The figures stem from Fespa’s first stakeholder economy survey, which surveyed 400 members across Europe and the rest of the world during July.

While 23 per cent of printers are pinning hopes on an upturn in the latter part of this year, 25.6 per cent expect a change of fortunes to emerge in early 2010. Roughly the same amount of printers anticipate an upturn even later, in the second half of next year, and less than 12 per cent expect conditions to last into 2011.

Regarding current business conditions, 83 per cent of the survey’s respondents – which included printers, manufacturers and resellers – believe that their companies are well-positioned to “take advantage” of market conditions when it rebounds.

Nearly half (41.3 per cent) have run price promotions, “aggressive” pricing strategies, and other initiatives in order to gain business, whilst 12.2 per cent have boosted sales resources to cope with the recession.

Marcus Timson, marketing director at Fespa, said: “With the Economy Survey, we’re questioning a meaningful sample of printers worldwide to assess how they’re managing the impact of the global economic downturn, and to understand the measures they’re putting in place to get through the difficult times and equip themselves for a positive future.”

Read the original article at www.printweek.com.

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