Some substrates—like ceramic and polyester—are natural canvases for sublimation. Other materials, like metal panels, are sold with special coatings to accept sublimation. Despite consumers loving the natural look of wood, sublimation-ready wooden blanks were not readily available until recently. Now, specially formulated coatings enable sublimators to print on natural wood surfaces. Retailers are seeing a lot of new sublimatable wood products available, from panels to frames.

When it comes to fashion, my age and Midwestern roots keep me behind the trends. I rely on my wife’s sense of style to help keep me in current clothing—within a decade or so. It is difficult, however, not to notice the ever-increasing trend for customized accessories. Personalized items are becoming more the rule than the exception. And when the weather turns cold, there are still sublimation options for customization!

How fortunate are we to make and sell products that inherently, and without nudging, stir deep emotion within our customers? The average marketing executive who struggles each day to stir up consumer devotion to, say, a kitchen device or an athletic shoe must regard feel-good awards and personalization products as the golden egg of advertising just for having that intrinsic hold on customers.

If you’re not already doing it, you’re eager to make the plunge. A survey of Recognition Review readers showed just how popular sublimation has proven. Many are using sublimation now, and many more hope to get into sublimation soon.

Learn how to sublimate fishing lures like a pro from Johnson Plastics (from the February 2015 issue of Rec Review)