After recently scaling back a bit, Drew is keeping things simple at West Cliff Ink. If he ever decides to scale again, it’s gonna be built on a solid foundation. In the mean time, he and his tight crew are in a great spot, and the Santa Cruz weather isn’t too bad either. Topics of discussion include: ThreadX, solar eclipse, business picking up a bit, shop growth, the importance of word of mouth, prioritizing quality, preferred tack for fleece, and friendship bracelets ..read more

Sammy is nearly 2 years into his print journey with Branded Threads, and this former wrestler is still sweeping people off their feet, but with a little less spandex, and a lot more shirts. Operating out of his sweet barndominium setup, Sammy is burning the candle at both ends a bit, and is looking for some help, and a little more sleep. Topics of discussion include: the history of sneezes, power outages, romantic lighting, sales & marketing methods, trust issues, traction, evolution as a shop owner, hiring friends, guitar hero, and frog head settlement from Aldi ..read more

Living between artistry and industry, Zach’s retro inspired prints are fueled by a genuine love for the project itself, and the quality and integrity of his prints truly shine through. Topics of discussion include: A lil AC recap, butt rock, vintage clothing, poster printing, limited editions, scalpers, custom packaging, chasing inspiration over money, comic books, printing over seams, and the skill of saying no ..read more

So, 2 coders and a printer walk into MIT... naturally, they put their heads together, as well as their initials, and now it looks like the pain in the ass of ordering blanks has been streamlined. Topics of discussion include: movie concessions, social media breaks, how DGI's website works for you, a demo of their purchasing experience, future developments, mulch, shark tank, and once again… Costco ..read more

Matt Cassidy left his career on an oil rig behind him, and traded it in for ink. Passion project/side hustle turned main gig, Strength Screen Printing is crushing it in Saskatoon, but Matt is currently at a fork in the road. Traveling back and forth between Vancouver and Saskatoon is no light commute, and Matt is weighing his options on whether or not the future of Strength lies in opening up a whole new shop, a satellite location, or something that has yet to be discovered. Topics of discussion include: Sun burns, fight club, long distance relationships, the value of quality of life, fak ..read more

Having started Legacy just before the pandemic, CJ & Dan have weathered high highs and low lows at a rapid pace. But focusing on specialty garment finishing, and playing to each other's strengths have truly kept their Legacy intact, and thriving. Topics of discussion include: Dilly’s reefer madness, non competes, customer loyalty, whale customers, “missing shirts”, the shelf life of coated screens, premade flag prints, poly bagging, and delicious insects of the sea ..read more

After learning to print in college, then simultaneously running two autos for a large print company, Brittany is out on her own now and carving her own path with No Pressure Printing. Topics of discussion include: Potato crimes, alternate careers, it’s always sunny, the slow life, print education, taking the leap, keeping in touch with your team, sign up or give up, living and loving the entrepreneur life, printing on dyed garments, discord, board games, cringe business moments, and breakfast sandwiches ..read more

Jon's come a long way from printing through panty hose and renting from a questionable landlord, but We Make Shirts isn't trying to become a 30 press shop either. They're happily serving their local community, business is good, and that level of comfortability is something we can all strive for. Topics of discussion include: Our first SSSNL, Reverse bippage, new merch, remembering names, mission statements, making screens by hand, staying motivated, creative blocks, replaying conversations, promo products, and Shirt Show tattoos ..read more

Honored to have spent our Valentine's Day with Navid at Syndicate, who is currently working through a new press install. Of all the people he could have gone on a date with, he chose us, and the conversation that followed was sweeter than any heart shaped candy on the market. Navid has come a long way from embroidering for 50 cents an hour, and we're proud to help share his story which is sure to inspire. Topics of discussion include: Muscle Milk, breakfast at lunch not brunch, hot market printing, Shirt Show Spring Break, the ideal amount of press heads, garment decoration in prisons, going f ..read more

Posted up at the M&R booth at ISS Long Beach, we say hi to this guy from Hello. Known for their merchandising and fulfillment for touring artists, Hello Merch has been servicing your favorite band since '08. Stoked we got to chat with Aaron Berns, and figure out just how he keeps an operation with so many moving parts running smoothly. Topics of discussion include: Making your lead printer your production manager, managing people, shadowing and training, production samples, pushing water based ink, dealing with on demand ordering, and chicken fingers in dimly lit Ubers ..read more