By Matt DeLaere, Marketing
With reflective and stretchable heat transfer materials, as well as full-color digital transfers, decoration of running apparel is on the rise. As always, Stahls’ is at the forefront of this trend.
Folks didn’t walk, they ran to downtown Detroit from October 13-15. More accurately, they ran in downtown Detroit, as the Detroit Free Press/Talmer Bank Marathon and annual Health and Fitness Expo drew a record-breaking crowd.
The marathon, which offers two international border crossings along its route, saw a record 20,940 runners, walkers, wheelchair racers, and hand cyclists take to the streets of Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, Canada while crossing the Ambassador Bridge and passing through the Detroit-Windsor tunnel.
Participants and their friends and families also were invited to the Health and Fitness Expo, held in conjunction with the marathon. Among the 90-plus exhibitors at the Expo was Stahls’, in partnership with Playmakers running store of Okemos, MI and New Balance athletic products company. With a portable heat press on-site, Stahls’ was able to customize and personalize apparel and other items on demand.
Traditionally, personalization has not been widespread in the running apparel market, but visitors to the show embraced the idea. With safety and visibility being a major concern in running, reflective heat transfer materials were the hottest sellers.
Custom running apparel is becoming increasingly popular, so be sure to look into expanding your business into this market. Whether you’re decorating personalized running shirts and customized running shoes for casual runners or customized running singlets and track jackets for a school, with the right materials and equipment you can race to the head of the pack.