Recent technological advances make the idea of starting a business in the fields of embroidery, screen printing or heat-applied graphics even more appealing to the hundreds of newcomers who find their way to the decorated apparel industry every year.

"Most people don't realize they may already have the nucleus of a decorated apparel business sitting on their desk — a Windows-based personal computer," says Richard Lebovitz, editorial director for the trade magazines IMPRESSIONS and Embroidery/Monogram Business.

"They also may already have an inkjet or laser printer, key output devices for the transfer papers used to create a variety of heat-applied graphics to a wide range of products.

"With this equipment already in place, all you need to add is a heat press and various supplies and materials, and you're in the business of short-run customization and personalization — for a total investment of less than $1,500."

Of course, the heat press isn't what's new; nor is the computer. What is new is the concept of the computer as the nexus of a decorated apparel business and the equipment used to apply the decoration as peripherals.

For some time now, embroiderers have been able to create designs on the computer and output directly to the embroidery machine. The latest technology, digital direct-to-garment (DTG) inkjet printing provides the graphic equivalent to embroidery.

"Instead of loading paper into a printer, you can load a T-shirt, tote, towel or other flat fabric items into the digital DTG printer," says Lebovitz. "Presto! Out comes a graphic tee, customized with your favorite design, or even an image from your digital camera."

The compact size of the equipment and its expandability makes apparel decoration suitable for both home-based businesses and small retail shops, including gift and souvenir shops, sporting goods dealers, uniform dealers and other retailers.

Prospective decorated apparel business owners, or those already in the business seeking to diversify into new embellishment processes, can learn more about the technologies available, their cost and the potential return on investment at the StartUp Decorator Workshop, which will take place January 19 at the Long Beach Convention Center in conjunction with the Imprinted Sportswear Show.

Additional workshops will be held throughout the year in conjunction with the Imprinted Sportswear Shows in Orlando, Fla. (February 16); Atlantic City, N.J. (March 16); Schaumburg, Ill. (August 9); Atlanta (September 13); and Fort Worth, Texas (October 11).

For StartUp Decorator Workshop registration information, and information on the Imprinted Sportswear Shows, visit www.impressionsmag.com or www.embmag.com.

The StartUp Decorator Workshop is a production of IMPRESSIONS and EMB magazines. The IMPRESSIONS group and Imprinted Sportswear Shows are part of VNU Business Media, a business unit of VNU NV, a global information and media company with headquarters in Haarlem, The Netherlands, and New York.

PRLEAP.COM