Sign, display, and specialty graphics are an attractive opportunity for print providers that are looking to expand into adjacent markets. Many providers have already invested in digital wide-format printing devices capable of producing those applications or are considering doing so. By adding sign, display, and specialty applications to the product mix, providers can broaden their service offerings, stand out from the competition, increase revenues, and improve customer satisfaction. To learn more about print providers’ wide format investment plans, business priorities, workflow challenges, media/substrate usage, and application growth, Keypoint Intelligence–InfoTrends recently surveyed more than 300 companies, including commercial printers, sign shops, digital print specialists, screen printers, and ad specialty providers. To qualify for this survey, respondents’ organizations needed to generate revenues from sign, display, and specialty graphics.

A key finding from the research study entitled Looking for BIG Opportunity in Graphic Communications & Specialty Printing is that wide format is a growth market. Total respondents reported that on average, 57% of their revenues were related to sign, display, and specialty graphics. Furthermore, the share of firms reporting wide format volume increases outnumbered those reporting decreases by 17 to 1.

Figure 1. How would you describe your overall wide-format volume trend?