Special Report: Printers' Outlook: Not Your Father's (or Mother's) Book Manufacturers
Beisser: What is your five- to 10-year outlook given the growth in e‑book sales and publishers' focus on inventory management and short-run printing?
Twomey: Quad/Graphics conducted an in-depth survey of 5,000 consumers to determine what happens as consumers purchase tablets or e-readers. The good news: We found that most consumers continue to buy print editions, even after acquiring a reader. We also found that preference for e‑book titles is highly dependent on e‑book pricing. As e‑book price points move from $10 to $15, consumers switch their preferences and prefer a print product by a margin of 1.8 to 1. We anticipate that e‑book demand will continue to grow as device prices drop. Astute publishers have been bundling print and e‑book editions to drive sales by satisfying consumers who want both formats. This trend will grow, and Quad/Graphics will be redefining and innovating its business solutions for customers to help them adapt to these trends.