Olympus Group Turns to Durst P5 350 For Increased Quality and Productivity (whattheythink.com)

The Company’s revenues for the first quarter ended May 31, 2021 were $96.9 million compared to $89.0 million for the same quarter last year, an increase of $7.9 million, or 8.9%. Excluding the sales from our Infoseal acquisition, organic sales increased $2.7 million, or 3.0%. Gross profit margin was $29.2 million, or 30.1%, as compared to $23.9 million, or 26.9%, for the same quarter last year. Net earnings for the quarter were $7.3 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, as compared to $4.2 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, for the same quarter last year.

As we close in on two full years of the pandemic, lockdowns, Zoom meetings, and lives lived through screens, experts are finding that digital fatigue has firmly set in. Everyone is looking to make connections that don’t involve the light of a computer, phone, or tablet. Direct mail — a brand’s old and trusted friend — is one of the answers. “Businesses are realizing with digital fatigue that direct mail can play a critical role of getting attention,” notes Jeff Heyman, VP of product development and e-commerce for FedEx Office. “Direct mail is an integral part of the most successful marketing strategies that combine digital and physical communication.” He continues, “Customers are longing for connection after being home for so long and direct mail gives that to them. It allows businesses to communicate that they are open for business, and how they have adapted their business throughout the pandemic.”

Economically, 2024 is likely to look much like 2023 for the commercial printing industry, with sales growing modestly at best and margins tight. Top challenges will again include operating cost inflation, particularly rising labor costs, and stiff resistance to price increases. Top opportunities will include strengthening risk management and drawing on artificial intelligence (AI) to maximize productivity, enhance mission-critical functions, and support superior decision-making companywide. The 86 commercial printers who have participated to date in the third quarter 2023 PRINTING United Alliance State of the Industry Survey, sponsored by Canon U.S.A., broadly agree that uncertainty about the course of interest rates and the American economy has caused clients to “tighten their belts significantly.” The group’s sales (all sources) continued to grow through September, but by just 2.9%, on average. Operating cost inflation moderated to 4.6% as supply chains continued to heal, but weakened demand limited price increases to 3.9%.