SHIRT SHOW

Shawn Wright is not your average guy from small town Idaho, and Brigade is not your average business (or businesses) either. A seasoned electrician turned surfboard shaper, has found himself on the front page of many news publications for standing behind one idea: Everyone is welcome. Topics of discussion include: Hats, small towns, the entrepreneurial bug, the addiction of running a business, taking orders that are out of your league, Nonnas, family first policy, managing production of a viral shirt, honest pricing, offering promo, merch trucks, and white boards.

When it comes to printing at Heck Press, the more difficult the job, the better. Sarah is truly in this for the love of the print game, and the victories waiting on the other side of the stresses that come with it. Topics of discussion include: Hiking, janky first presses, being head strong, touring America, working with bands, printing and growing a shop while pregnant, Norway, the incredible Mel, letting go, printing water based, dabbling in plastisol, getting vibrant prints, trains, separations, shop visits, and print therapy.

After finding interest in printing through his biking community, Graeme hopped into the craft, and has been cruising through the print life at his own comfortable pace ever since. Topics of discussion include: Government grants, business difficulties in Canada, applying the discipline of cycling into printing, lists and time management, setting communication boundaries, marketing strategies, due dates, making your shop work for you, defining success, and Canada's finest.

The state of the used equipment marketplace can be looked at as a barometer for our industry, and this space has flooded as of late due to the tough decisions shops are having to make. From needing equipment upgrades, downsizing, or unfortunately having to liquidate their assets altogether. Nicole Pape from Embellishr has a real pulse on this space, so we had to touch base with her and get some insight. Topics of discussion include: stress pains, rapid growth, information gatekeeping, bank repos and undisclosed liens, shop closures, racing to the bottom, DTF hesitations, tariffs, the retail boom, maintaining a positive outlook, slime, Santana, and Weekend At Bernie's.

It's been a LONG time since our guest and co-host have been on Shirt Show, and it's time to catch up! With Nate from Hansen screen printing in the co-host seat, we're chatting with Jeff from EverGood Supply and evaluating the last 5 years of business, and what's ahead. Topics of discussion include: Theme parks, working with family, 2nd shifts, fulfillment logistics, starting a business during economic hardship, getting an auto right off the bat, staying small, real estate investments, food trucks, risk aversion, bootlegged and licensed prints, nostalgia, time management, social media marketing, and saying f*ck it I'll do it.

Lee Stuart is back again, but this time he's in the co-host seat. It's been a long time coming, but we're stoked to be talkin' shirt with Mr. President himself, Ross Hunter of ROQ. This monster of an episode will surely put you at ease regarding the state of the industry, grow your brain a few sizes, and pump you up with so much motivation that you could run through a brick wall. You'll see. Topics of discussion include: Lee's new space and DTF venture, AI customer service, travel pains, new equipment and automations from ROQ, print on demand, shop collaborations, some speculation on a combo DTF Printer-Press and carrier sheet waste reduction, the state of the industry around the world, pushing promo products, online stores, realistic purchases, utilizing lean methodology, SOPs and Kanban systems, ROQ's partnership with Grimco, and the stark contrast between Dilly and Lee's Youtube algorithms.

The Ashleys truly do what they love, and their work is something special. Pulling inspiration from culture and fashion of yesteryear, their pieces truly stand out in a crowd, and the passion put into their work is undeniable. Co-hosted with Sammy from Branded Threads, we had a great conversation that went off the rails a time or two, but a good time was had nonetheless. Topics of discussion include: Universal vs Disney, tariffs, 90's fashion and wolf shirts, thrifting, custom distressed and dye services, troubleshooting your pricing, efficiency whiplash, upgrading equipment, live printing hacks, stolen designs, and steak dinners.

