Here are just a few of the full color automotive-themed designs available from Wildside West. See more designs online or even more when you request a catalog.

In a past conversation with Frank of WildSide West, he mentioned he’s been having a lot of sales success with automotive-themed, full color transfers. When I asked him why, he mentioned that the interest in classic cars–and cars of all kinds for that matter–seems to be booming.  We talked about the abundance of car shows, (especially during the upcoming summer months) as well as all the online tv shows about cars. It’s true that you can find large, medium and even very small car shows in just about every community on any given weekend. There’s a website called NationwideCarShow that lists over 1600 shows throughout the U.S.  Some of the shows are called “cruise-ins”. But no matter what they’re called or what kind of cars are on display, one thing you can be sure of, there will be t-shirts for sale. Car shows are a great niche market for custom apparel suppliers that specialize in heat printing. With a heat press, you can easily customize a stock design with a date and place. This is normally called doing a “name drop.”  And since car lovers are also usually lovers of great artwork, full color designs are in high demand. This past weekend there was a show here in North Branch, Michigan, put on by the Deerfield Fire Association.

Local car shows come in all shapes and sizes but one thing they all usually have in common is a need for a commemorative custom t-shirt.

Now you can visit our location in Edmonton. Or shop online at http://www.stahls.ca/home

Last week on May 2nd, we opened a new Western Warehouse in Edmonton Canada, in order to serve those of you there faster and better. If you’re in the area, here’s the address:

Stahls’ Canada Western Warehouse
5303-97 Street
Edmonton, AB T6E 5M6

Stahls’ Edmonton offers “direct from the manufacturer” shipping or pick up of CAD-CUT® and CAD-COLOR® heat transfer materials as well as Hotronix® heat presses and other equipment, so you can save time and money.  In addition, for those of you who want to “touch” and “feel” all the heat printing options that are available, the new Edmonton showroom will feature equipment, materials and you will be able to attend hands-on demonstrations.

And if you missed the information on the Stahls’ ID Blog, Stahls’ will also be bringing these experiences to more of you throughout Canada on the Stahls’ Canada International Tour.  It starts on May 27th in Halifax. At each event there will be displays and demonstrations of equipment, including heat presses, print/cut machines, and our Business in a Box sign making equipment package. Join us to see the convenience and ease of use of Hotronix^® heat presses first hand. We’ll also have examples and samples of twill, CAD-CUT^® heat transfer materials, Custom Embroidered Patches, custom lettering, and much more. Make sure you register NOW and attend in order to be eligible for prizes, giveaways, and special offers, including 10% off all orders (excluding twill and equipment) and free ground shipping on heat presses.

The tour will also feature presentations from Stahls’ heat printing and garment decoration experts, including CAD-CUT Direct General Manager Josh Ellsworth, artwork expert Dane Clement of Great Dane Graphics, and Hotronix General Manager Ben Robinson.

Take advantage of our special offer and receive half off of the $20 admission price by registering before May 15.^th  I hope many of you can make it.

Come see us in Edmonton!

Jason Murphy of GroupeSTAHL Sales Alliance had the opportunity to thank Coach K for his inspiring words at the 2013 NSGA Management and Team Dealer Conference held in Florida.

