HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I hope everyone had a fabulous time during the Holidays. I took a few extra days off to spend with my family and get some rest. 2015 was my busiest year ever. The beginning of 2016 looks to be more of the same.
January is a great time to look back at the previous year to reflect on what worked and what didn’t. It’s the perfect time to reorganize and do some research on the new trends, new equipment and processes that can help you with enhancing your business. January is also the beginning of the Trade Show season.
Trade Shows are great for helping a business find the resources they need to improve their business processes. If you are in the apparel business, then trade shows are a great way to see everything you use in one place. They are also great for getting education on how to run your business, see new equipment to help you run your business more efficiently and see what other people are doing with their businesses.
Below is a list of some of the major Trade Shows you should consider attending. Many of the organizations put their trade shows on several times a year, in many locations.
ISS (Imprinted Sportswear Show) – Put on by Impressions Magazine. These trade shows are the largest for the decorated apparel industry in the US. There are several throughout the year across the country. www.issshows.com.
SGIA (Specialty Graphics Industry Association) – This organization covers all forms of the printing industry. Decorated apparel is only a portion. They have one show in the Fall of the year. www.sgia.com
DAX (Decorated Apparel Expo) – Midwest regional shows for the decorated apparel industry.
The NBM Show (National Business Media) – Put on by Printwear Magazine. This event offers multiple opportunities to improve your apparel business. There are several shows throughout the year across the country. www.printwearmag.com
MAGIC Show – Put on by UBM Advanstar Fashion Group in Las Vegas twice a year. Magic is the world largest fashion marketplace showcasing apparel, footwear, accessories and manufacturing. www.magiconline.com
ASI (Ad Specialty Institute) – This trade show has many shows nationally. It is a Promotional Product show, which decorated apparel is only a portion. www.asicentral.com
SAGE Show – This show is once a year. This is a Promotional Product show, which decorated apparel is only a portion. www.sageworld.com
PPAI Show (Promotional Products Association International) – This is a Promotional Product show, which decorated apparel is only a portion. They have several shows during the year across the country. www.ppai.org
I cannot stress enough how important it is to attend a least one trade show a year. The more you arm yourself with education and resources, the better chance you have at running a successful business. I will be attending the ISS Show in Long Beach, California January 22nd – 24th. I’ve been in the decorated apparel business over 30 plus years and I learn something new every time I attend a trade show. It also gives me a chance to meet you, the customer, personally. Start your year right. Have a great 2016
Until next month.
Cora Kromer
cora@qdigitizing.com