The Future of Education in Apparel Decorating

This week on the 2 Regular Guys Podcast, we wrap up our 3-part series on education in the garment and product decorating industry. Terry, Aaron, and Erich reflect on what’s working—and what isn’t—when it comes to training, content, and mentorship. Plus, if we were running a shop today, what educational strategies would we put in place? From community learning to paid training models, we explore how decorators can grow their skills and how vendors can support long-term customer success. Whether you're a shop owner, educator, or supplier, this conversation is full of actionable insights and bold predictions about where our industry's learning culture needs to go next. Don’t miss the conclusion of this powerful series! Tired of bouncing between SanMar, S&S, and alphabroder just to compare prices? PromoHunt’s free browser extension does the work for you—automatically showing you price and inventory comparisons across your favorite suppliers while you shop. Join 7,000+ decorators already using PromoHunt daily.PromoHunt.com News If you have anything newsworthy you would like us to share, please email details to [e-mail]. Use the subject line “Weekly News.” https://youtu.be/txI1I8MwKCk Dad Joke Terry: What’s the Easter Bunny’s favorite music? Hip-Hop Education in Apparel Decorating What would training look like if you were running a production shop today? Terry Onboarding Meet the new hire early, before the chaos of everyone else arriving Be prepared for them, depending on their job, workspace set up, etc. Lay out their training process EXPECTATIONS Ongoing training - 52/15 Cross-training sessions Erich Disclosure - expectations SOPs - Standard operating procedures Define tasks, Direct Instruction with Experienced Staff, Observed Practice, Direct and Immediate Feedback, and Confirmation. AMP - Autonomy, Mastery, Purpose 10% time - cultivate curiosity and desire to learn. Full-chain Workflow Awareness / Cross-Training New Employee Feedback at all stages Aaron In everything I do, I always start with our Reason SVPs and How That All Ties Everything Together (SBS Episodes) We would all take the VIA - https://oursuccessgroup.pro.viasurvey.org/ Customize Training for Leaning Into Our Strengths Have Staff Lead Training in Their Area Focus on Implementation / Not Just Good Ideas How many books do you read v. how many you implement Audience Question: How is your “training” set up? What do you do for growth? What’s Next for Education in Our Industry? Where do we see things going? More hybrid models? AI-driven personalization? (Custom GPTs) More vendor-owned education platforms? How can vendors build loyalty by reinvesting in training and support? Collaboration: What can shops, educators, and suppliers do to push the industry forward together? Call to Action: What do you want to see next in industry education? The Secret Sauce We serve up bite-sized tips for our #regulators to instantly spice up their decorated apparel business. Just like the perfect wing sauce, these quick tips can transform your business experience, adding flavor and depth to your operations. Each video in this playlist is a nugget of wisdom, carefully selected for its potential to bring immediate value to your work. So, whether you're a seasoned pro or just getting started in the decorated apparel industry, dip into our 'Secret Sauce' for insights that can help you soar. https://youtu.be/sWOqSVGwX48 OTHER EVENTS Small Business Saturdays - Saturdays at Noon Central Time and then available to watch any time. Rising Tide Talks! - Wednesdays at 5 PM Central Time and then available to watch any time. Master of Success Inner Circle – Bi-weekly Mastermind Groups with accountability, support, and a built-in support group. Complete Screen Printing Business Course with Atlas Screen ...