Printing Industry Commentary & Analysis

The Total Label Issue

Published June 2, 2026

This issue of the WhatTheyThink Quarterly is all about labels, which are seen as a high-growth part of commercial printing, driven by e-commerce, food/beverage demand, and regulations. The market has surpassed 1.2 trillion square meters of label production volume per year, and is moving toward high-mix, low-waste production rather than only high-volume throughput. While flexo is still used for high-volume label production, digital label printing often complements it—or in some cases replaces it. But labels are about more than printing technology.

Expand Your Opportunities with the Truepress JET 560HDX from SCREEN

Published June 1, 2026

Commercial, direct mail, and publishing printers accustomed to producing jobs over several weeks can now print them in days with the SCREEN Truepress JET 560HDX. The press can accommodate 120 lb. coated or uncoated paper up to 560 mm wide.

The Unified Platform for Packaging Manufacturing Excellence

Published June 1, 2026

Leverage 30+ years of plant-floor expertise. Trusted by 700+ packaging manufacturers globally to reduce waste, optimize scheduling, and drive digital transformation. One unified foundation. Eight packaging-native pillars. Zero fragmentation.

Around Web: Of Lipa and Labels

Published May 29, 2026

Dua Lipa sues Samsung for using her image on its packaging. Labeling requirements for food packaging can sometimes cause more confusion than they alleviate. Food labels and packaging affect what we eat and, ultimately our health. Electronic shelf labels are on the way and, despite shoppers’ fears, so far they have not resulted in “dynamic pricing.” In Japan, a colored ink shortage has led a major snack company to decolorize its chip bags. Experience the terror of “the Safeway bag nightmare.” In 1920s Pasadena, labels in school library books encouraged kids to wash their hands. Ways of reusing silica gel packets that come in packaging. “Cardboard Wars” is a paperboard-centric parody of “Star Wars.”

Welcome to “The Total Label” Issue!

Published May 29, 2026

This issue of the WhatTheyThink Quarterly is all about labels, a high-growth part of commercial printing, driven by e-commerce, food/beverage demand, and regulations.

Graphic Arts Employment in April Down Overall—Substantially Among Non-Production

Published May 29, 2026

April 2026 saw printing industry employment overall generally flat, down 0.4% from March. And while production employment was up 0.6%, non-production employment was down by 2.5%—basically the reverse of what we saw in March.

Around the Web: Of Water and Winners

Published May 29, 2026

A sign-writer created the visual style of music festivals. The “2026 Milky Way Photographer of the Year” winners. AI appears to be catching on among the Amish. Sony has upgraded its wearable air conditioner. How to easily reuse produce bags. A complex digital water clock. A Nobel Prize–winning technology is able to extract water from dry air. Yes, it is possible to be allergic to water. Laser-induced graphene on Kevlar enables multifunctional structural composites. The “most desired” place in each of the 50 states. “The rise in plastic surgeons asked to create ‘AI face.’” K-pop band BTS has teamed with Oreo to release limited edition OREO x BTS Cookies. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

High-Volume Automation with the Kongsberg Ultimate 64

Published May 22, 2026

Stuart Fox, CEO at Kongsberg, shares how the Kongsberg Ultimate 64 cutting table addresses the critical productivity and uptime challenges faced by high-volume corrugated converters. Engineered for continuous multi-batch production of corrugated and display applications, the modular cutting system achieves an acceleration rate of 2.7G and a cutting speed of 165 meters per minute. The system features three dedicated tool positions to enable seamless creasing, cutting, and perforating without operator intervention. To balance throughput with operator safety during automated workflows, the table integrates SmartZones and the Extended Automation Safety system.

Around the Web: Of Cook and Coke

Published May 22, 2026

A new film pays tribute to Roger Cook, designer of the standard Department of Transportation sign symbols. Dory Sign is a 5.2-in. E Ink display designed for small signage applications. Four men were convicted of smuggling cocaine in Xerox printers. An online gallery of phone booth photographs. Converting a hamster wheel into a phone charger. Putting AI in charge of a radio station. May 25 is Towel Day! Researchers develop ultra-sensitive graphene aerogel pressure sensor for flexible e-skin and wearables. How to tune rubber chickens. Could rice be the new graphene? “Vape sommeliers: the next frontier in fine dining?” Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Around the Web: Of Monks and Media

Published May 15, 2026

In Japan, a colored ink shortage has led a major snack company to decolorize its chip bags. The worst counterfeiter in the country was the most successful. Can an AI agent run a coffee shop? Digg (remember that?) is back—as an AI news aggregator. We all know “the house number font”—but where did it comes from? The world’s first ordained robot monk. “RIP social media.” GMG’s (not GMG Color) graphene coating boosts air conditioning performance. A chessboard that administers an electric shock to players who make bad moves. The American Oil Company’s (AMOCO) 1958 map of space depicted some of the unsolved space mysteries of the day—and some remain unsolved. “Scientists Think the Fifth Dimension May Exist.” An ice cream spoon automatically turns your cellphone to silent mode. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Book Printing Establishments—2010–2023

Published May 15, 2026

According to the latest edition of County Business Patterns, in 2023 there were 360 establishments in NAICS 323117 (Books Printing). This represents a decrease of 33% since 2010—although establishments were up from 2021 to 2022. In macro news, inflation in April grew 3.8% year-over-year.

Around the Web: Of Balance and Bacteria

Published May 8, 2026

Correcting us about the Pentel 8 color pencil. An artist who transforms discarded cartons into “collagraphs.” Ask.com (né Ask Jeeves) has been shut down. Some “wearables” from 100 years ago. An electric vehicle available for under $100—but you have to be under five years old. Personalize the planet with NASA’s “Your Name in Landsat.” “Talkie” is a large-language model (LLM) that has been trained solely on text sources from before 1930. When in Amsterdam, be sure to visit Micropia, a zoo that collects bacteria and microbes. Plaid Technologies provides update on graphene coating initiative for drone systems. A meter-long robotic tail to help people keep their balance. Previewing “Project Hail Mary.” Would you eat a “perpetual stew”? Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Well, This Isn’t Good: January Shipments Lower Than Expected

Published May 8, 2026

2026 kicked off with January shipments coming in at $7.08 billion, down from December’s $7.19 billion. Not a very auspicious beginning to the year.

