Outsourcing Products and services

As a garment decorator or Advertising Specialty Distributor (provider) you can't expect to be able to create everything your customers need. This is where you ability to outsource is extremely crucial. The easy way to get your hands on all of this information in one place is to join one of the organizations that does that as it's main occupation such as ASI, the Advertising Specialty Institute or PPAI The Promotional Product Advartising Institute. However depending upon how often you utilize these services can be quite expensive. The alternative is to do the homework yourself. A good plce to start is by iether subscribing to industry publications such as Impressions, Printwear, and Stitches magazines. You can also go to their websites and also gain not only sourcing contacts but also valuable information on new processes and new technology. The best salesperson is the one who actually understands what he is selling. I attended the ASI show at the Jacob Javits Center in NYC yesterday and in the next few posts I will share wih you some of the vendors and products I saw. If you click on the title of this article it will take you to the exhibitor list at the ISS Imprinted Sportswear show held in Atlantic City on March 13-15, 2009 For a complete listing of shows go to www.issshows.com