Photobook market to exceed Euro 700 million

“The photobook market continues to put in a strong performance across Western Europe,” says Joanna Wright, Senior Market Analyst, Futuresource Consulting, “with our forecasts showing shipments will exceed 23 million units this year, and will continue to grow throughout the forecast period out to 2016.”

“Consumer awareness and acceptance of photobooks is gaining traction across the region, particularly in Germany and Benelux where key brands have engaged in high profile marketing activities,” Wright added. “Most countries continue to perform well, with the exception of Italy, which is partly due to difficult economic conditions.”

With nearly a quarter of the European market, CeWe continues to dominate, though Albumprinter and Photobox are gaining some ground. According to Futuresource, the top six producers have remained relatively stable and accounted for more than half the Western European market last year. Beyond the six – CeWe, Albumprinter, Photobox, Hofmann, Infowerk and Koebcke – the market remains localized and fragmented with various local competitive scenarios playing out in each country.

Many service providers are launching apps and working with social networks. At the moment the impact of social media on photobook volumes is negligible, but with strong marketing activity it could help make photobook solutions easier, quicker and more accessible to a wider audience.