Screen Printing Establishments—2010–2023

Published May 1, 2026

According to the latest edition of County Business Patterns, in 2023 there were 5,854 establishments in NAICS 323113 (Commercial Screen Printing). This represents an increase of 31% since 2010. In macro news, real GDP increased at an annual rate of 2.0% in Q1 2026

Around the Web: of Typography and Tornados

Published May 1, 2026

Typography as a conveyor of culture. Independent bookstores are making a comeback. A children’s book about city planning. Remembering the telephone memo pad. Why were there drawings of armed rabbits in Medieval manuscripts? The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is impacting the helium market. Positive results from trial production of graphene-enhanced roof tiles. An alternative to the traditional beach umbrella: a giant windsock. In the early 20th century, weather forecasters were forbidden from mentioning tornados. Tokyo’s Haneda Airport is implementing humanoid robots as baggage handlers and cargo loaders. AllBirds has decided to pivot from being a shoe manufacturer to an AI firm, because of course it did. AI food videos featuring animated, creepy talking foods. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Why Everyone is Moving to PrintFactory

Published May 1, 2026

Speed, automation, and profit matter more than ever. PrintFactory delivers smarter workflows, less waste, and higher margins so you can scale your print business with confidence.

Around the Web: Of Pencils and Prego

Published April 24, 2026

The Creators Coalition on Artificial Intelligence (CCAI) is a new organization established to define the ethical and artistic boundaries of AI in the entertainment industry. Why are pencils yellow? Japan’s Pentel has just come out with an eight-color mechanical pencil. The exact location of Shakespeare’s London property has been found. A special beanie can allow us to type by mind. A visual illusion called neon color spreading, in which the brain makes up color where none really exists. A $5 Bluetooth tracker gave away a warship’s whereabouts. A clock that “sorts the 43,200 times of day alphabetically.” Mark Twain had a longstanding rivalry with the Postal System. Patient recruitment completed for first-in-human study evaluating its graphene cortical interface. Meet the winner of the recent Beijing robot half-marathon. Prego, the pasta sauce company, is getting into hardware with a device that sits on your table and records dinner conversations. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Graphic Arts Employment in March Up Overall—Substantially Among Non-Production

Published April 24, 2026

March 2026 saw printing industry employment overall generally flat, up 0.3% from February. And while production employment was down 0.8%, non-production employment was up by 2.9%.

Standard Finishing Systems Presents Finishing 360

Published April 20, 2026

Finishing 360 is returning May 20th & 21st to our National Demonstration Center in Andover, MA! Experience our full lineup of automated Horizon solutions in action and explore innovative technologies from our partners.

Around the Web: Of Books and Beer

Published April 17, 2026

You can now buy physical books via Spotify. Swedish schools are reintroducing printed books. Dickens is a new tough typeface for these hard times. In the early 17th century, alphabet cookies were all the rage. Did you know the @ sign dates from the 1500s? A 1962 Japanese law effectively stopped deceptive advertising and packaging. Archaeologists recently unearthed 12,000-year-old dice. Doubling the energy density of a six-minute charging graphene aluminum-ion battery. Steampunk meets haute cuisine in a weird performance art/culinary event in France. A “garage door opener as a service,” because we are truly living in a dystopian hell. An experimental “vaccine beer” uses beer to deliver antigens that target polyomaviruses. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Around the Web: Of Clocks and Crayons

Published April 10, 2026

Our own Cary Sherburne talks with Terrance Barkan, Executive Director of the Advanced Carbons Council (né the Graphene Council). A short story written without using the letter I. Wite Out may have been invented 3,300 years ago. Beulah Louise Henry, aka “Lady Edison,” has 49 patents and more than 100 inventions. An overdesigned clock that makes it difficult to determine what time it is. Melting down 300 different-colored crayons and forming them into one, giant, mutant crayon. Remembering forgotten sites from the dawn of social media. Jenny’s famous phone number—876-5309—is now a cancer support hotline. Scientists at CERN have discovered a new fundamental particle of matter. Cloning a mouse one too many times. The horrifying “features as a service” model continues to tempt automakers. Is beer good for lawns? Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Commercial Printing Establishments—2010–2023

Published April 10, 2026

According to the latest, recently released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2023 there were 15,140 establishments in NAICS 323111 (Commercial Printing except Screen and Books). This represents a decline of 31% since 2010.

Around the Web: Of Elements, Eggs, and Escalators

Published April 3, 2026

March 10, 2026, was the 150th anniversary of the invention of the telephone. Using skull vibrations as passwords. When in Las Vegas, check out the Neon Museum. An office desk with built-in cat compartments. AI-integrated smart glasses for people with dementia that projects visual prompts onto the lenses. How did the elements get their names? Do sick addition with a high-end luxury calculator. Graphene-coated aluminum foil. An unlikely ally in the fight against climate change: beavers. Who knew that “ant trafficking” was a thing? When in China, take the world’s longest escalator—or, potentially, flight of stairs. The world’s largest Cadbury Mini Egg. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

December Printing Shipments Rallied to End the Year

Published April 3, 2026

December 2025 shipments came in at $7.21 billion, a slight rebound from November’s abysmal $7.11 billion.

Printing Establishments—2010–2023

Published March 27, 2026

According to the latest, just-released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2023 there were 21,354 establishments in NAICS 32311 (Printing). This represents a decrease of 21% since 2010. In macro news, 2025 Q4 GDP growth revised down to 0.7%.

Around the Web: Of Books and Binding

Published March 27, 2026

A postmark no longer indicates the date a piece of mail was deposited with the USPS. What is “treasure binding? A publisher pulls a horror novel after it was found it was written with AI. The author of a book on grief, written after the death of her husband, turns out to have murdered him. A wall-mounted bookshelf with an integrated, adjustable bookend. Cryptic billboards are going up around the Bay Area. Aquarium staff name rescued sea turtles after fonts. A new spray-on powder that immediately seals wounds. The Wall-Lift allows a single person to raise a stud wall all by him- or herself. The plan to launch massive mirror satellites to reflect sunlight onto darkened portions of the Earth. An opera based on Adam Smith’s “Wealth of Nations.” Kraft’s PowerMac and cheese. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Graphic Arts Employment in February Was Flat—Thankfully

Published March 20, 2026

February 2026 saw printing industry employment increase a scant 0.1% from January, with production employment up 0.2% and non-production employment down by 0.1%.

