We can't get away from it – the end of the year is in sight and now might be an interesting time to draw comparisons with industry thoughts and directions this December compared with the same time twelve months ago. The question is, are display producers becoming more adventurous in order to turn a buck? Are people moving into the much vaunted niche markets so that they can fill their order books, or using the internet more by offering a stronger presence and more interactive services?

Unlike many other sets of statistics which often seem to be based on pretty meaningless questions and somewhat flaky data, FESPA's recently announced Economy Survey reflects sensibly crafted facts and figures which result in a cogent and accurate assessment of what's really going on in today's market. So, although it comes as no great surprise to learn that a considerable percentage of print service providers plans to diversify, it is encouraging to see the positive numbers planning so to do and what these people want to do.

Interior décor is one of the key growth areas forecast for 2012

Seeing how many intend to try a new route is surely encouraged by the machines and materials able to make this possible. With a staggering 70 percent of survey respondents looking to improve business growth by venturing into different areas, it is obvious that without the requisite technologies this would be a far more difficult challenge.

Considering the digital element involved, interior décor and labels have been helped along considerably by the systems and software available, with sign-making in its varied guises also showing a healthy percentage for development potential. As such, manufacturers should be applauded for listening to market needs and reacting to them.

Surely if people are happy to diversify, then it determines that all is not doom and gloom in our sector. This is great news for everyone, and it also means that machine manufacturers with the right types of ink chemistry will have a market wanting to buy their machines.

The FESPA Economy Survey covers other important topics, of course, with environmental issues ranking high on a list of priorities. And other topical add-ons, such as variable data printing and QR codes, also feature positively in the results.

How does this data compare with the situation twelve months ago? In all probability many PSPs were saying this time last year that they were going to find niche markets. How many actually did isn't so easy to quantify but, with manufacturers acknowledging these needs by producing equipment and software to make it possible, it proves that everyone has been thinking beyond the traditional routes for wide-format print. And now they can do something about it.