Do sign-makers look on the bright side of life?
Despite signs of improvement in the economy amongst a long list of companies that went into receivership in June were several sign-makers and wide-format printers.
Wednesday, 06 Aug 2014 12:20 GMT
Happy face: it was all smiles at this year's Sign and Digital where orders were up
The recession’s aftershocks continue to be felt across Britain as the sign business gets back to normal. In Europe the sign-making, wide-format print and printing industries now look to this country as a place of optimism and enterprise as our economy emerges from years of difficulties. Across Europe business remains flat and in some places is still in a state of gloom.
According to the government the economy as a whole is now back to pre-recession levels. Figures from the Office for National Statistics show the economy had grown 3.1% since the second quarter of last year. However they warned that figures for manufacturing were yet to outstrip the levels of 2008.
Marcus Timpson of Inprint says the commercial wide-print, sign-making and graphic industries has structurally changed during the recession and the difficulties for IPEX were a result of recessionary forces”
Marcus Timson of Inprint says the commercial wide-print, sign-making and graphic industries has structurally changed during the recession and the difficulties for IPEX were a result of recessionary forces. As a result the industry is leaner with some of the price-focused firms disappearing along with the emergence of new markets in LED, moving image signage and point of purchase along with vehicle wrapping.
Inprint sign: Marcus Timson of the the show says things have changed
Sidney Bobb of the British Association of Printing and Communication says the wide-print industry is not back to where it was and it has fundamentally changed since 2008 with the advent of digital technology, sophisticated mobiles, and the internet. Those who have embraced change rather than seen the new media as a challenge have done best he says. He feels it will take a while yet for the economic recovery to filter down to many wide-format printing businesses are really micro businesses rather than SMEs.
In Bracknell James Graves of TTC Signs says things have picked up with the increase in investment in the retail area of his town and building industry beginning to build homes again.
Sign-maker: James Graves in Bracknell has seen signs of improvement
Timson says Britain’s emergence from the slump has brightened the outlook for some in Europe who are intrigued by our collective national ability to “always look on the bright side of life”. There is no real reason why we have emerged from the recession other than the so-called feel-good factor. He says if we feel things are getting better, then they do, as our economy is more consumer focused, entrepreneurial and driven by the service industries more than on the continent where industry is still predominant.
If nothing else the image of angst ridden Germanic wide-format printers and frowning French guillotine operators will raise a smile amongst many in our industry as summer turns to autumn.
Do we look on the bright side of life unlike the gloomy old French and grumpy Germans? Or do continental economies operate on a steadier base than our boom and bust set-up? Your views please to news@signlink.co.uk
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ENDS