Around the Web: Of Games and Gears

Published March 20, 2026

In 2025, a designer created a new typeface every month. A box that can be assembled and sealed without adhesives or tape. The graphic design of Parker Brothers board games of the 1970s. Press-on acrylic fingernails that change color when an electric charge is applied. A robot worker in a California restaurant went nuts. Researchers at Cornell University have developed a Corporate [BS] Receptivity Scale. How different foods reflected on Shakespearean characters. Two words: liquid gears. Graphene enables biosensing of depression. How familiar are you with the floppy disk music scene? The number one nut in America. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Printing Establishments—2010–2023

Published March 13, 2026

According to the latest edition of County Business Patterns, in 2023 there were 22,301 establishments in NAICS 323 (Printing and Related Support Activities). This represents a decline of 23% since 2010. In macro news, inflation is still reasonably under control...for now.

Around the Web: Of Spam, Signs, and Studs

Published March 13, 2026

Get out your eggs: next week is the vernal equinox. Thousands of authors are publishing an “empty book” to protest AI firms using their work without permission. An AI-generated video purporting to explain Spam ended up creating spam about Spam. Reading can have positive effects on your nervous system. A new collection of 19th- and early 20th-century typeforms that inspired the work of Parisian sign painters. The color of a concert hall can affect how we perceive and enjoy a musical performance. A robotic appendage for humans based on the design of a centaur lets people become their own pack animals. A winter tire with retractable studs that automatically adjust to changes in temperature and surface pressure. A 3D animation of what Pompeii would have looked like before the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Graphene-liquid metal sensors unlock 3D force detection for robots. United can now eject or ban passengers who fail to use headphones while listening to audio or video content. Good! “Food grammar,” or how cuisine obeys grammatical rules that vary from country to country. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

November Printing Shipments Were Nothing to Be Thankful For

Published March 6, 2026

November 2025 shipments came in at $7.15 billion, a precipitous drop from October’s $8.08 billion.

Around the Web: Of Mark and Mermaids

Published March 6, 2026

Mark Michelson has been inducted into the Printing Industry Hall of Fame. A new traveling exhibition of 300 typefaces created by students from around the world. The smallest QR code ever created is only 1.98-square-micrometers. Saint Rita’s Amazing Traveling Bookstore and Textual Apothecary is an itinerant bookseller. The Pope discourages AI-generated sermons. Liquid Death and Spotify have created the “Endless Playlist Urn.” How heavy was the first ever 1 GB hard drive? Graphene fibers mimicking polar bear fur enable improved thermal management and wearable electronics. Do yourself a mischief with a pair of powered skis. Get in on the latest travel trend: mermaiding. (Mermaiding?) A daredevil, a parachute, and Devil’s Tower: what could possibly go wrong? New research has found that air fryers are safer for indoor use than other cooking methods. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

swissQprint Flatbet Printers: Made for Winners – Loved by Thousands.

Published March 1, 2026

Industry leaders choose swissQprint to grow faster and smarter. Our UV LED large format printers unlock new revenue, boost throughput and deliver proven reliability. Raise margins and gain full control. Contact swissQprint America and start your success story.

Around the Web: Keeping Up Appearances Edition

Published February 27, 2026

The James Webb Space Telescope captures a planet shaped like a football. The artist KSRA KSRA reimagines old neon signs as melty miniatures. A “form follows function” approach to jigsaw puzzles. A new form of data storage could last millennia: laser-writing in glass. “Dazzle” was a type of battleship graphics used In WWI that helped them avoid torpedoes. “Gauffered edges” was a popular form of book finishing in the 16th and 17th centuries. Idris Elba’s Madame Tussaud waxwork figure is so lifelike he was able to use its face to unlock his phone. A robotic hand that can detach from its main body and crawl about. An animator who specializes in creepy and surreal—and pretty cool—paper animations. One of the earliest-born humans ever to be photographed. You can now live in NYC’s iconic Flatiron Building. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s quarterly miscellany.

Around the Web: Of Flongs and Furniture

Published February 27, 2026

“Flong Time, No See: Forgotten Stories of Printing and Labor” is a collection of essays about printing history. Recognizing the inventors of the cardboard stencil. How to write a cat font alphabet. Turning unusable, unrecyclable printed money into furniture. 3D-printed batteries could revolutionize product design. Know why you hate QR code menus? Because you *really* want AR menus. One of Thomas Edison’s least successful inventions was a “spirit phone.” A new process produces graphene from waste peanut shells. Egads, kids are bringing back archaic expressions. A man accidentally gains control of 7,000 robot vacuum cleaners. One small business owner is taking on so-called food influencers. Call the cardiologist: Dunkin’ is test-marketing new, 48-ounce Beverage Buckets. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany—bet on your enjoyment of this feature at Kalshi!

The Keeping Up Appearances Issue

Published February 27, 2026

2026 Issue 1 This issue of the WhatTheyThink Quarterly is all about “appearance,” perhaps the most important facet of printed materials, with an emphasis on embellishments, one of the hottest and growing ways of improving the appearance of printed materials.

Graphic Arts Employment Off to a Rough Start in 2026

Published February 20, 2026

January 2026 saw printing industry employment decline 2.7% from December, with production employment down 1.8% and non-production employment down by 0.9%.

Around the Web: Of Bulbs and Bubble Wrap

Published February 20, 2026

Ringing in the Year of the Horse. “Why should I bother to read something someone else couldn’t be bothered to write?” A romance author used AI to produce more than 200 romance novels, each one no doubt a classic. IBM will triple entry-level hiring for roles “we’re being told AI can do.” An artist is transforming a wheatfield into a giant photographic image. Weird inventions from 1940s science magazines. Thomas Edison’s 1879 light bulb has been turned into a mini graphene reactor. Waymo is paying gig workers from DoorDash to close the doors of its robotaxis. Bubble Wrap as inexpensive window insulation. MTV Rewind is an archive of the channel’s music video shows. Young men are turning to dog food for meal inspiration, for some reason. A french fry box with a built-in ketchup pocket. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Around the Web: Of Clouds and Cobwebs

Published February 13, 2026

Victorian valentines featured elaborate, mechanical paper cobwebs. This year, why not send Lego roses? The mass market paperback looks like it’s being phased out. Who coined the term “cloud computing” and when? Archaeologists uncovered evidence of an ancient culture thought mathematically—before numbers were invented. Happy 100th birthday, Schrödinger wave equation! What happened to the Mona Lisa’s eyebrows? Waymo’s Autopilot is just a bunch of guys in the Philippines. Japan’s office chair racing competition is as awesome as it sounds. A new approach to plastic surgery: “corpse fat injections.” A new option for a waffle maker. The Wild Cherry Pepsi SPF 30 Tinted Lip Gel. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s Friday the 13th miscellany.

