Busy or Productive? Efficiency as a Matter of Survival
Many printing companies appear efficient and well utilized from the outside. However, in my consulting projects over the past few months, it has repeatedly become clear that this impression is often misleading. Despite a high level of commitment, a significant share of working time is absorbed by coordination, follow-up questions, or manual intermediate steps. In […]
Digitalization Without Strategy? An Expensive Dead End for Printing Companies!
Digitalization has long reached the printing industry. Whether it’s automating production processes, implementing web-to-print portals, intelligent warehouse logistics, or AI-driven data analytics, many companies are already making significant investments. While state-of-the-art machines and software solutions are being introduced, however, many businesses are missing the key element: a clear digital strategy. And this is where the […]
Client vs. Customer: A Subtle but Important Difference!
In our daily lives, we often encounter the terms “customer” and “client,” and we typically use them interchangeably. However, there is a significant difference between the two, which plays a crucial role, especially in consulting. While a customer has a more transactional relationship with a company or brand, a client often involves a long-term, trust-based, […]
The Mindset of Successful Print Entrepreneurs – What They Do Differently
It is always fascinating to see how companies in the printing industry can differ, even though they operate in the same sectors. In an industry that is constantly evolving, print entrepreneurs face new challenges all the time. Digitalization, sustainability, automation – the market demands constant adjustments and innovations. But what sets successful print entrepreneurs apart […]
There’s No Wrong Time to Exchange Ideas with Industry Experts
Anyone reading our current forecast for the development of the printing industry in 2025 will quickly understand: 2025 will not be the year of economic recovery (Click here for the white paper). It’s a time to consolidate resources – perhaps even tighten the belt. Definitely no time for strategy consultants, you might think. We see […]
Book Printers Haven’t Benefited from the #BookTok Trend Yet
Since 2017, the revenue in the book industry has been growing. This increase has largely been driven by fiction books and children’s and young adult books. The #BookTok trend has played a significant role in this. However, book printers have not yet been able to benefit from the revenue growth in the book industry. Under […]
Hogan Assessment: Accurate Insights for Targeted Talent Selection and Development
In today’s workplace, the right selection and development of talent play a critical role in a company’s success. Personnel decisions are among the most important tasks in any organization. However, on average, one in three hiring decisions is wrong: the person does not meet performance expectations, does not fit the company culture, or leaves the […]
The Evolution of Sales in the Printing Industry: From Pure Print Products to Comprehensive Customer Solutions
The printing industry has undergone a profound transformation in recent decades, particularly when it comes to sales and the understanding of what a “product” is. For professionals and decision-makers in this industry, it is crucial to understand current developments in order to remain competitive. In the past, the “product” in the printing industry was clearly […]
Decline in Printing Ink Sales in Germany!
The volume of printing ink sold is on the decline. Since 2019, the sales of printing ink have dropped by 143 thousand tons (-33%). In contrast, the prices for printing inks have risen significantly since 2019. In 2023, the prices for printing ink were approximately 32% higher than the price in 2020. This trend aligns […]
Paper Sales in Germany: The Facts!
The amount of paper produced for sale by paper mills in Germany has been decreasing since 2021. This trend is evident in corrugated board paper, graphic paper, as well as papers and boards for folding boxes. The prices for paper (represented here by the value per ton of paper produced for sale) have decreased in […]
European printers invest more than their German counterparts.
It is hardly surprising that over 90 percent of the printing industry’s annual investment is in machinery. That the proportion of companies that invested at the start of the Corona pandemic has only fallen by four percentage points, may in cotrast, be a little more surprising. Definitely noteworthy remains the fact that Germany, once amongst […]
German packaging industry defies the covid crisis
The number of companies in the packaging industry is declining. The number of employees, on the other hand, has increased since 2015. This is based primarily on the development of companies with 100 to 499 employees. Compared to 2019, the sales values achieved for the products of the packaging industry increased for the most part […]