And so we come to the end of 2020 without even the customary chance to breathe and relax. As these words are being written various countries around Europe are closing their borders to travel and freight to the UK. Hopefully this is not a foretaste of what will happen should a trade deal fail to be secured in the next few days.
Even if it does, however, next year is likely to start as more of the same, perhaps worse. There are dire predictions for the number of print businesses that must fall over as cashflow dries up, government assistance slips away and loans need repayment. Many more will decide that a silver sunset into retirement rather than a golden one is better than having to fight for survival in what is becoming a brutal arena. Why throw good money after bad?
Print is resilient. So far only a handful of substantial print businesses have collapsed, while many more have closed quietly, untroubled by winding up proceedings. If the pace of technology change has accelerated during the last nine months, so too has the pace of structural change. Those that want to stay in the printing game, that have the stamina to continue to go the distance, will eventually find the going easier and the upward slope less challenging. It is not exactly a hopeful thought for the port or brandy this week, but there are many more for whom the outlook is even grimmer.
Searching for a happy new year
And so we come to the end of 2020 without even the customary chance to breathe and relax. As these words are being written various countries around Europe are closing their borders to travel and freight to the UK. Hopefully this is not a foretaste of what will happen should a trade deal fail to be secured in the next few days.
Even if it does, however, next year is likely to start as more of the same, perhaps worse. There are dire predictions for the number of print businesses that must fall over as cashflow dries up, government assistance slips away and loans need repayment. Many more will decide that a silver sunset into retirement rather than a golden one is better than having to fight for survival in what is becoming a brutal arena. Why throw good money after bad?
Print is resilient. So far only a handful of substantial print businesses have collapsed, while many more have closed quietly, untroubled by winding up proceedings. If the pace of technology change has accelerated during the last nine months, so too has the pace of structural change. Those that want to stay in the printing game, that have the stamina to continue to go the distance, will eventually find the going easier and the upward slope less challenging. It is not exactly a hopeful thought for the port or brandy this week, but there are many more for whom the outlook is even grimmer.
Gareth Ward
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