Printavo PrintHustlers Podcast

What if the secret to business success isn't hustle—but calm? In Part 2 of our conversation with Andy Rudman of Shirt Kong, we dive deep into the emotional and practical evolution of running a shop for 16+ years. From legacy and burnout to customer service as marketing, Andy shares raw, honest lessons that every print shop owner needs to hear.

What's holding your shop back from the next level? In this episode of the Print Hustlers Podcast, we sit down with Andy Rudman, owner of Shirt Kong, to talk candidly about the real challenges screen print shops face when trying to grow—from leadership mindset to hiring strategies and building sustainable systems. Andy shares: • Why most owners wait too long to let go • What he learned from merging with another company • How to think about exits and partnerships • Lessons from managing 50+ employees • Why trusting your team isn't optional—it's essential This isn't fluff—it's hard-won insight from someone who's been through the chaos of growth and came out on the other side.

If you don't know your shop's profitability until it's too late… you're not alone. In this episode of the Print Hustlers Podcast, we sit down with Nick Gowerluck, founder of PrintProfit.com, to break down the exact numbers every print shop owner needs to track—no fluff, just real data that can change your business. Nick shares: • The “contribution margin” method for real-time profit tracking • Why chasing sales isn't always the answer • What your cash flow snapshot should look like weekly • How shops (from $200K to $500M) are using Print Profit • Why most dashboards are useless—and what to do instead Whether you're a one-person operation or managing a 30-person team, this episode gives you the profit playbook to grow smarter, not just bigger.

In this episode of the Print Hustlers Podcast, we're joined by John Gibbs, founder of Logo Daddy Graphics, as he shares how he built a $3M+ print shop that doesn't rely on him to operate day-to-day. From designing a business that supports his lifestyle to hiring the right team and maintaining profitability through market shifts, John gets real about what it takes to scale and step back.

Most shop owners are buried in the day-to-day. Orders, emails, interviews, production — it never stops. But what if just 1% of your time could change everything? In this solo episode, Bruce Ackerman breaks down a tactical, three-part framework for using 1% of your time each month (just 2 hours!) to slow down, think, and define where you actually want your business — and your life — to go. He shares his personal experience of realizing he was just “keeping water out of the boat” and not steering it. This episode is a practical roadmap for print shop owners and business leaders who feel stuck in the weeds.

Bruce and Steven sit down to talk shop — literally. No guests, no fluff — just two print industry veterans breaking down the realities of running, growing, and surviving in the custom apparel world. They dig into: • Why most shop owners never make time to think strategically • The 5 stages of business growth (and where most shops get stuck) • How to avoid burning cash during busy season • What real customer success should look like in 2024 • And why Slack, surprise gifts, and T-shirt cannons might be your secret weapons

In this solo episode, Bruce from Printavo breaks down what it really means to reach peak performance as a shop owner — and how to build a business that doesn't run your life. After over a decade of running Printavo, helping thousands of shops, and reflecting on leadership at scale, Bruce shares his vision of the “Mecca” for print shop owners This is an honest, tactical look at how to stop grinding endlessly and start making smarter, high-leverage decisions for your business — and your life.

Hiring the right production manager can transform your shop — and hiring the wrong one can set you back months. In this episode, Billy McDevitt returns to the Print Hustlers Podcast for part 3 of his hiring journey. Billy opens up about what went wrong with the first candidate, how they revamped their hiring process, and how Josh — their new production manager — changed everything. From trial days and onboarding to production tracking and letting go of control, this is a raw and actionable deep dive into hiring smart for leadership roles in your shop.

In this episode of the Print Hustlers Podcast, Bruce and Steven go deep. From the long-awaited receiving feature launch in Printavo, to scaling with better tools like Zapier and Gusto, to what shops are getting totally wrong about buying DTF machines — this one's full of sharp insights, hard truths, and software that actually saves your sanity. They also share what they've learned running Fabric.ink, a peer-based business coaching group for print shops focused on growth, automation, and reclaiming work-life balance. Oh — and Steven may or may not have triggered a DTF Facebook group during a live talk titled “DTF Doomsday.”

What does it take to build a powerhouse sales and customer service team in the print industry? Zach Corn, VP of Sales & Customer Experience at Barrel Maker, breaks it all down — from managing live events across the world to crafting intentional hiring and training systems that actually work. Zach shares the lessons learned from cold-calling at Groupon, managing massive live printing gigs, and scaling Barrel Maker's sales engine with authenticity and logic. If you're running a shop or trying to build a serious sales culture, this episode is a masterclass.

In this episode of the Print Hustlers Podcast, we sit down with Clive Ormerod, CEO of AS Colour, one of the most respected premium apparel brands in the world. Clive shares his approach to leadership, brand building, innovation, and why obsession with detail separates good companies from great ones. From his time at Nike to growing AS Colour globally, Clive's journey is packed with real, practical insights for entrepreneurs and brand builders.

How do you run a $1.5M screen printing shop while working 48-hour shifts as a full-time firefighter? Jared Gavard of JG Graphics in Northern California joins the Print Hustlers Podcast to break down how he scaled his print shop, delegated operations, and stayed focused on what matters.

What happens when you turn the page on one chapter of your business and start another?

Whether you're starting, scaling, or selling your print shop, having the right legal foundation is critical. In this episode, attorney James Bebawy breaks down business structures, legal protections, and exit strategies to ensure your print shop is set up for success.

How Commonwealth Print Shop Had Its Most Profitable Year—Working LESS! by Printavo

We catch up with Bruce and Steven and discuss Steven's trip to Honduras to see GraphXSource's new operation. We then dive into helping shop owners build a leadership foundation and goal structure to help them grow toward the same goal. Metrics, leadership roles, and more discussed here on the latest Print Hustlers Podcast!

