PRINTING United 2026: Inspired, Proud & Dreaming Bigger

What happens when you put more than 800 vendors, some of the newest technology in the printing industry, endless creative ideas, and this girl in one massive convention center? Your brain goes into complete creative overload!

PRINTING United Expo was an incredible experience and, without a doubt, a huge success for us. I had the opportunity to reconnect with several industry friends, meet new people, see some amazing designs and products, and get an up-close look at where the printing and graphics industry is headed.

But we weren't there just to look. I was on a mission!

On a Mission

One of our biggest goals for attending PRINTING United was to research equipment that could help us continue growing ThelmaLou Creations and Empowered Prints.

I met with several vendors, watched demonstrations, asked a LOT of questions, compared capabilities, and explored equipment that could potentially open new doors for us. And now comes the hard part.

Pamela and I have to weigh our options.

What makes the most sense? What gives us the greatest opportunity for growth? What allows us to create new products? And, most importantly, what equipment can help us expand what we do while continuing to create opportunities for individuals with different abilities?

There is a lot to consider, and these aren't small investments. So now that the research is done, it's time to take everything we learned, crunch some numbers, and figure out our next move.

But There Was Another Big Part of This Trip...

Conor.... This was his first really BIG industry trade show. And when I say big, I mean MASSIVE.

With more than 800 vendors, huge pieces of equipment running everywhere, thousands of people, lights, sounds, demonstrations, conversations, and activity in every direction, I honestly wasn't sure how he was going to handle it.

So, I went into the experience knowing we would do it his way.

I made sure we allowed time for breaks. We kept his scheduled snack times (for the most part). We tried to maintain his normal routine (as much as possible) while one can when traveling and attending such a huge event. And once again, this kid amazed me. He did absolutely incredible. I was so incredibly proud of him.

Sometimes progress isn't about eliminating the accommodations someone needs. It's about understanding what they need to be successful and making sure those supports are available.

Conor needed breaks. He needed his snacks. He needed pieces of his routine. And with those things in place, he rocked PRINTING United. For a mom, that may have been one of the biggest successes of the entire trip.

Now My Head Won't Stop Spinning

I came home inspired. Actually, inspired might be an understatement.

My head is spinning with ideas for new products, new equipment, new techniques, new opportunities for growth, and new ways we can help other businesses bring their own ideas to life.

I saw things that made me think, "We could do that." Then I saw other things and thought, "Okay...how can we make THAT happen?" And then I remembered one tiny little detail... We do not have endless funds. 😂

If we did, I'm pretty sure I could have filled a semi-truck with equipment before leaving Las Vegas. But that's part of being a small business owner. You dream BIG while sometimes having to move in very small steps.

You research. You learn. You calculate. You take risks when they make sense. You grow a little. Then you dream a little bigger.

Baby Steps

It's easy to walk through a show like PRINTING United and look at everything you don't have yet. But I'm trying to remind myself to look at everything we've already built.

What started as an idea has continued to grow into something bigger than I could have imagined. And every new piece of equipment, every new skill, every new product, every new client, and every person we have the opportunity to help moves us another step forward. So, for now... Baby steps.

We'll weigh our options. We'll figure out what comes next. We'll keep building. And I'll keep reminding myself of something I sometimes need to hear: Dreams are possible.

They may not happen overnight. They may require a million tiny steps.

But sometimes one of those steps is simply walking through a massive trade show, looking around, and allowing yourself to imagine...

What if?

And after PRINTING United 2026, I have a whole lot of what ifs running through my head. Stay tuned..... We're just getting started.