Here we go again - Magic Trade Show 2013

We're back at Magic Market Week in Vegas, it's our make-up show from our first attempt last August. You can read all about how that went down here. This time around, we'd like to think we're a bit more ready and realistic. We're hoping to make some great connections and get our shirts in front of the right people. We've already met I Am The Trend (and Storenvy) Adam Hendle, we're next to Mighty Fine's booth and we're feeling good about our set up.

This year, the Street and Slate shows were moved into the Project Show, renamed to Project MVMNT and melded into different neighborhoods. We were not sure how this would play out, but so far we feel like we've got pretty good placement and the show seems to have better flow and more professional atmosphere.

One thing we always hear from people walking by or even just people we pass in the aisle: "we love your shirts!" That's always so great to hear.

Check out our set up shots below. We'll update again with a post-show wrap up.

Magic or Bust? Both.

We had a spectacular looking booth at the August Magic Trade Show. I'm not afraid to admit that we felt our booth was effn awesome. We had catalogs, notebooks to hand out, a great display and even Peppermint Patties (Ted's favorite). Unfortunately, we did not stay for the whole show. To make a really long and painful story super short: we were not in the printed guide under our category and we were not placed well on the show floor. In fact, all of the independent t-shirt brands were about 7 aisles over. We were next to beanie babies and licensed sports apparel. So, we're going back in February. Crazy you say? Maybe. But the show organizers are working with us and we are not going to let an apparel trade show get us down. We will be successful and we are going to do what it takes to get there. In the meantime, enjoy some glimpses of the coolness that was OLN at our short show appearance. And remember, "Don't let the bastards get you down!"

-Shelley

Damn this looked good!

What would we do without 3M command hooks?

Just before I took this, the sportswear people in the next booth were staring at us and whispering "What are those t-shirt freaks doing here?" Then I gave her candy.

We attracted a lot of other vendors and shirt salesmen with our minty freshness

Now you know what my kitchen counters look like. Plus, cool notebooks.

Best thing about the show? The hoodies Ted got for us. I LOVE mine, thanks TT!

We were lookin' all professional-like, with our sewn in tags...

One Less Nemesis? WHO?

It's MAGIC time!

No, this is not Ted. Thankfully.

No, we're not putting on capes and black hats (well, Ted wears black hats, but that's another story) and sawing a broad in two. We're exhibiting at the Magic Trade Show in Vegas in a little over a week. This is a BIG, BIG deal for us. It's an investment in the future of our brand as we present our line to the single largest event in the apparel industry in the US. Did I say it's a big deal? Yeah. But we could not be more excited!

Last February, we went to the show to really look closely at other vendors at the show and where we thought we fit in. I wrote a post all about that experience here: "Water's cool at POOL". But we didn't get in to POOL. We were very bummed, but then we were told we were actually a better fit for the STREET section of the Magic Show. WOW! Big time here, on the big show floor. We were accepted at STREET and we started getting ready.

Unbelievably excited to be on this little map

We'll be in booth 35048. We've been gearing up with labels for our shirts, notebooks and stickers to give to the buyers walking the show, plus a new catalog (picture to come). I'm sharing the pictures of a few of the things we've done so far and will keep the updates coming!

We're posting over at the T-shirt forums too, sharing our experience and hoping to meet up with other t-shirt peeps at the show. Check out our Facebook and Twitter for updates too!

There seems to be a mad love of these notebooks

No, we're not selling tagged Audi seats

One Less Politician, the TRUE Walking Dead

Hangtags that don't let the bastards get you down