Angel, a New York native who moved to Australia 11 years ago after playing the Sydney map on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater Underground 2, chose printing over plumbing and has never looked back. His boutique, Halo Print Co has become a staple in their community by prioritizing customer experience, education, and playing the long game. Topics of discussion include: Australia's habitability, passion projects, coffee inks & dyes, working at AS Colour, ordering direct, software headaches, focusing on same day one off shirts, the education station, vintage clothing, plumbing shirts, how different prints age, social media focus, customer reviews, some marketing shop hacks worth gatekeeping, and printing for Ryan Gosling.

The world is not enough, but Brandon & John are doing their darnedest to make it enougher with Twine Graphics. Branding and design are essential pillars in the shirt game, and the ability to execute their production is paramount. Get in the weeds with us, Twine, and Seth from R&S Printing, and let's talk shirt. Topics of discussion include: Sim process printing, cautious growth, coming up with your business name, rolling with the punches, leveraging your printing services by running a retail brand, ink preferences, underbase techniques, printing bandanas, upside down designs, building relationships, collaborating with shops, and slathering your body in ink.

Our guest and co-host both fell in love with the art side of this industry first, and we got to dissect how their entry point shaped their perspectives on operating their businesses. With Dave sticking to design, and Tim falling deeper into the craft of screen printing as a whole, this was a fun discussion to have. Topics of discussion include: Shops shutting down, Dylan's unique relationship with Dave(his longest standing client), Pantone vs bucket colors, reprints, public speaking events, cryptids, pursuing the craft over money, finding your limitations, incorporating ai, designing mockups, and Dylan's Eulogy.

We've got Frank and David from Stahls' to fill us in on their company's 90 year history, educate us on their going ons of today, and what they're working on for tomorrow. Topics of discussion include: Keeping custom designs fresh for long standing clients, integrating ai more and more, the varying quality of DTF, common heat printing mistakes made by decorators, the importance of information and resource availability, post press hacks, dimensional patches, fulfill engine, and deep sea diving.Co-Hosted with Mr. Vegas himself, Tyler Caroll of TC Screen Printing.

Daniel Parente's introduction to screen printing was made while he was running his paintball & skate shop. Needing a better solution to their merch issues, he took matters into his own hands and dove in head first. When his shop had to call it quits during the great recession, his next venture was born in Revival Print Co. Topics of discussion include: crooked prints, the importance of tiny orders, bootlegging, weathering economic hardships, word of mouth growth, printing a 70,000 tote bag order for American Eagle, charging for logistics, sew on patches, creating SOPs, implementing unlimited paid sick days, and milk showers.This episode is co-hosted with former COD MLG gamer, paintball ref, and current industry robot, Matt Marcotte.

Had such a great convo with our guest Nick Robinson of Forward Printing, and guest-host Ricky Pridmore of Presstime Design. Nick climbed his way up the print ladder across multiple print shops in Arizona and California, and it was this hands on learning experience that built him up to become COO of Forward Printing. We sure covered a lot of ground picking each other's brains, and understanding our different approaches to running our shops. We left this podcast feeling stoked and inspired to get to work, and we hope you'll feel the same. Topics of discussion include: Starting families, the band life, live printing, janky screen printing classes, fireable offenses, the pros of having worked at different shops, restructuring your shop, to Traction or not to Traction, meetings, employee benefits, outbound sales, whale clients, and Bad Luck Brian.

It's been some years since we last had these fellas on the pod, and a whole lot has happened in both of their shops since our last hang. So it's time to catch up with Rodney from DLH, and Miles from Miles T-shirts. Topics of discussion include: 4 day work weeks, how fast shops evolve, hair plugs, upgrading equipment, disc golf, towel prints, updating your financials, moving your shop, third party HR, diving into outbound sales, CTS, Miles' shirt reviews, garment printability, and Merch Madness.

Hello students, our teacher today is Shamus Barrett from Raider graphics, and class is in session. Your average high school screen printing class does not take place in a top of the line full size print shop, but Shamus' does. Teaching the same class he was once a student of, his full circle print career is something special. The world needs more of this. Topics of discussion include: Teaching current techniques on modern equipment, keeping a self funded operation, continuing education, sparking interest in students, learning profit, incentives, and print accreditation.

