I was lucky enough to sneak away for two days and head to Imaging USA. As a designer, my goal on each trip is to visit vendors who carry press printed products and look for packaging vendors. It makes my job easier when I’ve had these products in my hands and can actually vouch that the quality rocks. I also love to find new products and things that are just different. New Orleans is a beautiful city. I hadn’t been there since high school so it was a big change. Back then, I remember my dad telling my little brother to cover his eyes when we hit the French Quarter! It was fun to see it from an adult perspective.

There were a few vendors who really stood out this year. After we design all of your marketing pieces, it’s important to carry over that look and complete the whole package. Do you deliver prints or DVDs? Do you use bags or boxes? My favorite vendor for boxes is HB Photo Packaging. Their boxes are top quality and they have a huge selection of colors. You can do really fun things with their boxes and your logo … custom designed, embossed, blind embossed … lots of possibilities here. They also have other finishing pieces like ribbon, wraphia and tissue. The booth was manned by Tom and Ryan, a father/son team. I grew up in a family business and I always love seeing families who work together. They have a great team, lots of ideas and will be happy to hook you up. Stop by their Facebook page and say hello. They also have a winter sale going for a few more days. Use the code: WinterBlues for a discount.

Another vendor with a big name but a very personal vibe is Black River Imaging. Their books and albums are gorgeous! You should see the leather on their album covers. So pretty! They also carry press printed products and their samples looked great. It was great to meet one of the faces behind their great customer service, Jason. His wife, Aurelia, is a photographer and was also helping at their booth. They really took the time to talk to people as they stopped by and explain their products. If you’ve worked with them before, you already know their service is amazing and they jump through hoops. Check them out!

I had the pleasure of attending the Expo with the team from Snaptotes. Their booth was stocked with tons of cool products. Their leather bags make excellent gifts for your client. They have some new things launching so keep your eye out for those. I’m a fan of the iPad case. You could use an image or … even cooler … your look from your marketing pieces. Just another great way to pull together your look!

Great show, good times and so many fun people! I wish I could have stayed another day but duty calls. Have a great weekend!