(Weymouth, MA) February 4, 2003…In a recently published white paper, CAP Ventures analysts examine the U.S. distribution channels for marking supplies. The document enables readers to forecast future growth rates, pinpoint key growth segments, and identify trends and developments in the industry. The results of the study have been published in a CAP Ventures white paper entitled USA Marking Supplies Distribution Estimates: 2000-2006. 

This white paper reports that the supplies market is largely dominated by inkjet and workgroup laser supplies. Combined, these two markets account for 82% of the marking supplies market. As a result, any fluctuation in demand for these products will significantly impact market share for the channels that sell them.

Marking supplies are distributed through a variety of channels, including office supply superstores, the BTA channel, and hardware vendor direct channels. CAP Ventures’ white paper identifies the key issues affecting these channels.

Important findings from the white paper include:

• Office supply superstores represent the largest channel as a $26.45 billion dollar industry. While superstores carry thousands of products ranging from paper clips to office furniture to computers, the products ordered most frequently are machine supplies, especially inkjet and laser printer supplies. Nevertheless, office superstores are slowly losing share, primarily due to competition from other consumer retailers who are gaining inkjet cartridge share.    
• The BTA channel is declining for several reasons. One reason is that demand for copier supplies is expected to decline between 2001 and 2006. In addition, hardware vendors have been acquiring these dealers, so the value generated by those dealers moves over to the hardware vendor direct category. A third reason is that as copier-based multifunction machines mature, we expect that they will look more like printers and be supplied and serviced more like printers. In other words, they will more often use cartridges that will free them from the service channel.  
• The hardware direct channel is growing its market share slightly. This is partially due to the Internet, but also because of growth in production color supplies (which are largely supplied directly from the vendor) and the increased use of total cost per print plans that tie users to the vendor supplies and service operation.

This 34-page white paper is composed almost entirely of data. It is designed to show the main channels through which marking supplies are sold to users. The first half of the document provides the estimated value of each supply item as it is distributed through the various channels. The second half of the document shows the same data, but is grouped by distribution channels. The marking supply segments are grouped by technology and device types with common distribution patterns.

The complete white paper is available immediately. To learn more about the study or to make a purchase, please contact Alison Hipp at , ext. 126 or via e-mail at .