Picture this: It’s 9 pm. You’re staring at a proof that isn’t right, a machine that won’t cooperate, and a looming deadline. As a small business owner, I know this sounds familiar.
When our days are filled with a constant flow of work orders, logistics, customer service, and machine maintenance, it is easy to let membership benefits sit quietly in the background while we handle everything else.
Consider this your reminder of what your APA membership is already doing for you and what is ready for you to use.
Education
As a member, you inherently know about APA’s educational offerings, but are you taking advantage of them?
The very B2B magazine you are reading is a valuable asset with industry-specific content for retailers and suppliers—from technical content on design software to roundups of new equipment and products. Not to mention, you’ll find profiles on other members who might just be facing the same challenges you are.
APA offers a growing library of webinars, live and recorded seminars, and practical tools, all of which you can access and learn from on your own schedule through our website. This industry moves fast, and none of us can afford to fall behind.
The Member2Member Forum Is Your Late-Night Business Partner
That late-night moment I mentioned? That is exactly what the Member2Member Forum is for. Hundreds of retailers and suppliers sharing real answers to real problems, whether it is equipment, pricing, or a vendor issue. Post your questions. Answer someone else’s. That is how this community stays strong.
Save the Date: February 23 to 26, 2027
Mark your calendar now for the APA International Personalization Expo at Horseshoe Las Vegas, happening February 23 to 26, 2027. This is the one week a year our entire industry gathers in one place. As a member, you and your employees attend the trade show floor and general education sessions for free, including thirty-plus education and training sessions and networking events that pay off all year long. If you have never been, this is the time to change that.
Your Member Rewards Are Real Savings
You are already paying for supplies, equipment, shipping, and software every week. The Member Rewards savings program puts some of that money back in your pocket. If you have not logged in lately, do it this week. In a business where margin is everything, this benefit alone can offset the cost of your membership many times over.
I want to remind you of these benefits because I believe in what APA does for our industry. I have seen what happens when members actually use what is available to them; businesses grow faster, owners feel less alone, and problems get solved in days instead of months.
So here is my ask: Pick one member benefit and use it this month.
- Read this magazine.
- Watch a seminar or webinar.
- Post in the forum.
- Register for the Expo.
- Take advantage of the savings program.
Small steps like these compound, just like everything else we do in this business.
Thank you for being a member and part of this community. I look forward to seeing you on the forum and hopefully in Las Vegas in February 2027.
Sincerely,
Justin R. Varn,
APA President