A total of 40% of imaging businesses who responded to the 2008 SGIA Business Growth Survey plan to grow their businesses by increasing Internet sales in 2008. Other imagers will grow by hiring staff and adding new products and equipment.

According to the survey, 49% of the imaging community is planning to offer new products this year. Garment decorators (25.7%), graphics producers (35%), and industrial-use printers (45.7%) confirm that these new product lines are the reason they are purchasing equipment in 2008.

SGIA’s 2008 Business Growth Survey offers a complete analysis of actual equipment-purchase plans as compared to planned purchase projections from 2006, 2007, and 2008. The analysis is broken down by industry sector, which includes graphics producers, garment decorators, industrial-use printers, and suppliers/distributors.

“Almost half of imagers reported that finding new customers is difficult,” says Katy Lellelid, SGIA’s business information associate. “But most are overcoming this challenge by launching new marketing and advertising campaigns because they see the need to expand to new markets to stay profitable.”

The survey ran from mid-March to mid-April and collected information about sales per employee. SGIA members can access the complete survey at www.sgia.org, keyword: surveys.