The Stampinator is one of those pieces of equipment that seems to get either high praise or absolute slander, with very little room in the middle. We’ve been asked about it enough times that we figured it was time to go straight to the source. Jeff from Slant joins us to explain how the Stampinator came to be, what it was actually designed to do, and how shops should be using it. Lon Winters is…
Shawn Sckoropad of Printeez is back on the pod! Because running a successful print shop wasn’t complicated enough, he’s recently moved his family from Canada to Florida as the first step toward expanding Printeez internationally and building a global production operation. Shawn has never been one to shy away from a challenge, and this one has come with plenty already. Topics of discussion include:…
Dennis and the crew at Axelrad are artists printing for artists, but don’t mistake the DIY punk-kid ethos for a fear of spreadsheets. Between tracking production data, experimenting with new decoration methods, and testing unconventional schedules, they’ve figured out how to move faster without turning the shop into a soulless factory. Dennis is pushing Axelrad into the future while protecting the…
Michael Fader loved printing enough to pack up his life, move across the country, and see just how far he could take it. After reading a few signs the universe threw his way, he’s now crushing it as the General Manager at Pacific Sportswear. Topics of discussion include: four-day workweeks, gatekeeping, justifying expansion, running a digital squeegee, doing way more than your job description,…
Michelle has always been on the forefront of this industry. From the frontiers of special effects and digital printing, to the fringes of AI. Well nearly two years have passed since she discussed this new and emerging technology with us, and now she’s here to teach us how to wield it ethically and efficiently. Topics of discussion include: print architects, how Michelle integrated AI into her…
The band dude to merch dude pipeline is alive and well! Nate Skinner is the longtime Operations Manager at Relentless Merch, and after years of dealing with the chaos of artist merchandise firsthand, Merchcast was born. A platform that helps artists and shops forecast sales, manage inventory, and avoid a whole lot of unnecessary headaches. Topics of discussion include: tornados, college degrees,…
The differences in capabilities and offerings between a print shop and promo product shop are getting blurrier by the minute. This week we brought in Stein Shi from xTool and Bev Pennington of Soul & Grace Designs to talk about the growing crossover between laser engraving and garment decoration, and where this kind of equipment actually fits in a modern shop. Topics of discussion include: how…
The band dude to print dude pipeline is real, and the path is usually pretty predictable… but Luke took a little detour in between. Before landing at Real Thread, he built a career at Publix that gave him an outside the box perspective on this industry. Not only has it helped him thrive in his role as Director of Operations, but it also made for a great conversation. Topics of discussion include:…
Building a business is a lot like going to the gym. You get stronger with every rep, and if you’re doing something wrong… you’re in for a world of hurt. Cody Klimper got into this industry through the fitness world, and his journey has been full of HARD lessons, long hours, and plenty of reps. Topics of discussion include: vlogging, international shipping, growing local business, building a…
Josh NSFW Wheeler is back on the pod to catch us up on what he’s been up to for the last 5 years, how his shop has evolved, and how he’s ensuring SURVIVAL in this business. Topics of discussion include: Keeping it simple, automation, prioritizing quality, maintaining relationships, the Jerry Maguire approach, maintaining your humanity in business, Righteous Gemstones, and tRuStInG tHe UnIVeRsE.