Click here to download the list.
It’s been 41 years since the annual Printing Impressions list of the largest printing companies in the U.S. and Canada first launched. It was 500 companies for decades, but over the years it decreased in size due to industry consolidation and other factors. Although it has changed over the years, it continues to serve as the pulse of the industry.
You’ll notice on this year's list more than a few companies on the list experienced significant growth or decline between their previous and current fiscal year sales. Although companies don’t disclose the reasons for such changes, we did have the chance to speak with a few companies that experienced significant growth in our annual Fast-Track Firms article (we will publish those profiles in the coming weeks). These companies — such as No. 38 Phoenix, Arizona's Prisma Graphic (66% growth) or No. 94 Winston-Salem, North Carolina's Salem One (35% growth) — noted investments — whether into technology, other businesses, relationships and customers, or target markets — as the primary drivers of success.
In 2022, we reported that the annual list seemed to illustrate a rebound from the COVID-19 dip. Since many companies on this year’s list reported their most recent fiscal year sales numbers as those from 2023, it’s a possibility that some of the decline we’re now seeing from some companies is due to stabilization from that “rebound” we noted a few years ago.
Unsurprisingly, many companies that reported segment sales in the direct mail space revealed either stagnancy or a decline in the percentage dedicated to this space. Take, for example, No. 3 Sussex, Wisconsin-based Quad, which reported a decrease of 8% in total sales, but a decrease in 21% for direct mail in particular (which accounts for 12% of its total sales), when compared to the 2023 ranking. Whereas Quad reported an increase in its publication segment sales from 10% segment sales to 15% segment sales and a consistent 18% segment sales in the catalog space. It’s possible that the ongoing postal rate hikes that have plagued the industry have contributed to this downward trend.
New this year, we were able to secure segment breakdowns for two of the biggest companies on the list, No. 1 Chicago, Illinois' RR Donnelley and No. 7 Brainerd, Minnesota's CJK Group. This addition enabled us to add them to the Top 5 Charts for book, direct mail, publication, and catalog printers, something they were left off of in 2023.
Finally, this year, in addition to the companies we usually see on the list, we've added a number of first-time companies to the list in both the mid- and small-range. Many thanks to all of the companies that participated and welcome to the “first timers” on this year’s list. Since the list closed, we have continued to add new companies as they reach out to us to be included.
If your company was not included on the list and you believe it should be, send us an email here. Or, fill out this form.
Keep an eye out for next year’s ranking, which will move to the July issue in 2025.
To download the full Printing Impressions 300 ranking, click here.
Annual Printing Impressions 300 Ranking Reveals Mix of Ups and Downs
Click here to download the list.
It’s been 41 years since the annual Printing Impressions list of the largest printing companies in the U.S. and Canada first launched. It was 500 companies for decades, but over the years it decreased in size due to industry consolidation and other factors. Although it has changed over the years, it continues to serve as the pulse of the industry.
You’ll notice on this year's list more than a few companies on the list experienced significant growth or decline between their previous and current fiscal year sales. Although companies don’t disclose the reasons for such changes, we did have the chance to speak with a few companies that experienced significant growth in our annual Fast-Track Firms article (we will publish those profiles in the coming weeks). These companies — such as No. 38 Phoenix, Arizona's Prisma Graphic (66% growth) or No. 94 Winston-Salem, North Carolina's Salem One (35% growth) — noted investments — whether into technology, other businesses, relationships and customers, or target markets — as the primary drivers of success.
In 2022, we reported that the annual list seemed to illustrate a rebound from the COVID-19 dip. Since many companies on this year’s list reported their most recent fiscal year sales numbers as those from 2023, it’s a possibility that some of the decline we’re now seeing from some companies is due to stabilization from that “rebound” we noted a few years ago.
Unsurprisingly, many companies that reported segment sales in the direct mail space revealed either stagnancy or a decline in the percentage dedicated to this space. Take, for example, No. 3 Sussex, Wisconsin-based Quad, which reported a decrease of 8% in total sales, but a decrease in 21% for direct mail in particular (which accounts for 12% of its total sales), when compared to the 2023 ranking. Whereas Quad reported an increase in its publication segment sales from 10% segment sales to 15% segment sales and a consistent 18% segment sales in the catalog space. It’s possible that the ongoing postal rate hikes that have plagued the industry have contributed to this downward trend.
New this year, we were able to secure segment breakdowns for two of the biggest companies on the list, No. 1 Chicago, Illinois' RR Donnelley and No. 7 Brainerd, Minnesota's CJK Group. This addition enabled us to add them to the Top 5 Charts for book, direct mail, publication, and catalog printers, something they were left off of in 2023.
Finally, this year, in addition to the companies we usually see on the list, we've added a number of first-time companies to the list in both the mid- and small-range. Many thanks to all of the companies that participated and welcome to the “first timers” on this year’s list. Since the list closed, we have continued to add new companies as they reach out to us to be included.
If your company was not included on the list and you believe it should be, send us an email here. Or, fill out this form.
Keep an eye out for next year’s ranking, which will move to the July issue in 2025.
To download the full Printing Impressions 300 ranking, click here.
Ashley Roberts is Content Director of Printing Impressions.