What’s the best mail plan for me? (royle.com)

It looks like rough going for the commercial printing industry in 2023, with labor shortages, cost inflation, supply chain disruptions continuing, and the American economy slowing appreciably. But even the harshest business climates bring opportunity. Some industries hold up well, creating pockets of growth, and market share and quality employees become available as the unprepared retrench or fail. Keys to capturing the opportunity include acting on leading indicators, marketing for the times, and superior focus and execution. The 162 commercial printing companies that participated in the “2022-23 PRINTING United Alliance State of the Industry Survey” (SOI) spoke frankly about their expectations for the coming year. Just 25.3% expect business conditions to be better than this year, 40.4% about the same, and 34.3% worse.

Deluxe announced that demand for its small business incorporation services increased 10 percent in 2020 over 2019. The increase was driven by incorporations of construction, trucking, cleaning services, online sales, consulting, food trucks, landscaping and real estate companies. The acceleration of entrepreneurship coincides with an increase in COVID-19 related unemployment and desire by more people to control their financial future by starting businesses. “Small business owners are starting new ventures and careers in the middle of a pandemic,” said Barry McCarthy, President and CEO of Deluxe. “We think the increased use of Deluxe incorporation services is a leading indicator of small business futures and shows optimism in the small business market going into 2021. These entrepreneurs are risking it all, even at such an uncertain time. Deluxe has proudly supported the incredible pioneering spirit of small business owners for 105 years.”

Worzalla, an employee-owned book printing company, collected school supplies to contribute to Project Fresh Start, a United Way of Portage County program. Worzalla associates donated to the program to help provide free school supplies to over 3,000 fourth to twelfth-graders in Portage County who qualify for free and reduced lunch through their school district. “The United Way of Portage County’s school supply drive gives organizations like Worzalla the opportunity to address current community needs,” said Brianne Petruzalek, Vice President of Human Resources at Worzalla. “With school supply expenses increasing this year, families will get the support they need through this year’s Project Fresh Start.” Along with the school supplies collected and donated by Worzalla associates, Worzalla also purchased and donated 5,000 pencils and 20 backpacks to Project Fresh Start. Other donated items include pencils, notebooks, folders, markers, and more.