Weekend Print4Pay Industry Notes

Gathered from recent publications, here you go!

Digital Publishing Solutions magazine conducted a study of print for pay providers and found:
- document communications industry still growing at 12%
- 29% plan on buying a 60+ppm production color system in 2009
- 23% plan on buying a 80+ppm production b/w system in 2009

Fedex Office, formerly known as Kinko’s, announced results of a study of office workers:
- 58% believe it will be more important to find better work/life balance in 2009
- 86% plan on pursuing a better balance in 2009
- 49% plan on taking all their vacation time
- 42% will start a weekly to do list
- 41% will leave work at a reasonable hour
- 36% will take lunch on a consistent basis

Staples, the office supply superstore, announced results of study of business owners:
- 62% admitted that they were transforming into a “mouse potato” (i.e. constantly on the computer)
- 66% work and eat at same time
- 25% admit to eating breakfast during work
- 69% are constantly trying new things to increase revenues
- 47% are “intrapreneurs” (i.e. operates within the corporate structure pursuing innovative projects)
- 84% are confident they will survey the economic situation
- 51% are reducing their own compensation in 2009
- 38% are reducing their business travel
- 45% are advertising less
- 48% are using more viral and word-of-mouth marketing
- Over 50% are willing to forgo vacations to ensure job stability

The next trade show to show off the latest in new production print systems is the OnDemand Conference & Expo in Philadelphia on 3/30-4/2/09. Among the sponsors are Konica Minolta & Canon.

Microsoft announced that it will introduce a new operating system to replace Windows Vista, called Windows 7. Also, the company announced it will end support for Windows XP on 4/8/2014.

The Printing Industry of America announced results of a new study in how printed direct mail pieces survive the U.S. Postal service, comparing output from a production toner color system and that from a traditional offset press:
- percentage of tears was roughly equivalent between digital and offset produced mailers
- 25.3% of output from offset press arrived with significant damage
- 7.2% of output from digital system arrived with significant damage
- All output was identical, with heavy coverage on 6”x9” postcards, and no UV coating

Results of a study on value of direct mail conducted by Direct Marketing News:
- 50% enjoy reading their mail more than reading e-mail
- 85% review USPS mail daily
- 94% took action on an offer they received in a direct mail offer
- 75% responded to less than 11% of the offers received
- 30%-66% said that direct mail coupon usage would increase
- 78% prefer to receive coupons in the mail versus e-mail
- 65% said they are examining mail more closely to find coupons
- A direct mail offer prompted 37% of customers to business with a vendor for the first time
- 70% of respondents renewed their relationship with a vendor due to a direct mail piece
- Up to 44% donated money due to an appeal from a direct mail piece

Sony announced it will report a loss for the first time in 14 years. The company will close 5 of its 57 plants to cut costs.

Acacia Research, a firm that buys obscure patents, announced it has forced Dell & Lexmark to pay license fees for a patent it owns pertaining to network multifunction printer technology. The dollar amount was not released. Other companies that have already settled with Acacia are; HP, Samsung, Oce’, Brother, Epson, Muratec, Okidata, Panasonic & Toshiba. Acacia reports that its total annual collections are up 45% to $13.8 million per year.