Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Reprographers……..so, how’d your Q2 2011 end up?

Hopefully, it was up from Q1 2011 and up from the same period one year ago.

Two days ago, I heard that one of the reprographics industry’s largest companies cut jobs, just after the end of Q2 2011. If that’s not rumor, but true, that’s not good news; frankly, it’s not good news for anyone in the reprographics industry.

Sales-wise, my guess is that the “typical” reprographer (if there is such a thing) fared pretty much like this:

a) Q2 2011 sales, about equal to Q1 2011 sales, even though Q2 sales, traditionally, are almost always higher than Q1 sales.

b) Q2 2011 sales, a bit behind Q2 2010 sales. No growth in demand for services, bit of a slide because of another fall-off in construction activity.

But, there are signs of life, at least in some markets, as I recently pointed out about the Boston, MA market area, where developers are resuming plans for projects and where, as a result, A&E firms are getting busier ….. and reprographers should see and feel that upswing in activity.

3 comments:

  1. Well I checked my Q1, 2011 versus Q2, 2011 and they are a wash.

    I checked my Q2, 2010 versus my Q2, 2011 and 2011 is indeed lower !

    You nailed it Joel ! OK, what is your forecast for the debt ceiling stand off in

    Washington? Does the market go up or down from here ?

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  2. My prediction for the 'debt ceiling' issue (not that any of my predictions are worth a grain of salt) is that there will be a vote to extend the debt ceiling for another 60 days, so that Senators, Representatives and the President can continue this soap opera ... and keep everyone hanging. I think I said, in a previous post, that I'd like to see the U.S. default on its debt, just so that I can see what happens, good or bad. Life has to be interesting, or what's the point.

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  3. Your post was prior to the real life soap opera that took place just after the
    markets closed on Friday. And what a seen it was . My understanding of the constitution is that the house is a co equal branch of government.
    What a public display unfolded as our president summoned the speaker of the house to the "principle's office", You have " ESPLAININ " to do...... For not returning my call.....But mr. O you moved the goal posts...... You bowel of Jellow.
    I went short last week and got my head handed to me. My timing sucked.
    I wonder what Monday will bring in light of this three ring circus ?

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