Quick Printing’s Top 100 Survey Shows Quick and Small Commercial Printers Weathering Economic Downturn

Significant number of printers show growth and prosperity in 2002

Melville, NY – June 12, 2003 – Despite challenging economic conditions, quick and small commercial printers held their ground last year, according to the annual Quick Printing magazine Top 100 Survey. Total sales in 2002 for this group grew slightly more than six percent to $650.5 million. The complete results of the Survey can be seen in the June Issue of Quick Printing magazine, one of the nation’s leading publications serving quick printers, small commercial printers, in-plant printers, and copy shop owners and managers.

“There is no doubt that 2002 was a rough year for printers and for business in general,” says senior contributing editor Karen Lowery Hall who compiles the annual report. “However, a number of companies grew and prospered in spite of the general state of the economy – some in a pretty spectacular manner.”

Leading the way in total sales percentage growth was Award/Vision of Chicago, IL, with 53.9 percent. Other leaders included The Superior Group of New York City (38.2 percent), On Demand Technologies of Overland Park, KS (36.1 percent), Print-Tech (Simons) of Madison, WI (29.9 percent), JKG Group of Boca Raton, FL (27.4 percent), and Royal Printing Services of Guilford, CT (23 percent).

While total sales is one measure of the fiscal strength in this group, other factors such as sales per location and sales per employee are also important indicators. Here too the group showed surprising progress. Sales per shop grew 12.4 percent compared to the previous year and sales per employee (SPE) rose 6.2 percent.

There were a total of 287 locations represented in this year’s Top 100 and the average sales per shop was $2.3 million. The group reported a total of 6,026 employees and average SPE was $110,995.

For the first time ever, two companies exceeded $300,000 in SPE. The two were Minuteman (Genua & Mulligan) of Jersey City, NJ at $312,783 and Island-Wide Graphics of Farmingdale, NY at $303,321. Three other companies had SPE greater than $200,000, an additional 12 were greater than $150,000, and another 32 enjoyed SPE of more than $120,000.

Other findings in the survey include a significant increase in high-end four-color process printing and a noticeable increase in black-and-white digital printing and copying. Toner-based production accounted for 34.3 percent of total sales while offset printing made up 40 percent of total sales. Overall, single-color copying and printing accounted for 33.4 percent of sales with multi-color and four-color process printing making up 40.9 percent.

Established in 1977, Quick Printing magazine is the leading business magazine for the quick and small commercial printing industry. Contributors include some of the industry’s best known and most knowledgeable writers in the areas of management, marketing, sales, technology, finance, and production. Each issue also highlights industry and product news and offers in-depth features on significant industry developments. A complete editorial calendar is available at www.quickprinting.com. Quick Printing magazine is published monthly by Cygnus Business Media and is a member of the Cygnus Graphics Network.

Additional Contacts:

Editorial
Bob Hall
Executive Editor
304/744-7022
E-mail: Browndawg@aol.com

Kelly Campbell
631/845-2700
E-mail: Kelly.Campbell@quickprinting.com

Sales
Kelley Mutter
Associate Publisher
800/616-2252
E-mail: Kelley.Mutter@cygnuspub.com

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