Reston, VA – The results are in, based on the event summary of verified individual attendees prepared by the Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC), PRINT 09 welcomed a decisive attendance with a diverse crowd representing a broad spectrum of the graphic communications industry.  The year's largest and most comprehensive graphic communications exhibition and conference took place September 11 – 16, 2009 in Chicago's expansive McCormick Place.

At the show, 680 exhibitors-of which 126 were first-time exhibitors-showcased the latest graphic communications equipment, products and services across 566,284 sq. ft. of exhibit space. And, despite a global economic recession, a total of 28,678 visitors from 94 countries were verified at the show as attendees.  Of the international attendees, nearly one-third hailed from Latin America; another one-third represented Canada and Mexico.  Nineteen percent of attendees traveled to the show from the Asia Pacific region, with the remainder of international attendees coming from Western and Eastern Europe, Africa, Central America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East.  About two-thirds of U.S. visitors hailed from the Midwest; the Northeast, Southeast, West and Southwest were also represented.

Attendees represented more than 10,500 unique buyer companies that ranged in size and annual sales volume.  According to GASC's analysis of the unique verified buyer companies at PRINT, a little more than one-third of attendees worked for firms with one to 19 employees.  Another 18% represented businesses with 20 to 49 employees, and 16.5% came from companies with 250 or more employees.  (The remaining attendees were divided equally between the 50-to-99 and 100-to-249 employee categories.)  Meanwhile, about 22% of PRINT 09 attendees represented businesses with an annual sales volume of more than $20 million, followed by those from companies with less than $500,000 (17.9% of attendees), and between $1 million and $3 million in sales (15.7%).

"PRINT 09 met all of the key objectives set for attendees and exhibitors," said Ralph Nappi, president of GASC.  "The goal with PRINT 09 was to provide an educational show experience that drew in all the segments of the graphic communications industry and met the equipment and product needs of those diverse markets.  True to our aims, PRINT 09 attracted attendees from 11 distinct market segments, from commercial printers to quick printers to transactional printers to newspaper printers to package printers and more, who sought information on a multitude of equipment categories."  

GASC's event summary reported that, in fact, attendees indicated focused interest in 10 different equipment and product categories, with many noting more than one category.  Thus 61% of attendees indicated interest in digital presses and supplies, 53% sought out bindery/finishing equipment and 42% were interested in wide format inkjet printers and supplies. Significant percentages were also recorded for offset litho presses and supplies, package printing and converting equipment, design/prepress software, mailing and fulfillment, and workflow management packages.

Despite the diverse representation of the graphic communications industry at PRINT 09, attendees did appear to have two characteristics in common: They wielded significant influence over their company's purchase decisions, and they represented the highest executive levels of their companies.  Specifically, 64% of attendees either made the final purchase decision in their firms or held significant influence over the final decision-making.  Another 21% of attendees made initial recommendations or researched new products on behalf of their company.  Meanwhile, nearly 22% of this year's PRINT attendees held the title of president, owner or CEO at their company, while another 28% were vice president, department head, manager or supervisor at their company.
    
"What this data tells us is that, even with a slowed economy, graphic communications companies are looking to their future business needs; they were serious about making short equipment investments and exploring new technologies for future investment," said Nappi.

Next up for the industry is GRAPH EXPO 2010 themed, "The Next Generation of Print," set to take place October 3 – 6, 2010, at Chicago's McCormick Place South.  Recognized as the commercial printing, publishing, mailing and transactional exposition for the Americas, at GRAPH EXPO 2010 attendees will see and explore the latest graphic communications technologies, demonstrations of equipment running live on the show floor, and learn about the most in-demand products and profit-making opportunities at six special-interest show floor sections and pavilions planned for the show.

Of particular note is the Newspaper Pavilion, debuting at GRAPH EXPO 2010.   Catering to the newspaper publishing industry, this pavilion will provide 10,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space devoted to the needs of newspaper publishers and printers.

Other popular sections include PackPrint, covering package printing one of the fastest-growing segments of the graphic communications industry; Future Print, featuring printed electronics and RFID; the Mailing & Fulfillment Center, the industry's largest mailing event anywhere in the Americas; the second annual GREENspace, a showcase on sustainability and eco-friendly products and services; and, Prepress/Software-Design.