The autumn quarter has delivered 2007's best trading results for the print industry, but the majority of printing companies are approaching 2008 with guarded optimism, according to the latest BPIF Directions survey.

To prosper in 2008 printers will have to be specialists in a small niche & consistently invest time, effort & money in building on their comparative advantages. Equally importantly they will have to know what NOT to do and who NOT to trade with. Cash will be ever more important & I reckon it will be incredibly hard until the summer. Relax & enjoy the break. Hope you get a loin-girder from Santa as you'll need it in 2008. Yo,ho,ho. Simon Biltcliffe MD www.FreePrintSales.com your free sales force for 2008