SGIA Expo Hits New Orleans

As summer speeds by and fall quickly approaches, it’s time to start gearing up for what’s sure to serve as a graphics industry veteran “family reunion” and an immersive introduction for industry newcomers: the SGIA Expo. This year, the show heads back to the land of Bourbon Street, Mardi Gras, jazz, and Cajun food for the first time since 2011. The 2017 show will run at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center October 10-12, with a few half-day events scheduled for early birds on October 9.

As summer speeds by and fall quickly approaches, it’s time to start gearing up for what’s sure to serve as a graphics industry veteran “family reunion” and an immersive introduction for industry newcomers: the SGIA Expo. This year, the show heads back to the land of Bourbon Street, Mardi Gras, jazz, and Cajun food for the first time since 2011. The 2017 show will run at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center October 10-12, with a few half-day events scheduled for early birds on October 9.

There’s a reason more than 24,000 print guys and gals flocked to last year’s event: SGIA Expo has something for everyone. Full-day workshops, 40-plus educational sessions, networking opportunities, Women in Print events, specialty luncheons, symposiums, more than 540 exhibitors, and much more ensure that every sector of specialty printing is represented.

With so many things to do and see, it can be easy to get lost in the shuffle. Here are some of the expo’s must-attend happenings for every type of printer.

The Expo Floor
Tuesday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | 540+ exhibitors

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La Nouvelle Ballroom
Golden Image Competition Entries from more than 50 categories across the specialty graphics spectrum will be on display all week.

Tuesday, 5-6 p.m.
Let the Good Times Roll Community Reception This networking happy hour serves as a great time to talk with industry peers and check out the Golden Image Gallery.

ASDPT Tom Frecska Student Printing Competition The work of graphics arts students in high school and college programs will be featured in this competition, named for the late Screen Printing editor. Winners will be announced during the expo.

Brands Talking Sustainability Luncheon
Tuesday, 12-2 p.m.
Network with print shop owners, national brands, and retailers while discussing one of the industry’s hottest topics.

Your Business: Prepare for Success
Monday, 1-5 p.m.
This half-day conference for new and established business owners includes four presentations and a wrap-up Q&A session: “168 Hours: Use it Wisely” from Ryan Sauers of Sauers Consulting; “Establishing & Marketing Your Brand” from Vince DiCecco, Your Personal Business Trainer; “Launching a Strong Sales Effort” presented by David Fellman of Dave Fellman and Associates; and “Five Real-World Steps to Business Success” from Big Ink’s Tom Trutna.

Wide-Format 101: Four Steps to Profitability
Monday, 1-5 p.m.
Beginner and intermediate-level digital imagers can join SGIA, Mimaki USA, Nazdar, Big Ink, and other speakers to learn about the wide-format market and technology, running a business, materials and finishing, and color management and equipment strategies.

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Women in Print
Wednesday, 7:30-9 a.m.
Women in Print Alliance Breakfast Join SGIA’s Women in Print Alliance, Big Picture’s 2017 Women in Print Award winners, author and work-life balance speaker Fawn Germer, and other industry women for networking, breakfast, and a discussion of the results from the alliance’s industry-wide survey.

Wednesday, 2:30 p.m.
Women in Print Winners Panel Fawn Germer hosts this free panel discussion during which Big Picture’s 2017 Women in Print Award winners will delve into the role of women in today’s print industry and more.

General Education
With garment decoration, graphics and sign, industrial imaging, and business management tracks, there’s an education session for everyone. Here are some of our favorites.

Tuesday
9 a.m. The Business of Screen Printing Brett Bowden, Printed Threads
10:30 a.m. The Latest in UV Equipment, Inks & Trends (In Partnership with Radtech) Jim Raymont, EIT
1 p.m. “DAM Good Art” Changing Product Customization in the Apparel Industry Nathan Anderson, F&M Expressions
2:30 p.m. Hi-Tech Screen Printing 101 for Management Mike Young, Imagetek Consulting

Wednesday
9 a.m. Inkjet and Corrugated: Innovative and Untraditional Solutions Rebecca McConnell, Fujifilm North America Corporation Graphic Systems Division
10:30 a.m. Would You Buy from You? Your Brand Makes the Difference Ryan Sauers, Sauers Consulting Strategies
1 p.m. Selecting the Right Ink Technology for Your Application Michael Maxwell, Mimaki USA
2:30 p.m. The Five Fundamentals the Best Screen Printers Know and Control (and So Should You) Alan Howe, Saati Chemicals

Thursday
9 a.m. Getting Smart with Some Simple Marketing Strategies Aaron Montgomery, aaronmontgomery.info
10:30 a.m. The Rise of Digital Technologies in Printed Packaging Sean Smyth, Smithers Pira
1 p.m. Garment Decoration Discussion Johnny Shell, SGIA

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Printed Electronics Symposium
Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Join owners, managers, printers, OEMs, and suppliers for a day-long symposium covering the growing e-textiles market. Topics such as changes in the marketplace, advances in technology, case studies, and business opportunities will be discussed by industry leaders from Brown Manufacturing, Nazdar, AATCC, Engineered Materials Systems, and more.

Wrap like a Pro Workshops
Tuesday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Offsite
Choose from three single-day workshop sessions designed to teach entry-level and veteran vehicle wrappers alike. Rob Ivers of Rob Ivers, Inc., and Core Graphics & Signs’ Shane Courtney lead these hands-on sessions.

New Orleans Must-Sees
New Orleans is a city filled to the brim with history, food, voodoo, music, and so much more. One of the best ways to explore all that this one-of-a-kind metropolis has to offer is through its extensive tour options. Set aside time to experience the city in a brand new way through a number of lenses, from swamps, cemeteries, and ghosts, to the French Quarter, plantations, and more. After taking in NOLA via foot, Segway, or bus, be sure to check out these city staples:

• Beignet pastries and cafe au lait (Café du Monde)
• Street performances, from music to acrobatics to human statues (French Quarter)
• Po’ boy sandwiches (Parkway Bakery & Tavern)
• Live jazz (Preservation Hall)
• Oysters and freshly boiled crawfish (Bevi Seafood Co.)

Read more from Screen Printing‘s August/September 2017 issue.