Apparel & Functional at PRINTING United

When it comes to getting the most out of your PRINTING United experience in the Apparel & Functional neighborhood, there are a few key things to keep in mind.

1. Who Are You?

“Understand what’s important,” says Victoria Harris, textile segment specialist at Mimaki USA (Booths 5216, 5616, 5620). “Know your products and what you’re good at, and look for a manufacturer or technology that can serve that best.”

Go in with a firm grasp not only on what your shop is doing today, but where you envision it going in the next year. And then in the next five years. While plans change and new technologies bring new opportunities that can’t necessarily be anticipated, arriving with a good idea of your shop’s identity and brand, and what that means to you, your employees, and your customers will help ensure you connect with the right vendors and products.

2. But Don’t Be Afraid to Take Risks.

Having a good idea of who you are is essential to making the right decisions, but that doesn’t mean you should always play it safe, either.

“I would tell attendees to take a fresh look at their business in terms of technology and the dynamism in the supply chains,” says Richard J. Hatton, president of E. L. Hatton Sales Co. / Banner Ups (Booth 125). “Don’t assume things will stay the same, so how can they fit their business for what’s coming next? This trade show is a great place to do that. This is a very dynamic time in our industry, so they should be looking toward the future and assuming there will be change.”

While it’s always a good idea to come to a show like PRINTING United with a game plan in mind for the technologies and innovations you want to see up close and in person, don’t be afraid to go outside your comfort zone. PRINTING United is a great place to explore business strategies and converging markets in new and exciting ways, and while no new venture should be taken lightly, big risks can mean big rewards for those who are willing to take them on.

3. Look for Partners.

Just as print buyers are looking for shops that can step up and be true partners in their business, helping them grow with suggestions and ideas they might not have considered on their own, printers should be seeking that type of relationship with their vendors as well.

“As attendees walk the show, it is important for them to not only look for machines that will help their business grow, but also really evaluate the company behind those machines,” notes Scott Schinlever, president of Gerber Technology (Booths 8833, 8850). “In order to truly be successful, you need a technology partner who fully understands which products are going to benefit you and is dedicated to helping you grow. You need a technology partner that is not only going to bring you success today, but is also constantly innovating to prepare you for the future as well.”

As you walk the show floor, look beyond the latest and greatest bells and whistles on display. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about what the vendor has planned for the future — what types of products and innovations are they looking to improve and develop? What type of education program do they have to help the shop get the most out of their investment? What type of support is there after the sale is final? These are all questions to ask right alongside learning the the details and specifications of the products, substrates, and other equipment.

PRINTING United is a unique opportunity for printers of all sizes, shapes, and types to not just look for incremental improvements to the production of today, but to explore the truly diverse range of possibilities of where the shop could go tomorrow. As you walk the show floor, don’t lose sight of who you are, but don’t be afraid to dream big.