Outdoor Advertising Establishments—2010–2022

Published February 6, 2026

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 2,378 establishments in NAICS 54185 (Outdoor Advertising). This NAICS grew post-Great Recession, with a slight decline mid-decade before climbing back up to 2,765 establishments in 2018. 2019 saw a massive drop in establishments, but it has climbed back up to 2,549 establishments in 2022. In macro news: Retail sales for November 2025 were up 0.6% from October, and up 3.3% year-over-year.

Around the Web: Of Bowls, Binders, and Bricks

Published February 6, 2026

During Sunday’s Super Bowl, the NFL is testing a new system for giving vision-impaired fans the ability to “feel” the game. Dial-a-Poem is back! The American Sign Museum in Cincinnati is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a lavish book. Celebrating the New Deal’s post office mural project. Creating fabric fibers that are themselves computing circuits. “This page intentionally left blank” has been around for 500 years. The Zerowriter Ink is an E Ink-based electronic typewriter with an electrophoretic screen, a physical keyboard, and nothing else. Putting data centers in space is a bad idea. “Alaska Art Student Arrested for Eating Another Student’s AI-Generated Art in Protest.” Giant binder clips as fashion accessories. Lego and Crocs have introduced the Brick Clog, for reasons passing understanding. Uber Eats lets you create your own Super Bowl commercial. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Around the Web: Of Books and Batteries

Published January 30, 2026

Make your next vacation destination a “book town.” A unique piece of furniture that is functional and serves as a love letter to books. A company that restores vintage posters. A gallery of lettering found on pencils. An elaborate Lego typewriter (another one). The Doomsday Clock has now been set to 85 seconds to midnight. A faster-charging, safer alternative to Li-ion batteries. An autonomous robotic snowblower. Japanese researchers are developing an “ocean-safe” plastic. The dangers of the forever chemical “dihydrogen monoxide.” An artist created an animated interpretation of Genesis’ classic 1974 concept album “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.” Coming this May: the Second Annual Wienie 500! Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

October Printing Shipments More Treat Than Trick

Published January 30, 2026

October 2025 shipments came in at $8.00 billion, up from September’s $7.55 billion.

Around the Web: Of Batteries and Books

Published January 23, 2026

A fully cellulose-based paper battery. 3D printing polymer microstructures inside a human cell. An Italian design agency on how to use AI responsibly. Analyzing stains on Renaissance manuscripts to see what folk medicine practitioners were experimenting with. The “Penguin Donkey” was an unsuccessful book storage unit designed in 1939. Researchers develop 3D graphene-derived blocks for improved conductive inks. On August 12, 2026, will the Earth will lose gravity for seven seconds? Custom print your own retro Blockbuster VHS inserts. A musical road in Hungary that plays a song when a car drives at the posted speed limit. Highlights from the 35th Annual Housekeeping Olympics. When did pie-throwing become a staple of slapstick comedies? “The most popular Super Bowl snacks across the US, according to Instacart.” Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Sign Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2022

Published January 23, 2026

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 5,824 establishments in NAICS 33995 (Sign Manufacturing). This NAICS category tumbled in the wake of the Great Recession, ultimately climbing back up to 5,865 establishments in 2019, but dipping a little in 2020, and then back up to an all-time high of 5,910 in 2022. In macro news: Q3 GDP grew at an annualized 4.4%.

Around the Web: Of Beaks and Bortles

Published January 16, 2026

Are mobile phones with physical keypads are starting to make something of a comeback? The haptic Momentum Calendar is “a physical manifestation of time.” Iceland’s rich graphic design tradition. A drone-based flying umbrella that automatically follows you. When in Burlington, Vt., visit the world’s tallest filing cabinet. We want these: new glasses can change their prescription on the fly depending on what you’re looking at. New 3D graphene nanomaterial for batteries. The 2020 pandemic lockdowns had an impact on birds’ beak size. An astrophotographer travels across the US to photograph the Milky Way at every level of light pollution. A startup is looking to build the first hotel on the Moon. A sushi roll that functions as a handheld snack à la push pop candy. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Around the Web: Of Frogs and Food

Published January 9, 2026

As of January 1, artistic and literary works created in 1930 have now entered the public domain—have at them. Print magazine’s Print Type Report 2026. A new study suggests how the enigmatic Voynich manuscript may have been created. A New Zealand public art project involving official-looking but tongue-in-cheek signage. What color is the universe? LEGO introduces a “Smart Brick.” New thermal paper coatings made from plant-based sources and not BPA. Some weird products from this week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES). An AI-generated police report said that an officer had been turned into a frog. Fender Audio to introduce graphene-enhanced headphones at CES. Ten celestial events taking place in 2026. Food & Wine’s “most-liked grocery stories from 2025” is an interesting benchmark of what was on the minds of foodies last year. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

All Other Converted Paper Product Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2022

Published January 9, 2026

According to County Business Patterns, in 2022 there were 364 establishments in NAICS 322299 (All Other Converted Paper Product Manufacturing). This category saw a net decrease in establishments of -21% since 2010, although establishments grew slightly from 2021 to 2022. In macro news, inflation growth was virtually flat from September to November. Or was it?

Printing Shipments Rise In the Fall

Published December 19, 2025

September 2025 shipments came in at $7.62 billion, up from August’s $7.40 billion.

