ASI Orlando 2025 brought together 4,000 suppliers, distributors and decorators from all over to meet and discuss their businesses and ideas, and to find some inspiration at the beginning of a new year.

Enthusiastic attendees at ASI Orlando explored new products and decoration trends on the bustling show floor, including print.

Among the many products and decoration methods on display were a number of print trends from the show floor, ideal for printers, distributors and decorators looking to expand their current menu of business offerings. Here are six key developments spotted at the show.

1. New Ways To Promote Environmentalism

Eco-friendliness is paramount in print. Ethical sourcing of paper, using paper as a substrate instead of plastic or other single-use materials, and legislation involving eco-friendly inks continue to be hot topics in the industry. There’s more to paper and environmentalism than just minimizing waste, though. Distributors can get the message of environmentalism across with products that do more, rather than just use less.

Breeze Holmgren, sales and marketing manager for Bloomin Promotions (asi/40646), discussed a few of the company’s paper products that included seeds for plants like wildflowers, herbs and vegetables, which can serve as tags or business cards with QR codes printed on them.

One of the new products Bloomin Promotions had on display was a seed pop, which includes a paper seed packet on a stick that marks what’s growing.

Bloomin Promotions (asi/40646) featured seed pops (SP-POP) – markers made with plantable seed paper.

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Suppliers like Concord, ON-based The Printed Drinkware Company (asi/79564) were also showing off products like paper cups that fit into environmentally focused end-users’ plans, as well as plastic cups made from materials like bamboo and sugarcane pulp.

A collection of sustainable drinkware from The Printed Drinkware Company (asi/79564).

Sugarcane also featured prominently in Counselor Top 40 supplier PCNA’s (asi/66887) journals, which feature recycled paper/sugarcane covers and sugarcane pages inside.

2. Marketing for Cannabis & Beyond

As recreational cannabis becomes legal across more states in the U.S. and federally in places like Canada, there are new potential customers like dispensaries and growing operations. Like the healthcare market or food and drink space, cannabis companies need items such as packaging that’s regulation-compliant.

Discount Labels (asi/49890) was onsite to show off their lay-flat packaging, which is marketed toward both cannabis and more “mainstream” uses.

Discount Labels (asi/49890) showed off printing packaging intended for both the cannabis industry as well as the food and beverage market.

“We see a lot of growth in cannabis,” says Jennifer LaGrange, brand manager for Discount Labels. “We do a lot of beef jerky pouches, to be honest, and pet food packaging as well.”

Discount Labels also highlighted its branded packaging tape, which LaGrange said can be a cost-effective alternative to fully customized packaging for kits and mailed items.

“It really is just promotion and marketing,” she said. “Instead of a printed corrugated box, you order the packaging tape to save on cost and brand your box from a marketing standpoint.”

Discount Labels showcased its branded packaging tape, which it says is an affordable alternative to fully customized packaging.

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3. Versatility & Accessibility

One of the most daunting things about print, whether it’s actual ink on paper or other means of decoration, is the cost. Fortunately, printer manufacturers have different tiers of equipment, including more compact models that can allow an operator with a small space to start their business, scaling as demand grows.

One of the ways that that’s made easier is through machinery that does multiple tasks.

Enrique Trigo from Epilog Laser (asi/14981) walked through one piece of print equipment on the show floor that accomplishes a variety of decoration tasks.

The laser engraving and cutting machine engraved anodized aluminum products like business cards to add a bit of heft and dimension to an otherwise flimsy product.

“But the product doesn’t just do cards,” Trigo said. “With our rotary attachment you can engrave on cylindrical products.”

The printer engraves on pint glasses, metal tumblers, acrylic, marble, leather and wood. It also created rubber stamps.

A pint glass engraved with an Epilog Laser (asi/14981) engraving and cutting machine. Laser engraving and cutting can decorate a variety of products and materials.

“You can even cut out LEGOs and cardboard,” Trigo said. “Basically, this is a workhorse machine. The only material you’re not going to be able to work with is PVC. Besides that, stick it in the machine, play with it and go from there.”

4. The Direct-to-Film Wave Is Still Growing

Direct-to-film (DTF) decoration continues to gain steam in the industry, as it makes it easier for distributors and decorators to manage their inventory. Rather than screen printing hundreds or even thousands of items with the risk of ending up with dead stock, DTF allows for quickly decorating items to meet demand.

An example of a logo printed with full-color direct-to-film, which can be transferred to items like apparel, bags or other soft goods without the use of screens.

“The biggest thing, though, is DTF allows you to print magnificent color in low quantities,” said Bobby Ratcliff of Direct Effect Printing & Graphics (asi/49810). “You can’t do it in screen printing. If you were going to try to [screen print] this, it would take you seven or eight screens. And if you wanted 25 shirts, it would take you two days to make those screens, whereas this allows you to print one for a dollar, and that’s it. No set-up fee and no screens.”

5. Customizable Packaging

The kitting trend would be nothing without the actual packaging. The box itself should not be overlooked – it serves as the first impression for the branded experience. That’s where eye-catching customization comes in.

“A lot of distributors are interested in offering kitting to their clients, kind of like thank-you gifts and that sort of thing,” said Julieann Helton of American Accents (asi/35375).

American Accents (asi/35375) has more than 70 sizes of mailing boxes available and has been receiving requests for custom sizes as well.

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While the decoration and theme of the box are paramount for that first “wow” moment, distributors should take into account the size of the kit, too. Products inside should fit snugly. If the box is too big, the whole thing might look thoughtless and thrown together – or worse, something might break in transit.

In addition to American Accents’ 70 stock sizes of mailing boxes, Helton added that distributors are asking about custom sizes for specific kit designs.

6. Surprising Scratch-Offs

Scratch-off printed products add allure to a campaign – there’s mystery about the message underneath and a potential thrill of victory. It adds dimension to a card or direct mail piece and invites the recipient’s participation.

Kyle Workman of Scratch Off Systems (asi/85929) explained that scratch-offs make for fun engagement pieces and also allow end-buyers to track prospect data.

Scratch-off pieces can create user engagement and entice end-users to interact with a brand. Through printed graphics like QR codes, customers can get additional data from prospects and customers.

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“We can put anything on these cards, as well as a custom pull tab,” Workman said. “We can also do some data mining with QR codes on the back. That way, end-buyers can collect more information on end-users as well as give them a prize.”

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