Are you ready to be taken over? According to the findings of the Image Reports’ Widthwise Survey 2013, almost a third of the responding 223 firms are open to talks about acquisition, merger or creating a formal partnership with another business. That might suggest a sector in trouble, but conversely margins are improving and over half expect digitally produced wide-format print to become a bigger part of their total turnover.
If you look at the detailed analysis of the findings - available in the newly published Widthwise Report, which is free to download here, you will see a picture emerge of a sector where the bigger are getting bigger and the smaller are looking to join forces to help them compete in an ever-more sophisticated market.
So how can you best futureproof your business? That’s the focus of this sixth consecutive, annual Widthwise Report. Grassroots data, comment and case studies, as well as farther-reaching research and analysis, have been applied to provide an up-to-date account of the major threats and opportunities now facing wide-format print. It looks at how print providers can better equip themselves for success by questioning the validity and likely longevity of their strategic models, management processes, sales/marketing programmes and investment plans. It also reflects on the attitudes and actions required of suppliers and industry associations for the sector to reach its potential.
All indications are that there’s still plenty of room to manoeuvre, and that if you’re canny about it, there’s as good an opportunity as ever to develop businesses with a long and healthy lifespan.
As a precursor to Fespa 2013 in London this month, Fespa held its 2013 Global Summit in London in January, at which managing director Neil Felton said, “We need to educate everyone about the opportunities available with wide-format digital print and engage with others across the whole spectrum of other industries.”
Hopefully, that’s what this show will do – not only provide food for thought for the print community, but for those that drive it. Lets keep moving forward.