Discuss the process of getting your t-shirt line into brick and mortar stores and selling offline. Topics include industry tradeshows, events, line sheets, sales reps and other retailing tips and advice.
I'm starting a graphic apparel line and I'm looking to attend a tradeshow where I can view all the new/available technologies, view screen printer's work, make relationships, etc. Most of the tradeshows I've seen are for actual screen printers themselves, rather than by the printers and for the buyer. Does anyone have a suggestion for this? Sooner is better, but travel is not a problem. Thanks.
I have been to the IIS several times and always learn something new. As Courtney said Alantic City is coming up. I go to Indy every year. Good luck .. JB
Thanks for your replies. We're in Kansas City, MO. I did see the ISS information but was concerned it was targeted to printers themselves, rather than by printers to potential clients. Is ISS somewhere I can see samples of printers' work, view blanks, make relationships with printers, make decisions about my supply chain, etc?
The ISS Shows are really focused on getting the decorators to walk the show floor. If I am understanding you correctly, you want to go to a show that has the decorators working a booth to show off their talents. As far as I know, there is not really a show that is like this. Magic is the closest thing, but that is geared to the larger buyers (larger retailer stores, amusement parks, specialty stores,...) and a considerable amount of the booths will not have the actual printers / decorators in them for you to talk to.
What I would recommend doing is going to an ISS or Printwear Show and talk to as many people that are walking the show floor (not the exhibitors, but the attendees). Otherwise, start working the industry forums.
The reason why there is not really a show like this that I know of is that most companies that want stuff decorated either don't want to spend a lot of time sourcing companies or they want it made locally. There are a lot of options when it comes to getting stuff embroidered, screen printed,... and it would be a tough to start / maintain a trade show like this. I use to run a trade show in our industry and it is not as easy as you might think it is. Hope this helps.
Thanks for your response. That is the information I was looking for, although I am a bit disappointed in the reality of the situation.
Most screen printers I've seen seem to focus on the corporate community...which makes sense as I'm sure that's where most of the money is. I'm looking for a more alternative look, i.e. blanks from American, Alternative, or Continental screen printed with a softer hand and a more vintage look. Some embroidery but not the dense logo-style one usually sees, but more natural, with fewer longer stiches. Think Obey, Artful Dodger, maybe Abercrombie & Fitch.
I'd prefer to print locally for quality control purposes but I can find any who specialize in the type of printing I need. Thus, I was hoping to find a single showroom where I could browse everyone at once. With that no longer an option, do you have any other suggestions?
ISS use to hold a High Volume Decorator Summit at some of their trade shows. I am no longer sure if this is the case or if they stopped doing this. You could try and contact someone there and see what they suggest.
You might want to also contact Impressions Magazine and see what they suggest. Marcia Deberry (Editor) is a really nice lady, but she can get pretty busy. If I see her in Atlantic City for the show this week, I will try to remember to ask her.
Best tradeshow for buyer? 
