The business information providers Printing Market Report 2002 points to a number of trends affecting prints profitability, including a reliance on high-volume turnover, which has led to some sectors yielding smaller profits from low-volume sales. It also says that the dominance of large customers "makes it difficult for printers to negotiate sensible prices".

Tomorrows successful printing firm will be positioned as a service provider with added-value products and could take advantage of opportunities in niche markets, it adds.

Pira has predicted that most sectors will grow by around 5% a year.