At the 2025 Impressions Expo in Long Beach, we unveiled an innovative booth that captivated attendees and highlighted the efficiency of heat transfers in apparel decoration. Yes, we had a 2-'x40' booth space, but we actually only used 8'x8' of it. How? Read on to find out.
A Tale of Two Workspaces
The booth's design featured a seamless backdrop extending into the flooring, depicting a detailed blueprint of a conventional screen printing shop. This illustration showcased the extensive equipment typically required, including a 6-station carousel screen print press, dryer, screen room, and ink room. In stark contrast, at the center of our booth stood a minimalist platform, constructed from shipping pallets, where a single operator used a heat press. This setup underscored the minimal space and effort needed for heat transfers compared to traditional methods.
Big Impact, Tiny Footprint: The Giveaway Challenge
One of the highlights of our booth was an interactive giveaway where we challenged attendees to guess how many garments could be pressed in our 8x8 space during the three-day expo. The winning number? 1,115 garments. This challenge was a powerful way to showcase the incredible efficiency of heat transfers—demonstrating that even in a compact space, high-volume production is entirely achievable.
Creative Heat Transfer Applications
To further illustrate the versatility of heat transfers, we applied DTF transfers directly to the cardboard boxes used in our booth setup. This unexpected and creative application reinforced the adaptability of our technology and caught the attention of many attendees.
Strategic Messaging: Educate and Inspire
Our booth aimed to:
- Educate Newcomers: Showcasing that entering the decorated apparel industry is accessible—requiring just a heat press, workspace, and innovative ideas.
- Advise Potential Equipment Buyers: Highlighting the advantages of ordering transfers over investing in complex equipment, thereby avoiding potential production challenges.
- Complement Existing Screen Printers: Demonstrating how adding a heat press can enhance current operations, offering flexibility and efficiency.
Main Message: Less Space, More Possibility
The key message on our backdrop summed it up perfectly:
"We don't need this much room. Neither do you. Heat transfers save time, money, and space."
This statement reinforced our core belief—success in apparel decoration doesn’t require massive equipment or square footage. Heat transfers offer a smarter, more efficient way to scale production without the overhead of traditional setups.
Exclusive Giveaways: Designed In-House
As part of our engagement strategy, we offered exclusive giveaways featuring six unique designs created by our in-house artists. These custom pieces highlighted the creative potential of heat transfers and gave attendees a tangible example of what can be achieved with our products.
Reflecting on the Experience
Convincing people of how transformative and EASY heat transfers can be to a business has always been a challenge. It always felt like a "ifykyk" secret that we just couldn't bring to light. But by SHOWING people, truly, how little space you need, contrasted against the space you might need with traditional printing techniques, it feels like we're finally getting that message across.
Other Things
We participated in two of Ink Kitchen's Shop Talk panels this year!
Our VP of DTF Printing, Nate (seated at the end on the right) on a Shop Talk panel to talk about the transfer industry.
On Thursday, our VP of DTF Printing, Nate Sprowell, was part of a Shop Talk panel hosted by Ink Kitchen and moderated by Rick Roth. Industry leaders discussed the transfer industry, what’s new and what to look for. Guests learned more about transfers from screen print to direct to film along with what to look for in a transfer vendor.
Our Social Media Manager, Steph (seated second from the right) on a Shop Talk panel to talk about marketing in the apparel industry.
On Friday, our Social Media Manager, Steph Michael, spoke with Stan from T-Shirt Side Hustle and Dave from Stahl's to discuss marketing trends in the apparel industry. They shared thoughtful tips on how to define your ideal client to increase your profit margins and insights on what really works in the constantly changing world of marketing. "Community is king," Steph advised, "People want to connect with you, so making sure they know where to find you at all times is very important." She continued, "Have main character energy. Everyone wants to know your story and if they feel like they’re a part of your community, they’re going to bring in more people to support you."
We hope to see you at the next show!
