PrintNZ's membership numbers held steady in 2016, thanks to an expansion of its membership base into broader sectors of the market.
The New Zealand print industry group suffered a small drop in overall membership, from 535 members last year to 522 this year, which General Manager Ruth Cobb attributes to mergers between smaller commercial printers. The drop has been offset, however, by a broadening of its membership base into areas such as wide-format companies, small digital shops and sign writers. "Our member base is pushing into sign and screen. We have been into those areas a little bit, but we’re trying to broaden our reach," Cobb said.
Cobb said the push into less 'traditional' areas of the sector was aimed at catering for a broadening market and looking for opportunities in a changing industry. "It’s an awareness for the market and an awareness of how broad our membership is. The industries that would have been considered on the peripheral 10 years ago now firmly sit within that broader printing and communications industry," she said.
As part of this new membership drive, PrintNZ has also diversified the services and support systems it offers to its members. "The other side of broadening our member base is expanding the services we offer them to better cater for their different needs, and recognizing niches in that broadened base such as label makers, print finishers, and signwriters – they have particular nuances to them, but they are also part of the print industry."
Dan Blackbourn, PrintNZ President, says that despite negative perceptions from outside the industry, printing is healthy and robust. "There are some aspects of print that are challenged - and indeed there have been some rationalisations, mergers and closures - but many other areas have experienced growth," he said.
Blackbourn commended Cobb and the PrintNZ Auckland office for being "visible and available" to members. "With the offerings and discounts that have been negotiated, combined with the seminars and training provided, the board is extremely happy with their performance and with the support shown by members," he said.