FedEx Office released this month the results of its latest national print survey showing 82 percent of small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) and 61 percent of consumers choose to have items professionally printed at the same or a higher rate than they did last year. Professionally printed materials remain highly valued – with nearly half of audiences citing that convenience offered through digital and mobile access is a very important factor in the process.

In the survey, FedEx Office analyzed the opinions of consumers and SMBs about their preferences and purchasing habits regarding professional printing services. Among the key findings, professionally printed materials benefit small businesses in multiple ways, with 92 percent indicating it helps them compete with larger organizations. Additionally, nearly 9 in 10 SMBs believe professional printing is very, or somewhat important in communicating with potential clients and attracting new business.

"9 out of 10 customers agree there will always be a need for print"

When deciding where and how to have something professionally printed, a comprehensive service offering that includes quality, support and convenience, is important.

Quality ranks No. 1 for both consumers (77 percent) and SMBs (78 percent).
Among SMBs, high quality printing e.g., color matching and inks resistant to water, UV light and tearing (64 percent), as well as the ability to consult someone on their printing project (44 percent), were cited as very important. Quality is cited again with 85% of consumer respondents agreeing that the quality of print indicates the quality of services.

Roughly half of SMBs and consumers cited the convenience of placing an order online or on a mobile phone as very important, about the same amount say that being able to obtain a digital proof online is very important.

Professional printing also plays a key part in job searches and hiring trends. Professionally printed business cards (64 percent) and resumes (59 percent) were found to be very or somewhat important to small business hiring managers – a key element to consider for those in the job search process.

“Even as our world becomes increasingly digital, people prefer to print the materials that matter most to them"

“Even as our world becomes increasingly digital, people prefer to print the materials that matter most to them – whether it’s for personal use, such as a resume, or for business purposes such as collateral reflecting their company’s image. Professional printing services continue to grow, and FedEx Office is meeting the demand with services including color matching capabilities, project consulting and the convenience of being able to submit a job anywhere – in-store, online or through a mobile device,” said Brian Philips, president and chief executive officer of FedEx Office.

“FedEx Office continues to identify trends and opportunities to bridge the physical and digital worlds, using our nationwide network to meet our customers’ needs – no matter the location or project scope,” Philips said.

For more information about the survey visit this link .