Workhorse + Lawson Merging? What's Next… by Printavo

Jed Seifert of Stakes Manufacturing in Eastlake, OH joins us on the podcast to talk about their massive decorated apparel operation! Jed is an advocate for hiring people with disabilities in the print shop and educates us on the hiring process. Inkclusivity Website: https://www.inkclusivity.com/

THE Riley Hopkins! by Printavo

In this episode of the Print Hustlers Podcast, we dive deep into leadership, delegation, and team management with Sarah Silverman, Ph.D., Co-Founder and CEO of Outside Angle. Sarah shares insights into overcoming delegation challenges, building trust within teams, and fostering a culture of growth and innovation. Whether you're a small business owner or scaling your operation, Sarah's expertise will help you develop the leadership skills necessary for long-term success.

Brittany David of Snugz joins us to tell us about the power of selling promotional products along with your decorated apparel. What's the sales structure like? Why do a lot of print shops hesitate to sell promotional products? We discuss this and more!

Steven, Bruce & Kevin Baumgart are starting a new company and you won't want to miss this. The 3 of them announce a new endeavor: Fabric. Fabric is a vetted membership community for committed shop owners of all sized to help reach peak business performance. Coaching, monthly meetings, small group accountability, and expert speakers. The 3 of them talk about why they've started this new company and what it will look like. Applications are now open. Check it out at https://fabric.ink/ Cohort 1 is launching this March. To be considered for the first Cohort please apply by Feb 1.

Shirt Show joins us for the annual Shirtee Awards where we give our picks for best shirt of the year, favorite episode, and our predictions for 2025!

What roles to use VAs as in a screen printing shop by Printavo

Alex the Economist is on the show today giving a few projections for 2025 and what the new presidential administration could mean for shop owners! Alex Chausovsky - alex@bundygroup.com

Bruce and Steven discuss a great article on Customer Service in our industry by Ink Kitchen. They interviewed Zach Corn of Barrel Maker Printing and he shared some key insights in hiring and sustaining a successful customer service team. The pod duo also discuss planning for the slow months and what to look for in the next year! Ink Kitchen Article: https://inkkitchen.com/industry-specific-customer-service-overview/

S&S Activewear CEO Frank Myers joins us on another MEGAPOD with Shirt Show. Frank dives deep into S&S's monumental acquisition of AlphaBroder and what this means for shop owners across the industry. Don't miss this insider perspective! Share your thoughts in the comments!

Justin Rip of RipPrint in South Florida shares his journey of growing his custom printing business from a spare bedroom to a thriving operation with 30 employees and multiple revenue streams. Justin dives into key lessons learned during growth milestones, the challenges of scaling, and how he transitioned from hands-on tasks to a leadership role focused on finances, sales, and operations.

In this episode of the Print Hustlers Podcast, we're diving deep into all things sales for print shops! Whether you're managing a $500K shop or aiming for $1M+, we're covering: ✔️ Sales commission structures that motivate and scale ✔️ Hiring your first account manager vs. a sales rep ✔️ Quotas, bonuses, and accelerators explained ✔️ Common mistakes and how to fix them ✔️ The right time to hire for outbound sales Special guest Kevin Baumgart from Sales Inc. shares tactical advice and real-world examples to help print shop owners grow their businesses. If you've ever wondered how to structure sales in your shop or how to make that first sales hire, this is the episode for you.

Justin joins us again this week to go over Print Hustlers Conf and what we all thought about the full experience! Lots of nuggets of wisdom that we share!

*this episode was recorded on 10/16/24 BPH (Before Print Hustlers.)* On todays episode we chat with Justin Lawrence who has taken a new approach to his management position. With a sense of calm, he explains his new humble outlook on OK Shirt Co and what being a seasoned manager and owner means to all of us.

Manufacturing DTF Equipment with BMAC Industries by Printavo

Diversifying Your Screen Printing Shop...Or Not? by Printavo

Rodney and Elisa of DLH Screen Printing chat with us about Print Hustlers Conference 2024! What they love about going, who they're excited to see, and why you should be going too! Use Code HUSTLERS24 for a discount off your PH Conf tickets! https://madelab.io/event/PrintHustlersConference2024

Better New Hire Onboarding from MrBeast + Screen Printing Sales Growth by Printavo

Print Hustlers Conf 2024 is Coming! by Printavo

Financial Planning for Screen Printing Shops by Printavo

Class is in session! You don't want to miss this awesome episode with Kevin Baumgart of SetSales. We cover what it's gonna take to push your shop from $500k to your first $1m. There's a few sales tricks and things to look out for that Kevin has laid out for you! Don't miss it!

Business Metrics And HR V1 Audio Only by Printavo

Finding Your Shop's Focus with Gorilla Joe Printing by Printavo

Politics in the Workplace or Not? With Anthony at StickerMule by Printavo

Selling Trust Printshop: Business With Intention | Matt Lucas by Printavo

Should You Have an Exit Strategy? Feat. Shirt Show! by Printavo

Empowering Women of Color in Screen Printing | Christine Geronimo of Midnight Supply Co. by Printavo

Cole Lundstrom joins us on the show to talk about closing down his print shop. He chats with us about looking back at things he would have done differently, and looking forward to how he's using his experience now.

How to Be Direct With Screen Printing Staff + StickerMule Constroversy by Printavo

It's Bruce and Steven's De-classified Hiring Survival Guide! What should your team look like at certain revenue points? How many people should be on press at 500k in revenue? 1 million? Steven gives insight on how his shop grew at these different milestones.

First Outbound Sales Hire & Digitizing With StitchEngine.IO by Printavo

Realities of a Shop Owner (Burn Out, People Issues, and Growth) by Printavo

Sales Masterclass | Kevin & Steven Special by Printavo