10 Things We Want to See Next in Garment & Product Decoration

Every year, we take a step back and ask a simple but important question. What do we really want to see change or improve in the garment and product decoration industry? In this annual tradition, Aaron, Erich, and Terry share their list of 10 things they hope to see in the year ahead. From meaningful innovations and smarter processes to shifts in mindset and industry culture, this conversation is about progress that actually helps shop owners run better businesses. And as always, this is not a one-way conversation. We want to hear your ideas, your frustrations, and your hopes for the future. Join us live and add your voice to the discussion. Your business doesn’t need more tasks. It needs clarity, alignment, and a structure that supports you. The Business Builder Accelerator is a guided 12-week experience that helps you uncover what actually matters, make confident decisions, and build a foundation you can grow on. Explore the experience and sign up for a free clarity call –> OSG.link/Builder News If you have anything newsworthy you would like us to share, please email details to [email protected]. Use the subject line “Weekly News.” https://youtu.be/F-uPGvItDf0 Dad Joke Terry: I was going to quit all my bad habits for the new year Then I remembered that nobody likes a quitter. 10 Things We Would Like to See in 2026 Last year… Here is our update for the first week of 2026 Terry: High School and College Internship Program. Regulators, tell us. What are you seeing? Aaron: A Focus on Mindset Training for Business Owners. It was pretty much my solo focus, so I hope it came true. Not sure if I was just around it more, or if we are seeing more of it. I’ll keep carrying the flag. Terry: Promotions Calendar. I’m hopeful. Regulators? Aaron: Better Eco-Friendly Solutions Across All Decorating Methods. Unfortunately, I feel like AI took the focus off this, and so I feel like we need to get back on track in 2026. Terry: Think Outside the Box for New Employees. I think the world has changed a bit… Doug Sobel: My unicorn hope is to see someone creates dtf that would have the softness of dye sub with the color saturation of DTF to be able to do transfers on any type of fabric. no more plastic feeling. Craig Bradley: Some insight into laser engravers Simply Embroidery: How to utilize internships Ramona McKee: White toner might be the back-burner tech, but it is out there, and it does a great job for what it does. Regulators – Any updates? Terry: Calming Down of the DTF Industry. I’ve seen a calming and more consistent approach in the “how to” of DTF printing. Still early, but I think we’re in a good place. Aaron: More diversity in the blanks distributors. Unfortunately, it has been less than it feels like. Terry, I know you are going to talk to this later. Terry: Blue Checkmark as Recognized Authority. I think it’s still the Wild West for a while. Erich: Embroiders Getting a Seat at the Large Industry Table. At Printing United, I was happy to see embroiderers at the table when it came to the burgeoning world of digital print and fulfillment, as well as simply being more present in the larger conversations. I think that we still have a long way to go as far as really owning our part in the space, though watching large trade organizations recognize our percentage and pedigree in the market was fulfilling. Terry: Consolidation slow down It feels like every time we go to a tradeshow or have a guest here on 2RG, we hear about a company that’s been gobbled up by another. America West Airlines was awesome bought US Air and took their name, and quality of travel went down bought American Airlines and took their name, and quality of travel went down again I feel like we need a scorecard to keep up Garment and product decoration has always been a personal one-on-one type of interaction. We’re on track right now to lose a lot of that Aaron: Strength-Led Business Design – I see a lot of business owners who are focused on their weaknesses, the comparison trap. And the worst trap of all – Trying to be all things to everyone.  Owners building roles, schedules, and offers around what they are good at, not what the industry says they “should” do. See exhausted business owners because they are trying to build businesses that fight who they are. The comparison trap pushes owners to focus on gaps, weaknesses, and what they think they “should” be doing based on someone else’s success. Instead of asking, “What am I bad at and how do I fix it?” the better question becomes, “What am I naturally good at and how do I build around that?” Example – Someone who is highly relational. Love the connection, consulting, and relationships. But they compare themselves to someone who is “successful” in selling online, focusing on transactions. If they focus on strengths = business they love. SVPs This is exactly what the 13 business owners in the Accelerator are doing. They are not just tweaking tactics. They are redesigning their businesses from the inside out. We are in the first week of a 12-week program and this was one comment I got earlier in the week – The Accelerator helped me throw away the overwhelming to-do list and replace it with a clear road map and three to five achievable actions each day that are already creating momentum. Erich: Strengthening and Refinement after Industry Democratization This year, more than any, we saw the bar to entry drop precipitously, but I’ve also seen a wave of used equipment and embroiderers in quick-fail or never-launched situations on the back end of that wave. The industry needs some structure and thought to help new embroiderers enter the industry with more preparation We have to intelligently evaluate how this disruption will affect current markets and the place of servicers and vendors in this