The Stationers report paints a bleak outlook for two markets that will be hardest hit, newspapers, forecast to decline by 56% and business papers and print by 45.5% that will have significant implications for the whole industry.
Digital media poses the biggest threat to demand yet experienced by print and paper media. By 2020 digital media will replace significant volumes of paper and print and reshape the pattern of demand for what remains. The report points to a 22.5% decline in books with the biggest impact felt in the non-fiction sector as more and more information is published and accessed online.
The report was commissioned by The Stationers in order to provide the graphic communications industry, in the UK estimated to be worth £87 billion, with a truly independent view. The report investigates the likely impact of trends in demographics, industry models and of course technology on the demand for graphic paper in Western Europe.
The report highlights ‘Trendbusters’ advances in technology, behaviour, environmental and economic factors that impact the outlook for paper and print.
The Paper and Print industry is already responding to the digital threat and the outlook to 2020 is not all doom and gloom. The report considers the implications of new papermaking and printing technology in particular the development of new substrates with ‘smart’ or ‘intelligent’ capabilities that will enable them to be data addressable or even enable users to interact graphically with the content on the page. Such products will make use of current technology such as RFID inserts or emerging advances in specialised printing, nano-technology and haptic technology that has the capability to raise the user experience of paper far beyond what is understood today and could stem the decline or even reverse the trend?
In one of the most challenging years for the Paper and Printing industry, the publication of the report is timely. Claiming to provide a comprehensive insight to the factors influencing future demand, the report will be of great value to all in the industry, says the Stationers. Industry leaders closely involved in business critical strategic decisions will gain particular benefit from the report findings as will those considering investment opportunities in this major industry sector. Presented in two parts, part one of the report is an overview providing a summary of the key findings, in part two subscribers will find detailed analysis and specific data in support of the finding and will enable subscribers to extract data to support their decision making processes.
Subscribers to the report are also able to purchase for £150, an Excel based forecast model that will enable them to use their own information to test scenarios for their business based on the report data. This is claimed to be a first for a report of this nature for this industry.
The report has been researched by industry expert Richard Harris (pictured) of NLK Associates. The methodology used, the source data, the outlook implications and the conclusions drawn were overseen by a panel of experts representing major companies, Trade Associations from the Paper and Print industry and the Stationers’ Company.
The report is priced at £720 for a hard copy version and £700 for an encrypted electronic copy and can be purchased online via the Stationers’ website.
About The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers
The Stationers say: “The Stationers’ is one of the most active and industry-relevant Livery companies in the City of London. With a vigorous and growing membership of over 800 industry professionals from sectors such as papermaking to printing; publishing to packaging, communications to content, Stationers are at the heart of an £87 billion industry. Embracing new technology as always, they have established a Digital Media Group focused on the cutting edge of media and communications development.
A City of London Livery Company, the Stationers’ Company originated (1403) when the scribes and illuminators of manuscript books petitioned to be allowed to join a single company with wardens to oversee their affairs. The Stationers’ home is their historic hall on Ave Maria Lane close to St Paul’s."
