Book Printing Outlook — Opportunities Abound

“We have been able to respond quickly to a title’s exceptional growth at any given time,” he adds. “That’s one of the value propositions we offer to customers: flexibility and responsiveness to our publishers’ immediate reprint needs. RR Donnelley also continues its investments in one-color, 8˝ and 9˝ equipment, and as a result we are prepared to continue to meet the growing customer needs.”

Donnelley also saw an uptick in the religious segment, backed by domestic and offshore bible production. The professional sector, dogged by digital media cannibalization concerns, provided excellent results in ’07, and Lane sees a bright future that includes digital and hard copy options for consumers.

Lastly, the juvenile space was wonderfully filled by Harry of Hogwarts, and Donnelley—a producer of the epic saga—was sad to see it reach its conclusion. Clearly, it is the hope of not just Donnelley and every book printer, but publishers, teachers and parents nationwide, that the love for reading continues for children.

Of the three spaces Courier Corp. of North Chelmsford, MA, competes in (education, trade and religious), the el-hi segment continues to validate the investments it made in recent years. Peter Tobin, vice president, also points to AAP figures, including 9 percent el-hi growth as of September for the adoption states. He says Courier managed to best the industry figure by winning more share with publisher clients, buoyed by its service record.

“We’ve also benefitted from the fact that the market itself has grown at a nice margin,” Tobin relates. “If you look at the consolidated AAP numbers, it will show el-hi at 3 percent growth year- to-date, but you have to look at both the adoption states and the open territory/non-adoption states. The adoption states, which is where we’ve focused ourselves for a lot of growth, has been a good story this year.”