2025 Training Info

UPDATE 1/28/25 – For any that will attend the GPX show discussed below in Irving, registration through GPX is required.  As of today it appears their registration is currently $9.95 per person.  On February 7 it will go up to $19.95 per person.  But we have a discount code for Restylers members for $10 off after February 7 – it is:  RESTYLE25TX – with this code, registration should be only $9.95 even after February 7)    

Here is their website if you need further information:  https://www.graphics-pro-expo.com/

We hope to see you there!  (or in Indianapolis in June, or Long Beach in August 🙂 )

October’s Announcement Revisited

As we announced in October, we will not have a traditional RI Conference in 2025.  In that article we promised to try to do some ‘trainings’ in 2025.  We are happy to announce that these plans have now been completed, though they are a bit different than we visualized a few months ago.

Opportunity Knocks

At the SEMA Show in November as we were discussing how to produce some ‘trainings’ in 2025, we were approached by a Graphics Pro Expo representative.  GPX sponsors a number of trade shows each year focused on the sign industry, including Wraps in a big way, and Tint & PPF in a smaller way.  RI has displayed several times at their annual ‘GPX Wrap Con’ (Wrap Contest) show in Long Beach, CA.  These ‘GPX Wrap Con’ shows have been very successful for us.

GPX is doing 2 things in 2025 to help build the attendance and value of their shows:  1) they are adding more ‘Wrap’ content to their Irving and Indianapolis shows, and 2) they are expanding their classroom training seminars.

After speaking with them at SEMA, we met with them in December and they offered us free booth space and free classroom space to their first 3 shows this year:  Irving in March, Indianapolis in June, and Long Beach in August.  Since we were planning to attend Long Beach in August anyway, this was a ‘no brainer’ for us.

What are they asking of us in return?  That we 1) invite our members to attend at least one of the three shows, and 2) we present a classroom style ‘training’ program that will benefit anyone attending, including RI Members.  

What Does This Mean for Existing RI Members?

With the points above in mind, we are officially inviting all RI Members to attend one of these 3 shows (details at end of article). 

Here are 3 things we will do as RI:

• BOOTH – we will have a booth at the show to present RI to attendees just as we do at SEMA with the goal of signing up more RI Members.
• TRAINING – we will have a classroom ‘training’ on one day during each show.  For the first show in Irving, this training will be on Friday at 1pm. We will bring back an updated version of the program we did back in 2009 in San Diego called ‘1+1=20’.  For those that were in San Diego in 2009 you may remember we took a look at a sample financial statement and saw how that two small changes could add 20% to your bottom line.  (see link in ‘Details’ below)
• GET TOGETHER – depending on how many RI Members attend each of these shows, and what space is available to us, we will try to do something separate just for existing RI Members – likely it would be something simple and more of a ‘get together’ than formal training.

When and Where?

RI has committed to the following 3 GPX shows:

• March 6-8 – Irving, Texas
• June 19-21 – Indianapolis, IN
• August 21-23 – Long Beach, CA

Can you make one of these shows?  We hope so.  We know it won’t be quite the same as our very own conference, but it might be even better!  Certainly there will be more to see and do.  

What Can I Expect to See?

If you have not heard of GPX, they focus on the sign industry which includes a broad array of products, including Wraps, Window Tint, and PPF.  In addition, you will see many high margin products that you may want to add to your business.  These shows are much smaller than SEMA and certainly much easier to attend.  But there is still much to see.  

What Are the Next Steps?

Take a few minutes and click on the links in the ‘Details’ section below.  Call your buddies in RI and see which of these shows fits their schedules.  Then make plans to come see us at one of the shows.  And please, reach out to Dean, Art, or myself and let us know which one you will attend and what days you will be there – this will help us plan some time just for RI Members.

And of course, don’t forget SEMA 2025 – we plan to be there in November as well.

Details / Links / etc  

LINKS –

• Graphics Pro Expo home page 
• GPX – Irving Show (March 6-8)
  • Classroom Training – RI ‘1+1=20’ training is listed on Friday, March 7, at 1pm
  • Show Floorplan – RI is in booth #706
• GPX – Indianapolis – June 19-21 – info not available yet
• GPX – Long Beach – August 21-23 – info not available yet

HOTEL – Since we have no history with how many RI Members might attend, we will not contract with a hotel – there are a couple listed on the GPX website, and there are many affordable options available in the area using the normal travel websites.

AIR – Irving Convention Center is only 15 minutes from two major airports:  DFW (most major airlines) and Love Field (mostly Southwest)

Final Thoughts:

We know this is different than what we have done in the past, but we hope that everyone can attend at least one of these.  And please, please, please, if you can attend, let us know ahead of time so we can make plans to spend some quality time with you.

We hope to see you there!!