chaz, didn't hear their mid-quarter announcement, but I wouldn't be surprised to see things better than that.
I believe MACR is listed on the NAZ. My thoughts on the web stuff are probably biased, but they are based on over thirty years in advertising. I feel that every purveyor of goods or services needs a web site to compete. And, we're still in an up cycle of web site development. To what level that build out is, I don't know, but when the numbers approach 100%, the first wave is done. Each successive wave of attention to look and feel will be incremental at best. I guess I would liken the web site to a corporate brochure: if its produced correctly, it will last years. If not, for example, elements that tend to date the company, like mid to low level employees (who have little company loyalty) who leave, date the brochure. Of course as new products and services become available, there is a level of need for web enhancement, but not to the extent of the start up. Yes, web activity is probably greater than print, but I don't think that is a permanent state.
While I don't know the numbers, I know Adobe is making great strides with their PDF technology. Three years ago I had a small profit center ($300-$500 a month) in color printouts (used to give clients a preliminary proof of the assignment). Today, I'll bill around $5.00 to $15.00 a month, because I use PDFs almost exclusively. And Adobe is focusing it's Acrobat advertising is to the general business segment as opposed to the graphic community.
While the web is vital, there are other components of the sale cycle that can't be neglected -- sales force and the need for printed materials that complete the loop. JMO, of course. |
