Printing Industries of America, Inc.

Readiness to buy, new legislation and a healing economy support equipment growth. Distributors seeking manufacturers with the latest up-to-date equipment may be pleased to hear that the future looks bright. While 2002 was dampened by a soft economy and conservative business, it seems for the first time in quite a while, there might be some light at the end of the long and dark tunnel in which equipment manufacturers have been dwelling. This is partly based on information found in Printing Impressions magazine, which stated that the organizers of the Graphics Arts Show Company (GASC), reported a total of nearly 38,000 attendees

Plenty of work and wealth keeps the commercial print market strong. When it comes to paper-based products, commercial printing may be one of the most stable products in the forms industry. Ranking second only to forms in a recent survey conducted by BFL&S, commercial printing accounts for 22.3 percent of our Top 100 Distributors' sales. This is because the market for colorful, full-process print work continues to be infinite. At least, that is what several distributors, whose commercial printing sales account for a large percentage of their revenue, are saying. But will the market for commercial print remain strong? Andrew Duke, co-owner of

2002 emerges as a year for change and transition. The past year has certainly become one that is ingrained in the minds of many. Marked by a softening economy and the tragic events of September 11, it is one that many are eager to put behind them. But during a time when losses seemed unavoidable, signs of growth and innovation have managed to emerge. Distributors searching for the best solutions to offer clients with modern demands are beginning to move into new markets. With this transition comes the need to refine their efforts while also producing profits. To illustrate the transition, BFL&S interviewed

Offering variable printing means big changes, but also high margins. When 52-year-old scuba enthusiast Jane Young of West Palm Beach, Fla., received a travel brochure from Charlie B. Travels promoting a cruise to the Caribbean that included a scuba diving package for those aged 50 and older, her interest was piqued. Just three months later, she was diving off the island of St. Lucia with a group of her peers. That is just one example of the effectiveness of variable data printing making it obvious that, in an industry where printed materials are distributed by the millions, it pays to get personal.

Distributors report on the status of products in the forms industry In the past, BFL&S has reported on the state of the forms industry, as a whole, from the perspective of manufacturers, distributors and end-users. This year, BFL&S' State of the Industry Report focuses directly on the status of a select group of products. By zeroing in on commercial printing, promotional products, electronic forms, computer supplies, direct mail, office products, integrated forms and bar-coded products, we reveal which products are finding a comfortable niche in today's marketplace and which are losing ground. Traditional business forms products still hold a viable spot in the market,

An outbreak of online print solution providers offers an opportunity for convenience—as well as the potential for confusion By Eric Fiedler Just five years ago, electronic commerce was an obscure, futuristic idea. Today, it is everywhere. Five years from now, we may wonder how we ever did business without it. In two years alone, approximately 30 start-up print e-commerce services have been launched or have announced their intention to launch.Services vary significantly, but the most prominent ones provide collaborative tools to facilitate project management between printers and print buyers. Generally, the services enable printers and print buyers to interact through a secure Web site and exchange information about

Don't Fight the Future Distributors are riding the wave of a changing industry By Carol A. Katarsky The times they are a-changin'. More so than ever before, distributors are facing a topsy-turvy industry. Mergers and acquisitions--among both suppliers and distributors--continue to bring new dimensions to once-familiar companies. The blurring of boundaries be-tween the manufacturing and distribution segments has changed the dynamics of the industry. And this activity isn't going to end soon. A Slow But Steady Climb With a maturing market and a slowing economy, manufacturers face a rocky road in '99 By Stacey Wenzel The forms industry saw quite a bit of change in 1998. Acquisitions and mergers became commonplace for manufacturers.