Complete Story
04/29/2025
Printing Industry Performance & Insights Feb/Mar 2025 Reports
Source: Dr. Ralph I. Williams, Jr. and Dr. Greg Nagel, March 31, 2025
Uncovering Growth in a Complex Landscape
The February/March 2025 Printing Industry Performance & Insights survey reveals a cautiously optimistic outlook for the print sector. Participating firms reported an average revenue growth of 4.2% from 2023 to 2024—marking a shift toward more sustainable, post-pandemic growth trends. Interestingly, smaller and larger firms outperformed medium-sized firms, likely due to their agility or economies of scale. Strategic diversification is proving to be a differentiator, with “General commercial with high wide-format output” firms leading growth and profitability. On average, these firms achieved nearly 20% EBITDA, underscoring the performance power of bundling services to meet evolving customer needs.
More Customers, More Printing—But Not for Everyone
While the average customer print demand edged just below neutral (2.88 on a 5-point scale), the customer acquisition story was more positive. The average customer gain score was 3.37—identical to last year—indicating more companies are winning new business than losing it. Larger firms and those offering specialized services such as direct mail or non-traditional products were especially successful. The research highlights a clear takeaway: firms actively marketing both their value and the power of print are better positioned for growth. Targeting industries with increasing print demands and regularly engaging existing clients can significantly influence success.
Planning for the Future with Data on Your Side
The reports also touch on broader operational planning. Most firms plan to maintain or slightly grow staff in 2025, and equipment investment sentiment—while cautious—is skewed positively, especially among larger and label-focused companies. Despite manageable cost increases across most categories, political uncertainty and tariffs remain top concerns for many leaders. Overall sentiment is one of cautious confidence: strong-performing firms are setting goals, remaining agile, and leveraging data to drive performance.
For printing company leaders, the message is clear—opportunity is present, but it requires thoughtful strategy, customer-focused innovation, and the courage to adapt.
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