Long Beach, CA
Sell Smarter: How Online Stores Drive Sales for Apparel Decorators & Sign Shops
Unlocking sales growth isn’t just about what you sell—it’s about how easy you make it for customers to buy. In this session, you’ll learn how apparel decorators and sign shops are creating online stores for their customers to simplify the buying process, drive repeat orders, and support long-term, scalable growth. Not all e-commerce platforms are created equal. You’ll see how industry-specific tools—like integrated supplier feeds, mockup generation, and built-in online design features—can give your shop a competitive edge.
What You’ll Learn:
- Create Sales-Driven Online Stores: Build branded, customer-facing stores that showcase apparel, signage, and promotional products in one seamless platform.
- Support Fundraisers with Less Effort: Learn how decorators structure online stores for fundraisers that run themselves (and drive repeat business).
- Expand Customer Segments: Reach schools, teams, small businesses, and community groups with tailored store experiences.
- Create an Amazon-Like Experience: Deliver a familiar, easy-to-use shopping experience that reduces admin work, simplifies purchasing, and keeps customers coming back.
- Scale Without Chaos: Learn how stores help shops grow revenue without overloading your team or breaking your processes.
Whether your shop specializes in apparel, signage, promotional products or a mix of all 3, the ability to adapt and offer the right products for your customers is key to growth. You’ll learn how to build online stores that support your core offerings—or help you expand into new ones – while streamlining workflows and serving schools, teams, nonprofits, and businesses.
Speakers
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Craig MertensDirector of Production EducationCraig Mertens is the director of product education for Inktavo, the parent company of GraphicsFlow, Inksoft, and Printavo. Craig has been working in the apparel decoration, sign, and awards industry for the last 30 years. Craig has spent his career developing products and services that assist in managing graphics, optimizing sales, and growing profitable businesses. Craig has a wide range of expertise in graphics, sales, and production in the decorated apparel industry.
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Success Stories
What our attendees have to say
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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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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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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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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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Melanie Hutchinson
The Embroidery HutchHaving the ability to interact and speak with suppliers and educational professionals and to see new products is priceless!
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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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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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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.