2009 Hot Markets -- Thawing In a Frigid Economy

Coldset web, POP, labels, swatch products and some packaging will remain on shore, principally in lawn and garden and remodeling (e.g., paints, laminates and finishes made in the United States).

Freight/logistics ($661B, +9%; with $4.9B to print, +4%) is a surprise No. 17 in the down economy, but the biggest players in this sector are now firmly in the printing biz! UPS Stores, FedEx Office, several subsidiaries of Deutsche Post and the government-subsidized postal services are all on-demand and on-the-move.Distribute-to-print is theirs, as well as multi-point printing brokerage, document management and time-sensitive expediting. As yet, few ahead-of-the-curve printers are negotiating subcontract and regional supply deals, some financed by the carriers. Short-run web and color, narrow-format digital and in-plants will be the sweet spots, along with digital and print vehicle signage.