SEM 64
Garment Screen Printing (Part II): Basic Techniques and Skills
Richard Greaves presents basic step-by-step techniques of art preparation, record keeping, screen making, inks, job setup and curing T-shirts. Greaves will break down each process into manageable and logical quality-control areas and methods to measure them. Be sure to catch Greaves’ Part III seminar on Screen Making (SEM 72), Thursday at 5pm.

SEM 65
Business Success Series (Part II): Getting Big Results from a Small Marketing Budget
People buy from people who they like, trust and with whom it is convenient to do business. Let Vince DiCecco show you how with solid planning and good business sense, you can get your message, your image and your product in the hands and minds of your client. Becoming a “brand name” that’s recognized throughout your market is easier than you may think. In this thought-provoking session, you’ll learn tips and techniques necessary to have your customers think of you first when they are shopping for the things you sell.

SEM 66
Vehicle Graphics (Part II): Hidden Secrets to Find Hidden Markets
Are you ready to take part in the lucrative vehicle graphics market? Tramp Warner explains where you can find hidden profits in untapped markets. Begin realizing profits from opportunities by learning to pair custom designs and basic techniques with local knowledge and appropriate business tools. (Don’t miss Part I of Tramp’s series, SEM 56 at 3pm on Wednesday)

SEM 67
Success and Profit in Large Format Digital Graphics! (Part I) Knowing the Marketplace: Ensuring Return on Your Investment
Before you jump into the large-format arena, or if you are already printing but feel you need to know more (and want to optimize your return on investment), join David King for this powerful introductory session. Dave covers the important basics of wide-format printing, including inks, equipment, media, substrates, labor costs, input, output, potential problems and practical solutions. You will come away with a solid foundation. This class blends right into David's next two classes on Large Format Graphics (SEM 73 and SEM 76).

SEM 68
Intro to Sublimation: The Magical Full Color World  
Dye sublimation has revolutionized the recognition, apparel and custom gift industries. Jim Woodhouse and Matt Woodhouse will illustrate sublimation processes, equipment, packages, products, planning, designing, production, pricing, profit and support, and show how the advent of this technology is changing consumer demands. Whether you are thinking about adding this exciting and profitable full-color personalized technology to your business, or have already taken the plunge, this seminar takes you around the world of sublimation. Jim and Matt will review the essential areas of sublimation, helping you understand, or better understand, the opportunities that can be added to your current business. 

SEM 69
Intro to Embroidery (Part II) Essential Skills: Important First Steps
Get the information you need to start your embroidery business, and your new machine, off on the right track. Let Helen Hart Momsen give you valuable guidance about hooping, needles, backing, placement and designs, as well as information on professional and practical embroidery supplies. Momsen will also include the tips and tricks you should know for successful commercial embroidery. Understanding the essential basics of the embroidery process will help you produce a professional service where you’ll see profits immediately. Be sure to attend Helen’s Intro to Embroidery (Part I) Equipment and Supplies: Before You Buy seminar, Wednesday, 3 p.m.

SEM 70
Custom Design Techniques for All Designers (Part II): Design Principles That Make (and Save) You Money!
Raymond Chapman challenges experienced designers and illustrators in this focused, skill-sharpening session. Learn new layout methods and specific ways to broaden design techniques. With more than 40 years as a designer in the sign industry, Chapman shows how designers in any medium can explore the psychological effects of type and color, and can enhance their designs with shapes. He also explains the value of pictorials in the design process. This seminar is a continuation of Ray’s first Custom Design Techniques seminar, Proven Design Principles That Work (Thursday at 11am: SEM 63).

SEM 71
Business Success Series (Part III): How to Use Forms for Efficient Workflow and How to Lay Out Your Facility
Steve Capper shares proven ideas for any sign shop, apparel decorator, or awards and custom gift business, including time management, space management, repeat business, shortcuts, and overall organization. Steve places emphasis on the importance of organization with the use of forms and their appropriate place in prospecting, sales, order processing and employee guidelines. Learn how to get compensated in 30 days, but give your clients over 50 days to pay. Learn how to double your sales without adding sales people. Learn how to route orders smoothly in your operation with proven procedures and effective store layout. Learn how to evaluate your employees and your business effectively.  Learn to turn your inventory twice as many times as you do now. Let Steve show you that when you learn to streamline your operation, you have less stress, more efficiency, and more profit.

