What positives are you able to draw on from the experiences of 2023?
The IPIA is hopeful that the trend of slowly recovering overall print volumes will continue across 2024, and that the economic stimulus and business tax relief package announced by the chancellor in the Autumn Statement will combine to improve trading conditions.

What trend (business or technology) do you think has been accelerated because of the impact of inflation?
The biggest growth markets for our members in the last two quarters of 2023 were personalised high-value print campaigns (in particular those that contain a trigger to digital content), direct mail and large-format print. Inflationary pressure on retailers, particularly luxury goods, has meant they have had to work harder to keep their buying markets engaged, and this has had a positive impact in these areas for print volumes.

What do you think will represent the single biggest opportunity for printers in 2024 and why?
We also saw a significant growth in demand for 'sustainable' print products - where the lowered carbon footprint, recyclability or waste reduction performance of a project could be validated and proactively marketed. So print that can prove its carbon footprint, and how it has been lowered as much as is feasible, and then marketed as such, is a key growth opportunity to attract buyers.

What are your hopes for 2024?
We predict the personalised high-value print campaigns, direct mail and large-format print markets to perform well again in 2024, and would advise investigating expansion of products and services to capitalise on them.

What piece of advice do you wish you had been given in December 2022 to prepare you for the year you’ve just had?
The advice would be to realise that the UK government is far more receptive than we had anticipated to strategic advice on how to support and grow the UK manufacturing sector.

What was your word or phrase of the year in 2023?
A passion for print.

What, if anything, will you do differently in 2024?
As an association we will look to expand our focus to a greater swathe of print buying sectors and communicating to them effectively about the power of print as a route to market when used as part of a multichannel mix.

Will you be going to Drupa 2024?
Yes, we will be doing a tour of every exhibiting member at the event and assisting them with promotion of their new technologies and services.

What would be your fantasy technology (or trend) you would like to see on show in Düsseldorf?
A press that recycles its own heat generated into an electrical engine that can run it in a hybrid power supply to significantly reduce its overall energy consumption.

Sprouts, yes or no?
No.

Are you making any New Year's resolutions? If so, what?
Keep calm and carry on.