Commercial Printers
Industry Profile Report
Dive Deep into the industry with a 25+ page industry report (pdf format) including the following chapters
Industry Overview Current Conditions, Industry Structure, How Firms Operate, Industry Trends, Credit Underwriting & Risks, and Industry Forecast.
Call Preparation Call Prep Questions, Industry Terms, and Weblinks.
Financial Insights Working Capital, Capital Financing, Business Valuation, and Financial Benchmarks.
Industry Profile Excerpts
Industry Overview
The 21,000 commercial printers in the US produce brochures, ads, books, packaging, business cards, and other output for clients. They are in the midst of a transition to digital technologies and electronic media.
Rapid Technological Change
The transition to digital technology has accelerated the rate of equipment change in the printing industry.
Weak Printing Demand
The commercial printing industry has seen falling demand for printed advertising materials caused by the shift to electronic media.
Industry size & Structure
The average commercial printer has fewer than 15 employees and generates $3.7 million in annual revenue.
- The industry consists of 21,000 firms with 276,000 employees, and revenue of $78 billion.
- Digital communications are replacing print for advertising, direct mail, magazines, books, and other business publications.
- Digital printing has reduced the barriers to entry for commercial printing. The new competition consists of quick printing companies and companies doing their own printing in-house.
- Industry-wide employment fell 22% from 2014 to 2023.
- Most firms are privately-held and 85% of firms have less than 20 employees.
- Large firms include RR Donnelley, Quad/Graphics, Transcontinental Printing, and Cenveo.
Industry Forecast
Commercial Printers Industry Growth
Recent Developments
Dec 13, 2024 - Steady Growth for Package Printing Market
- The global market for packaging printing was valued at $512 billion in 2024 and is projected to post average annual growth of 6.3% through 2029, reaching a value of $695 billion, according to market research firm Smithers. Key demand drivers include population growth and increased urbanization. Populations migrating to cities tend to boost packaged goods consumption, especially for food and beverage products. As the ranks of the global middle class grow, higher discretionary income, particularly in Asia, is expected to boost demand for printed packaging.
- According to Printing Impressions, private equity funds have invested in 315 companies in the printing, packaging, and related industries in the last five years. A handful of those deals involved print-on-demand businesses, a segment of the industry that is growing rapidly. In November, print-on-demand firms Printful and Printify announced that they plan to merge. Industry observers suggest the deal highlights the growing trend of consumer and brand interest in online-based, customized digital print-on-demand services. Such services can print one personalized item – such as a shirt or travel mug – for a single consumer or thousands for a brand. Private equity is attracted to firms that use digital solutions to intake orders, optimize production, and drive customer value. Print industry observers suggest that traditional printing companies that ignore on-demand trends risk obsolescence.
- On a seasonally adjusted basis, commercial printer shipments decreased by 0.8% in October 2024 compared to the previous month, according to the US Census Bureau. October’s unadjusted printing shipments were up 5.3% compared to a year earlier. On a year-to-date basis, unadjusted printing shipments in October rose 2.1% compared to the same ten-month period in 2023.
- Some large retailers are rediscovering printed catalogs, according to Printing Impressions. Brands, including J.Crew, Patagonia, and Amazon, are investing in printed catalogs to complement their digital strategies. In late October 2024, Dan Brown, an executive with promotional products firm ASI, was a guest on the Today Show on NBC to discuss the resurgence in catalog interest. Brown said catalogs are about driving interest by expanding the brand universe with engaging articles and more artistic photography. Instead of pricing info, catalogs often include QR codes that drive consumers to brand websites.
Get A Demo
Vertical IQ’s Industry Intelligence Platform
See for yourself why over 60,000 users trust Vertical IQ for their industry research and call preparation needs. Our easy-to-digest industry insights save call preparation time and help differentiate you from the competition.
Build valuable, lasting relationships by having smarter conversations -
check out Vertical IQ today.