Report Sizes Key Stock Image Markets

The Industry Measure has released its third annual stock image industry market sizing report, covering the graphic arts, creative, publishing, and Internet design and development markets for royalty-free and rights-managed images, as well as CD collections. For the graphic arts and creative markets, microstock and subscription-based images are covered, as well. As far as we know, these are the only market sizing data based on user surveys, providing a unique look at this important marketplace.

New York (PRWEB) April 2, 2008 -- The Industry Measure has released its third annual "U.S. Market Sizing in Units and Dollars" report, with two new stock image categories added to the reporting this year--subscription-based images and microstock images--in the graphic arts and creative marketplaces.

"Stock Market 2008: U.S. Market Sizing in Units and Dollars" provides accurate and carefully weighted market projections for royalty-free images, rights-managed images, and CD collections for the following four marketplaces:

Estimates are provided in both units and dollars. Where possible, estimates are provided in sub-classifications by business class and employee size classification. For comparison purposes, last year's market sizing estimates are provided alongside this year's figures.

Because the stock image industry is extremely fractured and dominated by small and mid-sized, privately owned companies, creating accurate estimates is extremely difficult. The Industry Measure has an advantage in that it can take advantage of its yearly and twice yearly detailed mail surveys of the graphic arts, creative, publishing, and Internet design and development marketplaces, asking respondents how many stock images they purchase on a monthly (or, in the case of CD collections, annual) basis and how much money they spend on them.

These numbers are projected out using The Industry Measure's highly reliable demographic database and weighted by employee size category.

In addition to the detailed market projections and market share breakdowns, the report includes fascinating "attitudinal data" on how many stock image houses respondents do business with and the key factors in choosing them. In IM's "Stock Market 2008: U.S. Market Sizing in Units and Dollars," these data are compared to the responses from the two prior surveys, providing a fascinating trend line for these important categories.

In terms of the number of stock image houses used, the most dominant trend this year remains the growth in single-sourcing. This trend existed in all key marketplaces but one--Internet design and development--where respondents have gone the opposite direction for the second year in a row. Among IDD firms, the trend is to increase the number of stock image houses with which they are currently doing business.

Data Highlights…

-- In three out of the four marketplaces surveyed, respondents continue their move toward single-sourcing of stock images. Among IDD firms, however, the percentage single sourcing dropped from 29% to 27%.

-- Among creatives, "price of images" has reversed its decline as an important factor in selecting a stock image house--rising from 69% to 80, creatives' number one factor in selecting a stock image provider. A new category, "availability of a personal shopper" debuts at a strong 33% among this group.

-- Graphic arts firms continue to grow as a market for stock images. These firms indicate purchasing nearly three times as many royalty-free images and CD collections as the creative markets (although creatives spend more on these images) and twice as many royalty-free images as publishers. Graphic arts firms purchase nearly the same number of rights-managed images as creatives, although they spend less on them.

-- Internet design & development firms remain the largest stock image market, both by volume and by dollars spent, purchasing more than graphic arts firms, creative firms, and publishers combined.

Availability ...

The Industry Measure "Stock Market 2008: U.S. Market Sizing in Units and Dollars" report is available for purchase by visiting the secure The Industry Measure eStore online at www.theindustrymeasure.com or by phone at 866-873-6310. The price for the report is $995. The Industry Measure eStore customers can download this report in PDF Acrobat format immediately after purchase.

Editor's Note ...

Additional information pertaining to each report is available for editorial purposes. Please make inquiries directly to Deborah Papineau (866-873-6310 or dpapin@aol.com).

About The Industry Measure ...

The Industry Measure specializes in the assessment of trends and changes in graphic communications markets by providing timely and strategic information, hard-hitting market analysis and concise expert opinion. The reports have earned the reputation for containing the most reliable and timely industry intelligence in the graphic arts and graphic design marketplaces. The Industry Measure can be reached on the Web (www.theindustrymeasure.com), via email (info@theindustrymeasure.com) or toll-free by phone at 866-873-6310.

All brand names, trademarks, and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Press/Business Contacts:
Deborah Papineau
The Industry Measure
T: 866-873-6310
E: dpapin@aol.com

Sales Contact:
Vince Naselli
The Industry Measure
T: 866-873-6310
E: info@theindustrymeasure.com

Editorial Contacts:
Richard Romano
E: rromano@richtextandgraphics.com
Heidi Tolliver Nigro
E: Htollvr@aol.com

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