Consumerism & Stationery Trends

With the rise in the middle-income economy, lifestyle changes have come into play. More spendthrift trends descend upon societies that start generating affluence.  Though considered a business necessity stationery ideally is also a personal choice a  means of communication preferred by men and women.

Gifts, invites, seasonal greetings, and personal messages are societies' means of consumption of paper products. Though Internet has made a substantial leeway the personal touch of written words on printed letterheads, amazing gifts and greetings convey a feeling that cannot be generated online.  

Better designs, advanced printing techniques, and trendy, vibrant colors have made use of the paper stationery for personal and business communication more attractive. Letterpress printing has come into vogue with full force. Thanks to digital methods the oldest form of printing has arisen from its grave. Variants, advancing technology, and expert craftsmanship has made letterheads, wedding invites, and greetings more attractive and trendy. Many studios and designer names have emerged that have increased sales and drawn attraction of buyers - the future looks bright. Shops small and big crank out craftily designed attractive wedding invites, greeting, festive cards, business stationery, and whatnot revitalizing an industry.   

   

The rise in consumption of stationery products is just not limited to lifestyle the augmenting economies, increase in literacy on all fronts. The emergence of a large number of schools and colleges in developing countries have led to a revolutionary demand for notebook, pen, and pencil not forgetting the associated products. A rising economy means a rise in office setups that need tons of stationery.  A strong resurgence in consumer passion especially for specialty paper products is auguring a birther future for the industry.  Trade shows and events are the best means of highlighting future trends and established norms.  The written words expressing personal sentiments now rule the roost.      

Inkjet Cartridge Economy

A vital component of inkjet printers the demand for this accessory has gone along with it. The cartridge contains ink in the inbuilt reservoirs which are deposited during the printing process. Colored inkjets have many variants and hence the cartridges have been well-modified as per the models. 

The refills are priced highly but nonbrand vendors sell the cartridges at a lesser price.  The undergoing trend is to bring the price down. Besides using non-branded cartridges another way is to involve continuous ink systems using an external tank. In some models continuous ink systems are inbuilt. Also known as CISS the system uses an external reservoir or bottles filled with colored ink. These systems are mass-produced in China with auto-reset chips and are economically priced.

Some manufacturers create interlock systems that prevent optimum use of the ink in the cartridges overcoming these enables better use bringing down the cost. 

The cheaper third-party options are most popular all over the globe. Since the original cartridges are expensive it is possible to refill ink using a kit or some manufacturers and re-fillers facilitate the consumers.  Nevertheless, this is not a plausible solution whence there is a color leakage, streaking, or curling hence the failure rate has to be taken into consideration. 

Another option is to go for a bulk purchase from the manufacturers directly as a discount or offer is usually associated. Even containers containing large volumes of ink can be bought and then refilled by the consumers themselves.  Easily refillable cartridges are also available some of which are environmentally friendly. Each year about three million cartridges are thrown into landfills creating an environmental problem.  This number is on the increase which is a red signal considering that each one takes hundreds of years to decompose completely.     

Re-manufactured cartridges are also available. They use available ink cartridges manufactured by major companies. These have been used at least once.   

New Fabrication Technologies

As an industry advances technology appears and it is always evolutionary. Those who do not keep in tandem with technological upgrades perish. Specific industries have always been subjected to research and development which leads to better technology holistically.

Some of the recent developments find space in my blog here. 

Electronic Beam Melting (& Selective Laser Melting) the former is used in the purification of metals with high melting points often used in making alloys used for fabrication. Both are used in the fabrication of complex alloys.   

Usually, free electrons in a vacuum are used to form a fine beam which is used for melting purposes. This is possible whence the beam collides with solid-state matter wherein the electrons are converted to heat for melting. The process finds multiple uses besides welding. This form of welding in industries began as early as the nineteen fifties.  

The heat generated at the target helps in the process of heating applications. Due to the vacuum, the transformation is pure or absolutely sterile. Using large vacuum furnaces and strong beams steel can be produced without any impurities. 

The technology can also be used to cut an accurate bore. The resulting finish is better than using thermal cutting processes. Computer-controlled systems aimed accurately at selected work site it is useful for annealing, hardening, and tempering. 

Using an additive manufacturing process material can be efficiently joined using 3-D model data. Due to the high cost, the technology is used for valued production only. One fine example is electronic beam free-form fabrication used for a net-like finish wherein less raw material and less finish is the net gain. 

The equipment used usually comprises the following:

• The Electronic Gun.
• 
  
• Vacuum Chamber.
• 
  
• Positioning Mechanism.
• 
  
• Controlling Equipment.
• 
  
• Power Supply. 

Stationery Stores Both Ways

With the introduction of the Internet, a new phenomenon of online merchandising has come into the picture. Sophisticated stores or eCommerce portals sell stationery just like land-based facilities what more they are now more popular as well.  

The online stores and shops as we call them are efficiently designed and developed programming masterpieces.  The functionality so ingrained offers virtual shopping with ease. The graphics and displays are classic with high-resolution images capable of 3-D effects.  The online facility can be held in conjunction with land-based stores especially easy for large-scale establishments,   

The sites also offer fine details and comparisons of the office products that can be instantly understood by the purchasers whether home buyers or large-scale suppliers. This has also been instrumental in preventing the sales of fake products that conventional trades could palm off to customers earlier. Hence reputation building is the key to success online. Not only manufacturers use online portals to sell even distributors use the tools to further sell their wares to consumers.       

The benefit accrued is not only from the technology which has expanded sales capabilities beyond the reach of conventional stores and distributors. Cost-benefit accrues from the economy of scale since an expensive land-based setup is eliminated besides the staff is also reduced.  Stock holding is also reduced by resorting to streaming supplies by manufacturers.

The cost of managing huge stocks can be reduced by directing sales and delivery to the manufacturers concerned with the brand or generic product. Just imagine a large number of fragmented vendors or suppliers and the tension of maintaining an incredible list of stocks that the stationery business requires.  

The overall simplification of the process is the key to the proliferation of online shops. Moreover, online reach offers easy accessibility much more fluid than a cumbersome drive to a busy stationery shop or mall. One click of the desktop will take you to the eCommerce stores to make a purchase. Purchase in bulk or wholesale for office will lessen the delivery charge to offer a strategic business advantage.         

   

Crude Prices & Metal Fabrication

The industry is related and often works as a complex web. This is an ecosystem that requires deep dwelling in order to perceive the ups and downs possible while fixing the business strategies.   

From over a hundred dollars to around fifty dollars that have been the story of oil per barrel. For the global industry, this is like manna from heaven.  The cheaper the raw material the better it is for manufacturers - fabricators included. Not only the industry the falling prices have given consumers a big relief.    

The dropping oil prices initially did not affect projects from the oil and gas industry but are bound to impact negatively. Large projects from this sector will keep the metal fabrication industry afloat. The resultant benefit of reducing oil prices will definitely impact favorably. The increase in oil production at the country level will act as a balancing factor. 

The lowering of oil prices will negate the rising cost of labor and other manufacturing inputs as far as the fabrication sector is concerned. Oil is a major variable as far as metal fabrication is concerned. Steel is dumped at lower rates in the US aided by lower shipping costs.   

Though demand from the energy sector may make a substantial impact on projects the uptick in the construction industry will act as a great leveler. A bright future awaits fabricators in the USA.