12.10.09
Industry Measure Publishes Creative Forecast 2007
The Industry Measure has released its special report, “Creative Forecast 2007: The Industry Measure Perspective on the Challenges and Opportunities for the Graphic Design and Production Industry in the Next 12 Months and Beyond.”
This special report takes a look at the year ahead for ad agencies and graphic designers working in print, web and other media. The 168-page report analyzes the prevailing economic environment, the current state of the industry (drawing on U.S. government date as well as The Industry Measure’s own 11-year historical database of survey results), and details the major forces these highly dynamic markets will have to contend with in the next year.
“Creative Forecast 2007” also takes an in-depth look at the most recent Industry Measure survey results on such hot topics as multichannel marketing and cross media: development, digital and variable-data printing, online/remote proofing and more.
The report also presents The Industry Measure’s latest investment projections for more than 100 equipment, hardware and software categories. “Creative Forecast 2007” also provides a comprehensive look at current media trends, analyzing how new media technologies and platforms, and an increasing emphasis on multichannel marketing, are creating unprecedented challenges and opportunities for creatives across the board.
According to the report, in summer 2006, the top three planned investment categories for Internet creatives were work stations, flat panel LCD monitors and color printers; in summer 2006, 11 percent of web design and development firms cited “getting more print media work” as a sales opportunity; in winter 2006/2007, 69 percent of graphic designers said they buy digital printing on behalf of their clients.
News highlights from the report include:
• In winter 2006/2007, 36 percent of all ad agencies expect business conditions in the next 12 months to be “excellent, better than they had been in the past 12 months.
• 66 percent of all design and production establishments surveyed cited “collateral print projects” as a sales opportunity–the first time in nearly two years that this item has topped the sales opportunities list.
For more information on “Creative Forecast 2007” contact the Industry Measure, (866) 873-6310; e-mail: info@theindustrymeasure.com; web: www.theindustrymeasure.com.
NAPL Predicts Slowdown in Printing Business Activity
According to research from National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL), NAPL economists advise printers to factor the likelihood of continuing sales growth deceleration into their 2007 business plans.
“Commercial print sales are moderating and the economy is definitely on a slower growth path,” Andrew Paparozzi, vice president and chief economist for theNAPL, said.
“Granted,compared where the industry has been in recent years, sales are still quite healthy, but a continuing deceleration in sales growth is likely and printers need to take this into consideration as they plan for 2007,” Mr. Paparozzi added.
NAPL’s Printing Business Index (PBI), the trade association’s broadest measure of print activity, eased to 58.7 in October from 59.4 in September. A reading above 50.0 means more printers report activity is picking up than report activity is slowing down.
The PBI combines input from NAPL’s Printing Business Panel about work-on-hand, current business conditions, expected business conditions, hiring plans, profitability and key indicators into a single measure of activity. The economic analysis comes from NAPL’s Printing Economic Research Center (PERC). For more information contact NAPL, (800) 642-6275, (201) 634-9600; web: www.napl.org.