People Prefer It. Businesses Depend On It. What`s Next For Print Media?

Two out of Three Americans Prefer Print Media In Spite of the Benefits of the
Digital Revolution
NEW YORK--(Business Wire)--
According to new research, digital media is no substitute for traditional
printed media. A recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive® on behalf of
Earthtone suggests that most people choose how they consume media based on
personal preferences.

Research shows that the majority of U.S. adults think that printed media is
easier to read than the digital equivalent. Interestingly, most adults reported
that they feel more comfortable when they have something on paper than when it`s
on screen, suggesting that we make an instinctive association between things we
can touch and feel and things that are `real`.

At the same time, many adults also showed a preference for the immediacy that
digital media offers. We value the real time information from around the world,
the ability to find the music we love in seconds, and the low cost of web-based
communications.

"You can exchange a dozen emails in the time it takes to find a stamp for your
snail mail, but a handwritten birthday card in your mailbox somehow means more
than an identically worded email in your inbox," says Nader Alaghband, founder
and CEO, Earthtone. "Simply put, we choose new, digital media where it adds
value and we opt for traditional media when that`s what`s best for us."

The Paperless Office

Predicting a paperless future has been de rigeur for decades, but the Earthtone
survey shows that most employed adults (58 percent) think that the paperless
office is unlikely to become a reality any time soon.

People`s preference for print offers one explanation for this widespread
skepticism. Nearly two out of three (64 percent) workers prefer ink on paper to
a computer screen when it comes to reading. Interestingly, even workers in
technology and telecommunications companies agreed that reading in print was
easier than reading online, with 70 percent preferring paper, as compared to 57
percent of adults employed in the banking, finance, and insurance industries.1

However, employee preference may not be the primary reason why nearly six out of
ten don`t envision working in a paperless office in the next five years. In
fact, businesses depend on print because some compliance rules require them to
retain records in hardcopy. As a result, print will continue to be a mission
critical business function until regulators decide to accept digital
record-keeping.

What`s Next for Hardcopy?

While a challenging economic climate may have eroded most consumers` commitment
to the environment, with two in three U.S. adults (67 percent) agreeing that
they care more about saving money than "being green," companies` commitment to
the environment remains strong, with only 11 percent of employed adults
reporting that their company is now less likely to choose "green" products if it
means spending more money. An often-overlooked opportunity for these businesses
lies in changing workers` printing habits. For many small businesses, outsourced
printing is a cost-efficient way to be green.

In addition to investing in print hardware that rarely operates at capacity,
otherwise cost-conscious businesses regularly find themselves paying more than
they have to for ink, paper, and other consumables. The cost of maintaining
extensive in-house print capacity is compounded by gratuitous usage. Each
printed page costs only a few pennies and employees are very unlikely to
consider the aggregate cost of unnecessary printing to the business they work
for.

In fact, according to the survey, nearly four out of five workers whose company
outsources at least some of their printing (79 percent) said that they do so at
least once a year. Because printing out-of-house bears a more obvious - albeit
lower - cost, it is rare to find people using a print shop unnecessarily.

In addition to cutting costs and minimizing waste, printing through the cloud
makes it easier for environmentally-responsible businesses to reduce their
carbon footprint. By using Earthtone - a service that offers free carbon offsets
on every print job - businesses and users can find, compare and choose one of a
growing number of greener suppliers for their outsourced printing needs.

Additional findings from the survey include the following:

* 68 percent of employed adults feel more comfortable when they have something
on paper than on screen.
* 64 percent of employed adults say reading in print is easier than reading on
screen.
* One fourth of employed adults (26 percent) report that their company
outsources its printing at least once a year, and one fifth (19 percent) say
their employer orders prints online at least once yearly.
* Less than half of employed adults (42 percent) think the paperless office will
become a reality at the companies they work for in the next five years.

The survey covered a range of topics, including:

* Corporate and personal attitudes toward green procurement.
* Online shopping trends amongst businesses.
* Preferred media amongst consumers.

Survey Methodology

The survey was conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of Earthtone
between July 14 and July 16, 2009 among 2,265 U.S. adults ages 18+. Data were
weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population. Complete methodology
- including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes - are available upon
request.

About Harris Interactive

Harris Interactive is a global leader in custom market research. With a long and
rich history in multimodal research that is powered by our science and
technology, we assist clients in achieving business results. Harris Interactive
serves clients globally through our North American, European and Asian offices
and a network of independent market research firms. For more information about
Harris Interactive please visit http://www.harrisinteractive.com.

About Earthtone

Earthtone is the first comparison site for printing. Our vendor-neutral
marketplace helps small businesses cut printing costs by making it easy to
compare quotes, services, reviews and environmental credentials from hundreds of
independent print shops across the US. As a gateway to a large and rapidly
growing network of printing locations, we offer users choice-rich on-demand
printing, wherever they are, whenever they need. For more information about
Earthtone, please visit: www.earthtone.net.

1 Data based on small sample sizes (n=78 adults employed in technology or
telecommunications, n=73 adults employed in banking, finance, or insurance) -
results should be interpreted as directional in nature.

Business Contact:
Earthtone Ltd.
Kourosh Kaghazian, +44 (0)20 7112 7100
kourosh@earthtone.net
or
Media Contact:
Blanc & Otus
Elena Alioshina, +1-617-451-7357
ealioshina@blancandotus.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009