SGIA Expo 2014

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas? We hope not! SGIA Expo 2014, hosted by the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association, will take place this year at the Las Vegas Convention Center, October 22-24, and the products, technology, networking, education, and ideas should all go back home with you.

“Las Vegas and the SGIA Expo have this in common: Everything goes, and anything is possible,” says Michael Robertson, president and CEO of the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA). “If it has to do with wide-format imaging, the SGIA is the place to see it.”

Arriving early? Nab an invitation to check out Reception Row, a set of free networking events held Thursday, October 23 from 5-6 pm. This year’s hosts and themes include, PDAA and Graphic Installation, Latin America, Garment Decoration, Graphic Printers, Canada (sponsored by Drytac Corporation), Printed Electronics & Industrial, and Pro Imaging Golf Championship.

Keynote Speaker
This year’s keynote features Stephen Shapiro, a business consultant and expert. Shapiro is the author of Best Practices Are Stupid and 24/7 Innovation: A Blueprint for Surviving and Thriving in an Age of Change, among others. He claims his methods improve business’ return-on-investment up to ten times.

Takeaways from the session, per SGIA, will include:
• How to ask better questions and get better answers, instead of simply asking for ideas.
• How to stop starting with a blank slate. Instead, you’ll learn new ways to increase creative output.
• How to balance expertise and innovation so that you stay creative as you gain experience.

Save the date
SGIA is anticipating 20,000 registered individuals and 525 exhibiting companies to be in attendance at the SGIA Expo, taking place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Central Hall.

• Wednesday, Oct. 22: Expo show floor opens, show hours are 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 23: Show hours are 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 24: Show hours are 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

A pass for the expo show floor is free before October 1 (non-member and SGIA members; $35 after October 1). Registration fees for individual educational sessions are $40 each ($30 for members), but special pricing is available for three- and six-session packages. In addition, a Full Business Package is available for the entire event (expo, all educational sessions, Symposium, more) for $396 ($296 for members).

And Robertson says he’s expecting a full house: “Not only is the number of exhibiting companies up from previous years, but many exhibitors have expanded their space.”

Be sure to check out the exhibitor list and even get a show floor tour at sgia.org/expo. And don’t forget to stop by The Big Picture’s booth: #3635

Top Picks: Educational Sessions
“In addition to a huge variety of equipment and supplies on display, we’ll have the Educational Zones on the Expo floor again this year,” says Robertson. “The zones are a very popular way to get up to speed on specific issues.”Within the zones are 45 sessions organized into tracks focused on graphics and sign, garment decoration, business, industrial imaging, and installation. To help further the educational experience, there will be 60 presentations in the SGIA Educational Zones on the Expo floor.

Need help selecting a session for your team? Here are our recommendations:

Oct. 22: 11 a.m. in Room N115
Company owners, production managers, and workflow teams who want to know more about purchasing or upgrading wide-format equipment should attend EFI’s G. Scott Wood’s session: “Factors Impacting Your Wide-Format Bottom Line.” His session will “explore several high-level factors that affect a wide-format printing device investment decision, including hard costs, ink factors, capacity/volume, and environmental considerations,” according to SGIA.

Oct. 23: 11 a.m.
Company owners, management teams, sales managers, and sales staff looking to get more value from their customers via testimonials and referrals, and how to network via traditional and modern channels should attend David Fellman’s – of David Fellman & Associates – session: “Maximizing the Sale: Get All the Value from Each Customer.”

Oct. 23: 1 p.m. in Room N212
Company owners and production managers who are interested in learning about an expansion to digital signage as a new profit center for their businesses should attend “Taking the Step from Static to Dynamic” hosted by Greg Collin from Roland DGA.

Wide Format 101 in Room N120
Getting to Vegas early? Head to SGIA's half-day, four-part workshop, Wide Format 101, from 1 to 5 p.m. in the Las Vegas Convention Center Room N115 for $30 ($35 after October 1. The workshop is designed to help you understand today's wide-format inkjet opportunity, and gain knowledge and strategies to help you make the best decisions for your business, according to SGIA. The course’s four parts are:
• Introduction to Wide-Format Digital – Dan Marx, SGIA
• Wide-Format Design & Color Considerations – David King, MarketKing
• Mastering Materials and Finishing Technologies – David Goetter, Industry Consultant
• Wide-Format Pricing & Sales – David King, MarketKing

Staying Social
Want to stay informed and involved through interactive outlets before and during the show? Check out the following SGIA Expo social-media sites:

Twitter: @sgiaexpo

Facebook: Specialty Graphic Imaging Association

LinkedIn: SGIA

Or, watch for our updates from @BigPicturemag on Twitter.