Mark Venit stopped in for a visit in St. Clair Shores last week. He had some clients he was consulting with in Michigan and decided to drop by between appointments. For the past several months, in addition to his consulting work, Mark has been busy downloading his marketing experience in the decorated apparel industry into written form. Yes, he’s writing a book! We’ve been encouraging him to do this for some time, and now it’s closer than ever to becoming a reality. At Stahls’, we’ve always been big proponents of education within the imprinted sportswear industry, with workshops, how-to articles, online information, how-to vidoes and nowadays, webinars. We’ve always thought we could teach people how to make it, but that’s only half the battle. We know you also need to know how to sell what you produce. Mark’s has been channeling his inner marketing guru and putting that in book form. I’ve read the Table of Contents and a few of the chapters and I know already that this will be a valuable resource for anyone who sells custom t-shirts or any type of promotional item. He has asked me to write the foward for the book, and it will be my honor and pleasure to take part in this publication in this way. As soon as we know more about the publication date and where you can get a copy, we will let you know. There is no other book like this available in print today, so I know it will be a huge success.
Stahls' Europe sponsors a professional beach volleyball team.
There have always been team sponsors, but what do you do when you have more than one? How do you put all the names on the jersey?
This is one trend we noticed that keeps growing, both here in the United States as well as in Europe. The folks at Stahls’ European Deco facility sent me these photos to show how their digital printing services help teams create jerseys and other team gear that keeps them and their sponsors happy.
Digitally created logos can be heat applied to nylon bags, caps and more. You can use the same technology to create decals for water bottles and even sports balls.
Digital prints are even more important when only small quantities are needed. And, with digital printing, you can even add additional sponsors on to a garment or bag at any time. Here in the U.S. you can order CAD-PRINTZ from Stahls’ to print the sponsor names you need in full color, we have materials that are designed to go on any type of fabric, even stretchy performance wear. Or if you own an eco-solvent printer/cutter, we can offer you the digital media you need to print them yourself.
I just read on Josh Ellsworth’s blog that Impressions Magazine has added the category of “Most Creative Use of Heat Applied Graphics” in its annual Impressions Awards. This is fantastic news, since we have been actively promoting heat printing products and services since 1932. Better late than never, as they say. We are thrilled. Maybe it is because heat printing has just become one of the leading methods when it comes to stretch fabrics, specialty effects like glitter and reflective, for use in cost effective mass customization and for dozens of other reasons. What does this mean to you? It means you have a chance to gain national recognition for your creativity and for your business if you are willing and able to submit an entry. How do you sign up? Click here for a PDF of the entry form. The entry deadline is August 13th, 2010, so you better get your heat press up and running if you are interesting in participating. We will be linking to the winning designs if that is possible, so that everyone can see the results.
Wishing everyone a safe and happy 4th of July weekend. Hopefully you remembered that Transfer Express has many EasyPrints designs that make it easy to create great looking t-shirts for summer holidays. Three cheers for the red, white and blue. Looking forward to grilling and relaxing with family and friends.
You can also request "glitter" effects to put an extra sparkle in your transfers.
And Transer Express always has stock flag transfers available for application on team uniforms or any kind of garment that needs a flag.
Drive carefully and responsibly over the holiday weekend. And if you’re on the water, boat responsibly too. As a boat owner and past member of the Spirit of Detroit Association—for 25 years I was the captain of the Medical Boat that was present on the Detroit Riverfor the Gold Cup Hydroplane races, I know first hand how important it is to make boating safety your top priority. I’ll probably be out on one of my tugboats, and I don’t think I’ll get into too much trouble.
Our Argentina-based distributors, ARTECOLOR stopped by for a chat about our latest products and ideas for the future.
Old friend and former business partner Tim Weaver stopped by the booth and surprised everyone! Great to see you again Tim!
Bob Brooks of Transfer Express, pictured here with his son Bob, attended the FESPA and had the time to attend some MasterClasses organized by Scott Fresener as well as investigate the latest in ink formulations.
Riley Hopkins was attending and exhibiting his screen printing technology at FESPA.
Robin Bull, Target Transfers, left, and Martin Borley, also of Target Transfers, right, chat with Joe Weeks of R Tape Europe in the Stahls' booth.