SEM 72
Garment Screen Printing (Part III): Screen Making – Costly Errors You May Not Know You’re Making
In this information filled class Richard Greaves explains the 11 most common mysteries in screen making and how you can avoid these expensive errors. If you don’t make a screen that is easy to print with, it will cost you in lost time and frustration. Screens are the critical tool to controlling ink deposit and the edge quality of a print. Richard will show you that the judgment required in every step is easy to learn. Be sure to catch Greaves’ first two seminars in this series (SEM 57 and SEM 64).

SEM 73
Success and Profit in Large Format Digital Graphics! (Part II) Economical Color Management: Techniques That Work
David King shows you how to produce the best possible color, matching what you see on the screen to the output on your printing device. Yes, you can consistently produce the color you intend. Learn about vector vs. pixel data for color management, rules for managing customers’ files, and how to pick and print the right materials. Learn how to calibrate your monitor, printer and media, and how to modify color correctly for different lighting environments. Don't worry, good color management doesn’t cost thousands of dollars. Don’t miss Part I and Part III of this impressive series (SEM 67 and SEM 76).

SEM 74
Business Success Series (Part IV): How to Sell More of Everything - Ideas for Every Sales Professional
This fast-paced, idea-filled seminar is a must for all business owners and sales people. Let Steve Capper give you practical and usable examples that successful business owners have implemented effectively. Steve leads a spirited 90-minute session sharing from his rich list of personal experiences, including proven techniques and basic concepts that you and your sales team can put to work immediately. Steve will give you down-to-earth tools to help you sell your custom work. 

SEM 75
Dimensional Signage: A Practical “How To” for Design and Production
Raymond Chapman draws on over forty years of sign experience to provide you with a wide range of information about producing these high-end, custom products. You will be introduced to the equipment, substrates, and supplies needed, along with the process of selling, designing and constructing these unique signs. Subjects include sandblasting, hand carving, layering, and the use of CNC machines. Chapman also provides you with proven methods of finishing and installing these money making products. A gallery of completed works will inspire you to enhance your business with dimensional signage.

SEM 76
Success and Profit in Large Format Digital Graphics (Part III): Finishing Ahead - Digital Die Cutting, Laminating, Installing and Shipping that Pays
Don't throw away profits with poor efficiencies. David King shows how to choose the right laminator, laminates, adhesives and mounting boards; and, using different substrates, teaches lamination techniques for various applications including fleet graphics, floor graphics, wall murals, banners and perforated window graphics. Schedule David's Part I and Part II before taking this class (SEM 67 and SEM 73).

SEM 77
Successful Special Effects Printing Techniques
Adding the hottest specialty inks to your current offerings will add sizzle to your sales! And they’re easier to use than you might think. Lon Winters takes the perceived complexity out of special-effects printing and demonstrates how it can be used to increase your bottom line. Learn valuable techniques to add unique textures and dimension to your prints, and begin offering dynamic looks your customers won’t find anywhere else. Effective light-on-dark printing techniques are also covered.

SEM 78
For All Screenprinters: 10 Critical Screen Printing Tips Worth More Than $150 Each
Why repeat expensive mistakes? Richard Greaves condenses valuable, usable and time-tested lessons from hundreds of other screen shops, and incorporates his more than 20 years of teaching for you. If you are already a screen printer, or if you have an interest in screen printing, this one class may pay for your whole trip.

SEM 79
Business Success Series (Part V): Strategic Pricing and Estimating with Confidence
Are you competitively pricing your products and services to capture your fair share of business? Are you covering your operating and overhead costs and reaping the necessary profits to keep your company growing and healthy? Vince DiCecco reveals how to develop a "winning" pricing strategy that's tailor-made for any customer-minded business. In this lively discussion, you'll explore the four most commonly used methods for setting price - and discover why no single one of them will assure your profitability.

SEM 80
New Ideas in Sublimation: Making Money the Easy Way
Full-color sublimation leads to brightly colored profits in this course. Jim Woodhouse and Matt Woodhouse will help you target potential customers that provide piece count orders necessary for survival and provide graphic ideas, sampling tactics, customer retention and essential industry support tools to keep your sublimation business healthy. Penetrate existing customer channels as well as identify and pursue new opportunities through appropriate marketing techniques. Jim and Matt provide an insider’s view to the high return-on-investment sublimation offers.

