NAPL Releases State of the Industry: 2008 Strategic Perspective
PARAMUS, NJ—March 25, 2008—NAPL, the not-for-profit management association for business excellence in the printing and graphic communications industry (www.napl.org), has just released SOI (State of the Industry): 2008 Strategic Perspective. The report serves as a strategic planning tool that defines the challenges and opportunities facing today’s printing industry executives and offers actionable guidance on charting a path for sustainable success and profitability. NAPL SOI: 2008 Strategic Perspective is the latest report in the State of the Industry Series, now widely regarded as the definitive analysis of current and future industry trends.
“The economy, protecting profit margins and rising costs are the overriding concerns in our industry today. This latest study offers a look at just how much current economic conditions are impacting us,” explained Andrew D. Paparozzi, NAPL vice president, chief economist and the study’s co-author. “But being aware of this impact and knowing what to do about it are different things entirely. NAPL’s latest study from its Economic Research Group provides latest data on industry business trends and offers detailed and strategic guidance on how commercial printers can protect their bottom line and actually emerge stronger than before on the other side of this downturn.”
Specifically, the report offers a look at the current state of the commercial printing industry and the context of the economy in general. It reveals that commercial printing industry sales are expected to show the worst performance in five years. It also includes a “Profitability Checklist” that outlines what every printer, in an industry where margins are shrinking fast, needs to do to sustain a level of profitability over the next three years. Additional critical features of the report include “10 Financial Steps” that owners can take now to navigate the downturn and credit crunch, developed by John Hyde, NAPL vice president and senior consultant, and other “Action Steps” companies should consider during the economic downturn. Among these are keeping employees informed, rallying around what’s most important, and helping clients navigate the downturn.
“In previous economic declines, the industry has been more inclined to play defense by retrenching and freezing where possible. But our industry has changed profoundly and become extremely competitive. As a result, owners simply cannot afford to wait out a sputtering economy. Our goal with this report was to provoke examination, thought and planning. Certainly no one solution is suitable for all, but by being proactive now, owners and their management teams can not only ensure preparedness for when the recovery comes but also bring their business to the next level,” said Report Co-Author and Senior Economist Joseph V. Vincenzino.
NAPL’s SOI: 2008 Strategic Perspective is based on data collected from a recent Printing Economic Research Center (PERC) survey, the State of the Industry Update (November 2007) and the Printing Business Survey, which together gathered data from more than 500 companies with annual sales ranging from under $1 million to over $100 million. Participants included both NAPL members and non-members. NAPL’s State of the Industry (SOI) research is produced by NAPL’s PERC and sponsored by Heidelberg (www.heidelbergusa.com). To order a copy of NAPL’s SOI: 2008 Strategic Perspective (free to most NAPL members; $285 for non-members), visit www.napl.org or call 800-642-6275.
About NAPL
Chartered in 1933, NAPL, the National Association for Printing Leadership, is a not-for-profit business management association representing companies in the $120 billion printing and graphic communications industry. NAPL’s comprehensive slate of business-building solutions provides company leaders with the management tools they need to make informed business decisions in an ever-changing market environment. The Printing Economic Research Center (PERC) of NAPL provides comprehensive research and reports that help guide companies through today’s challenging marketplace. PERC also features a new NAPL blog, www.NAPLBizTrends.org, which shares insight on the economy’s affect on the printing industry and action steps for progressive leaders. For more information on NAPL, visit www.napl.org or call (800) 642-6275.
