According to Semper International’s latest quarterly survey, 73 percent of companies had a profitable fourth quarter of 2011, up 12 points from the third quarter, and 18 percent are planning to hire new people, up from just 12 percent last quarter.
According to Semper International’s latest quarterly report, 61 percent of companies surveyed had a profitable third quarter—the smallest quarterly drop (4 percent) this year. The number of respondents reporting an increase in sales is up almost 5 percentage points in the first two weeks of fourth quarter.
While 62 percent of companies surveyed reported a profitable quarter, their current sales are down 8 percent over the previous quarter, likely an indication of the traditional second-quarter slowdown, according to Semper International’s quarterly printing company survey.
The most recent “Industry Insight” survey found 73 percent of companies surveyed had a profitable Q4. This represents an increase of nearly 13 percentage points over the previous quarter. The vast majority indicated hiring levels will remain the same or increase.
About 60% of companies surveyed reported a profitable Q3. While down quarter to quarter, it was stronger than a year ago. Looking at the first two weeks of Q4, current sales indicate a strong increase—although this could be a seasonal trend. The number of companies reporting a decrease in sales dropped from 35% to 24%.
Semper International's Commercial Printing Industry Insight Survey Q1 2010 results.
Semper International is conducting its next quarterly Industry Insight Survey to help to gauge sentiment in the graphic arts and print industry.
The Education Summit for Graphic Communication has launched Printalution, an island in the virtual world Second Life, created for the Graphic Communication community to connect, educate and reach out to anyone interested in understanding the print and graphic arts industry. It is a tour location that can be explored by Second Life 'residents', as well as a location high school teachers can take students to learn more about the printing industry.
WHILE IT applications in the printing industry find their roots in the early ’90s, their diverse applications in today’s digital environment is where they are finding their true calling. And calling is exactly what customers are doing—requesting more IT-based products than ever before. Computer programming, database management, variable data printing, Website design, Web-to-print storefronts, PURLs, hybrid workflows, fulfillment. These are increasingly hot button requests. And, more printers, turned marketing services providers, are expanding their product offerings. As they do, they need IT people—the programmers who will turn their virtual dreams into a literal reality. IT people are highly prized employees, whose skills and capabilities
Skilled Labor Controversy Dear Editor, I read with great interest your two-part article by Cheryl Adams, “Skilled Labor: Help Wanted” [March] and “Cure for Workforce Woes” [April]. My interest peaked when I read that parents are part of the reason that young adults do not go into the printing industry. Boy, is that the truth. Only the reason is that these kids have seen their parents laid off, downsized, globalized and right-sized out of the industry. So why would a young adult go into an industry that has abandoned their parents that helped build this industry? You bet, “It isn’t your daddy’s print shop
