Success Stories with Marshall Atkinson

If you are a successful contract decorator, you know that you don’t sell ink or thread on cotton...what you sell is Trust with a capital T.

One shop in Connecticut has found a higher level of success by generating trust through hard work, creativity, getting the job done, and simply being their authentic selves.  

On today’s Success Stories podcast, we’ll speak with Monica Maglaris with Liberty Print Co about what it takes to be successful as a certified women-owned and LGBT company in this highly competitive industry.

One of the most overlooked garments in the promotional and decorated apparel industry is the ubiquitous bandana.  This staple has been around our necks, heads, and faces for a very long time.

Currently, there is a renaissance happening in the marketplace for people wanting customized bandanas for their events, company  fundraisers, and giveaways.  On this episode of Success Stories, we’ll talk with Holly and Heather Trevino, owners of Planet Apparel in San Diego, California about how they have become the go-to partner for all things bandanas.

We’ll dig into some history, who are good customers for bandanas, and some tips on making your next bandana order a success.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many small businesses to their knees, or frankly, completely out of business.

One Michigan business, Sandlot Sports, made a dramatic shift in their business from athletic and sports event-based apparel and merchandise to more of a B2B focus.  On today’s Success Stories podcast, we’ll be chatting with Ryan Dost and Adam McCauley about their business, the shift in a new direction, and their plans for the future in 2021 and beyond.

If you have been trying to move your business in a different direction, this is one episode you don’t want to miss.

How are you with the mindset of failing?  I know that I usually learn more from my mistakes, than from my successes.  How about you?

As we move through our careers and business, the concept of constantly evolving and learning has helped one business thrive.

Eric Solomon with Night Owls in Houston Texas has taken the concept of leveling up by constantly challenging themselves to do better.  

On today’s Success Stories podcast, we will explore the notion of how learning and the concept of intentionally conquering challenges have set them apart from other screen printers.

On today’s Success Stories podcast, we are going to talk about the “journey” that people have in the industry with Joelly Goodson, who is a self-described “Branding Badass” with Genumark in Calgary Canada.

People start down their career path for whatever reasons, and it is always full of ups and downs.  Joelly has mastered the art of sales for Genumark to the point where she is recognized as the go-to person that can help.

How did she go from “Zero to Hero” in this industry?  That’s the topic of today's Success Stories discussion.

One of the biggest emerging trends in the decorated apparel industry is the notion of “Print on Demand”.  This is the idea that you sync up the decoration of the shirt with the order when it is sold, and not in advance.

This high-wire trapeze act happens courtesy of technological advancements in logistics, printing, workflow, and equipment.

On this episode of Success Stories, we will chat with Kevin Oakley and Shane Snodgrass, the owners of Stoked On Printing in Las Vegas, Nevada about their push into this new ballgame for apparel decoration.  What it means to them, how they are doing it, and where the future is with this space.

Where a business owner’s journey starts, and where they end up is the topic of today’s Success Stories podcast.

In 1997 Mark Graham founded Rightsleeve, a promotional design agency in Toronto, Canada.  The firm specializes in merchandising aimed at businesses, schools, camps, and organizations.  Mark successfully operated that business for 22 years before selling the company to Genumark in 2019.

Along the way, Mark founded another company, commonsku, which is a trusted CRM, order management, and social collaboration tool for the promotional products industry.

Today’s Success Stories podcast will focus on the origins of Mark’s career-building Rightsleeve, starting the beginnings of commonsku, and then his journey into building commonsku into what it is today.

Many businesses talk about growing their sales and setting goals.  For apparel decorator and marketing king Tom Rauen with Envision Tees in Dubuque Iowa, expanding the business and obtaining new customers has been a focus.

He has developed an interesting way of doing that with his “Growth Acquisition System” or G.A.S. for short.

On this episode of Success Stories, we will dig into exactly what this unique approach is, and why it is working so well for Tom at Envision Tees.

It’s no secret that many people gain tremendous insight and inspiration from reading books.  And by reading, I’m including paper-printed books, ebooks, and of course, audiobooks.

As many people tend to buy and share their favorite books as holiday presents, on today’s episode of Success Stories, I’ve asked a wide array of industry leaders to give us their favorite tips and recommendations for books that they have enjoyed this year.

So whether you are looking for a new book to glean some insight about something, or the perfect gift for your staff or customers, we have you covered.  

You’ll hear from Mark Graham, Charity Gibson, Tom Rauen, Jeff Solomon, Brian Rainey, Roger Burnett, Mark Kapczynski, Mark Coudray, Nate Leber, Shawn LaFave, Jay Busselle, Meg Erber, Stephan Baere, & Brittany Tucciarone.

Plus, I’ll give you my favorites too!

These days there is a lot of talk about trying to find a competitive advantage that gives your company an edge.  One apparel decorator in North Fort Worth Texas has found that edge, and what they are doing may surprise you.

Printed Threads is a full-service merchandising company that specializes in high-quality screen printing, embroidery, retail finishing, and fulfillment services.  Brett Bowden is the self-proclaimed “El Capitan” of the shop, and his fun, creative, and sometimes quirky style carries over to his staff of dedicated professionals.

Today on Success Stories, we will dig into what makes Printed Threads a Texas powerhouse, that competes nationally and is driven by a unique culture that gives them the edge.