space. Education, Education, Education Terry: Appreciation of screen printing Yes, DTF transfers are easier, but now everybody and his brother is offering it Screen printing offers so many decoration options Puff ink, gels, suedes, multi-media, foil, etc The more DTF decorators enter the marketplace, the more end customers will crave something new You don’t have to become a screen printer, but you can offer the services Aaron: Real Number Literacy for Decorators – I’m still a little in awe of how many business owners I meet who don’t know how much it costs them to be in business. The challenge is – how do you set your pricing if you don’t know your costs? Many of them are just waiting to go out of business, but won’t know it until it is too late, and they are deeply in debt and have ruined a lot of other areas of their life too. We have had great examples of running your business from a place of strength in knowing your numbers, like Daniel Frank, the discussion we had with Brad Pengelly around Thanksgiving about automation, but we also talked about knowledge. Nick Gawreluk talking Smarter Profit Strategies for Apparel Decorators Pricing from clarity, not fear or Facebook comments. Pricing based on the perceived value, not on the race to the bottom – Starts with knowing your numbers This is FUNdamental #7 in my book – And my Friend Becky Kotzer has a program coming out this year – Purpose + Profit. Will be really helpful for decorators. Stay tuned! Erich: Reinforce the Value Proposition for Digitizers I know, easy for me to say. Constantly watching people complain about getting low-value commodity work when they are offering low-value remuneration and honestly not providing digitizers with key info Conversely, I want to educate high-value digitizers in how to market that value, extract that information, and provide something that goes beyond the commodity Two-way street of value education and marketing / understanding the spectrum of sourcing Terry: Tradeshow refocus on education Let me start with, “Yeah, I know, it’s a business.” New ownership, new management of late, and what feels like a primary focus on turning a buck “Yeah, I know, it’s a business.” Feels as if we’re losing track of who brought us to the dance When I was starting out, I went to the shows with education being 90% of the reason for my investment of money and time. Charging admission to education, I’m fine with. Charging admission to walk the show, not so much. Gives most of us a feeling of “this is all about making money” rather than a gathering of like-minded businesses and people I know vendors I’ve talked to don’t like it My Field of Dreams very loose reference – More and better education, and they will come Aaron: More Involvement in the REGGIEs – I know this might look self-serving at first glance, but in reality, our world gets more and more disconnected the more “connected” to our phones and computers we get. The REGGIEs are a way to keep the industry connected to REAL people. We are just the facilitators, so let’s make sure in 2026, you all break the nomination form with an overload of the amazing people in our industry that need to be recognized. I will take responsibility here, as I put the REGGIEs on cruise control. Thought if it wasn’t broke, don’t fix it. So this year, we will be revamping, improving, and hopefully bringing new voices to the room.  We will do our part, but the Regulators need to step up, too! Erich: Continue to Seek and Develop new Relationships and Enhance new Voices I want to encourage and facilitate more cross-disciplinary and cross-market relationships and to encourage new voices to come to the forefront. Personally and professionally, make the effort to reach out ‘across the aisle.’ Regulators from chat:@dougsobel2571  more embroidery and more Business processes like intake samples approval production ect… The Secret Sauce We serve up bite-sized tips for our #regulators to instantly spice up their decorated apparel business. Just like the perfect wing sauce, these quick tips can transform your business experience, adding flavor and depth to your operations. Each video in this playlist is a nugget of wisdom, carefully selected for its potential to bring immediate value to your work. So, whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started in the decorated apparel industry, dip into our ‘Secret Sauce’ for insights that can help you soar. https://youtu.be/SKtXHoGqEPA OTHER EVENTS Small Business Saturdays – Saturdays at Noon Central Time and then available to watch any time. Master of Success Inner Circle – Bi-weekly Mastermind Groups with accountability, support, and a built-in support group. Complete Screen Printing Business Course with Atlas Screen Supply in Chicago, March 21-22, 2026 The Take-up with Erich Campbell – Fridays at 2:30 Mountain Time Demystifying Next Level Digitizing Online Training from Erich Campbell Understanding Emblems: Learn from Erich Campbell about digitizing for patches. DTF Transfer from TransferDepot.com: Use code AMONTGO2025 for 10% Off DTFUniversity.com: The industry’s DTF education source in partnership with APAS and DTF Superstore Trade Shows Impressions Long Beach, CA – January 22-24, 2026 DAX Kansas City, MO – February 20-21, 2026 ASI Show Forth Worth, TX – March 9-11, 2026 Graphics Pro Expo, Irving, TX – March 12-14, 2026 Impressions Atlantic City, NJ – March 26-28, 2026 DAX Dayton, OH – April 24-25, 2026 DAX Chicago, IL – May 15-16, 2026 DAX Tampa, FL – May 29-30, 2026 DAX Nashville, TN – June 19-20, 2026 ASI Show Chicago, IL – July 21-23, 2026 DAX Twin Cities, MN – August 7-8, 2026 Graphics Pro Expo, Long Beach, CA – August 13-15, 2026 Graphics Pro Expo, Cleveland, OH – September 10-11, 2026 Printing United Expo, Las Vegas, NV – September 23-25, 2026 Impressions Dallas, TX – October 22-24, 2026All dates and events are subject to change