S&F Supplies (Bloomfield, NJ) recently hosted the first tradeshow for the signage and wide print format industry in the New York metropolitan area since before the pandemic, in Bloomfield, NJ, Nov. 16-18. The Expo was produced by the Tri-State Sign Expo, a joint venture of S&F Supplies, a regional distributor.
According to a statement from S&F Supplies, attendees examined the latest printers and products from over 50 exhibitors. “There was an almost palpable sense of excitement in the air as sign shop owners met, mingled, and took advantage of the opportunity to learn about equipment, supplies, and solutions that could potentially boost their business,” said Robert Perl, director of marketing for S&F Supplies, in the statement.
The record registration and exhibitor participation was close to 2,000 individuals. A number of free workshops were presented throughout the day. An Avery Dennison rep taught a class on vehicle wraps. Other workshops covered everything one needs to know about heat transfer vinyls; wiring and powering LEDs in signs; eradicable fabric; how to build sign boxes in record time; and the hefty profit potential of retractable awnings.
Among the manufacturers represented were HP, Roland, Mutoh, Graphtec, Kala, STS, GFP, Onyx and more than 20 large format equipment options on display.
The main exhibit hall featured products and reps from Sign Comp, Avery Dennison, 3M, TMT, Recasens, Somfy, Coastal Enterprise, DUNA-USA, Keystone, Plaskolite, Gemini, Vycom and many others.
The NYC tri-state area is clearly thirsty for the wealth of knowledge a tradeshow offers, according to Perl. “The geographical proximity for thousands of sign and awning shops was a key selling point.”
The Tri-State Sign Expo was a success, according to Perl, and the plans are underway for the next show, which will remain local to the region. “We will be looking to partner with more exhibitors and create an even better, more educational experience in the near future,” Perl said.
For more information, visit sfsupplies.com.