This is a tough time to be a graphic arts dealer. If you are a dealer and feel that sales are slipping away from you, you aren't alone. Some of this has to do with the economy  certainly, planned purchases are down across the board as graphic arts firms have become even more frugal with their cash during these challenging times  but there's more to it.

According to our Special Report, Changing Channels: Trends in the Graphic Arts Distribution Channel, printers, trade shops, and creative firms are becoming increasingly comfortable with non-traditional distribution channels like mail order and office superstores. So not only are sales down in this industry, but sales are also moving to non-traditional distribution channels , as well.

The most recent TWGA survey data, for example, shows that for capital investments like wide-format printers, and digital presses, graphic arts firms prefer to purchase from either a graphic arts dealer or the manufacturer, but for just about everything else, they are content to order by mail order or an online source. The top products purchased through mail order or the Internet are desktop graphics software (52%), computer supplies (46%), Macintosh computers (39%), and add-on cards (39%).