Printing within the Pacific Rim now dominates printing

This is from the industry measure that came today. I find it interesting that the trend of Americans to do nothing but run computers seems to continuing and even increasing. What are we going to do with no mechanics, and little production personnel? 

That really seems like a risky way to run an economy. What are we going to do when the barbarians start pouring through our borders?

But then many think they already are -- what do you think?

The Industry Measure’s Global Demographic Reports Analyze Demographics of Printing and Creative Markets in 47 Countries

NEW YORK, NY – February 15, 2008 -- The Industry Measure has released the 2007/2008 edition of the IM Global Demographic Reports. Treating each of the 47 countries as a separate and segmented graphic arts market, the Global Reports offer industry marketers critical market analysis not available anywhere else. According to IM, The global printing industry of 196,000+ printing establishments is estimated to be shipping $399 billion (US) in product. The global creative industry is estimated to be at $466 billion (US) in shipments from 197,000+ creative establishments. The reports are available only through IM. For more information, please visit the IM website (www.theindustrymeasure.com).

 

Released for the first time at the beginning of 1999, the IM Global Demographic Reports have provided graphic arts vendors with reasoned demographics from country to country using common market and business definitions from which IM has developed their global market information. These unique reports present the number of creative and printing establishments by country, market, and size of business. They are believed to be the only reports of their kind ever developed.

 

 According to the Report…

 

-- Commercial printers account for 62% of the global printing shipments, 

newspaper printers 32%,

trade shops and inplant printers with 3% each;

 

-- Corporate design firms & catalogers account for 36% of the global creative shipments, 

ad agencies 24%, 

publishers 31%, 

graphic designers 6% and 

photographers with 3%;

 

-- The Asia/Pacific region has the world’s largest printing industry (40%) 

followed by Europe (27%) and 

North America (22%);

 

-- By region, North America has 43% of the global creative industry (US$229 billion), 

Europe accounts for another 30% and

 Asia/Pacific region has 16%;

 

-- By country, the United States has the largest creative industry (US$202 billion) 

followed by Japan (US$32 billion) and 

Germany (US$27 billion).

The digital world I taught in the early- to mid-1990s is here

I got this invite today from WhatTheyThink?.com 

"Digital color printing has come of age, and has almost completely eliminated the need to produce long print runs of anything, especially marketing collateral. But the story is much bigger than that. With advanced Web-to-print solutions, the power of digital printing is increased. A virtual marketing warehouse allows users to request reprints, upload ad hoc materials, and create new versions of approved marketing collateral right online. Brand owners maintain control over the brand, but those closest to the customer have maximum flexibility to tune their messages to the exact audience they are trying to reach. Oh, and don't forget personalization! Creating mailing campaigns right online has never been easier.

In this session, you will hear from leading digital print service providers who have leveraged innovative Web-based workflows to amplify the value of their digital color print engines and turn the production of modern, magical marketing collateral into a revenue growth engine for them and for their customers."

It'll be interesting to see how traditional printer adapt to the new reality. Sadly, many won't they'll just die.