Here's a synopsis of the top 25 hot printing markets for 2018-19. This article was published by Wide Format Impressions this month and it marks the 38th year they have been measuring this information. To recap, listed below are some of the details to this piece of research. We will post the PDF in the library, but this should be a good overview for you to review.
Pay attention to these top markets, as they account for nearly 95 percent of total print. Some of the industries listed below are those that are predicted to be on the upswing and are just a sampling. Caution: this study is calling for 3 percent less print spending than last year:
- Packaged foods--most active will be where demand for promotional inserts and point of sale are critical and up 5 percent in printing.
- Medical/Pharmaceutical--health care reform will generate demand within the medical equipment, prescription/OTC industries which need folders, POS, bind ins and billboards with an overall increase of 8 percent.
- Health providers--up 5 percent due to an aging population, mergers and move to greater access to healthcare. Most needed will be print signage an direct mail.
- Telecommunications--claims the industry will be a big consumer of everything from vehicle wraps to business cards, blister packs and static clings with 5 percent increase .
- Finance/Banking/Insurance--they are calling for an increase in direct mail, signage, OOH campaigns, sales promotions and ad specialties but overall decrease of 2 percent.
- Beverage--not much in this market as they claim it will decrease by 3 percent.
- Food service industry is predicted to increase their printing by 4 percent with in-store signage, shelf teasers and entire retail store locations needing printing.
- Real estate industry is tapped to increase their printing by at least 5 percent.
- Automotive industry is not seen to be consuming more printing this year with an estimated decrease of 9 percent. Note: local dealers will need more printing than automakers, but the margins are razor thin.
- Home improvement industry sees lots of blue sky and when it comes to printing, you'll see a 10 percent increase in everything from FSIs, ROPs, shoppers and OOH signage making the biggest gains. Ditto for lumber yards and hardware stores.
- Entertainment industry keeps plugging along with an estimated 3 percent increase in printing but the growth is slowing.
- Fashion segment will grow with printing seen to edge up by 9 percent. Direct mail, catalogs and inserts will lead the way in printing.
- Personal Care is seen to still be growing their consumption of print by 11 percent but color, cosmetics, hair and skin will decrease by 4 percent.
- Discount Retail continues the love and that will be good for print catalogs, magazines, direct mail, decor and display signage. This segment expects an 8 percent growth in printing.
- The High-Tech/Security market is booming and they will need warning signs, various signage, product labels and more with a 5 percent increase in printing.
- Logistics/Freight will need standard preprinted mailers, envelopes, packages followed by vehicle graphics and labeling plus wayfinding signage, warning tapes with printing to increase in this sector by 8 percent.
- Computerware and Electronics are pausing on their printing down 3 and 2 percent respectively.
- Gaming/Wagering and Leisure Activity sectors are slowing to decreasing their printing with gaming down 8 percent and the Leisure sector up slightly at 3 percent.
- Higher Education and Non-Public sectors see an increase of 5 percent in printing expenditures.
- Societal Activity (political printing) is going up with a 5 percent increase in printing anything from direct mail to vehicle wraps and signage.
- But Government Federal/State is way off and expected to decrease by 8 percentage point in printing.
- Finally, the Energy sector is expected to decrease by 15 percent in their print spending.