February Shipments: Well, At Least It’s Seasonal
February 2024 shipments came in at $6.01 billion, down from January’s $7.04 billion—and right between February 2021 and 2022.
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like drupa
Frank has been to every drupa event since 1972. A visit to drupa is an investment in the future of your company. It is a peek into the future of the printing industry. Some introductions will not be ready for prime time, but they will eventually make a difference. It is worth the trip.
Around the Web: Met Medics. Type Tenets. Bend’s Blockbuster. Insurance Inflation. Follicle Fashion. Humdrum Handset. Bee Bandits. Clever Cutlery. Collaborative Condiment.
Inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s book conservation lab. A new book lays out the Universal Principles of Typography. 11 signs from around the country that evoke “pure Americana.” Mattel releases a team-based version of Scrabble. Physical media’s last stand. Car insurance premiums have sure kicked into overdrive. Textiles made from human hair may not be as creepy as they sound. HMD and Heineken introduce the Boring Phone. Battling the West’s “bee rustlers” would make for an interesting John Wayne film. Horatio Nelson’s “Knork.” Heinz and Mattel team up to launch “Barbiecue sauce.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.
Insight You Need. Analysis You Trust.
Get the trusted insights you need to understand our evolving industry and emerging trends. Become a Premium Member.
Industry News
- Just In: Changes in the Management Board of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
- Kodi Collective Receives ‘Best of Category’ in Five-State Print Competition
- Komori's drupa 2024 Exhibit Information
- OneVision Software at drupa 2024
- Printing & Promotions Plus, Inc.’s Strengthens Capabilities With Inclusion of Colorado M series and Arizona 135 GT Printers from Canon Solutions America
- Diamond Packaging Wins Five Awards in 31st Annual FSEA Gold Leaf Awards Competition
- GMG Color’s Birgit Plautz Appointed President of TAGA's Advisory Committee
- Roberts Beauty and Oceanworks Achieve Major Milestone in Ocean Cleanup, Removing 100,000 Pounds of Plastic
- Al-Shamrani Boosts Capacity and Modernizes Flexo Press Technology with BOBST VISION CI
- TLMI Announces Call for Entries for Printing Excellence Awards and The Calvin Frost Sustainability Leadership Awards
- API Foilmakers Signs Agreement to Acquire United Foils Europe and Its Subsidiaries, Significantly Strengthening Distribution Network
- Gulf Print & Pack Launches in Riyadh
- Epson Supports Taiwan Earthquake Relief
- Proforma Executives Vanessa Edwards and Greg Armstrong Honored at the 18th Annual Stevie® Awards for Sales and Customer Service
- Siegwerk to Strengthen Its Position as Coating Manufacturer
- Study Shows Skills Shortage Is a Reality for Nine Out of Ten German SMEs
- Quadient Launches Cloud-based Multichannel Document Delivery Capabilities for Small and Medium Businesses in Canada
- GEW Appoints Next Graphics as Exclusive Distributor in Pakistan
- Modix Unveils Modix Slicer and a Game Changer High Speed Extruder
- seoBusiness Announces Launch of Strategy-led Search Engine Optimization Services
Orlando Magic: ISA Sign Expo Comes to Town
Richard Romano reports on some new product launches/introductions at last week’s International Sign Association Sign Expo.
For Paragon Press, Variable Data Drives Digital Investment
In this video, sponsored by HP, Kevin Abergel speaks with Macy Flash, CEO of Paragon Press, a printing and direct mail company based in Louisiana. Once all-analog, the company’s variable-data needs impelled the company to go all-digital.
thINK Is Preparing for its 10th Anniversary!
Lori Messina, President of the thINK board, discusses thINK's preparation for its 10th anniversary and the support of its membership with an amazing annual event and a great web resource.
Marketing Content: When a Survey Isn’t Really a Survey
Want to draw people into a marketing pitch in a way that gets under the radar? Try the survey that’s not really a survey. Heidi Tolliver-Walker explains.
Highlights from FESPA 2024—Sign and Display Printers
European section editor Ralf Schlözer rounds up some wide-format product launches and announcements made at the FESPA Global Print Expo, held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, March 19–22.
Industry Data
Printing Outlook 2024 - The WhatTheyThink Overview of the Current State of the Printing Industry
The Printing Outlook 2024 report provides detailed analysis of the latest WhatTheyThink Printing Industry Survey, the latest industry economic data and macroeconomic trends, as well as industry and cultural technological trends to look out for in 2024 and beyond.
