An overwhelming majority of respondents to the question ‘What does 2010 hold in store for the printing industry?’ were positive about the year ahead, with 60% saying that a challenging climate would create opportunities for savvy printers to grow.
A further 17% expected a slowdown in the climate of closures, consolidation and cuts, followed by steady improvement, with just 2% predicting a return to a health from the get-go.
Some 12% expected a continuation of the difficult climate, while 10% anticipated ‘a slide back into negative conditions’.
Pettaras Press managing director Steve Pettaras pointed to the strengthening Australian dollar as building confidence within the industry.
“November and December looked good,” he said. “The doom and gloom and how everyone was worried in the recession, it’s not there anymore.”
“On the commercial print side, it’s quite healthy. There were a couple of backyarders who have been hammered and some of them have gone, but now I think it’s quite positive out there,” he added
Pettaras advised printers to “focus on niche markets” in order to make the most of improving economic conditions.
Kathy Wilson, Ricoh Australia’s general manager of business solutions and production, said she was “very optimistic” about 2010.
“All the signs are there,” she said. “People are starting to spend money at the consumer level and that really greases the wheels of the economy.”
“I think technology is continuing to drive those things forward as well. We’re expecting a lot of exciting things this year, from a technology point of view.”
Wilson emphasised that it was up to the industry to make the most of improving conditions.
“I think people need to continue to do more with what they have,” she said.
Lithographic Institute of Australia federal president Kit Andrews (pictured) said “new ideas and talent” were essential to performance in 2010.
“You have to make sure that you retain key talented people and that you’re always taking in new talent and ideas,” he said.
“That means not only tapping into the experience of older generations, but the enthusiasm of younger generations.”
Andrews added the consolidation of resources of the past year had made for “much better management and much better operations”.
Are you positive about 2010? Or is your business still threatened by the economic climate climate? Leave your comments below.
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