The US commercial printing industry includes about 35,000 companies with combined annual revenue of about $100 billion. Major companies include RR Donnelley and the US operations of Canada-based World Color Press (formerly Quebecor World). The industry is fragmented: the largest 50 companies account for about 30 percent of revenue.
The commercial printing industry includes printing on apparel and textile products, paper, metal, glass, and plastics; it also includes typesetting, platemaking, and book binding. Book publishing, magazine publishing, and newspaper publishing are covered in separate industry profiles.
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Demand is driven by advertising and product needs of business customers. The profitability of individual companies is closely linked to effective sales operations. Large companies have scale advantages in buying materials like paper and ink, serving large customers with regional or national needs, and making efficient use of expensive presses. Small companies can compete effectively by offering better local service in a specific product category. Annual revenue per employee averages about $160,000.
Digital technology has changed the competitive landscape of the commercial printing market. Prices for digital color pages are falling below offset printing prices and companies that fall behind in the shift to digital printing are at risk, especially in the pre-media portion of printing.
PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Commercial printers produce magazines, phone books, labels, advertising brochures, catalogs, newspaper inserts, direct mail marketing pieces, corporate reports and other financial printing, training manuals, promotional materials, and business forms. ...
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