When an engineer builds a press to help his son start a clothing line, there's a high chance they may get bit by the print bug. In Jeremy Ray's case, he fully changed careers and has been playing the print game with engineer cheat codes on ever since. This experience of entering the industry ‘late in the game' lends to a unique perspective, and we're happy we got to pick his brain and get his story. Topics of discussion include: Doing live podcasts, finding your audience, HOAs, shop mergers, moving spaces, taking conscious steps to elevate your business, starting a side business, having an owner's retreat, core values, and rucking.

We've got Jordan from Daze Printing with us again for another wrap up, this time on ISS Long Beach 2025. Loved getting his perspective as a second time attendee. Little less daunting, more friendly and familiar faces, and great hangs and takeaways all around. Topics of discussion include: Dog farts, bowl cuts, travel strategies, content styles, Minnesota martinis, our favorite takeaways from the show, new gear, print shop camaraderie, fish and the role of your social media presence, and Dylan's past life as a drug mule.

Starting off this Superpod on Day 2 with Tim from Chaos Ink in CO. Then going back in time to Day 1 with Anthony and Amber from Stitches Clothing in NV, and Sam from Branded Threads in PA. Covering topics like: auto reclaim, screen tech duties, consistency through automation, seeking growth, cross-training, customer service finesse, and eyeballing new equipment. Then we go back to the future into Day 2 with Jeff of NDesigns in TN. Covering topics like: Printing in the gift market, the Yellowstone western wear trend, orders on terms, Whatsnot and live selling, handling shop drama, cleanliness, his journey into leatherwork, and pocket pancakes.

What started as a creative outlet, became a safe place to turn to as life became tumultuous. Needing more control of their lives, Angie and her husband Jeff dove head first into getting High Desert up to altitude, and they haven't looked back. Topics of discussion include: An unusually busy January, finding business mentors, tracking your AOV, used equipment issues, visiting other shops, hiring family members, the Misogi challenge, treadmill trucks, and handwritten letters.

Longtime musician turned printer, Nick moved up from Nashville to put down roots in Maine. With a partner focused on the financial side of the business, Nick has been building the shop, the team, and the client base that calls High Pine their home printer. Topics of discussion include: Neck kisses, Christmas breaks, going against your better judgement, lessons learned, taking risks, having a business partner, how our day-to-day duties evolve over time, meeting your neighboring shop, glory days, and Peanut Butter.

We're all looking to approach the new year a little differently, and hopefully for the better. When John from LogoDaddy shared that he was playing moneyball with his shop this year, we had to hear more. By implementing Nick's program, Print Profit, you can understand your shop's profitability, uncover hidden opportunities, and strategically drive the business in real time with confident decision making. Are your ears perked up yet?

What was once inaugural, has now become annual… The Shirtees. Co-hosted with Bruce Ackerman and Steven Farag, we are giving out this most prestigious award to our favorites of 2024 across the following categories: Our Favorite Episodes, Most Memorable Moment, Shops To Watch For, Biggest Story of the Year, Blank of the Year, Product of the Year, Person of the Year, Business Lesson of the Year, and What To Bet On In 2025.

The Graphic hive is a digital design agency located in an apartment, or at least it was 15 years ago. Today, that agency is now a full fledged screen printing shop, and while John has automated the heck out of his operation, he's still figuring out the whole people problem thing… Aren't we all? Topics of discussion include: Andy's real name, favorite stores, conspiracy theories, holiday embroidery rush, software issues, running meetings, department leads, hiring the right people, and a slew of shop hacks.

After a successful career in the hospitality industry, Ashley redirected her expertise back home into Windmill City. Her incorporation of corporate structure within their small business has been extremely beneficial to their operations and growth, and we're stoked to have Ashley share her journey with us all. Topics of discussion include: Pitch Perfect, walking, operations management, starting the desert busy season, Black Friday scams, changing careers, customer experience, bonuses, getting into tote bags, and holiday work parties.