SEM 81
Proper Digitizing for High-Quality Embroidery: An Introduction
Embroidery digitizing seems a mystery to many who wish to learn it, yet it’s simple enough to demystify. Let Helen Hart Momsen teach you the building blocks of digitizing in this class especially designed for beginners. Explanations of terms and stitch types will get you ready for a more advanced practical demonstration in The Embroidery Workshop (Saturday, 10 a.m.). Helen will also discuss how to choose and communicate with a digitizer if you decide to outsource this service. If you are trying to decide whether to add digitizing to your current business offering, this class will answer your questions.

SEM 82
Custom Design Techniques for All Designers (Part III): Turning Clip Art and Unique Fonts into Profitable Logos for Schools and Businesses
The final segment of this series provides vital guidelines for using clip art and unique fonts within your own designs. Raymond Chapman takes you through practical examples of these important tools and shows that when used appropriately, clip art and specialty fonts enhance a successful layout. Design unique corporate and school logos that impress even your toughest customers. You will also receive valuable sources to obtain quality clip art and distinctive fonts, and will be shown techniques on how to change, combine, separate, manipulate, and create new pieces of artwork from what you may already have on your hard drive.  If your designs are cluttered with ill-fitting fonts or poor clip art, let Raymond help you create and arrange a more pleasing, and higher-valued custom design. Don’t miss Raymond’s Part I and Part II of this series (SEM 63 and SEM 70).

SEM 83
Vehicle Wraps: The Essentials in Software, Printing, Installation and Removal
Vehicle wraps are making a statement in the digital imaging world. Make sure your custom business can support your clients' needs! David King has done hundreds of successful wraps and even uses them to help market his own business. He will provide the tools you need to help your vehicle wrapping profits soar! If you’re looking for information on Photoshop, templates and layout tips for vehicle graphics, this course is for you. David will also give step-by-step instructions and guidelines for printing, finishing and installation. Lastly, you'll take away important maintenance and warranty information, as well as the confidence to be able to remove vehicle wraps efficiently without damaging the vehicle.

SEM 84
Business Success Series (Part VI): Making Your Prices Stick…Without Getting Stuck
Do you think you’ve been losing business to competitors who simply undercut your price? Are you tired of having customers beat you up over a few bucks? In this spirited and idea-filled seminar, Vince DiCecco explores what you can do to protect your selling price and the profitability of your goods and services. Learn how to effectively handle price issues and what to do when you hear, “I can get the same stuff down the block cheaper.”

SEM 85
Is Digital Direct-to-Garment Right for You? Find Out Here
If you are considering adding direct-to-garment technology to your current offerings or are just starting out, this class is for you. Lon Winters will take a detailed look at the cost of capital investment including supplies and equipment, pros and cons of this new technology, strong market opportunities, quality, productivity and more. This course is designed to educate you on the real information needed to make the decision to go digital.

SEM 86
How to Sell More to Your Existing Sign Customer
Upselling signs and graphics is an important part of a successful sign shop. Tramp Warner demonstrates how a simple lettering request or graphics application can become a high-quality selling tool for the customer. Learn techniques that give your shop the ability to compete at a higher level. Tramp will teach you, through successes and pitfalls, how businesses can flourish by committing to not leaving money on the table. Learn to upsell every job from single color banners to corporate accounts. This seminar is a must for sign makers and shops that want proven techniques on growing their business.

WRK 87
The Business Growth Workshop
Do you have a written, up-to-date, easy-to-implement strategic plan that will improve your chances for sustained growth in your business? Although developing one does not require rocket science, sadly, over three-quarters of businesses in the decorated apparel, sign, digital, and awards and custom gift industry do not have such a plan. Do you have, at your finger tips, all the necessary information from your financial statements and sales history reports to tell if you are ahead, behind or right on track to meet your business goals? In this lively and insightful workshop, Vince DiCecco will simplify many of the challenges facing business owners and sales managers, such as:

• How to develop a solid and concise strategic plan—complete with core values, a unique brand promise to your marketplace, short- and long-term SMART goals and an action plan for immediate deployment.
• How to attract, recognize and hire good sales people.
• How to design a fair—yet inspiring—sales compensation program that supports your strategic plan.
• How to manage the sales process—with an emphasis on magnetic prospecting, time and opportunity management, shortening the sales cycle and effective closing techniques.
• How to process the information in your profit and loss statement, balance sheet and other key sales reports into simple, easy-to-use, meaningful data in order to make crucial and timely business decisions.
• How to accurately forecast sales and budget expenses to ensure sound, profitable business growth.

