California Printers — West Coast Melting Pot

“That’s a dynamic business,” he says. “These are high-energy industries. They’re industries that have to exist in a high cost environment because of the concentration of resources. Silicon Valley is a combination of intellectual and financial resources that has done magic.”

Jeff Sweetman, principal of Trend Offset Printing in Los Alamitos, points out that issues such as energy consumption and environmental regulations are significant and can’t be overcome, though it can pass along the cost of doing business in the state. Trend has a unique perspective by operating in two other sizeable markets—Texas and Florida. The printer reports to about 26 regulatory agencies in California, but only about seven agencies in Texas.