applied to the blocks on the fabric. The solution was to base new designs on the old blocks, and to cut the pattern into a larger silk screen that didn’t have to be delicately pin-matched, like wood blocks.

The fabrics are hand-screened, but with more consistency of color and design. “I love the versatility of these patterns,” notes Cropp. “The colors are soft and appealingand can work in every room in the house.” Of course, they’re perfect for bohemian or ethnic style d