We've teamed up with the Printhustlers fellas to tackle this highly anticipated conversation with Frank Meyers. With 15 years at S&S, Frank shares his journey from investment banking to leading our favorite apparel powerhouse, who has recently just acquired Alphabroder. We discuss what this means for the industry, and what our shops can expect. Other topics of discussion include: Aliens, Christmas, free webcams, strategizing acquisitions, frickin robots, optimizing shipping, relationships, deciding to end Alpha's decoration operations, educational resources, the best time to order, software development, and chicken nuggets.

We've got Tony on the pod again, and this time we're diving deep into the lost art of wet on wet printing. Equal parts history lesson and masterclass, and class is in session. Topics of discussion include: Holiday to-do lists, learning Spanish, wet on wet printing technique, difference between ink generations, problem solving, ink gutters, the travel variable, Black Friday, and Thanksgiving.

Andy is back and we're talking with fellow printer and industry podcaster, Shawn Sckoropad of Printeez. A former dirt biker, who shifted to the apparel side of the scene after a bad accident. After years of spearheading the print side of his family business, Shawn's well of wisdom is honestly much deeper than it should be, so don't mind us as we wet our whistles on his philosophical approach to business and life. Topics of discussion include: Printing a 35,000 piece order on a manual, car wraps, print on demand/fulfillment, hiring and team building, struggles in business and personal lives, quality control, communication, and liquid chicken.

Two individuals who rose from the ashes of their previous shops, Alex & Tyler found the balance they needed in joining forces to create Streetwearhouse. Specialized in the streetwear market, and crushing the social media game, we had a lot to pick each other's brains about, and this insightful episode is the result. Topics of discussion include: jumping the gun on DTG, embroidery, good and bad partnerships, specializing your offerings, investing in new equipment, the science behind streetwear, building backwards, social media marketing, working with Shaq, preferred blanks, and honesty.

Hot on the heels of Print Hustlers Conf 2024, Dilly and Christina compare notes with Jordan Green from Daze Printing. Jordan's unique approach to social media makes sense for a business that was born through instagram. While he's still relatively early in his print journey, his perspective on this industry and the keynotes from Print Hustlers Conf is invaluable. Topics of discussion include: Buttered sandwiches, universal business experiences, making mistakes, automations, the value of quality promo items, biodome, behind the scenes social media content, shop hacks, and Lost.

With nearly four decades of experience and sage wisdom in hand, Tony Palmer is traveling the globe and making people's lives easier one consultation at a time. There's a theory behind pushing ink through holes, and Tony loves to teach it. Topics of discussion include: Trade shows getting smaller, falling into becoming a full time traveling consultant, skill dilution, flat stock printing, print team configurations, the printer's curse, value of embroidery, workflow, self worth, and selling sizzle.

FInding the right distributor for your shop is like finding the wise wizard on your hero's journey. He's always got your back, he's gonna level you up, and you can't imagine having anybody else by your side as you ✨s l a y✨. Dylan's longtime wizard is AJ from Davis International, may this conversation be a case study to hold against you and your current print plug. Topics of discussion include: Bills mafia, Every Time I Die, AOL trial CDs, shifting from printing to distribution, testing product, common shop mistakes, market volatility, printing for money vs printing for pride, and Dylan's skepticism towards polos.

Adam's father had a side hustle of selling 1" buttons back in 1991. Now with over 30 years of business under their belt, Dr. Don's is a staple in the political sphere, and a one stop shop that can do it all. Topics of discussion include: buttons, wedding photography, niche markets, being a union printer, operating in politics, narrowing your offerings, and rebranding.

