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(Weymouth, MA) November 30, 2011…Photo prints are still the best way to ensure that important photos will be easily accessible and shared with family and friends in the future. Despite this fact, many consumers are still relying on electronic storage to archive and protect their most valued photos. It is up to vendors to change this perception and educate customers on the downside of electronic storage and encourage photo printing as a primary back up method. According to InfoTrends’ most recent survey research, over 40% of respondents store photos in one or multiple folders or sub folders on their computer, whereas only around 6% of respondents choose to print photos as their primary photo storing method. What is the primary method you use for storing digital photos? “It is not surprising to see that computer folders are the most popular choice for storage since the computer is most often used for viewing of photos,” commented David Haueter, an Associate Director at InfoTrends. “However, consumers are overlooking the vulnerabilities of these storage methods. Computers are vulnerable to failure and viruses and CDs and DVDs, which are another popular storage method, degrade over time and may not be a viable storage format in a decade. Social networking sites compress files sizes, online sites can go out of business, and so on and so forth. The truth is there is no foolproof method for storing digital photos. Redundancy is the only option to keep our memories truly safe – but printed photos are one of the best options and should be an option that more people use.” It is up to vendors with strong positions in the photo printing market to educate consumers on these issues. With many effective ways to print photos today and at lower costs than ever before, now is the perfect time to spread the photo printing message. The option of printing from a mobile device may also encourage users to print more photos. There is an encouraging level of interest in printing from mobile devices such as camera phones/smartphones and tablets, and as photo specifications for camera phones continue to improve, InfoTrends believes that more photos will be printed from these devices. Vendors should invest in mobile printing solutions that allow the consumer to quickly and easily print their photos. InfoTrends’ 2011 U.S. Photo Printing End-User Survey study provides insight into consumer photo printing and storing habits as well as printing supply buying trends. The study also reveals challenges to the photo printing market and offers advice on how to overcome these obstacles. For more information or to purchase this report, visit our online store or contact Stephanie Tose at +1 781 616 2103 or e-mail stephanie_tose@infotrends.com InfoTrends, a Questex company, is the leading worldwide market research and strategic consulting firm for the digital imaging and document solutions industry. We provide research, analysis, forecasts, and advice to help clients understand market trends, identify opportunities, and develop strategies to grow their businesses. Additional information about InfoTrends is available on the Web at www.infotrends.com. Copyright 2011 InfoTrends. All rights reserved. Reproduction or reuse of InfoTrends materials is strictly prohibited without prior written consent. |
