January in Screen Printing: Slow Season, Smart Moves, and Impressions Long Beach

January means two things for most screen-printing shops in North America.

First — it’s usually slow.

And honestly, that’s not a bad thing.

Slow season is the perfect time to deep clean your shop, dial in new processes,
experiment with print techniques, and sharpen your marketing plan for 2026. It’s when you can step back from constant production pressure and work on your business instead of just in it.

The second thing January means?

Impressions Expo Long Beach is coming up.

I probably don’t have to tell you this, but Impressions Long Beach is the largest
decorator show in North America — and more importantly, it’s the biggest show with a true focus on screen printing. If you’ve never attended, it really should be on your screen-printing bucket list.

Why Impressions Long Beach Matters

Impressions isn’t just about walking a trade show floor. It’s about education, access, and community.

If you plan ahead, you can get a lot out of just a few days:

• Look into the clinics and classes offered
• Chart out the floor plan ahead of time
• Decide which booths you don’t want to miss — because it’s a big show
• (I’ll be speaking in an ink-focused class on Saturday of the show.)

For shops that can’t afford to bring in a private consultant or attend factory-sponsored training events, this is one of the best opportunities of the year. You can get:

• Free advice directly from industry experts on the show floor
• Extremely affordable, high-value classes in the seminar rooms
• Hands-on exposure to equipment and products you’ve only seen online

The Real Value: People, Not Just Products

Yes, it’s great to see new machines and materials in person.

But if you ask most industry vets why they keep coming back, the answer is simple:

The after-hours events.

Every night, there are sponsored gatherings where printers connect, share information, trade stories, and build real relationships. I’ve seen countless friendships forged at Impressions Long Beach, and a few years ago I realized something important:

This show has become the social event of my year.

There’s no other time when I see so many friends and colleagues in one place. The sense of community at Impressions is real — and it’s one of the things that keeps our industry moving forward.

Should You Go? Bring Someone With You

Take a hard look at the cost of transportation and hotel rooms and see if it’s possible to attend — especially if you can bring someone from your shop.

Bring:

• Someone you want to get more excited about screen printing
• Someone you want to invest in technically
• Someone who could benefit from seeing the bigger picture of the industry

You may not find every answer you’re looking for in a few days.

But when you leave, you should know where to look, who to ask, and how to keep learning.

And if you’re not already part of the screen-printing community, this might be your entry point into it.

Look Beyond Long Beach

Also keep an eye out for trade shows and events closer to home. There will be several this year across North America. Last year’s Print United in Orlando was a pleasant surprise, with screen printing very well represented. I’m excited to see what the 2026 show season looks like and hopeful to meet some new friends along the way.

That’s all I’ve got for this week.

If you can make it to Impressions Long Beach — I’ll see you there.