Printavo PrintHustlers Podcast

Feeling shocked by 2020's turbulence? Screen printing has changed dramatically in just a few months, making a shift toward e-commerce and masks while moving away from events. Ryonet founder Ryan Moor joins us at PrintHustlers Conf 2020 in this incredibly informative and transparent look at the screen printing industry's future. Ryan compares the industry's current predicament to the Great Recession and even takes a look at Printavo's own unique data that shows the catastrophic drop in business – and subsequent recovery. WHAT'S NEXT? The market grows and expands, with a focus on direct-to-customer sales. Things consolidate and change. Uncertainty reigns, and the businesses that can adapt will thrive under interesting new conditions. A huge thanks to Ryonet, Allmade, and ROQ.us for sponsoring PrintHustlers Conf 2020. Without them, Printavo would not have been able to hold this groundbreaking online conference. Try Printavo: https://www.printavo.com Join us at PrintHustlers Conf: https://www.printhustlers.com Check out Printavo Merch: https://www.printavo.com/merch Follow us on Instagram for all of the latest updates: https://www.instagram.com/printavo

Before you buy your next screen printing equipment – watch this video about screen printing's hidden gem: the CTS machine! “If you’ve got enough volume to automate the screen printing process, you’ve got enough volume to automate the screen making process," Graphic Elephants’ Lon Winters explains. Going from film outputs and your trusted Epson inkjet printer is a big step – so why is computer-to-screen technology such a hidden gem? “Basically, automating a few things ‘over in the corner’ isn’t as exciting as a new press,” says Matt Marcotte from Printavo. Learn how much CTS costs, who makes them, and much more: https://www.printavo.com/blog/cts-and-dts-for-screen-printing Watch Lon Winters from Graphic Elephants at PrintHustlers Conf 2020: https://www.printavo.com/blog/printhustlers-conf-2020-lon-winters “If you’re doing just 25 screens a day, it’s still worth it,” adds Lon. CTS manufacturers are conservative with their estimates about the return-on-investment for their machines. “Aggressively forward-thinking shop owners can make sense of [computer-to-screen] if they buy into the intangible benefits.” It’s hard enough to tell shop owners that their registration times will likely be cut in half – they just don’t believe it. It’s another ballgame to explain that a modest $35,000 machine could get a return-on-investment faster than virtually any other piece of screen printing equipment. Calculate how long it will take your shop to pay for a CTS machine: https://www.printavo.com/blog/cts-and-dts-for-screen-printing CTS machines let screen print shops print more jobs. Lon urges shops to think about the bigger picture than how fast their press can print shirts: “We’re still stuck with how fast the press goes round and round. It was all about 900 pieces an hour on the press. Well that doesn’t matter when your runs are 6 pieces on average!” Getting more jobs through your shop means more revenue and more profit – and CTS setups are the simplest way to be able to print more individual jobs. Dive into CTS and learn more: https://www.printavo.com/blog/cts-and-dts-for-screen-printing “If you can cut your setup time, that means if your average runs are 100 pieces and you expect 10 per day – you only need to find a few minutes to be able to get 11 jobs out. Then it easily becomes 12 jobs. So if you start managing to the number of jobs instead of the number of pieces, your business can grow,” Lon explains. Lon, Matt, and Bruce dive further into exactly how to think about CTS, whether lasers will take over the computer-to-screen game, wax vs. ink machines, and even what “ST” stands for in M&R’s i-Image ST. Read more: https://www.printavo.com/blog/cts-and-dts-for-screen-printing Curious about the history of screen printing, film, and high-color t-shirt prints? Read about Jon Weiss here: https://www.printavo.com/blog/growing-a-contract-screen-printing-business-jon-weiss Try Printavo: https://www.printavo.com Join us at PrintHustlers Conf: https://www.printhustlers.com Check out Printavo Merch: https://www.printavo.com/merch Follow us on Instagram for all of the latest updates: https://www.instagram.com/printavo

