Print is dead? Hardly, according to new FedEx Office Survey

The Power of Print Infographic v7.ai

Professional printing services consistently used, favored among consumers – including millennials

A news release explained that a survey released April 26 by FedEx Office — a leading provider of convenient, state-of-the-art printing, packing and shipping services and a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. — shows consumers and small business owners find comfort and prefer tangible, printed materials, despite an increasingly digital and on-demand society.

More than nine in 10 consumers agreed there will always be a need for printed materials, with 49 percent of those surveyed saying a world without paper would make them feel stressed or annoyed, the release said.

“In an increasingly digital world, where tablets, computers, phones and TVs are our main sources for consuming and engaging with information, FedEx Office recognizes the importance of print, from helping business owners succeed to assisting students in reaching their project goals, and everything in between,” FedEx Office President/CEO Brian Philips said in the release.

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In the survey, FedEx Office gathered the opinions of consumers and SBOs with the goal of learning more about their preferences and purchasing habits regarding professional printing services.

The release highlighted several key findings from the survey:

— 70 percent of respondents reported having items professionally printed the same amount or more than in the previous year. This result was found to be particularly true for millennials, as despite their familiarity with digital, nearly half of millennial respondents (ages 18-34) reported having something professionally printed at least once a month.

— Nine in 10 of consumers and SBOs agreed that they “like to have the option to have printed materials” and preferred reading materials on paper – most notably official documents and contracts – versus on a digital screen.

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SBOs surveyed said having materials printed professionally reflects positively on their business, and help them stand out from their competition, and consumers agreed — 85 percent of surveyed consumers said they are more likely to shop with a small business that has custom/professionally printed materials, such as business cards, signs, flyers or banners.

In fact, the survey found that nine in 10 consumers agreed that the quality of printed materials is an indication of the quality of service provided by a business.

“Along with the continued use of printing services, individuals polled in this survey said price, convenience, and customer service are most important to them when deciding where to print,” Philips said. “FedEx Office excels in these target areas to not only meet, but exceed in meeting the needs of our customers.”

Digital printing, professional finishing, document creation, signs and banners, direct mail, copying and corporate print solutions, along with full-scale shipping and packing services are all available through the national FedEx Office retail network.

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According to the release, the online survey was conducted Feb. 15-21 by polling firm PSB and included 800 participants who were a nationally representative sample of national U.S. general population consumers. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.46 percent.