November Shipments: Pride Goeth Before the Fall
November 2024 shipments came in at $7.35 billion, down quite substantially from October’s $8.20 billion—the worst November in at least five years.
Graphic Designers Profess Their Continued Love of Offset
Offset lithography is no longer the sole option for graphic designers who want their printing to be top-quality. But, the process still commands a remarkable amount of loyalty from designers who value the range of creative possibilities it offers them.
Still Disruptive After All These Years Part 1: The Email of Doom
Fifteen years ago, Dr. Joe Webb and Richard Romano published the book “Disrupting the Future: Uncommon Wisdom for Navigating Print’s Challenging Marketplace.” In the first article in a series, Richard Romano looks back at the topics discussed in the book—what has changed, what has stayed the same, what wisdom has become common, and which remains uncommon?
Insight You Need. Analysis You Trust.
Get the trusted insights you need to understand our evolving industry and emerging trends. Become a Premium Member.
Industry News
- Digital Printing Solutions Keeps Offset Commitment with 8-Color RMGT 9 Series Long Perfector
- Printful Raises the Bar for Print-on-Demand Quality with New Upgrades from Kornit Digital
- BOBST Boosts Efficiency and Productivity with Game-Changing Innovations on the EXPERTCUT 106 PER
- IBIS to Unveil World-First Technology with Smart Label-Binder at Hunkeler Innovation Days
- Precision Meets Efficiency: manroland Goss Completes Press Relocation for NPG Druckhaus in Record Time
- Paris Packaging Week 2025: A Record-Breaking Edition in Sight
- Parkside Takes Fresh Approach to Fruit Packaging with Lidding Film Innovation
- Colink Plans for Success with First Domino N730i Digital Label Press Installation in China
- Pulse Expands Presence in Poland with Key Appointment
- GPO Updates Business Unit Names
- Strong Attendance at Inaugural Gulf Print & Pack in Riyadh Highlights Industry Growth Trajectory
- Proforma Advances Collaboration and Business Success at the 2025 PPAI Expo
- Courtney Harold Joins Green Theme Technologies as Head of Marketing
- UN Development Programme (UNDP) and The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF) Partner to Scale Up Management of Plastic Waste in Asia
- Ati Motors Raises $20M Series B for Global Expansion of its AI-Powered Robotics Workforce
- Deluxe to Report Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results on February 5, 2025
Epson Launches Dedicated Direct-to-Film Printer; Available with Fiery Digital Factory Software
As more indication that the direct-to-film (DTF) printing market is continuing to grow, Epson today announced a new dedicated DTF transfer printer for garment decorators. While the company previously offered DTF options in hybrid direct-to-garment (DTG)/direct-to-film solutions, the new printer is dedicated to DTF technology. This article provides details on this new printer as well as insight into what it means for the market.
The Reality Beyond the Walmart “Refreshed Logo” Controversy
Earlier this month, Walmart announced a “comprehensive rebrand refresh” that is igniting ire from the social media community. Is the hullabaloo really about the similarity of the new logo to the old one? Or is there more to it?
Your Business Model—The Profit Formula
In the latest edition of his Smart Strategy Insights Series, Wayne Lynn explains how to devise and then test the assumptions you make in gauging profitability.
Workflow Whispers: What Will 2025 Bring Us?
It looks like 2025 should be an exciting year in workflow. To build an infrastructure that takes you into the future, here is guidance on where to look for opportunities in your shop. A dose of automation sprinkled with AI-enablement is the recipe to enable a brilliant future.
A Journey Through Print, Process, and Possibility: A Conversation with David Zwang
For Taktiful Tuesday, Taktiful's Eric Vessels talks with David Zwang about digital embellishments and uncovers some of the biggest shifts and challenges transforming print today.
Industry Data
November Shipments: Pride Goeth Before the Fall
November 2024 shipments came in at $7.35 billion, down quite substantially from October’s $8.20 billion—the worst November in at least five years. Full Analysis
Screen Printing Establishments—2010–2022
According to the latest, recently released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2022 there were 5,800 establishments in NAICS 323113 (Commercial Screen Printing). This represents an increase of 30% since 2010. In macro news, inflation was up slightly in December. Full Analysis
Sizing the Print Industry in Europe—Poland
This regular series of short articles provides some details on the size of the printing industry in Europe per country, especially tracking the number of printing establishments. This time we look at Poland. Full Analysis
November Graphic Arts Employment Again Remains Generally Flat
Net printing employment in November 2024 was not much changed from October—overall employment was down slightly by 0.1%, with production employment down 0.3% and non-production employment up 0.4%, one nearly offsetting the other. Full Analysis
Sizing the Print Industry in Europe—Norway
This regular series of short articles provides some details on the size of the printing industry in Europe per country, especially tracking the number of printing establishments. This time we look at Norway. Full Analysis
Commercial Printing Establishments—2010–2022
According to the latest, recently released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2022 there were 15,430 establishments in NAICS 323111 (Commercial Printing except Screen and Books). This represents a decline of 30% since 2010. In macro news, Q3 GDP growth revised up to 3.1%. Full Analysis
Sizing the Print Industry in Europe—The Netherlands
This ongoing series of short articles provides some country details on the size of the printing industry in Europe per country, especially tracking the number of printing establishments. This time we look at the Netherlands. Full Analysis
October Shipments: Pinch Us, We’re Dreaming
October 2024 shipments came in at $8.19 billion, up quite substantially from September’s $7.69 billion—the fourth straight monthly increase, and the third best October in the past five years. Full Analysis
WhatTheyThink Magazine
WhatTheyThink Magazine is the resource for the Commercial Printing, Visual and Graphic Arts Industries. Industry experts share their ideas and technical knowledge on ways to improve operations.
