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InfoTrends/CAP Ventures Forecasts Outdoor Graphics as Fastest Growing Segment of Wide Format Printing Market

(Weymouth, MA) September 01, 2004…According to InfoTrends/CAP Ventures, the wide format outdoor graphics market is one of the fastest-growing areas of the wide format digital printing market. The segment is expected to demonstrate a compound annual growth rate of 12% between 2003 and 2008. By 2008, the two primary wide format digital printing technologies, aqueous inkjet and solvent-based inkjet, are expected to produce more than 1 billion square feet of outdoor graphics in North America.

Figure 1: Outdoor Graphics Production in North America – Millions of Sq. Feet

“The wide format outdoor graphics printing market is evolving into a unique arena that represents potential growth opportunities for a wide variety of businesses,” commented Tim Greene, Associate Director at InfoTrends/CAP Ventures. “Not only is there a substantial opportunity in terms of retail value for the traditional sign market, but there is an excellent opportunity for other segments of the market to grow their revenues based on the availability of new outdoor graphics producing technologies.”

InfoTrends/CAP Ventures’ new landmark research report entitled Outdoor Graphics - Not Just for Sign Shops Anymore examines the outdoor graphics market in further detail. It provides a detailed outlook on where this dynamic market is headed, who the key players are, and where and how these graphics are being produced. Research for the study was conducted in conjunction with Wide Format Imaging Magazine. 226 Web-based surveys were completed by magazine subscribers.

Key findings from the study include:

• 30% of respondents that already own a wide format digital printer expect to purchase a new one within the next 12 months.
• 25% of the wide format output that respondents produce is intended for outdoor use.
• On average, OEMs capture less than 50% of the supplies that are run through their equipment, meaning that more than half of the consumables purchased are from third-party vendors, including big vinyl brands like 3M and Avery.
• Respondents place a higher premium on availability as opposed to brand, which presents an opportunity to third-party suppliers with refined fulfillment capabilities that may want to enter the market and grab their piece of the all-important supplies revenue stream.

This research report is available immediately to clients of InfoTrends/CAP Ventures’ Visual Communications Technologies Consulting Service. For more information about the report or to make a purchase, please contact Alison Hipp at , ext.126 or via e-mail at .

InfoTrends/CAP Ventures is the leading worldwide market research and strategic consulting firm for the digital imaging and document solutions industry. We provide research, analysis, forecasts, and advice to help clients understand market trends, identify opportunities, and develop strategies to grow their businesses. Additional information about InfoTrends/CAP Ventures is available on the Web at www.infotrendsresearch.com.