“Delegate and elevate.” This crucial leadership skill is how you can grow your business. Don’t get stuck in the business! Stay on top of it. Watch TRACTION expert Tom Bouwer at PrintHustlers Conf 2020 here: https://www.printavo.com/blog/printhustlers-conf-2020-tom-bouwer Entrepreneurs hustle hard. From the beginning, we train ourselves to do everything. But the attitude that took you from Step 1 isn’t the attitude that will take you to Step 2. You have to manage a team and enable them to execute your vision. You can’t just work harder and harder in the same way! Here’s THREE WAYS to delegate and elevate: 1. Write down everything you do every single day for 2 weeks. This is how you can show yourself exactly what you’re spending your time doing. Ever seen “Hoarders”? This is like taking everything out of the hoarder’s house and showing them the problem. Do you really have the time and capacity to do all of these things? 2. Create LOVE and DON’T LIKE columns, and figure out which tasks you LOVE and which tasks you DON’T LIKE. You’re probably good at the things you LOVE. And the truth is you probably spend too much time doing the things you DON’T LIKE! Those tasks you don’t like? It’s time to find someone to take those things over. There is someone that love taxes and accounting, or dealing with people, or handing art feedback. Even if you can’t hire them now, you’ll know exactly where you can get help first – or give current employees more responsibility. 3. Delegate the low-value tasks and believe in your responsibility to do high-value activities. The reason we call this “delegate and elevate” is because it elevates your business. You have to really believe that this is true (and we promise...it is!). Low-value tasks are strangling your business. If you have the team and the right people to help you with these tasks, you have to overcome the mental block that’s preventing your business from running at its full capacity. What have you learned? Drop us a comment and let us know! Try Printavo: https://www.printavo.com Join us at PrintHustlers Conf: https://www.printhustlers.com Check out Printavo Merch: https://www.printavo.com/merch Follow us on Instagram for all of the latest updates: https://www.instagram.com/printavo

What software do you need for a screen printing shop? Here are 27 essential software tools to make running your screen printing business easier, faster, more fun, and more profitable. ALL SOFTWARE MENTIONED LINKED BELOW: PART 1: Management/Communication If you think of “where the work in your shop happens,” you probably think of your production floor. That’s what these platforms and apps do: they’re where you actually work on your business. Printavo What it does: manages your screen printing, embroidery, DTG, or signage shop from anywhere on virtually any internet-connected computer, laptop, smartphone or tablet. Where to get it: https://www.printavo.com QuickBooks Online What it does: manages accounting, taxes, expenses, and more Where to get it: https://www.quickbooks.com Gusto What it does: payroll, benefits, payroll taxes, time tracking and HR Where to get it: https://www.gusto.com Indeed and Zip Recruiter What it does: help you hire people to grow your business Where to get it: https://www.indeed.com and https://www.ziprecruiter.com Lucid Chart What it does: builds simple visual charts and workflow diagrams Where to get it: https://www.lucidchart.com Asana What it does: manages internal development and complex projects (like marketing, content, etc.) Where to get it: https://www.asana.com Stripe What it does: collects payment online Where to get it: https://www.stripe.com Ring Central What it does: software for managing, setting up, recording, and tracking VOIP and phone calls Where to get it: https://www.ringcentral.com PART 2: Productivity The right tools make all the difference. There are a glut of useful, affordable, and effective tools for becoming more productive. These apps and software provide valuable services and let you get more things done faster. Gsuite What it does: provides the best email inbox and a robust suite of apps and services to help you and your employees run your business Where to get it: https://gsuite.google.com Frontapp What it does: lets you share an email inbox in a highly transparent manner Where to get it: https://www.frontapp.com Signpost What it does: generate reviews and positive feedback to Yelp, Google, Facebook, and other sources – while sending negative reviews directly to you Where to get it: https://www.signpost.com Expensify What it does: manages expenses and receipts for employee reimbursements. Where to get it: https://www.expensify.com Zapier What it does: connects multiple apps, websites, or online services. Where to get it: https://www.zapier.com Loom What it does: records, edits, and shares videos (particularly for screen recordings, coaching, and training) quickly and easily Where to get it: https://www.loom.com Trainual What it does: helps train your staff and even your customers by creating a step-by-step process Where to get it: https://www.trainual.com Zoom What it does: a powerful video chat platform Where to get it: https://www.zoom.com Slack What it does: lets your team communicate internally Where to get it: https://www.slack.com Calendly What it does: lets customers, potential employee candidates, and anyone else choose a time for meetings that works for them – and you Where to get it: https://www.calendly.com Jotform/Typeform What it does: puts forms onto your websites for things like quoting, inquires, and even helping contract shops get and place orders Where to get it: https://www.jotform.com and https://www.typeform.com PART 3: Marketing From building websites to posting to social media to purchasing advertisements on the web, there are tons of apps and tools designed to make marketing a snap. SquareSpace What it does: lets you make incredible custom websites easily. Where to get it: https://www.squarespace.com Canva What it does: lets you create beautiful marketing materials on the fly. Where to get it: https://www.canva.com

The perfect print shop workflow? Lon Winters from Graphic Elephants joins us at PrintHustlers Conf 2020 to show HOW you can solve one of screen printing's riddles: what makes for a great workflow in your shop? Showing real screen print shop layouts and floor plans, Lon shares decades of experience consulting with print shops to improve their operations and make big strides toward the perfect print shop workflow. Learn more here: https://www.printavo.com/blog/printhustlers-conf-2020-lon-winters Try Printavo: https://www.printavo.com Join us at PrintHustlers Conf: https://www.printhustlers.com Check out Printavo Merch: https://www.printavo.com/merch Follow us on Instagram for all of the latest updates: https://www.instagram.com/printavo