This is the “don’t miss” sales and management workshop that will actually free up more of your time to attend to your customers’ needs and the joy of producing quality goods and services—all of the things that lured you into owning your own business in the first place—rather than robbing from your already limited time to handle the administrative drudgery of running a company. This workshop is equally as vital for one- and two-person businesses as it is for small- to medium-sized companies.

WRK 88
The Sublimation Workshop: Project Sublimation “Hands On”
Presented in Coordination with The Sublimation Network

Dye Sublimation is a versatile and profitable, full-color, photo-quality digital decoration technology used to produce a variety of products geared toward numerous market segments including awards, signage, apparel, promotions, gifts and more. Led by Project Sublimation Director John Barker, and joined by Jim Woodhouse of The Sublimation Network, this hands-on, five-hour workshop will answer the following questions:

• What is dye sublimation and why is it so versatile?
• What are the benefits of adding dye sublimation to your business?
• What types of products can be made?
• How do you market sublimated products?
• What are the profit margins on sublimated products?

Included in the workshop, a “Hands-On” experience where you can press your own T-shirt, plaque, and gift product. You’ll master the trade secrets for producing beautifully printed mugs and other products. You’ll boost your profits by learning to make items right the first time. We’ll also teach you industry-insider tricks on how to troubleshoot – then fix – commonly encountered technical issues.

If you want to fully evaluate sublimation as an add-on technology before making an expensive purchasing decision, are interested in starting a sublimation business from scratch or need tips, tricks and practical instruction to become a better sublimation user, don’t allow this valuable opportunity to pass you by!

WRK 89
The Sandcarving Workshop: Profitable Advantages of Sandcarving in Your Business
Norm Dobbins will demonstrate several abrasive etching and carving processes that will show you how to combine techniques for maximum value with minimum production time. He will present several ways for you to use this information to improve your etching business and your bottom line. Through demonstrations and examples of techniques and materials, Norm will show you how to create:

• Photo resist (both dry processed and wet processed)
• Hand-cut, laser-cut and plotter-cut resist
• Artwork that meets the requirements for successful photo resist processing
• Multi-stage carving and multi-stage shading techniques
• Etched photographs

Learn how your small business can successfully compete with the largest producers of etched glass, stone, ceramic and metal products. Produce striking products on a variety of unique substrates that impress your clientele. Armed with enhanced production methods and tips on pricing products on their perceived value, Norm will teach you to turn your existing sandcarving equipment and materials into higher profit margins. These dynamic techniques will be presented with specific examples of completed work and video footage to illustrate the processes. You will walk away with an understanding of how your business can benefit from this process, and an example of photo resist that you can take into the exhibit hall to have carved.

WRK 90
The Embroidery Workshop
Are you looking for valuable information about the dynamic and profitable world of commercial embroidery? In this informative one-day workshop, Helen Hart Momsen takes you through the more advanced techniques of embroidery and expands on the endless embroidery possibilities in the decorated-apparel industry. Momsen takes a focused look at the difficulties embroidery specialists face and how their businesses can develop from merely surviving to surpassing competition. If you’re looking for solid, trustworthy industry information, let Momsen give you the details on…

• Hooping and how to make sure you’re doing it correctly
• Backing types and how to choose them
• Proper placement of your designs
• A practical demonstration of digitizing, including underlay, when to use it and when to remove it
• Creating quality details, lettering, fonts and monograms
• Wise color management when working with a fixed color palette
• Self-motivation for the self-employed with an emphasis on specific tactics for promoting embroidery
• Discussion of mistakes to avoid, lessons learned
• When to go store-front and/or online
• Profiting from quality embroidery

As the author of two ground-breaking hard-cover books on professional digitizing and embroidery, and with over a quarter century of stitching experience, Helen Hart Momsen brings enthusiasm for and appreciation of the art of embroidery to all her classes, culminating in this informational workshop. Bring your questions and your experience and help make this workshop a stimulating experience for all custom embroiderers!