StartUp Decorator Program Prepares for ISS Orlando Debut

February 02, 2006 (PRLEAP.COM) Business News
ATLANTA — The second of six StartUp Decorator Workshops, designed to help future embroiderers, screen printers and other garment decorators get off on the right foot in the $46 billion decorated apparel and promotional products industry, is slated to take place Wednesday, February 16 in conjunction with the Imprinted Sportswear Show (February 17-19) at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

Now in its second year, the StartUp Decorator Workshop last year introduced nearly 300 aspiring entrepreneurs to the challenges and opportunities involved in operating a successful decorated apparel business. Instruction in this all-day workshop includes overviews of business fundamentals, equipment, technique and sourcing.

“This year’s program includes exposure to each of the three major decorated apparel processes — embroidery, screen printing and heat printing — as well as the latest technological revolution — digital direct-to-garment inkjet printing,” said Richard Lebovitz, editorial director of the IMPRESSIONS media group. “We’ve also added demos on basic machine and software operation.”

According to Lebovitz, producing decorated apparel is a challenging but rewarding way to earn a livelihood. “Part of the industry’s appeal is the diversity of products and variety of designs and techniques you can use to embellish them,” he says. “Driving sales today are graphic T-shirts, from retro rock scenes to modern messages; logoed business apparel; and personalized gift items for almost every occasion.”

Additional workshops are scheduled to take place throughout the year prior to the opening day of the Imprinted Sportswear Shows in the following locations: Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, N.J. (March 16); Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center, Schaumburg, Ill. (August 9); Cobb Galleria Centre, Atlanta (September 13) and Fort Worth Convention Center, Fort Worth, Texas (October 11).

Each Imprinted Sportswear Show also offers a full conference program covering the business of decorated apparel as well as screen printing, embroidery and heat-applied graphics applications and techniques.

For StartUp Decorator Workshop registration information, and information on the Imprinted Sportswear Shows, visit www.impressionsmag.com or www.embmag.com.


The StartUp Decorator Workshop is an educational extension of the IMPRESSIONS family, which includes IMPRESSIONS and EMB magazines and the Imprinted Sportswear Shows, among other media designed to serve the decorated apparel industry. The IMPRESSIONS group is part of VNU Business Media, a business unit of VNU NV, a global information and media company with headquarters in Haarlem, The Netherlands, and New York.


Decorated Apparel Industry Facts
Total Revenue (2004) - $46.1 billion
Total Employees - 343,000
Total Businesses - 57,000
Top Three Markets - Local Businesses, Schools, Sports Teams
Top Business Trends - Diversification, Franchising
Top Technology Trend - Digital Direct-to-Garment Inkjet Printers


Source: IMPRESSIONS 2005 Decorated Apparel Universe Study