PMA reports a slight decrease in consumer printing in March
JACKSON, Mich. – PMA – The Worldwide Community of Imaging Association, reports the amount of digital printing remained essentially level for the month of March. According to PMA Marketing Research, the volume of prints made from digital-still camera images decreased by 2 percent compared to the same month the previous year. Printing volumes at retail minilabs and instant kiosks grew 5 percent and grew 18 percent, respectively. Online ordering fell 14 percent and home printing fell by 3 percent in March. “The opening of over 800 new drugstores in 2009 seems to be the main driver behind the continuous growth in the retail channel share and decline in the online channel share” said Dimitrios Delis, PMA Director of Marketing Research. With the absence of significant price changes at retail – see April 2010 Online Print Price Report – the home channel is maintaining its share. Statistics from the NPD Group Inc. showed overall camera sales were up 1.7 percent in March 2010. Overall demand for digital cameras also increased 1.7 percent in March.
The PMA Monthly Printing and Camera Trends Report, available exclusively to PMA members, provides timely insight into the printing and camera purchasing behaviors of consumers. PMA also translates the camera sales data from NPD Group into year-over-year trends on both a monthly and year-to-date basis.
Available from the marketing research area of the PMA website (www.pmai.org), the report is available for member download.
About PMA – The Worldwide Community of Imaging Associations
As a professional trade association, PMA® helps the worldwide photo imaging community achieve business success and adapt to new technologies. Its commitment to its members in 100-plus countries is part of an 85-year legacy that connects business owners to a network of knowledge and support. PMA furthers this purpose through the development of educational programs and business services, marketing research, publications, and trade shows. As a nonprofit organization, any success enjoyed by PMA in its endeavors directly benefits the industry, allowing PMA to provide continual services and activities for members.
