Although a total misnomer since there is no such thing in existence as the "traditional printing industry," several valid assumptions can be made concerning that group of companies that do business within the printing category. What can be said, based on the information sources researched is that printing has become complex, not so much in terms of technology, but also in terms of workflow The chances for success toward servicing a client's needs relies on the proper skills necessary to run a profitable business.
Today, printing business executives must be knowledgeable in business strategy, analyzing the business environment and how it changes, financial planning and the ability to capitalize and make sure they get an appropriate return on investments and marketing. Leading Printing companies are ushering in a new era of profit growth with three initiatives: achieving scale and adopting a single-source strategy, expanding margins, and consolidating.
To illustrate the variety within "traditional industry". Three companies were analyzed and compared. The companies are R.H. Donnelley, Qubecor, and DNP Worldwide. Each company will be briefly described below.
Donnelley's scale and scope make is largest U.S. printing company and is the market leader in major segments. With 1998 sales of $5 billion, it is the undisputed market leader.
The second-largest printing company in North America and Europe, (1998 sales of $3.8 billion) doesn't control segments at this point, but that could change now that a reengineering strategy has been implemented.
Japan-based, DNP has a higher 1998 sales figure, but since it is based in Yen and since the annual report emphasizes different revenue stream accounting, it's revenues, translated into US dollars is within 10 percent (plus or minus) Donnelley's 1998 sales. However, since most of those revenues were generated extra-US, the company is logically placed in third place for this pa...