By Ryan Moor, with takeaways from Dylan Gilligan and The Shirt Show Newsletter
This year marked the 8th Print Hustlers, and for me, my 8th time attending. As Bruce Ackerman, founder of Printavo and the Print Hustlers Conference, said in his opening remarks—it’s incredible to see how far this event has come. From a humble gathering of about 30 people in a WeWork space in Chicago, to hosting events in some of the most iconic venues in the country—the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, the Newport Theatre in California, and the Cowboy Channel Stage in the Fort Worth Stockyards.
But this year, being back where it all started—in Chicago at The Second City, home of improv and comedy greats—felt extra special. I was especially excited for the format switch-up, featuring more interactive sessions and improv-based workshops led by The Second City team.
After another year filled with tariffs and economic uncertainty, I was also looking forward to hearing from economist Alex Chausovsky, and I wasn’t disappointed. The conference opened with an Inktavo update, featuring their major new announcement with Order My Gear, and wrapped up with the Inktavo Awards—congrats to Daze Printing in Bend, Oregon for taking home honors this year!
See all the award winners here.
Day Two kicked off with our MC Justin Lawrence, who had us all—including me—on stage doing some pretty hilarious improv bits and karaoke renditions of screen printing classics. It set the tone for a day full of laughter, learning, and connection.
And speaking of great takeaways, my friend Dylan Gilligan from The Shirt Show put together a fantastic recap in their newsletter (if you’re not already subscribed, you should be so be sure to Sign Up Here). I wanted to highlight his notes below because they perfectly capture the heart of what this year’s Print Hustlers was all about from an attendees perspective.
Dylan’s Takeaways
Rob Cressy – “Unlock the Power of AI”
Rob made it clear: AI isn’t replacing you, it’s amplifying you. He talked about getting personal with ChatGPT by editing your settings so it actually understands how you speak and think. The more you teach it about yourself, the better it works for you. Rob’s message was simple: invest time now in learning AI so it can save you way more time later. We all have those ideas about our business that we put in the back of our minds because we think we will never have the time to flush them out. This is something AI can really help us make a reality, and FAST. Spit it out! Tell your ChatGPT your ideas. Let it work the problem for you. Its not meant to be something that replaces your ideas and thoughts, but a really smart buddy that can help you flush it out and make it a reality. Bonus tip: Use the Voice Chat option to fire off ideas or get answers fast while you’re on the go.
Megan Spire (Bella+Canvas) – “Selling with Higher Perceived Value”
Megan dropped gold on selling with emotion, not discounts. Apparel should create memories. something that instantly takes people back to the event where they got it. A great shirt says “I was there.” She pushed for better storytelling and better finishing, because that’s what builds real perceived value. Her line that stuck with me: “The cost goes down with every wear.” Make pieces people actually want to wear over and over. You can buy a cheap shirt and it gets worn twice, but why not make a shirt that gets worn for a lifetime? What is worth more to you?
Alex Chausovsky – “Economic Forecast”
Alex redeemed himself this year for me. If you listen to the show you know that last year I left this talk with some frustrations. Dont tell me the numbers looks great and the economy is doing awesome when I can tell my customers are scared and not spending money. Alex really did an amazing job of laying out the realities to us this time. His outlook? 2026 will most likely be flat… Around 1% growth. So it’s not boom times, but not doom either. We’re in a “not hiring, not firing” season, which means stability if you can stay smart. His advice: don’t just sit still, find ways to stand out. When you need to raise prices, protect your top-tier customers. Adjust the mid-tier or one-off clients instead. Keep your best employees close so when things pick up, you’re ready. Tariffs are holding us down, but if that clears up, 2027 might look brighter (barring any “black swan” surprises).
Second City – “Improv with Sales”
This one was fun and surprisingly practical. The big takeaway: say “Yes, and…” instead of shutting ideas down. Listen first, then build. Whether you’re talking with customers or your team, it’s about collaboration and openness. The more you listen, the more buy-in you’ll get, and the better your culture and sales conversations become. Im not going to lie, the improv participation they made us all do was super uncomfortable for me. But… It was eye opening as to what things I really need to work on with my communication skills. Ive personally been working on this for a little while because my close friends have told me they can see my eyes gloss over as I check out mid conversation. Its not that I dont want to hear their story, but my mind is already preoccupied with the stress of what I was working on. I’ve found that I really need to just stop and give them the attention they deserve. Its respectful, but also Im learning a lot more about what needs to happen in all of our lives.
Live Printavo Podcast
Dan from Silverscreen shared his journey of growth. From where he started to scaling his shop. Dan’s operation is massive and growing at a fast rate with his retail market. Id suggest going back and listening to his episode on Shirt Show, then checking out the Printhustlers Podcast for his update.
SanMar Update
Big news from SanMar: Starting November 6th, they’re rolling out a 3D Product Visualizer that lets decorators create realistic 3D mockups of any item in their catalog. It’s a game-changer for showing clients what their finished product will actually look like before you print.
Mike Niemczyk – “Effective Marketing in a Content Crazy World”
Mike’s talk hit home for anyone struggling with social media right now. He said the old idea of “community” on social is fading (unless you are chatting with friends in the DM’s) it’s now all about discovery. The algorithm only cares about what keeps people watching, not who you know. You can’t fight it, so lean in: make content designed for discovery, not just engagement. Above all, be human. Be real, be yourself, and don’t overthink it. Im struggling with this concept because I asked a question at the end of his talk. I would love to see an app rise up that is like Instagram when it first came out. I can curate my own feed of the people and businesses I actually care about. I can scroll until im caught up with where I was the day before. I miss that. I hate being fed content that just keeps me doom scrolling. Mike was super knowledgeable and helpful with the reality of socials now, but it kinda bummed me out.
Dylan summed it up perfectly: Print Hustlers left him thinking, inspired, and ready to take action. He’s planning to integrate more AI automations, strengthen client communication (with a proper CRM), and refocus on his top-tier relationships. Like many of us, he’s balancing optimism and realism—ready to navigate a flat market by doubling down on creativity, service, and connection.
That’s a wrap
What I love most about Print Hustlers is how it always blends real talk with real growth. Whether it’s economists breaking down hard truths, creatives reminding us to have fun again, or peers like Dylan sharing what’s really happening in their shops—it’s the collective energy that keeps us all moving forward.
If you missed Print Hustlers this year, don’t worry—you’ll soon be able to catch all the speakers and sessions through a special digital gateway launching next week.
Stay tuned for updates on next year’s events and more education opportunities from MADE Laboratory at madelab.io/events.
Once again a special thanks to our sponsors for making this year an unforgettable experience. Here’s to growth, connection, and keeping the presses rolling.