As Mike Krzyzewski, better known as “Coach K”, told the audience during his keynote speech at the 2013 NSGA Management and Team Dealer Conference, “Whatever team you’re on, you can still learn.” And he should know. As the Head Coach for the USA Men’s National Basketball Team, since 2005, he came home with gold medals from Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012. In 2011, the Duke Blue Devils coach became Division I’s coach with the most wins in history, when a win over Michigan State gave him his 903rd win, breaking the tie with Bobby Knight. Knight was Krzyzewski’s coach at Army and his professional mentor. What’s Coach K’s secret? Well he only spoke for about an hour, but during his speech, he explained some of his proven philosophies with the crowd. For example, instead of wondering why we are not successful, he told us to ponder ”What do we need to do more of in order to adapt?” And he encourages buy-in from his players by asking them to submit their ideas on how to win. “How do you get better unless you share ideas?” He reminded us we need to hear, see and FEEL. He is a big believer in the power of a fight song and united the Olympic team players by making them understand who they were really playing for through the power of the team “fight song,” The Star Spangled Banner. Music can evoke strong feelings. But he did admit that “trust is the cornerstone on which everything is built.” He also shared his “no excuses” sentiment and admitted that ultimately, “You’re responsible for doing the best job in whatever environment you’re in.” Coach K also expressed his thanks to all the sporting goods store owners, team dealers and manufacturers in the audience for playing a very important role in inspiring kids to play sports, by designing innovative products and stores where you can “imagine” your athletic dreams coming true. He strongly believes that our country and business people need to be more involved in the athletic development of our youth and that playing sports is one of the best places to learn about teamwork, trust and leadership. The best advice anyone ever gave him? When an audience member tossed him that question, Coach K told a story about his mother, harking back to the time when he was about to enter high school in Chicago. His mother sat him down and told him, “Make sure you get on the right bus.” A savvy inner city kid with lots of street smarts, Coach K said he was almost insulted that his mom thought he didn’t know the right busses to ride to get to his new school. But she corrected him, “Not that kind of bus son.” She explained that he was about to start a new chapter in his life, a very important chapter and she told him that he should get on the “right bus.” And whether he was driving the bus or whether he chose to get on someone else’s bus, he should make sure to have only good people on that bus. In short, get on the right bus, with the right people. Based on all his successes and many that are obviously still yet to come, it seems like Coach K did an excellent job following his mother’s advice over the years. And I know everyone in that audience wished they were on Coach K’s bus! Big kudos to the NSGA staff @NSGASportingGds for arranging to have this very inspirational, educational and entertaining speaker at the conference. I can’t wait to see who they bring in next year. I can heartily recommend you plan to attend the 50th Annual NSGA Management conference at the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells in Palm Springs, California, scheduled to be held April 27-30th, 2014. Save the date. It’s on my calendar.

Group photo of current NSGA Hall of Famers with 2013 NSGA Hall of Fame inductees, John Parish Sr., Rusty Saunders and Randy Hooper, seated.

Congratulations John, Rusty and Randy on your induction into the NSGA Hall of Fame.

We had the honor and privilege to attend the ceremony honoring this years National Sporting Goods Hall of Fame inductees on Tuesday May 7 in Palm Beach, Florida. The honorees were John Parish Sr., Randy Hooper and Rusty Saunders. This ceremony and dinner is the culmination and highlight of the NSGA Management Conference and Annual Team Dealer Summit. I have much to share with you about this learning and networking opportunity but I just wanted to take a minute to congratulate these three industry icons. It was also very nice to be able to warm up in the balmy 85 degree weather here in Florida, it sure beats the May snowstorm and cold wet weather Mary and I experienced in Joplin last week. Also really wonderful to touch base with so many customers and colleagues. More soon.

Hard to believe it, but this was the view from inside the car as Mary and I participated in the first leg of the All Stars for Autism road rally in Joplin, Missouri on Thursday.

Mary and I certainly didn’t pack the right clothes for an early May snow storm that hit Joplin, Missouri on Thursday and Friday. We arrived to participate in the All Stars for Autism Vintage Car Rally hosted by the VCRA as part of our preparation for the upcoming Great Race 2013 in June. We wanted to see how the car handled the road and what we could do to improve our experience as well as meet up with friends we made last year during the race. Needless to say, we were all a bit “snowballed” by the cold, rainy, sleety and snowy weather that hit the area and many other midwestern states. In addition to getting lost a few times on the route (I inadvertently turned 2 pages of the route book at once), we also learned that we really need to do something to improve visibility in case of rain. We finished the first leg of the rally in 24th place (out of 33 teams). However even though we were dripping wet and chilled to the bone, we still have to admit that we really enjoy the challenge of vintage car road rallies. Like other participants, we were saddened that the weather caused a cancellation of the next leg of the rally. Hopefully we will be able to get back on the road again tomorrow. In the meanwhile, we have put up a new Facebook page for The Spirit of Stahls, so please like the page if you want to be able to follow along with the team’s activities in preparation for the Great Race, as well as get more information on the Ride Along opportunities.

Mary and I before the car was trailered to Joplin for the road rally. So nice and dry and warm! We need before and after photos.