Long Beach, CA
Decorate Smarter: A Masterclass in Growth, Clarity & Getting Out of Your Own Way, with Nicole Pape
Hard-earned business lessons from the production trenches — built for any shop that’s ready to scale smarter.
Whether you’re wrapping cars, printing signs, decorating tees or tumblers — the real business happens behind the scenes. It’s in the systems, the numbers, the team dynamics, and the invisible chaos that kills momentum.
In this session, Nicole will share the lessons that helped her grow from manual printing shirts in a loft in Los Angeles to leading an international multi-million-dollar operation — and now helping other shops grow with clarity, confidence, and margin.
Attendees will learn how to:
- See what their workflow is really costing — and what to do about it
- Stop hiring to fix problems that are actually systems issues
- Build team accountability without burnout or micromanagement
- Forecast workload and labor with intention
- Grow a business that doesn’t rely on the owner being everywhere, all the time
Speakers
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Nicole PapeNicole Pape is the founder and CEO of Embellishr, a marketplace for premium pre-owned and new production equipment, serving the apparel, promo, and print decoration industries. With nearly two decades of hands-on experience in high-output environments, Nicole built her career from the ground up, mastering everything from manual printing to full-scale automation and production optimization. Before founding Embellishr in 2022, Nicole was a partner in a major West Coast commercial embellishment facility and held a pivotal role with equipment manufacturer ROQ US, where she gained deep insight into workflow strategy, shop tech, and the evolving needs of modern print businesses. Nicole’s sharp eye for process efficiency and profit potential has helped hundreds of shops upgrade smarter, whether through equipment acquisition or production workflow redesign. Her mission is simple: eliminate waste, increase clarity, and help shop owners maximize every dollar earned. Based in Reno, Nevada, Nicole is also a proud mom to an 8-year-old son, a visual artist, and a lifelong lover of architecture, travel, and creative expression.
Share the knowledge!
Success Stories
What our attendees have to say
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Erich Elfeldt
LanternMax EngravingAttending GRAPHICS PRO EXPO is essential for anyone in the business. I go every year and always learn something new. Meeting suppliers face-to-face has really helped leverage my product line, and the personal contacts I make are invaluable. GPX is a can’t miss event and already on my calendar for the next one.
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Chris Merz
Harbor WrapsI have attended the GRAPHICS PRO EXPO two years in a row now and have had an amazing experience both times. It’s a fantastic place to connect with vendors and other industry professionals.
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Mike Leary
Sundance SignThis show is an investment in my business. After seeing the diverse cross section of information available, it inspired me to look at other products and services that we could provide to our customers, and ways to do what we do better.
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Bill Kuiper
Clan Customs, LLCThe amount of new information I gain both in training sessions and talking to the exhibitors on the floor is fantastic!
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Kerstyn Kunkle
Kunkle KreationsI really enjoyed the show and learned tons of new tricks to better my business. I’m grateful for this experience and the opportunity to meet with vendors that related to my line of business. There is really everything for anyone who works with designing/producing custom graphics.
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Charli Belz
Impress DesignsEach time I attend GRAPHICS PRO EXPO I come away with new knowledge and resources. One of my favorite things is the training offered; I love being able to offer my team new ways to expand their knowledge from other sources in the industry!
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Judy Kriehn
Dallas MakerspaceThis has always been an event that I’ve looked forward to each year, and I wanted to thank you for a very nice event yesterday. I got a lot out of the UV printing seminar in the morning and had good discussions with a few vendors as well.
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Melanie Hutchinson
The Embroidery HutchHaving the ability to interact and speak with suppliers and educational professionals and to see new products is priceless!