Industry Consolidation -- A Quiet Buyer's Market

Companies offering those long-preached value-added services are doing well, Cronin notes. Which printers operate in the most attractive vertical spaces? Which ones are in untenable positions? Financial services is under a terrible strain; print volume is down because there are fewer customer solicitations going through the mail. Advertising space for publications is off drastically, he notes, reflecting declines for traditionally stout bases such as automotive and financial services. Packaging labels for clients within the food industry are hot, he adds, along with point-of-sale materials.