Around the Web: Of Slop and Sweaters

Published December 19, 2025

Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year is “slop.” A design project that uses LEGO to create letterforms. A 3D-printed, working computer-controlled typewriter. Recalling Al Jaffee’s classic Mad magazine feature “If Kids Designed Their Own Xmas Toys.” How close we came to having a “space billboard” in Earth’s orbit. The Hawking Index aims to quantify the extent to which people don’t finish reading the books they buy. Syracuse’s snowplow-naming contest. When in Cleveland, Ohio, visit “A Christmas Story” House and Museum. Oh, Cary: Registration is now open for Graphene-Connect 2026! Confusing “elves” and “Elvis” leads to an amusing grade-school Christmas pageant. Microsoft’s “Artifact Holiday Sweater” is perfect for your next ugly sweater party. Try these <$5 stocking stuffers from Trader Joe’s. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Executive Q&A: Mariusz Sosnowski of HiFlow Solutions

Published December 16, 2025

HiFlow Solutions brings decades of experience from packaging plants, building technology around real-world workflows. In this interview, CEO Mariusz Sosnowski explains how HiFlow’s strategy centers on Operational AI—using automation and intelligence in estimating, scheduling, and order processing—to transform MIS and ERP from a traditional “system of record” into a true “system of decision.” The discussion highlights HiFlow’s independence, its Microsoft AI Cloud partnership, and its role in addressing industry challenges such as workforce shortages, sustainability compliance, and integration between legacy EDI and modern APIs. Looking ahead, HiFlow envisions ERP as a decision-support platform that augments human expertise with AI-driven insights for smarter, faster operations.

Around the Web: Of Scaffolds and Supercapacitors

Published December 12, 2025

Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2026 is…white. A non-profit NYC group turns construction scaffolding into public art spaces. Performers personify the letters and characters of a Korean computer keyboard. Dude, a 3D-printed surfboard using a biodegradable plant material. A series of memo books designed to resemble the WWII Armed Services Editions. A new typeface that renders type unintelligible for “greeking” purposes. An inflatable alternative to Bubble Wrap for shipping art. A new graphene material increases the power and capacity of supercapacitors. A glue strong enough to tow a car—made from used cooking oil. Rankin/Bass animated special are synonymous with Christmas. When in Hamilton, Ohio, visit the Hollow Earth Monument. Cheez-It-encrusted turkey legs, for some reason. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

The “Peak Season Playbook” Webinar Highlighted Perennial Industry Trends

Published December 8, 2025

A recent webinar, presented by Richard Romano of WhatTheyThink and Richard Bellamy of Inflecton and sponsored by Gelato, offered printers a strategic guide for the last months of 2025 and a highlight of top industry trends as we head into 2026. The peak season may have passed, but the issues the industry faces will continue to play a very large role in the new year.

Graphic Arts Employment Flat to Down Slightly in September

Published December 5, 2025

Net printing employment in September 2025 saw printing industry employment decline 0.3% from August—overall, production employment was down 0.6% and non-production employment was up by 0.2%.

Around the Web: Of Pens and Pizza

Published December 5, 2025

The Oxford University Press’s Word of the Year for 2025 is “rage bait.” A 14-year-old student modifies a traditional origami fold such that it could support more than 9,000 times its weight. Researchers have successfully developed a method to create “ultrablack” fabric. A litho print that features the names of prominent film directors orbiting in their own solar system. Why smart brands are returning to print. A history of the tarot deck. A spherical pen designed to resemble writing with rocks. A horrific Christmas mural created using AI. A new coating advances graphene-based brain interfaces. “Man charged with theft after allegedly swallowing Fabergé egg.” When in Tuscaloosa, visit the Hodges Meteorite. Pizza Hut lets you dress like a pizza box. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

WhatTheyThink Quarterly Journal: The Leadership Issue

Published December 2, 2025

In today’s challenging environment, effective leadership has never been more important. This issue of the WhatTheyThink Quarterly Journal looks at leadership—and leadership-adjacent topics—from a variety of perspectives. How do employees and customers perceive your business? Do you even know? And how can determining those perceptions help improve your business? What are some of the other traits that today’s print business leaders need to have to successfully navigate a dynamic, ever-changing market for print? We also address the perennial issue of finding employees, and offer some suggestions for how to find—and retain—the right employees. Join us as our guest and regular contributors explore the topic of leadership from a variety of perspectives.

Around the Web: Of Cords and Kitsch

Published November 21, 2025

Personalized typography from design studio Rosetta. A new book celebrates the golden age of the “zine.” Using to E. coli to create sustainable, colored fabric fibers. An AI notetaker was really just two guys sitting in on meetings. An extremely durable charging cable was a Kickstarter hit. A compilation of some of the most kitschy items from the 20th century. The winner of this year’s World Cheese Awards. Yikes: in less than two decades, the Earth has tilted on its axis 31.5 inches. When in Paris, visit Foucault’s pendulum. A graphene lubricant achieves 13.8% fuel saving in an Australian charity rally. Train stations being reimagined as luxury hotels. Heinz introduces Leftover Gravy…in a squeeze bottle. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Sanitary Paper Product Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2022

Published November 21, 2025

According to County Business Patterns, in 2022 there were 132 establishments in NAICS 322291 (Sanitary Paper Product Manufacturing). This category had been seeing a net decrease in establishments since 2010, but the post-COVID period saw an increase in establishments. In macro news, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Architecture Billings Index (ABI) found demand for new commercial construction projects to be stagnant.

Around the Web: Of Messages and Mummies

Published November 20, 2025

How do we send a message to the future—in a way that it can be read? Why did art heists take off in the 1970s? When do we define the beginning of “modern art”? This year’s winners of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards. Why there could never be an AI Coco Chanel. A new exhibition looks at print censorship in 19th-century Paris—and informs the issues we wrestle with today. A 747-sized battery-operate drone aircraft that can fly for three months. Whatever happened to string theory? “Scientists Recreated the Smell of Ancient Mummies.” Waiting for the first driverless car fatality. Is jumping in piles of leaves safe? Where will you take your next “foodcation”? Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s regular miscellany.

Shipments for August Are Up

Published November 14, 2025

…in Canada. As we wait for US data to start being released, let us take an overdue look at Canadian printing shipments.

Around the Web: Of Clips and Cats

Published November 14, 2025

A new typeface inspired by Berlin’s wayfinding signage. In Victorian England, cat cartoons were all the rage—specifically, those of illustrator Louis Wain. An impressive paper clip collection has finally found a new home. An anti-package-theft mailbox. At Cambridge University, a project is underway to rescue valuable material from old, outdated media like floppy disks. For reasons passing understanding, someone decided to have AI recreate an episode of “Friends.” A sub-reddit worth checking out is “Funny Signs.” AI-powered robot dinosaurs because why not. A round-up of some of the most notable “non-water floods” in history. Graphene heat-transfer fluid. The James Webb Space Telescope finds a new moon of Uranus. Host Thanksgiving in something approaching style with the Butterball Turkey Pants. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Standard Finishing is Transforming Businesses into Full End-to-End Operations

Published November 13, 2025

In this Business Update, Paul Steinke, Director of Sales for Standard Finishing discusses how printers desire to become a full end-to-end operation has increased their business activity.

