Well, it’s that time of year again. Among all the shopping, parties, sporting events, and other distractions, here at Roland DGA we’ve spent the last few months forecasting our sales and formulating strategies for 2012.
Given the financial upheaval in Europe, my crystal ball is a bit hazy. However, I believe there are a few things we can count on.
It’s an election year and that means two things: interminable rants from radio and TV talk show hosts (boo) and lots and lots of political signs (yea!).
New federal regulations for ADA signs are going into effect 2012 which means increased opportunities for door, elevator and directional signs using Braille and pictograms.
Vehicle wraps will continue to grow. After all, there’s no cheaper way to advertise, especially for local businesses.
Advertisers are increasingly focused on putting their messages in front of shoppers when they shop. The fewer the shoppers, the more intense the merchandising and sign messaging must be. Therefore, Point of purchase (POP) signs, displays and banners will continue to mean big business.
Likewise, packaging will continue to be a primary focus for marketers competing for shelf space and customer eyeballs. Instead of five or six prototypes, don’t be surprised if you’re asked for a dozen or more. It’s that critical. The trend for short and micro-runs will also continue as brands put added emphasis on regional offerings and testing.
Time is of the essence in rolling out a new product, be it a cell phone, tablet or industrial widget. Similar to packaging, product designers are demanding better, more functional product prototypes in multiple iterations.
The market for personalization will continue to expand, especially for decorated apparel, personalized gifts and awards, engraved wine bottles and glasses.
So what are your plans for 2012? Roland DGA can help. In addition to offering a wide range of solutions to grow your business, we provide weekly webinars, timely workshops and a host of Tips & Tricks designed to keep you running profitably no matter what the economy does.
We wish you Happy Holidays and good fortune in 2012.
