Plimsoll predicts poor market growth

This is the scenario described in a new report produced by Plimsoll, the publisher of comparative company market statistics. 'Sales growth in optics in 1999 is going to be hard to find,' said a Plimsoll spokesman. 'According to our figures the market has only grown by a maximum of 8 per cent in 1996. At what rate can the optics industry grow when the forecasts are decidedly pessimistic for the year? 'If the hope is to get growth this year, it's going to be at the expense of your competition.' Initial results from last year show that most companies will record ann- ual sales growth below 10 per cent. 'Every year for the past six years, there has been and is still a band of companies who are beating the trend in terms of sales growth,' said Plimsoll, 'and within optics, of the 376 companies we reviewed in 1997, 75 achieved 20 per cent or higher annual sales growth. 'The fact remains that if sales come under pressure then profit margins start to be vital as companies seek to maximise resources.' Plimsoll said that gross profit margins for the majority of companies have remained relatively constant, but costs appear to be rising year-on-year.