What do Print Businesses Need Next? Infigo Says: Automation and Integration

Published November 13, 2025

In this Business Update, Paul Bromley, Head of Global Sales for Infigo, discusses the trends that have led to their partnership with Printess.

What do Print Businesses Need Next? Infigo Says: Automation and Integration

Published November 12, 2025

In this Business Update, Paul Bromley, Head of Global Sales for Infigo, discusses the trends that have led to their partnership with Printess.

Positioning Shorter Print Runs with Higher Value

Published November 12, 2025

Printers today are asking how they can continue to add value to print as they face declining print runs. In this Business Update, Rick Salinas, President of Duplo USA suggests now is the time to invest in the variety of embellished print.

Other Converted Paper Product Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2022

Published November 7, 2025

According to County Business Patterns, in 2022, there were 496 establishments in NAICS 32229 (Other Converted Paper Product Manufacturing). This category saw a net decrease in establishments of -18% since 2010, but saw an increase since 2021. In macro news, um…uh…aha! ADP employment data!

Around the Web: Of Bandages, Beads, and Blood

Published November 7, 2025

How a rogue comma upended 19th-century tariff policy. Print magazine’s Steven Heller is bemused by a presumptuous bit of wayfinding signage. A look at “ghost words” that made their way into the English language due to typos, misspellings, or bad handwriting. Who invented the Band-Aid and how did it become a household word? Pig-faced women were all the rage in Regency-era London. With the Slopstore, AI continues to immeasurably improve our lives in every way. New nanobot “smart dust” is a boon to spying. A system for charging an e-bike through the kickstand. Graphene-based coatings for the HVAC market. The James Webb Space Telescope has found mysterious “dark beads” in Saturn’s atmosphere. A new fossil discovery shows that leeches didn’t always suck blood. Care for a toothpaste-flavored smoothie? Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Graphic Arts Employment Down Slightly in August

Published October 31, 2025

Net printing employment in August 2025 saw printing industry employment decline 0.3% from July—overall, production employment was down 0.9% and non-production employment was up by 0.8%.

Around the Web: Of Scares and Supermoons

Published October 31, 2025

Teal pumpkins raise awareness of food allergies and safe trick-or-treating. Scary movies can actually help soothe anxiety. A disturbing photo gallery of vintage Halloween costumes from the 1950s. A dystopian AI billboard. More than 200 years after Mary Shelley’s novel was written, why does Frankenstein endure? How well do you know the works of Stephen King? Why are there so many female ghosts? A man discovered that his smart vacuum cleaner was broadcasting a detailed map of his home. A graphene coating for aircraft stealth applications. Be sure to check out next week’s Beaver Supermoon. The world’s deadliest foods. TikTok’s “creepy cooking” videos. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Stationery Product Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2022

Published October 24, 2025

According to County Business Patterns, in 2022 there were 317 establishments in NAICS 32223 (Stationery Product Manufacturing). This category saw a net decrease in establishments of 36% since 2010. In macro news, what have we missed?

Around the Web: Of Cases and Cups

Published October 24, 2025

RIP Drew Struzan, who designed some of the most iconic movie posters in cinema history. Mixed-media artist NeSpoon creates large-scale outdoor murals…using lace. The idyllic landscape image used for the Windows XP wallpaper is a real place. Awesome: when AI is used to plan trips, it makes places up—which can be dangerous to tourists. Do animals fall for optical illusions? Sustainable graphene-enhanced natural rubber for tires. A surgically implanted chip and AR glasses could help people afflicted with macular degeneration. Lt. Columbo was a great TV detective, but how well would any of his cases stand up in court? A squeegee-based measuring cup for viscous ingredients. How to make a bioplastic cup based on used coffee grounds. This year’s winner of the World Championships of Shoe Shining. High-fat “junk food” is bad for cognitive function. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

July Printing Shipments Rise Slightly

Published October 17, 2025

July 2025 shipments came in at $7.41 billion, a very slight increase from June’s $7.36 billion.

Around the Web: Of the Web and Witches

Published October 17, 2025

Part 3 of Ars Technica’s excellent “History of the Internet” series. The Typographer app aims to help designers test real fonts in real-world use cases. Google Japan’s annual wacky keyboard design challenge evokes a time when the rotary phone was king. Fascinating facts about maps. When in San José, try to solve the “the San José Semaphore” code. Scientists created viruses with AI-designed DNA that can target and kill specific bacteria. A new form of ice—ice XXI—can *gulp* be a solid at room temperature. A multifunctional electronic skin (e-skin) system based on a laser-induced graphene (LIG) composite platform. The role a person plays in school Nativity pageants has been correlated with their later success in life. Two “flying cars” collided during an air show rehearsal in China. In Salem, Mass., some consternation over how the 17th-century execution of innocent women has now become kitschy fun. Preserving family recipes…on gravestones. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Welcome to Our Sixth Annual Technology Outlook!

Published October 13, 2025

The WhatTheyThink Technology Outlook Annual is now available and should have hit subscribers' mailboxes last week. This week and next, we’ll be featuring the articles from our Sixth Annual Technology Outlook, starting with Production Print.

Around the Web: Of Tapeworms and Tallow

Published October 10, 2025

An AI ad campaign in NYC may go down as one of the most extensive sign defacements in history. Not one, but two Amazon drones collided with a construction crane in Arizona. An unlikely 21st century caper: an international rare books heist. The Equal Earth Map attempts to accurately represent the relative sizes of the Earth’s landmasses. A futureproof electric outlet concept. Eliminate plastic waste with a hydrogen-powered plasma torch—yes, please! In 1955, Orson Welles looked back at his 1938 “War of the Words” broadcast. Email a Melbourne tree. And perhaps ask it, can plants do math? Try the Victorian tapeworm diet. The Gaia Space Telescope’s 3D star map. What are you going to be cooking and—ostensibly—eating in 2026? (We hope you like beef tallow.) Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Q2 2025 Publishing and Advertising Revenues

Published October 3, 2025

Publishing had a rough time during the pandemic, although all three publishing segments—especially books—saw a rebound afterwards, with a leveling off as revenues returned to trend. Advertising in general has been on a steep rise.

