What a nice surprise!! Thanks Wearables Magazine!!

[middletownink]

I wanted to give a quick shout out to Wearables Magazine for the nice article that was published in the latest release!  It was a surreal moment flipping through and seeing my picture on the page!! 

[Dottonedan]

I wanted to give a quick shout out to Wearables Magazine for the nice article that was published in the latest release!  It was a surreal moment flipping through and seeing my picture on the page!!

Gotta link, save us the google search. Lol. I'd like to check it out.

[middletownink]

Sorry!  Didn't think about that!!  Here you go!  I'm on page 57

www.wearables-digital.com

[ZooCity]

Nice!  I actually see a few articles that look like they're worth reading, not typical of trade rags. 

[tonypep]

It's rather sad.........the days of Greaves on Garments and the like are long since past. For too long trades rehash topics that have been discussed to death and self promotion is everywhere. I have been asked to be interviewed in an exclusive for one just yesterday and am leaning on declining.
Not much more to say and not interested in repeating myself.

[Dottonedan]

The more experienced from this industry can all agree that the Mags have a lot of content that we've all seen before. But that doesn't mean it's not new (to the new).  As you know, this industry has a large turnover in shops.  People getting out of what they did before to jump into something they think they would like to do. Then, they change their mind a year to two later. I read once that new shops every year, make up roughly 15-20% of the industry.  Equipment comes and goes, Training, book, tutorials etc.  Many businesses thrive off of this never ending factor of "the new shops". You also have a % of people that just don't get the mags, but go to shows etc. You have employees that suck up this information (like I did) that have the desire to learn. I used to "borrow" the trade mags from the pile collecting dust in the shops I worked in. Many of my managers never read them...but thats how I got to where I am for the first 7 years.
I read your contributions, as well as Mark Coudrays Jeff Proctors, Jeff Campos, Thomas Freskas (I think it was senior at that time), Richard Greaves and more and more. That group are all focusing in on other areas of the industry now, with an occasional article or two.



Mags are a good source still today. No matter how seasoned an individual contributor (writer) is that gets tired of writing about the same things, there will always be a need for industry mags in some form and yes, still with much of the same content (just said in a different way).  Printed material is still in demand. People want to "hold it in their hand" and now, it's online as well.


For many "seasoned" contributors, the trick is, how do you get your message across (better), more easier, than the last time so that more people understand it...and don't forget the fact that both the information (and you) as the contributor are an unknown to this 15-20% that come into the business...and the other % that are still learning above that.


The "pay" and loyalty is not like it used to be for the contributors. One guru used to be more loyal to one mag...and the pay was good and they had "agreements" but that all changed when the economy dropped. Everyone including mags were tightening their belts. People left, lost loyalty and money decreased.  So, the low, is the new norm and we have an influx of new contributors, new guru's with an occasional pop in from some familiar faces, but all still very relevant.


Those are my thoughts on that for the day.


Have a great one.
D

[tonypep]

Well said Dan.......perhaps my coffee is a little bitter this morning

[Dottonedan]

I can totally understand your thoughts on it as well.


It's kind of like tee shirt printers having to tell customers coming in the door that want a quantity of 5 shirts with 8 colors that it's not feasible. Then you have to explain to them all over again (like you did the last customer) why they would cost X amount of money.

[sweetts]

Take this for what's its worth coming from a nobody in the industry, Tony you are a leader in the industry and when you feel it's time to stop sharing your talent with the industry to better the industry, why be in the industry at all? There is always a new crop of people who will look up and give respect to those who help them along even if they are just repeating themselves. If it's time to stop repeating yourself I would think its time to jump into a new industry, if the passion is gone what's the point to continue on? Maybe I am out of line but negativity does nothing for anybody. Write what you think should be in the magazines and post it here I would love to read it as I am sure others would too.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[tonypep]

Plenty of passion lots of restriction. Theres a lot that I am prohibited to share.

