With a little over two weeks to go until the Impressions Expo decorated apparel trade show in Atlantic City, New Jersey (March 21-23), the numbers are now officially in, and the event looks to be bigger than ever.
Out on the show floor, for example, look to see 14 percent more exhibition space, with distributors and manufacturers from across the industry offering the latest in blank apparel and merchandise; embroidery tech; and screen-printing, heat-pressing and digital decorating materials and equipment.
Similarly, over on the Shop Talk stage, hosted by Ink Kitchen founder and Mirror Image CEO Rick Roth, in the show’s conference area no less than 63 percent of the educational sessions on offer and 40 percent of the speakers will be new for this year’s event.
Examples of just a few of the conference sessions on tap include a panel discussion titled “AI and Automation for Decorated Apparel Operations” featuring such industry leaders as seps.io founder Gavin StGeorges and Jon Ladd of Terminus Tees; a deep dive into the Midjourney generative AI art and design platform with veteran decorator Marshall Atkinson, of Atkison Consulting; and a session on effective e-commerce strategies with Inktavo’s Craig Mertens.
There will, of course, also be the usual hands-on decorating sessions with the heat-press specialists at STAHLS’ and screen-printing guru and author of “The Screen Printers Handbook & Survival Guide,” Charlie Taublieb of Taublieb consulting.
Examples of some of the topics Roth will be addressing include the many uses of artificial intelligence with Michelle Moxley Hruby; the ins and out of financing for businesses big and small with T-Shirt Side Hustle’s Stan Banks and Gary Kantor of Hirsch Solutions; and the nuts and bolts of garment construction with Alphabroder’s Andrea Routzahn.
For more on information on everything from the exhibitors to the educational opportunities at this year’s Impressions Atlantic City show, click here.