Around the Web: Of Books and Bodegas

Published October 3, 2025

Merriam-Webster is releasing a new edition—the Twelfth—of its Collegiate dictionary. AOL is discontinuing its dial-up service (which still exists?). A walking 3D printer robot that builds walls. Turning discarded solo cups into textiles. What is the oldest letter in the Latin alphabet? “Inflation” in a different sense than we’re used to: inflatables, a growing marketing medium. Who was the first person to ever appear on television? A Beijing bodega staffed by a humanoid robot. Put your humanity to the test with a new online game called I’m Not a Robot. Graphene-based batteries to power next-gen drones. In one public restroom, watch an ad to get toilet paper. Would you pay $38 for a jar of Pamela Anderson-branded pickles? Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Paper Bag and Coated and Treated Paper Manufacturing—2010–2022

Published September 26, 2025

According to County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 708 establishments in NAICS 32222 (Paper Bag and Coated and Treated Paper Manufacturing). This category saw a net decrease in establishments of -14% since 2010. In macro news, Q2 GDP growth was revised up to 3.8%.

Around the Web: Of Cardboard, Cameras, and Carousels

Published September 26, 2025

A recession indicator with which we are unfamiliar: the cardboard box index. When was the first graphic T-shirt ever produced? We’ve all heard of novelizations of movies, but what about book coverizations? “Will you pay a premium for Montblanc's e-ink notebook?” The winners of this year’s Ig Nobel Prizes. Kodak has introduced the Charmera, a mini digital keychain camera. Samsung is unleashing refrigerators with video screens that play ads. A line of mirrors inspired by…baggage retrieval carousels? “Breakthrough for Organ Transplants May Be Realized by Turning Organs into Glass.” The James Webb Space Telescope found “strange dark beads” in Saturn’s atmosphere. In the late 19th-century/early 20th-century, watching train wrecks was the height of popular entertainment. Lost shopping carts have a very high carbon footprint. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

WhatTheyThink Quarterly Journal: The Intelligent Automation

Published September 23, 2025

Issue 3 of the WhatTheyThink Quarterly Journal, the “Intelligent Automation” issue, looks at different aspects of automation as it relates to the printing industry: the so-called “smart factory”; augmented and artificial intelligence, and the evolution from Industry 4.0—where cloud communications and data sourcing are fairly commonplace—to Industry 5.0, where we use that platform to build distributed value chains, remote production, and cyber physical systems; intelligent automation in the context of packaging; and automation is human resources (HR). Join us as WhatTheyThink’s regular and guest contributors look at the topic from a variety of angles.

Around the Web: Of Games, Graphene, and God

Published September 19, 2025

Strongbow hard cider is integrating NaviLens codes into its packaging to help the visually impaired. A contender for the world’s most boring book. “A powered boxcutter that slices through even dual-layered cardboard with little effort.” Cologne and perfume designed for old computer gaming nostalgia, somehow. When in Manchester, N.H., visit the monument to Ralph Henry Baer, inventor of the video game. Media outlets unquestioningly repeat fake news about a “pregnancy robot.” Graphene defies the laws of physics! Terrific, now AI thinks it’s God. NYC rats have a distinct “language” and adapt their vocalizations as ambient conditions change. The fastest 100-meter sprint…over LEGO bricks…while barefoot. Competitive massage is apparently a thing. Yikes—having a late breakfast could be a death sentence. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Hybrid Software Acquires Conics

Published September 18, 2025

David Zwang sits down with Hybrid Software Group CEO Mike Rottenborn about the acquisition of Conics, a software development and consultancy firm for the printing and packaging industry based in Ypres, Belgium. Conics specializes in software development, system integration, and has expertise in AI product development.

LabelExpo Rebrands as LOUPE

Published September 17, 2025

Andy Thomas-Emans, Labelexpo Global Series Strategic Director at Informa Markets, talks about the evolution of Labelexpo and the name change to LOUPE. As the label and packaging industry has evolved, there has been a growing need for a gathering place to connect business professionals in the labels, flexible packaging, and folding carton sectors.

Graphic Arts Employment Down in July

Published September 12, 2025

Net printing employment in July 2025 saw printing industry employment decline 0.9% from June—overall, production employment was down 0.9% and non-production employment also down by 0.9%.

Around the Web: Of Typewriters, Toasters, and Tarot

Published September 12, 2025

In 1937, a group of Dutch students created remarkable art using only typewriters. A 3D-printed business card embosser. An iPhone “leash” that lets you wear an iPhone—or vice versa. A new, unique print publication called “Inque.” A new, 4-inch diameter vinyl record format. A pneumatically height-adjustable candlestick. FAFO with a smart toaster that has 38 different presets. A multi-functional oven featuring graphene heating tech. A humanoid robot that loads a dishwasher without breaking anything. Tuscany’s Giardino dei Tarocchi, giant sculptures that depict the main figures depicted on Tarot cards. An upsettingly large number of mundane things used to be punishable by death. Red Lobster’s “Endless Shrimp” is back…sort of. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Labels & Packaging Technology Outlook

Published September 11, 2025

WhatTheyThink contributor David Zwang reviews the latest technology and product announcements from manufacturers of label and packaging solutions, highlighting key trends, innovative solutions from major vendors, and new features and applications shaping the future of the industry. Plus recommended reading for deeper insights into technology, strategy and market opportunities.

Production Print Technology Outlook

Published September 9, 2025

WhatTheyThink contributor Kelly Lawrence reviews the latest production inkjet technologies and product announcements, highlighting new press features, their impact on print businesses, and the trends driving growth and profitability. She also shares strategies for streamlining operations, differentiating your inkjet offering, and key questions to ask vendors at upcoming events. Plus recommended reading for deeper insights into production technology strategy and market opportunities.

Around the Web: Of Ads, AI, and Aluminum

Published September 5, 2025

The Tactile Media Alliance is a kind of trade organization for touch-minded designers. A forthcoming book collects print ads from the 1930s. In Minneapolis, 60 knitting enthusiasts gather at a local cinema to watch a movie while knitting. Wikipedia has compiled a list of signs of AI writing for use by editors. A sign publication showcases the work of manual signpainters. Aluminum “sculptural” house numbers from a Dutch artist. reMarkable’s new Paper Pro Move, a pocket-sized version of its color E Ink tablet. A robot that can walk on water. Fashion’s brief flirtation with glass dresses. Graphene heat dissipation boosts performance of AR displays. VTV is a parody of the original MTV that collects the silliest novelty songs ever recorded. “The Secret to a Perfect McDonald’s Burger.” Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Other Paperboard Container Manufacturing Establishments—2012–2022

Published September 5, 2025

According to County Business Patterns, in 2022 there were 266 establishments in NAICS 322219 (Other Paperboard Container Manufacturing). This category saw a net decrease in establishments of -24% since 2012. In macro news, Q2 GDP growth was revised up.