[Dottonedan]

Take this for what's its worth coming from a nobody in the industry, Tony you are a leader in the industry and when you feel it's time to stop sharing your talent with the industry to better the industry, why be in the industry at all? There is always a new crop of people who will look up and give respect to those who help them along even if they are just repeating themselves. If it's time to stop repeating yourself I would think its time to jump into a new industry, if the passion is gone what's the point to continue on? Maybe I am out of line but negativity does nothing for anybody. Write what you think should be in the magazines and post it here I would love to read it as I am sure others would too.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Nobody really "should" or "has to" share in this industry. You could just go about doing your business like many other businesses.
Sharing is "a gift" not a requirement.


To add the that, MANY people in this industry (rely) on making a living off of what you might think is "sharing knowledge" when all in all, it's part of the marketing or a pathway to you knowing A, who they are, B, what products they sell or what services they provide.


You get some free helpful tid bits and the service provider may one day eventually get a sale from you (from you knowing what they do).  Thats part of why people write articles for the mags. It's exposure. It provides their contact info in their bio.


Another example, Tutorials, Art "elements" and some occasional industry advice can all be free...with the original intent from them is to somehow one day, get a sale. It's increasing traffic.  Thats one way of doing business (as a product or service provider).  It's a proven and legitimate business method that is very common and very excepted in the screen print industry. Some mask this and are considered Gods since they "give so much so freely to the people".  Quid Pro Quo,  Something for something.


I don't see his comments as "negative" at all. I see them as very valid, but not negative. Not at all.

[Dottonedan]

Megan,  The article is great!  The profile pic is far more interesting to look at than anyones ever was. LOL. and to top it off, you're such a spit fire. Love the personality. I'm so glad for you that you're doing so well.


Thanks
Dan

[sweetts]

Perhaps I took the "not much more to say...."the wrong way. I can agree with you Dan but I also feel that if you are someone who is at the top of your game in an industry it benefits you and the industry to share what you learned. I am not talking about proprietary information but the here's what I found stuff. Maybe my day of battling poor attitudes at the phone factory rubbed off here no offense meant. Tony is an expert and if he feels the trade magazines are just full of crap I say change that make it better. I guess I am just naive in my thinking. Anyway no offense meant.


Roger
RT screen designs
Www.rtscreendesigns. Com

[GKitson]

Dan, you've done a great job laying out the state of the decorated apparel media industry as it relates to readers, writers, speakers and especially turnover in the industry. 

Here is another viewpoint.   Publishers and editors are faced with putting together content that serves it's readership without offending either advertisers and/or readers.  A very tough job that is like navigating a minefield of hidden unintended consequences.

I have seen my writing ego trip turn into a hobby that consumes much more of my time than I should allow it to but I really enjoy talking shop on all levels.  The truth of the matter is every time I write an article my e-mail contact info is in the close and I get responses every month.  They both "Thank me and/or tell me I am some sort of a corporate ass feeding at the teat of the advertisers". 

Guess you can't win, but I know the majority of the most sincere e-mail 's and phone calls come from people who appreciate the "been there, done that, still doing it!" view I try to bring to my ramblings.  This is why I still write/speak/consult.

Yep, it gets real difficult to 'spin' exposure calculations, pricing, and basic biz management again and again but that is what the majority of the readers need.  Most of us are decent craftsman but lousy business people. 

Gotta' get back to getting ready for ISS LB - see you at the show!

~Kitson

[Dottonedan]

Perhaps I took the "not much more to say...."the wrong way. I can agree with you Dan but I also feel that if you are someone who is at the top of your game in an industry it benefits you and the industry to share what you learned. I am not talking about proprietary information but the here's what I found stuff. Maybe my day of battling poor attitudes at the phone factory rubbed off here no offense meant. Tony is an expert and if he feels the trade magazines are just full of crap I say change that make it better. I guess I am just naive in my thinking. Anyway no offense meant.


Roger
RT screen designs
Www.rtscreendesigns. Com

Oh,  no worries.  Just a bunch of guys and gals talking about the industry.  And lets not forget why we're here. (The post above)  of Megans article on her  shop. Fantastic experience for her.