Fresh off an enlightening and fruit punch flavored trip to Zion, we have Christy Rossi stepping in as guest host to help tag team this discussion with our esteemed (and possibly AI generated) guest, Aparna Avasarala of Denimrush. Aparna has forged a truly original path for herself, from designing hotel bathrooms, to providing some of the most memorable, and unique experiential activations for her clientele. Scaling is on the mind while navigating her success, as well as the business owner/client relationship, and we're here to talk it out. Topics of discussion include: experiential activations, denim, rethinking tie dye, pivoting away from live printing, sustainability, making strong connections, delegating management, utilizing social media, and porch pumpkins.

It was the pursuit of a design career that got Tim sucked into the world of screen printing. 7 years later and in a brand new space, Howlers Design is running at maximum capacity thanks to the grassroots growth that comes with word of mouth and quality work. Topics of discussion include: The weird busy seasons this year, moving shops, starting with design, going to college, portfolios, starting from scratch in a new town, collection issues, self branding, bringing embroidery in house, the excitement of problem solving, and the happening city of Cleveland.

BMX has been a lifelong passion of John's, and not only did it give him his 'Superfly' moniker, it also gave him the craft of screen printing through the streetwear culture within BMX. Recently, John has shifted gears into printing full time, but he won't be putting the bike down any time soon. Topics of discussion include: Dilly's press conversion, cicada piss, leases, the process of installing an auto on the 3rd floor, managing art studio spaces, the ban of methylene chloride, printing fundamentals, feel good moments, and spooky season.

Of all the gurus in the world, Kevin is definitely our favorite. Need we say more? Topics of discussion include: Backup quarterbacks, the importance of having a skilled rep, new technologies, finding what works best for your shop, backups and redundancies, climate variables, and cutting boards.

On this episode of Shirt Support, we connected with Lee Stuart and tackled heavy topics of depression, anxiety, and mental health. Further topics of discussion include: Dilly contemplating embroidery, panic attacks, anxiety disorders, trying different treatment options, diet & exercise, addressing burnout, writing vs typing, accountability, and how the universe is looking out for us.

Back again on the pod we've got Max from Family Industries. We just got back from an event he was working his magic at, and we had to have him on again. After all, the industry has changed a lot in the last few years, especially in the live events market. Topics of discussion include: Airplane food, managing short weeks, jet lag, live activations, experiential marketing, how to keep your event running smoothly, customer involvement, pitching your services, bad events, the best custom promo item, and truffles.

Catching back up with Zach as he and his crew are developing a way to bring fun and competition into the industry, and they're calling it the Print Masters Throwdown. Topics of discussion include: Creed, Oasis, waterbed camp, finding your role in the industry, curveball and virtual challenges, burnout getting in the way of growth, viewer voting, the productivity and time management that comes with working from home, and the storytelling behind content.

After a brief hiatus on the high seas, Dilly has returned with tales from his time away and newly reinforced fears for the future of humanity. As a good screen printing podcast does, we do eventually talk shop, this time with Alex Haug of Twin City Tees. A lifer by trade, our discussion naturally begs the question: Was it all worth it? Topics of discussion include: Prepping, interfering with production, personal sacrifices for business gains, covering customer mistakes, customer phone calls, having a sense of accomplishment, and shirt forums.

After a 4+ year recording streak, Dilly missed his first episode of Shirt Show. But who better to fill his shoes than 40 year old celebrity guest host Nick Wood? We put together a hot episode with Mr. JG of JG Graphics, a full time firefighter and shirt head. Starting from the ground up with his brother and a self made press, Jared has successfully scaled over the last few years and has kept a level head throughout the process. After all, shirt happens, but it isn't life or death like the firefighting biz. Topics of discussion include: sketchy flash dryers, managing growth with SOPs, empowering your team, hiring attitude over talent, hard conversations, leadership perspectives, giving back to the industry, and delicious cantaloupe balls.

What is an exit strategy, when do we need one, and do we even need one at all? We put our heads together with Bruce & Steven, and our mind amalgamation provided a rich conversation filled with plenty of questions, a few answers, and just an overall good time. A good time that would never touch on anything too personal, or even think about hitting a little too close to home for any of us, in any possible way... Topics of discussion include: Choice produce, popped screens, S&S acquiring Broder, DTF/DTG fulfillment, defining exit plans, choosing whether or not your business makes a profit, life outside of your business, reverse engineering an exit plan, merging shops, succession, divesting, therapy, and burning your business down.

