Running a business is a lot like running a marathon. It takes planning, pacing, and the ability to push through challenges. While some chase fast wins, long-term success comes to those who focus on the full course. JDS Industries set a winning pace in 1973 when cofounders Darwin and Jane Sletten nurtured an idea into a business plan. Five decades later, the Sioux Falls, South Dakota–based company is a global leader in supplying component parts for awards, promotional products, gifts, sign supplies, and other customizable items.

Podcasts have become a natural extension of the personalization industry’s tradition of sharing ideas. Plus, they offer retailers and suppliers a way to connect, learn, and build community.

Artificial intelligence—also known as AI—is rapidly reshaping how many industries operate, powering everything from self-driving cars and voice assistants to real-time translation and digital art creation.

When Kurt Heims launched Heims Awards in 2018, his storefront was a 300-square-foot corner of a bowling alley pro shop that included little more than a desk, a display wall, and a laser engraver.

When Sam Varn was first offered a job in the awards and personalization industry in the 1970s, he didn’t think of it as a career. The 22-year-old had just sold a motocross racetrack outside of Brooksville, Florida, and the owner of the company he bought trophies from offered him a job.

Some things never go out of style. For centuries, mankind has engraved designs into surfaces to make a visual impression. From primitive tools, weapons, and pottery to turn-of-the-century print-, map-, and stamp making to contemporary drinkware, jewelry, and even medical devices, engraving’s creative and practical value remains timeless.

Schools can be a dream client for a retailer, providing steady, repeat business season after season, year after year. From student athletes to standout teachers and faculty, schools regularly recognize achievements, creating ongoing demand for awards, apparel, and other customized products. Beyond the revenue potential, working with schools also keeps businesses engaged with their local communities.

When Tonya Barlow first purchased a laser engraver in 2006, she wanted to try something different. She’d been personalizing silver and gold jewelry with a manual engraver, but her new laser could engrave wood. She tried personalizing wood jewelry and took it to craft shows and home parties throughout her home state of Mississippi. The products were a huge hit.

The APA International Personalization Expo will take place Feb. 4–7, 2025, at the Horseshoe Las Vegas. This is the key event for professionals in the personalization industry, offering access to cutting-edge innovations, educational sessions, and networking opportunities. Attendees can explore a wide range of products and services from leading vendors in sectors such as laser engraving, sublimation, UV printing, and more.

Karen Gnaedinger had worked as a beautician for more than 20 years when her doctor recommended she quit. The Highland, Illinois, native was having health problems that her doctor believed were directly related to the chemicals she was using to style her clients’ hair.

She wasn’t sure what to do next until, in January 2006, she and her husband went to Las Vegas. They were attending a construction trade show for his job and happened upon a booth with a laser-manufacturing company. The lasers were engraving pictures onto marble.