Businesses anticipating a large printing job in 2005 need to be aware that there is a pending crisis in paper availability and pricing. The printing industry saw an increase in paper prices in 2004 and is warning of further increases of 10 to 15% this year. The word is the increases could amount to more if Canadian mills go on strike as threatened. Besides decreasing availability, price increases are dependent on increased natural gas and trucking prices.

Availability has not been a problem for several years but that is changing due to increased global demand, reduced mill capacity and inventory-building practices by some publishers. Paper production
is a very complex business, and it can take years
for a paper mill to put new equipment into production. The importation of paper probably is not an option due to currency exchange rates, import security issues and rising transportation costs.

So keep all this in mind as you budget for 2005.
If you’re printing stationery or if your message absolutely has to be on paper, make sure your contracts with printers take into account price volatility and/or paper availability problems. You may want to indicate an alternative paper choice in case your first choice is not available. An integrated marketing firm can give you very viable alternatives to printed messages including eMail marketing, CD/interactive presentations and audio/video presentations.

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