While in Munich I had the chance to speak with so many people that I normally don’t get to see face to face. I expected to see associates from Europe there at the show, but also found myself running into familiar faces from back in the U.S. Like Riley Hopkins! And we also had a great surprise visit from Tim Weaver and his son Matt who were traveling and just happened to stop by. I also had the chance to speak with my friends from ARTECOLOR, our South American distributors. Robin Bull and Martin Borley, from Target Transfers in the UK were also busy at FESPA, networking with business partners and meeting members of the Stahls’ team that they normally only speak with on the phone.
It was an exciting run for Stahls’ at the FESPA, with lots of new opportunities. Everyone who had the chance to speak with customers agreed that the need for heat applied graphics and custom garment decoration is stronger than ever. If I had to sum it up in one word, STRETCH would have to be it. With more and more performance and stretch fabrics appearing on the fashion and sports scene (does anyone wear 100%cotton anymore? I think not!) there is a huge demand for decorating abilities for these stretch fabrics. That means stretchier inks, stretchier CAD-CUT materials, stretchier transfers. Stahls’ already has a wide range of products designed for use on performance materials that have Lycra and Spandex in them. But at FESPA I also had the chace to spend time meeting with companies based in Europe who have been researching new and improved versions. Needless to say, I am very optimistic about some upcoming new products that we have in store for you. More on FESPA soon…
View from above of Stahls' booth at the FESPA 2010 in Munich. We're in Hall A2, booth 120.
The FESPA 2010 is underway and I’ve been busy trying to see everything there is to see at this HUGE show that has over 600 exhibitors presenting all aspects of screen, digital and textile printing. Innovation is this year’s theme and I am doing my best to sort out what is really innovation and what is just great marketing. The show is spread out over several huge halls and it is impossible to see it all in one day, especially when so many industry colleagues are also here. I ran into Charlie Taublieb at Charlie’s Corner and will share some more about that tomorrow. One thing that is very different about this show from US-based imprinting shows is the number of heat press manufacturers that are here. There are heat presses of every size, shape and color but so far I haven’t seen any that have the dual functionality or ease of platen threadbility that the Hotronix Fusion offers. We are debuting the press here in Europe for the first time and it is getting a fantastic reception.
Ben Robinson demonstrates the Hotronix Fusion to visitors at the FESPA 2010,
Ben Robinson, of Stahls’ Hotronix, is here to demonstrate and answer questions and I believe we have already sold most of the floor models. The price is right, the capabilities are right on and people know and trust the Hotronix brand here in Europe. Most of the visitors I have had the chance to speak with are interested in expanding their businesses. One was an embroiderer that wanted to combine heat printing with embroidery and had never seen applique before. Very interested in our selection of CAD-CUT twill materials. Another was a printer of menus that had a lot of demand for custom work wear for the restaurant industry, shirts, aprons, etc… He felt that heat printing would be ideal for customers that come in on Friday and need the finished shirts by Sunday. He has to be able to do the work in house, and he quickly understood that heat printing, using a cutter, heat press and CAD-CUT materials was the right way to get that type of work done.
Ariel, Ben, Carleen and Ulrike were on hand to answer questions and demonstrate new products.
All in all, it was a busy day at the Stahls’ booth and elsewhere in the various halls. Thanks to all the folks at our Stahls’ Europe location that worked behind the scenes and to Ulrike Andre of Stahls’ International who assisted with pre-show publicity and many other details. It takes a lot of hard work to put together a professional showing at an international trade show like FESPA and I am thankful to be represented by so many hard working team members. I will try to get a group photo of all team members tomorrow, as well as more photos from around the show.
At the end of the week I’m heading over to Munich, Germany to join colleagues and screen printing industry friends from around the world at FESPA 2010, which takes place June 22-26. The theme of the show is Catch the Wave of Innovation and if it’s anything like past FESPA’s I’ve attended, it won’t disappoint. I plan on updating you with news and photos of exciting things I am seeing and experiencing. We will be debuting the Hotronix Fusion in Europe and I’m looking forward to hearing people’s reactions to this new heat press technology. Now I just have to brush up on my German! Aufwiedersehen!
This video was designed for PPAI members but the message applies to anyone out there who has ever considered getting in to the business of custom apparel sales. Thank you Jason and team for a job well done.
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