LFP - Large-Format-Printing
New SGIA Survey Shows Imagers Providing Total Solutions
Friday 12. September 2008 - Specialty imagers launch new products largely to meet customer demand
The majority of the specialty imaging industry (78 percent) have plans to offer new products in new or existing markets within the next 12 months, according to the newly released Product Specialties Survey from SGIA Surveys & Statistics.
While customer demand is the major drive behind these new products (75.5 percent of respondents), many imaging companies said they are expanding to become a “one-stop shop” for their customers (60.9 percent).
“This will likely continue because increasingly customers have limited time and place a higher value on service,” said Katy Sauër Lellelid, SGIAs Business and Marketplace Analyst. “Imaging companies view themselves as the solution providers instead of printers.”
Additionally, imagers said new product offerings would help them explore new lucrative opportunities (58.2 percent), differentiate themselves from the competition (51.5 percent), meet sales force demands (33.5 percent), enter new markets (29.9 percent), address pressure from the competition (22.9 percent) and start a new business or unit (13.3 percent).
Other notable highlights from the SGIA survey report:
Most imaging companies (68 percent) say they offer finishing services.
To serve as a “one-stop shop” for their customers, 55 percent of survey respondents buy print services, including finishing and production, from other printing companies.
Lamination was the top finishing service offered by the industry at 73.5 percent.
The top five products for graphic producers are banners, signage, displays, point-of-purchase and point-of-sale graphics and labels.
The top five products for garment decorators are T-shirts, caps and headwear, athletic wear, uniforms and bags.