The Garment Decorators Lunch

riCardo | crespo

This year’s Garment Decorators luncheon is the culmination of the work by the SGIA Garment Decorator Committee, which seeks to bring a wide range of information to this segment of the industry, topped off with a presentation from riCardo | crespo, who is also the emcee for THREADX 2019.

“riCardo is super engaging,” says Sarah Perkins, Director of Community Development at SGIA. “He just has this way about him. He’s got an amazing sense of marketing, and really dials into the heartbeat of what makes a business tick. We are trying to get garment decorators to think more like business owners; too often we treat them like artisans — and they are — but they are also business owners.”

crespo’s background includes working for Mattel, where he helped redesign their offices, inviting the staff, who were creating toys, to think and work in a more playful environment. He also worked on marketing for the movie Avatar, as well as having worked with a number of celebrities.

“The Internet is changing how garment decorators do business,” Perkins. says “We want to arm them not just as artisans, but how to be business owners, how to market themselves, how to think long-term about their business. They need to think both creatively and strategically. riCardo is the kind of speaker you just let loose on stage and then sit back and take it all in. He’s working closely with the committee on what he’ll be discussing, but he’s very charismatic, and we are very excited to have him at SGIA Expo and as the emcee at THREADX 2019.”

The luncheon won’t be a traditional panel session, as crespo prefers getting into the audience and interacting, asking questions and having participation as he goes. And the hope is that every attendee will leave with a sense of how their garment decoration business can be even more successful. “We’re not just going to teach you how to screen print. We’re going to talk about how to run your business,” Perkins says. And that is true for both the Garment Decorators luncheon, as well as the full THREADX 2019 event.

Attendance for the luncheon is capped at 100 people. Tickets cost $30, and this event is not part of the Expo + Education pass. Those interested in seeing if any tickets are still available should stop by the SGIA Booth 1961. There will be a few ‘golden tickets’ for THREADX available at the luncheon, as well as a number of giveaways. “This isn’t coming from the association,” Perkins says. “I want people to know that this isn’t a staff-driven speaker selection. It’s driven by the Garment Decorators Committee. It really feels important for this industry to be connected, and this luncheon, with riCardo speaking, will give them the tools they need to help grow their business.”