WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2018 • EXHIBIT DAY ONE

11:00 a.m.- 11:50 a.m.   10 Budget-Friendly Ways to Promote Your Business Now 1 BASI/MASI Credit In addition to promoting their clients, distributors and decorators need to master the fine art of self-promotion. In this session, you’ll learn 10 can’t-miss, cost-effective marketing techniques for reaching prospects, building loyalty among current clients and bringing back lost clients. You’ll leave knowing: Why some of the best promotions cost the least amount of money How to create visibility every day, simply and effectively Tips for expanding your reach into specific target markets How to make your company and brand unforgettable. About Jimmy Lamb

Noon- 12:50 p.m.   Your Sales Success Shortcut: Build Better Relationships With Suppliers 1 BASI/MASI Credit In this industry, we triumph as a team or we fail as individuals. In order to consistently wow your customers, it’s vital to develop a team concept that runs through your entire supply chain. And as a distributor, understanding the behind-the-scenes processes of your suppliers and knowing the pitfalls of your current approach can positively impact your bottom line. During this session, you’ll learn specific steps you can take to increase communication and build the trust that will win over your suppliers. When you leave, you’ll be able to: Identify four professional alignment strategies between yourself and your suppliers Recognize three common mistakes made in distributor/vendor relationships Ask at least three key questions of your suppliers which will result in a better solution Articulate three actionable ideas that can you can implement right away to improve your distributor/supplier relationships. About Jim Ristuccia

2:00 p.m.- 2:50 p.m.   Learn the Latest Trends in Corporate Logos 1 BASI/MASI Credit Knowing the current logo, color and design trends that clients are looking for – and how to achieve them – will help your company become their go-to decorator. In this session, you’ll see what’s popular in logo colors, shapes, sizes, customization and more. Keeping on top of what works in the corporate world will serve you and your customers well, so you can tweak existing logos (or design new ones) and expertly translate print to embroidery. About Colleen Hartigan

3:00 p.m.- 3:50 p.m.   Niches to Riches: Maximize Your Profits in Specialized Markets 1 BASI/MASI Credit Though most distributors and decorators start out focused on getting any and every customer they can, the most successful businesses identify key niche markets to nurture and grow. Specializing in a specific market almost always leads to greater opportunities and higher revenue, as you fine-tune the products and services fitting a unique customer profile. But how do you find a niche that works for you? In this class, you’ll learn how to identify, develop and cultivate profitable markets to set your business apart from your competitors. You’ll leave knowing how to: Identify and analyze potential specialized markets Get in front of your audience in order to gain valuable exposure Use niche markets to maximize your margins. About Jimmy Lamb

THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2018 • EXHIBIT DAY TWO

10:00 a.m.- 10:50 a.m.   Proven Strategies to Grow Your Margins and Offer Faster Turnarounds  1 BASI/MASI Credit In this session, you’ll discover ways to unlock margins and increase your bottom line with one-stop printing and fulfillment. You’ll learn how you can improve production efficiency, reduce soft costs, and gain full visibility throughout the life cycle of your purchase orders, with blanks, printing, and fulfillment under one roof. You’ll leave with immediately actionable understanding of how to infuse technology into your printing and keep customers happy, with easy ordering and faster turnaround times. About Doug Sill

11:00 a.m.- 11:50 a.m.   Reach More Customers With Online and Mobile Marketing 1 BASI/MASI Credit Google analytics, mobile marketing, e-cards, web conferencing, configurators – do you really know what these are and how to use them to grow your business? Business and marketing technology is expanding in leaps and bounds, yet few distributors and decorators take advantage of the many low-cost and no-cost apps, services and products at their fingertips. In this session you’ll discover how they work, how to use them and where to find them during this fast-paced, technology-driven session. You’ll leave knowing: What the most popular online and mobile marketing platforms are Tips for making a small company seem like a major corporation online How to simplify your management and marketing processes using mobile technology. About Jimmy Lamb

Noon- 12:50 p.m.   Stabilizers: The Hidden Hero of Successful Embroidery Designs 1 BASI/MASI Credit Great embroidery is a combination of many elements that come together to produce a flawless design. Digitizing, hooping, tension settings and thread selection contribute to the final product, but perhaps the most overlooked dimension of embroidery is what goes on behind the stitching: the stabilizer. In this session, you’ll learn about cut-away, tear-away and specialty stabilizers, and how to choose the correct one to ensure your design’s success. About Colleen Hartigan