Subscription are free to qualified industry professionals or via paid subscription.
Around the Web
WhatTheyThink's web roundup miscellany
Around the Web: Of Semiquincentennials, Sharpeners, and Soup
Finland’s Metsä may herald the future of packaging. Various events and Regency balls will celebrate the 250th birthday of Jane Austen. The National Archives is inviting volunteers to help transcribe and digitize handwritten historical documents. Walgreens’ ongoing battle over digital freezer door displays. The Royal Shakespeare Company is developing a Macbeth-based video game. A study underway in Canada is investigating the ability to control mobile apps with one’s feet while walking. Three words: luxury pencil sharpener. Scientists have created invisibly thin strands of “nanopasta.” A graphene-based radiator launches on SpaceX Falcon 9. A farm-to-table restaurant that makes its own bone china dishware. Mark your calendars for next month’s seven-planet alignment. Progresso’s Soup Drops are soup as a hard candy.Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
Around the Web: Of Foods and Freebies
Another year, another set of classic works now in the public domain. Graphene-enhanced earbuds. Rao’s Homemade collaborated with a local artist for limited-edition pasta sauce labels. Play Tetris inside a PDF. Let the Morse Code Clock drive you into insanity. Two art prints depict the “weirdest and most wonderful things” NYC has seen throughout 2024. The “Adaptchula” is an adjustable spatula and not a versatile vampire. Self-driving cars can’t figure out construction worker hand signals. The romantic origin of the Goldfish cracker. A career change awaits you driving the Planters Nutmobile. Enjoy Cup Noodles ramen with a realistic squid fork. The erroneously named “pickle sandwich.” Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
Around the Web: Of Resolutions and Robots
For 2025, skip resolutions; try a “theme.” Encyclopedia Britannica is going to become an AI company, sadly. Some, uh, highlights from this week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Visit Tokyo’s Museum of Packaging Culture. Print magazine’s 2024 in typography. “Snackfishing” is now apparently a thing. Graphene-based e-textiles for early disease detection. A “modern” redesign of the cuckoo clock. A robot vacuum with a death claw! A penny-farthing motorbike. An LA man trapped in a Waymo. Win Lifestyle Bowls in a Chipotle-Strava challenge. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
Around the Web: Relaxing Rocket. Seeing Signage. Design Destination. Famous Fyodor. Forgone Fine. Software Snacks. Farming Fiasco. Squirrel Shocker. Goldfish Galore.
Instead of a Yule log this Christmas, bask in the glow of NASA’s Rocket Engine Fireplace. Brown sugar is apparently going to be 2025’s Flavor of the Year. A recyclable paper wine bottle shaped like a bottle. The First Toronto Post Office is also museum, featuring a reading and writing room complete with quill pens. The New York City Sign Museum is now offering tours. Münich’s Design Museum features a new exhibition of classic children’s picture books. Fyodor Dostoyevsky has gone viral, oddly. AI is used to come up with new snack flavors. Heightened solar activity is playing havoc with agricultural equipment. Carnivorous squirrels! A panoply of new Goldfish favors. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly drone-free miscellany. Read More
Around the Web: Lessons Learned. Packaging Profitability. Bottle Blue. Sign Sum. Relic Writing. Popemobile Power. Trekkie Torture. Hubble Hooha. Dish Destruction. Festive Fromage.
52 things we learned in 2024. An eye-catching bottle design boosted sales. Saratoga Water’s iconic blue bottles now have an official Pantone name. An unusual, mathematically challenged “welcome to…” sign. Rescuing relics from the now-defunct Type Archive in the U.K. Another week, another unearthed relic that challenges our assumptions about the history of language and writing. Mercedes-Benz’s new electric Popemobile. A one-time owner of “Star Trek” novelty license plates is swamped with speeding and parking tickets—and she doesn’t even own a car. What would happen if you actually did put a bull in a china shop? Whole Foods’ “12 Days of Cheese.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
© 2025 WhatTheyThink. All Rights Reserved.