February Shipments: Well, At Least It’s Seasonal
February 2024 shipments came in at $6.01 billion, down from January’s $7.04 billion—and right between February 2021 and 2022. Full Analysis
Assorted Publishing Establishments—2010–2021
According to County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 726 establishments in NAICS 511199 (All Other Publishing). This category saw a net decrease of 39% since 2010, although establishments spiked from 2020 to 2021. In macro news, estimates of Q1 GDP are running around +2%. Full Analysis
Tales from the Database: These Are Not the Applications You’re Looking For
Drawing on six years’ worth of Print Business Outlook surveys, our “Tales from the Database” series looks at historical data to see if we can spot any particular hardware, software, or business trends. This issue, we turn our attention to specialty printing—or any printing beyond traditional offset or digital commercial work. Full Analysis
WhatTheyThink Magazine
WhatTheyThink Magazine is the resource for the Commercial Printing, Visual and Graphic Arts Industries. Industry experts share their ideas and technical knowledge on ways to improve operations.
Subscription are free to qualified industry professionals or via paid subscription.
Around the Web
WhatTheyThink's weekly miscellany
Around the Web: Met Medics. Type Tenets. Bend’s Blockbuster. Insurance Inflation. Follicle Fashion. Humdrum Handset. Bee Bandits. Clever Cutlery. Collaborative Condiment.
Inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s book conservation lab. A new book lays out the Universal Principles of Typography. 11 signs from around the country that evoke “pure Americana.” Mattel releases a team-based version of Scrabble. Physical media’s last stand. Car insurance premiums have sure kicked into overdrive. Textiles made from human hair may not be as creepy as they sound. HMD and Heineken introduce the Boring Phone. Battling the West’s “bee rustlers” would make for an interesting John Wayne film. Horatio Nelson’s “Knork.” Heinz and Mattel team up to launch “Barbiecue sauce.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
Around the Web: Publishing Posters. Pyrotechnic Packaging. Mock Media. AI Aide. Agile ANYmal. Tail Tech. New Nova. Silent Solo. Dairy-esque Dye.
A new book celebrates the short-lived “literary poster” craze. A new zine looks at the art of fireworks packaging design. One of the most game-changing technologies in the history of civilization was affordable artificial light. A social media platform that doesn’t actually exist. A new wearable AI device. A four-legged dog-like robot can do parkour moves, freakishly enough. Jet suit racing is now a thing. A prehensile stabilizing tail for floating astronauts. Another upcoming celestial event. The decline of the guitar solo. Apparently it’s a real thing: Velveeta Hair Dye. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
Around the Web: Eclipse Eats. Wood Work. Modifier Methodology. Checkout Change. Wi-Fi Weirdness. Electronic Eyewear. Kangaroo Collisions. Bus Battle. Stick Status.
Eclipse-themed food and beverage items for Monday’s event. Cardiff, Wales’, Printed Festival 2024, this June. A new 3D printing ink based on wood waste. Did you know that there is a “royal order of adjectives”? Amazon is ending its “Just Walk Out” checkout—which wasn’t actually an automated system. What does the term “Wi-Fi” stand for? LCD lenses that can turn sunglasses into reading glasses. Volkswagen is working on an electronic device to avoid car-kangaroo collisions. New York City’s acrimonious “tour bus battle.” The James Webb Space Telescope takes a close look at galaxy I Zwicky 18. Instagram’s “Official Stick Reviews” rates actual sticks—and is more popular than you would think. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
Recent Discussion
Patrick Whelan on Marketing Content: When a Survey Isn’t Really a Survey
My opinion only...I'm tired of being surveyed. Reply
"Two leading companies" my eye! Konica Minolta's financial position is precarious at best, and has been so for some time. I am glad to see that they are taking a step to shore up their vulnerable supply chain. Reply
Pat McGrew on You Should Join a Printing Industry Association
Thank Patrick! Great advice for every printer! Find your tribe! Reply
Patrick Henry on You Should Join a Printing Industry Association
Pat, thanks for this inspiring endorsement of trade associations. I've worked with and for trade associations throughout most of my career, and I can attest that the services they provide are highly valuable. They also serve as a voice and an advocat… Full comment Reply
Special Report
drupa 2024 Coverage
WhatTheyThink is the official show daily media partner of drupa 2024. More info about drupa daily programs
WhatTheyThink is the official show daily media partner of drupa 2024. More info about drupa programs
© 2024 WhatTheyThink. All Rights Reserved.
Gordon Pritchard on It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like drupa
Frank! You forgot to mention that beer is served at many of the drupa booths. Reply