The results are in from SGIA’s annual Specialty Graphics Industry Survey (the full report will be released in June), and the data we’ve received shows the wide-format graphics community going strong. The information included here covers some of the “high-points” of our findings, and provides a bit of analysis, from my viewpoint.

A total of 270 graphics and sign companies participated in the survey. More than three-fourths classified themselves as primarily serving business-to-business customers. The average number of years in business is 24, and the median number of employees is 12. The median annual sales revenue is $1.66 million, and the median annual sales growth was 17.7 percent. Two-thirds of companies reported serving local customers, 60 percent serve regional accounts, 55 percent serve national accounts, and 25 percent serve accounts internationally. Based on our annual survey, it is important to note that while much of the “traditional” printing sector is working hard to hold onto positive growth, the wide-format industry has seen regular, double-digit growth, year-over year. This reality has made our technology, and the markets and product areas we serve, very attractive indeed.

For calendar year 2013, two-thirds reported both sales and production had increased over 2012. Forty-five percent said they had increased their workforce in the same term. In fact, on a scale of -100 to +100, graphics companies reported sales and production both at around +54, demonstrating the strength in this area. While confidence in the US economy was mostly flat, industry confidence was strong, with 60 percent reporting a positive outlook, and only four percent viewing the industry negatively. Using the same scale described earlier, industry confidence was at +55.