STATE OF THE INDUSTRY - Far from Dead

Our analysis of the private commercial printers that we have represented over the past four years indicates even better results: sales growth since 1997 of 49.6 percent, with current average EBITDA margins of 14.51 percent and EBITDA growth since 1997 of 75.6 percent.

Private commercial printing company managers are developing a more balanced and professional approach to management. This management improvement portends even better performance as managers who formerly had a "printing craft" or operations orientation develop a marketing orientation that is accompanied by a much more advanced financial focus. Ten years ago, the average private commercial printing company CEO could neither define nor understand EBITDA or EVA (Economic Value Added). Now they can.