2018 Annual
Top 100 Quick &
Small Commercial
Printers
Every year, Printing News invites commercial print owners to participate in the Top 100 Quick
& Small Commercial Printers survey. This survey takes a look at the state of the industry as
presented by commercial print owners across North America. As the fi gures for 2017 would
confi rm, it was indeed a healthy year for print in total sales reported of $ 652,624,639.
Chief Economist and Senior Vice President at Idealliance, Andy Paparozzi,
best describes the state of commercial printing’s performance in 2017 as
an upturn that oft en hasn’t felt quite like an upturn. “Activity picks up but
doesn’t stay up, creating a plodding advance with limited pricing power,
persistent pressure on margins, and the heightened uncertainty that complicates
hiring and investment decisions and makes eff ective planning even more challenging,”
said Paparozzi.
Based on the economic performance
within print for the fi rst quarter of
2018, projections of growth between
2%-3% are expected—keeping this
industry upturn at a slow but consistent
pace. Commercial print owners also
agree they’ve experienced better business
conditions in recent years. “Many
things can happen to bring this virtuous
cycle to a premature end. However,
a healthy and accelerating economy
will take our industry with it,” noted Paparazzi.
Industy experts maintain that
the real winners will be those who seize
this healthy economic environment to
secure a competitive advantage.
Th e following businesses made this
year’s Top Ten:
• Duggal Visual Solutions (#1)
• Ironmark (#2)
• Firespring Print, Inc. (#3)
• Tapecon, Inc. (#4)
• Alphaprint, Inc. (#5)
• Strategic Factory (#6)
• Label Impressions, Inc. (#7)
• Alexander’s Print Advantage (#8)
• Astek, Inc. (#9)
• Allegra Marketing Print Mail (#10)
Finding Opportunities to
Thrive
Mike Duggal of Duggal Visual Solutions
(#1 in our Top 100) credits an
obsession with quality and having the
latest technology to off er customers as
two top keys to the success of his business.
“Having diverse service off erings
at a large scale allows us to off er
a complete solution,” said Duggal.
Increasingly, commercial print
owners are discovering they must
rethink not only their technology,
but also their labor force, their value
propositions, their suite of customized
solutions, and their sales
opportunities.
Kevin Thomas, Chief Operating
Officer at Firespring Print, Inc. (#3)
agrees: “We credit the success of our
business to the willingness to change
gears and fully embrace the change.
How do you expect overall business conditions in 2018 to compare with overall conditions in 2017?
March 2018 November 2017
Better 67.40% 61.10%
Worse 11.80% 3.60%
About the Same 18.70% 28.30%
Too Inconsistent to Forecast 2.10% 7.00%
Source: Idealliance, State of the Industry Updates
10 Printing News June 2018 PrintingNewscom
/PrintingNews.com