NEW YORK -- February 6, 2003 -- TrendWatch Graphic Arts today released a special report expressly written with the purpose of helping graphic arts service providers to develop new and more profitable revenue streams through mailing and fulfillment services. The report indicates that while commercial printers tend to generate a 1% net profit from printing services, mailing and fulfillment service providers are generating 4% to 10% profit margins. But, according to the report, adding mailing and fulfillment isn't enough. It has to be done as part of a value-added service model. The TrendWatch Graphic Arts "Mailing and Fulfillment: Where the Money Is (Or Should Be)" report is available for online purchase at the TWGA eStore in PDF format. For more information, go to the TWGA website (www.trendwatchgraphicarts.com). Researcher's Quote... "Commercial printers and trade service providers looking to add M&F profitably, will find few commercial printing industry resources available to them," notes Vince Naselli, Director, TrendWatch Graphic Arts. "In large part, this is because suppliers, associations, and trade magazines still view mailing and fulfillment as non-core services. Those who have made the transition successfully have kept their successes close to the vest, as good business people often do. This is why we developed this report to identify the successful approaches to this opportunity." According to the Report... -- 24% of printers see "broadening fulfillment, shipping, and mailing services" as an opportunity compared to 6% who see "broadening prepress products" that way; -- Net profits on sales on fulfillment services ranges from 8-10% compared to 1% for commercial printing (Mailing & Fulfillment Services Association/PIA 2002 Ratios); -- Net profits on sales mailing services ranges from 4-6% compared to 1% for commercial printing (Mailing & Fulfillment Services Association/PIA 2002 Ratios); -- 68.1% of NAPL State of the Industry respondents saying they plan to offer fulfillment by 2003 and 55.9% say they plan to offering mailing; -- Printers are far more likely to see "broadening fulfillment, shipping, and mailing services" as an opportunity than trade shops (24% compared to 4%). Methodology... The foundation of this report is based upon interviews with industry experts and mailing and fulfillment service providers (mostly graphic arts firms). Most of the data is gleaned from TrendWatch Graphic Arts' own proprietary historical database and the TrendWatch Graphic Arts Printing #16 report. Additional supporting data was extracted from publications issued by NAPL, the Mailing and Fulfillment Services Association, the Direct Marketing Association, and the Printing Industries of America. Information was also compiled from various industry sources, including industry trade magazines and book titles published by industry associations. Availability... The 121-page TWGA "Mailing and Fulfillment: Where the Money Is (Or Should Be)" report is available for purchase by visiting the secure TrendWatch Graphic Arts eStore online at www.trendwatchgraphicarts.com or by phone at 866-873-6310. The price for the report is $1595. TrendWatch Graphic Arts eStore customers can download this report in PDF Acrobat format immediately after purchase.