June Printing Shipments Dip Slightly

Published August 29, 2025

June 2025 shipments came in at $7.33 billion, down only very slightly from May’s $7.41 billion.

Around the Web: Of Caroff and Keyboards

Published August 29, 2025

Remembering the prolific and largely anonymous graphic designer Joseph Caroff. Marking the 70th anniversary of the “Guinness Book of Records.” News editors band together and bring eight local Wyoming newspapers back from closure. “Before Hackernews, before Twitter, before blogs, before the web had been spun, when the internet just was four universities in a trenchcoat, there was ‘BYTE’”—now completely archived online. After 158 years, maybe the QWERTY keyboard layout is due for a refresh. How to “deliver a school wayfinding system on a tight deadline and at a low cost.” A monument near Grover’s Mill, N.J., commemorates a fictional alien invasion. A new graphene-based sensor can help diagnose diabetes and prediabetes based on a breath sample. “Radioactive shrimp”?!? Exploring the history of the medieval “Wound Man.” “What if there were a mole (the unit) of moles (the animal)?” The first-ever (and hopefully last-ever) Tomato Ketchup Smoothie. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Technology Outlook 2025

Published August 29, 2025

The WhatTheyThink Annual Technology Outlook 2025 is our yearly review of “what’s new” in the printing industry through a series of webinars. Throughout the week, we will look at the business trends that will help shape our future, with an emphasis on the new technologies that drive product development.

Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing—2010–2022

Published August 22, 2025

According to County Business Patterns, in 2022 there were 567 establishments in NAICS 322212 (Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing). This category saw a net increase of 15% since 2010. In macro news,inflation is creeping up.

Around the Web: Of Taxes and Toys

Published August 22, 2025

Denmark is eliminating its steep book tax to encourage reading. Ersatz signage letting time-strapped moviegoers know whether they can leave after the final scene without missing anything. A 90-degree stapler for securing packaging. The “limitless insight found within the limited space of single panel comics.” An artist upcycles objects like junk mail and pencils to create elaborately layered, sculptural pieces. Nineteenth-century Welsh singer Margaret Watts Hughes could “sing” paintings. A new generation of AI-enabled toys for children could be trouble waiting to happen. Graphene-enhanced workwear for women. Highlights from China’s inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games. Good grief—men are deliberately breaking their legs and having them lengthened in a bid to become taller. The moment we realize we did an AtW item already… How about…strawberry salt? Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Around the Web: Of Typewriters and Tattoos

Published August 15, 2025

Highlights from this year’s graduating class from Otis College’s Product Design program. A tale of two “typewriter artists.” A “robotic tattooing machine.” A pair of high-tech self-warming socks that, alas, worked all too well. Apple is changing the admittedly obsolete hard drive desktop icon in the next Mac OS. The sad story of “Wavy Dave,” a 3D-printed, crab-bot programmed to wave at other crabs. RealMe’s new smartphone features graphene cooling technology. Butter made from atmospheric carbon dioxide. The Incas’ string-based “writing” system was not just for the elite. “Why are farmers playing jazz music to cows?” Colossal Biosciences’ next “de-extincting” project: the giant moa. Kraft is introducing pizza-flavored Mac & Cheese—and they’ll even deliver it. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Paperboard Container Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2022

Published August 8, 2025

According to County Business Patterns, in 2022 there were 1,885 establishments in NAICS 32221 (Paperboard Container Manufacturing). This category saw a net decrease of 15% since 2010. In macro news,checking in with Calculated Risk’s “Recession Watch.”

Around the Web: Of Pencils, Peacocks, Paint, and Poltergeist

Published August 8, 2025

When in England’s Lake District, be sure to stop by the Derwent Pencil Museum. If you’re looking for a unique movie, try 1966’s horror film Incubus, starring William Shatner and made entirely in Esperanto. Designers and other creatives are integrating AI into the design process without “relinquishing authorship.” Delivering vaccines via dental floss. Peacock feathers can emit laser beams! A coffee table with a live traffic map integrated into it. On September 2, 1882, William N. Jenkins took the first photograph of lightning, which revolutionized our understanding of it. An innovative graphene paint capable of generating heat through electrical power. A low-cost home colling option: smear yogurt on your windows. Life in a round house…that rotates. The perhaps iconic “Poltergeist House” is now an AirBnB. Wendy’s “Wednesday” tie-in is an Unhappy Meal indeed. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

May Printing Shipments: Slipping a Bit

Published August 1, 2025

May 2025 shipments came in at $7.35 billion, down slightly from April’s $7.38 billion, an atypical May decline.

Around the Web: Of Triggers and Trash

Published August 1, 2025

Reasoning language models are easily confused by “query-agnostic adversarial triggers”—specifically, random mentions of cats. A customizable 3D-printed lamp. A round-up of five of the strangest books ever written, for your summer beach reading confusion. The New York Herald’s 1874 report on “The Central Park Zoo Escape.” A sidewalk artist turns a manhole cover into a waffle iron for a chalk-drawn possum and squirrel. Motorized trash cans that scurry about and cam automatically catch garbage in mid-air. Detroit has started using robots to pick up trash and provide other municipal services. A graphene-based brain-computer interface. The latest attempt at a practical flying car. “Radioactive wasp nest discovered at nuclear waste storage site in South Carolina”—a 1950s scifi movie maker’s fantasy. An etymological exploration of perhaps the most important word in the English language: “dude.” Battery-flavored tortilla chips, for some reason. RIP, Tom Lehrer. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search Portal Establishments—2010–2022

Published July 25, 2025

According to County Business Patterns, in 2022 there were 9,180 establishments in NAICS 51913 (Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search Portals). This category saw a net increase of 70% since 2010, but a 4% drop from the previous year. In macro news, ihe AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index indicated that demand for architectural design services continues to be relatively sluggish, which will impact the demand for new signage projects.