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.
1) Depending on what you are looking for (just apparel decorating or do you want to look at signs, engraving, awards,...) and how indept a conversation you are going to have with the exhibitors, you should be easily walk the show. However, I always feel it is better if you can walk the show the first day to get information, take the information back to a quiet place to go over the information, write down your questions and then go back on a 2nd day and get all your answers in person. You might be able to do this if you only care about one application (i.e. inkjet transfers) and take a lunch to go over everything. But it will probably be tight.
2) For the most part, the show is open till 4 PM. Exhibitors are not allowed to break down till that time. However, some do start the process early so they can make a flight out in time. Remember, it is a long and tiring process for an exhibitor to do these shows and most of them can't wait to get home or back to a hotel to get off their feet. Working a trade show as an exhibitor is not all that fun.
3) If you want some good deals on equipment, you should not wait till the last day as everything might have been purchased. Depending on what you are looking for, you can save some money. On average, a show special is 10% off and you will save some money on shipping. If you are looking at a larger piece of equipment (i.e. screen printing press, embroidery machine,...), the savings in shipping / crating can be substantial.
Hope this helps. Feel free to ask more detailed questions.
I attended my first Printwear Show Charlotte in 2007, had fun, learned a lot, and came home with tired feet.
I also met DaGuide (Mark) at the show as well who gave a nice heat transfer demo.
I personally like going the first day of any exhibit or seminar (as I used to attend IT Networking seminars in the past). I find that minds are fresh, everyone is excited and not tired yet from meeting so many people by the time the last day rolls around. It also seems that more time is taken answering questions and giving demonstrations on the first day.
I'll be attending the Charlotte Printwear this April too, of course on the first day. I'll not only be looking at 1 area though as I did last year, but 2! (Printwear and Sign Business & Digital Graphics).
I'd better get my upgraded arch supports now for all of the walking. If you go, do enjoy!
We've been to 3 NBM shows and learned a lot at each of them. We also spent a lot of money too. So either leave all your money home or bring it all!
We go for 3 days as it is a long drive for us. The first day we do a quick look around to see who is there. The second day we talk to the people who interest us. And the third day is to get answers to any questions we might have.
Trade shows are one of those places where you see stuff you didn't know you needed...and then you buy it!
Have fun!
I haven't been to an NBM tradeshow and am currently doing research and gathering money. I have a couple of questions
1) How much time is enough to see everything? Is one day enough
2) Does the show really last until 4pm on Saturday or will everything be winding down earlier than that?
3) Will I find some great deals on equipment/inks?
hobby,
Mark is right on the money. We typically do all the NBM shows and most of the ISS shows this year in one capacity or another. The first day is when everybody is fresh and ready to sell. You'll get your best demo during the second half of the first day and all day the second day. By the third day everybody has sore backs and their feet hurt so you may get less enthusiasm than usual, that's just the nature of a trade show. The best time to get a good deal is the beginning of the third day, that's when everyone is making their plans to pack up and ship all their stuff home. Most exhibitors don't want to pack everything back up and ship it so they're willing to cut a real good deal to get you to take the equipment off the floor.
The show is small enough to walk in one day, but if you come upon a really busy booth, it may take a long time to get to talk to someone and it may be better to come back later when traffic has died down.
Good rule of thumb, exhibitors typically take lunch just after noon, so get there early or wait until after 2pm to get the expert's opinion. Very often one of us takes off for lunch and that's when the perfect demo is out of reach. After setting up and running trade show booths for 3+years, I've found that this and what Mark says above to be as close to fact as possible.
I have another question. The person who is going with me has a bad knee and wants to know if there are places to sit and rest rather than standing/walking all the time.
not sure about Charlotte, but in Long Beach a place to sit on the show floor is limited..last time not even chairs at some of the food places...but there were seats at the upstairs entrance....maybe the same at Charlotte
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5p Screen Making F 11 1p 10 Tips worth $150 Each
Lon Winters teaches: Special Effects Printing for High-Density, Discharge, Glitter, Foil, Mixed-Media
Is Digital Direct-to-Garment Right for You?
I go to all 5 Printwear Shows and on Wednesday at 11am
I always go to: Intro to CorelDRAW (Part I): The Essential Skill Set Craig Mertens and Jay Busselle
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How are you measuring? Ulano Technical Product Manager - NYC
I have another question. The person who is going with me has a bad knee and wants to know if there are places to sit and rest rather than standing/walking all the time.
I do not recall there being places to sit on the showroom floor. However, there is an area just outside of the showroom that I believe has seats and restrooms available.
I'll be there this year on day 2, which is Friday, instead of day 1 as initially stated.
I have another question. The person who is going with me has a bad knee and wants to know if there are places to sit and rest rather than standing/walking all the time.
My wife and I attend the Golden Triangle Show in Greensboro. The seating at that trade show is so limited that several people sat on the stairs outside the event to eat lunch. She might want to bring one of those folding chair in a bag deals that she can open and close quickly as needed.
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Hard labor kills, make t-shirts instead.
I've seen the light! MAn I'm glad I came! THere's a lot of DTG machines on display. The hot new thing.
Still would like to have a shiny new 7 color auto though.
I like the powerhouse 2608 dryer too. Looks real good close up. Kinda big too. I bet I can push 360pcs/hr through that thing.
THe Roland versacamm vp540 is a beast! I would love to own an older used machine. Open up a lot of new possibilities!
I've seen the light! MAn I'm glad I came! THere's a lot of DTG machines on display. The hot new thing.
Still would like to have a shiny new 7 color auto though.
I like the powerhouse 2608 dryer too. Looks real good close up. Kinda big too. I bet I can push 360pcs/hr through that thing.
THe Roland versacamm vp540 is a beast! I would love to own an older used machine. Open up a lot of new possibilities!
What was the price on the 7 color auto?
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Hard labor kills, make t-shirts instead.
I have another question. The person who is going with me has a bad knee and wants to know if there are places to sit and rest rather than standing/walking all the time.
Depending on what you want the show is broken down into 3 segments. When I attended the first time I found most of the show was not geared to my business. So I was able to see what I wanted in a day. For your friend i would rent a wheel chair. What is good about that is you have a place to carry all the stuff you are going to pick up. Your friend is comfortable and there is not the pressure of leaving early because they could not make the whole show on foot. Lou
__________________ There is a center to everything.. I found mine at.. www.heatpressessentials.com TEE SQUARE IT, LOGO IT! TEE PAD IT!www.tbiz101.com (New)Heat Transfer Education
NBM tradeshow in Charlotte, April 
