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4 G R A P H I C S P R O • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 3 G R A P H I C S - P R O. C O M ON THE COVER: The drinkware market has grown to become the second-largest market for custom decoration, page 52. Image courtesy JDS Industries. Bottom right: This month's GP+ section is all about team sports, page 33. Image courtesy Ty Wilson. ©2023 National Business Media, Inc., all rights reserved. GRAPHICS PRO (ISSN 2766-953X) is published monthly by National Business Media, Inc., 10170 Church Ranch Way, Ste 400, Westminster, CO 80021; (303) 469-0424, Fax (303) 469-5730. Periodicals Postage Paid at Broomfield CO 80020- 9998 and additional mailing offices. USPS/National Business Media Automatable Poly. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to GRAPHICS PRO, PO Box 460794, Escondido, CA 92046-0794. All items submitted to GRAPHICS PRO become the sole property of GRAPHICS PRO and National Business Media, Inc. and cannot be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Advertisers and/or their agencies, jointly and severally, assume all liabilities for printed advertisements in GRAPHICS PRO. Opinions expressed in GRAPHICS PRO may not necessarily reflect the opinion of the magazine, its management or its advertisers. Letters, pictures and manuscripts welcome. 6 VITAL SIGNS More Than the Game By Matt Dixon A P P A R E L D E C O R A T I N G A W A R D S & C U S T O M I Z A T I O N B U S I N E S S S T R A T E G I E S 60 HEAT TRANSFER TRENDS FOR 2023 DTF and promo-driven products will lead the way By Shelley Widhalm 68 GETTING VALUE FROM HEAT TRANSFERS How to bring heat transfers from the realm of hobbyists to a successful business model By Kristine Shreve 74 MAKING SHOP MOVES Using direct-to-film printing By Howard Potter 78 STITCH SOLUTIONS What is your time worth? By Jennifer Cox 80 SOFTWARE TO SUBSTRATE The here and there of Westernwear By Lon Winters 52 CHEERS TO DRINKWARE Turning cups and mugs into a business staple By Paula Aven Gladych 58 WHERE TO START BUILDING YOUR ENGRAVING COMPANY Tips for newcomers to the engraving field By John Morman 86 THE DIGITAL EYE Digital time machine By Stephen Romaniello 91 THE RISING TIDE OF BUSINESS Customer service and expectations By Aaron Montgomery 30 PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS 32 PRODUCTS 93 AD INDEX 94 MARKETPLACE 96 WEB EXCLUSIVES FEATURES 91 C O L U M N S D E P A R T M E N T S 58 V O L U M E 3 7 | F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 3 | N U M B E R 6 CONTENT