This episode description was created with Ai:Dive into our episode with Michelle Moxley, where the conversation takes us from her adventurous summer road trip in an RV to the forefront of AI in the creative industry. Michelle, who made a notable shift from screen printing to the digital design space, shares her insights on integrating AI into your shop and the transformative power of generative art.Topics of discussion include: Dilly's ladder mishap, Starlink, navigating the ethical gray areas of AI-generated art, AI disclosure and regulations, the rise of autonomous agents, and even a bit of stir fry. Tune in for a mix of industry insights, practical advice, and unexpected stories from Michelle's eclectic career and beyond.

Free Cheese Prints has come a long way from their humble punk roots, but their business aspirations remain grounded, and complimentary to the lifestyle Tate & Reesa want to lead. A rare quality among entrepreneurs, Tate & Reesa's ability to prioritize a healthy work/life balance over blindly scaling their business provided a very refreshing perspective. Topics of discussion include: Stresses, image capture beta testing, spelunking, vegan and government cheeses, doubling down on printing through sobriety, cautious growth, time management, ideal customers, Point Break, traveling, business credit cards, and nonstick pans.

Back on the pod, we've got Gabe from MAYB TMRW. This time with a timely topic to discuss, painful customers. Who are they, how are they created, and what are we to do about them? Topics of discussion include: Iced tea intervention, battling heat, bucket hats, new presses, sticker mule, Tenacious D, being personable, QR codes, and eggs.

Jeremy Panda is the mad scientist behind Peace & Cotton. Sure they have multiple locations and offer many services, but they are constantly pushing their boundaries and keeping things fun and interesting with their live print activations. That really caught our attention and we were stoked to get a peek behind the curtain and understand a bit of the method behind their madness. Topics of discussion include: Bad ham, facebook's impending comeback, leaving the band life for screen printing, Niagara Falls, raves, Camping, trying new things, leaning into your branding, making lines not boring, and quesadillas.

Back on the pod is Mr. Jared Mendelewicz, of AKT. Originally based in Florida, they are now expanding a second location out west in Nevada. We're catching up, we're talking expansion, and getting into the nitty gritty of their fulfillment and full package merch services. Topics of discussion include: Farmers tans, puzzles, memes, M80s, Applebee's, business negotiations, Two Decades of Merch, and fireworks.

Fresh out of a business partnership, Wayne Sherman is pushing Ohio City Screen Printing's boundaries with his fiancé by his side. With a long list of print shops in his employment history, Wayne has a strong self awareness with his operation, and is dialing in exactly where he wants to take it. Topics of discussion include: Hydroponics, hawk tuah, insurance, doing before thinking, bank robberies, setting a 5 year plan, shifting to water based ink, and working through adversity.

Specializing in high color counts and a beachy Comfort Colors aesthetic, Seth's ability to sell R&S's services to new customers face to face has proven to be able to get them through just about anything, including hurricanes. Topics of discussion include: Amazon, urine, lord of the rings, bird rescue, hiring stupid people, a $150k mistake, working with Nicolas Cage, haunted houses, door to door sales, followups, building your brand, marketing flops, and aliens.

Printing since '92, and on the path of print education, John Magee has helped countless shops improve their prints and processes, ourselves included. You can follow him around the globe @traveling_screenprinter. Topics of discussion include: Sitting and standing, homework, favorite blanks, battling over print placement, false gurus, getting into social media, self advocacy, and a boat load of shop hacks.

Derek Robinson had an interest in screen printing, and after a turn of events forced him to jump into the print game, he now finds himself at the helm of the long established, All Color Ink. Topics of discussion include: Office distractions, quoting, Coldplay, balls, sports camps, contract printing properly, longterm employees, the importance of paid time off, shop communication, and zoos.