Learn how to price heat transfers with Supacolor's Rum Walia and Mike Modgill on this episode of the PrintHustlers Podcast! Download the Supacolor Price Calculator and learn more here: https://www.printavo.com/blog/how-to-price-heat-transfers The Basics of Pricing Heat Transfers: You can price heat transfers with a very simple formula. You simply add together: -Your desired margin -Your press charge -The price of the heat transfer. -You can also amortize additional business costs into your heat transfer prices. For example, Supacolor has a flat-rate 2-day shipping charge of $15 for their heat transfers. You can add that as a setup fee for the entire order, or have heat transfers shipped in bulk and spread the fee across several orders. Let's discuss what each element of the heat transfer price equation (Markup + Press Charge + Heat Transfer Price) really means. "Margin" This is simply the amount above the price of the heat transfer that you charge. 30% to 50% margins are an ideal target. Supacolor recommends charging a different margin depending on your customer and the complexity of the job. A wholesale account may get a lower margin, while a retail customer would likely receive a higher margin. "Press Charge" This is a flat, per-piece charge that's applied to each piece. Consider this the "fee" for using your heat press for the product. While SanMar suggests starting with a $1 press charge, Supacolor claims that $0.60 is a reasonable fee. “Nobody can tell you that $0.60 is the press charge you should go with no matter what. You're going to have to make adjustments to these numbers. SanMar, for instance, recommends going up to $1.” - Rum Walia of Supacolor We show you how to more accurately calculate your press charge later in this article. "Heat Transfer Price" Supacolor has a 20 piece minimum order quantity and flat-rate, 2-day shipping. This means, for all intents and purposes, calculating the actual price of the heat transfer is very easy. You can just add the shipping cost ($15) to each heat transfer. Like a screen printing shop, Supacolor gives bulk discounts. Their products are arranged by sizes. Heat transfers were traditionally sold in sheets, so there was incentive to purchase as many logos as possible for a given transfer. Supacolor's system doesn't require you to play that kind of game. Download Supacolor's Price Calculator and price your heat press and heat transfer prints perfectly: https://www.printavo.com/blog/how-to-price-heat-transfers Try Printavo: https://www.printavo.com Join us at PrintHustlers Conf: https://www.printhustlers.com Check out Printavo Merch: https://www.printavo.com/merch Follow us on Instagram for all of the latest updates: https://www.instagram.com/printavo

Dr. Sherry Walling has spent her professional life serving entrepreneurs – but as a therapist and counselor for issues of mental health. "There have been a number of high-profile suicides among brilliant, successful, highly functional people," Dr. Walling says. "In your life as an entrepreneur, you're going to experience some different mental health challenges – it's important to tell the truth about what's hard!" Dr. Walling is joined by her husband Rob Walling, a "serial entrepreneur" who's dealt with his own challenges despite resounding success. From handling anxiety and a "busy mind that's hard to shut off" to burnout, there's no shortage of traps and pitfalls along your path. With the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone has felt more stress and anxiety – not to mention pressure from needing to pivot your business, lay off employees, or simply adapt to a challenging new business environment. While our conference is called "PrintHustlers Conf," it's really a space for community and wellbeing...not hustling. You spend the rest of the year hustling, growing, and challenging yourself – so this conference is where you can take a load off, slow down, and look back on how you're doing. No topic is off-limits at PrintHustlers Conf, and mental health is a top priority as we head into the next year. Dr. Walling brings a perfect mix of practical insights and sensitive, loving kindness. If you can't love and look after yourself, who will? Try Printavo: https://www.printavo.com Join us at PrintHustlers Conf: https://www.printhustlers.com Check out Printavo Merch: https://www.printavo.com/merch Follow us on Instagram for all of the latest updates: https://www.instagram.com/printavo

Danny Gruninger from Denver Print House has built one of screen printing's most respected brands: a highly technical and precise print shop that others look up to. So how does Danny think you can build the ultimate print shop? "I really recommend to spend some time on R&D (research & development). You really cannot get complacent," Danny urges. "The one thing that really secured our biggest clients was quality." If you want to print high-end retail quality prints, you've got to spend the time and energy to develop your skills, technique, equipment, and attitude toward printing. "This industry blends the artistic and scientific. But there's no rules! Don't be afraid to get out of your comfort zone," Danny says. You've probably seen Danny at trade shows – but if you haven't, he's a die-hard printer that has a world-class eye for detail. His insights and ideas are "straight from the horse's mouth," so to speak – this is a screen printer that's struggled through every challenge and come out on top. Danny has 5 simple rules for success in building a better print shop: 1. Surround yourself with the right people. 2. Create a product you're always proud of. 3. Create a working environment that promotes a higher quality of life. 4. Continually create and improve your processes. 5. Don't be afraid to break the rules. Try Printavo: https://www.printavo.com Join us at PrintHustlers Conf: https://www.printhustlers.com Check out Printavo Merch: https://www.printavo.com/merch Follow us on Instagram for all of the latest updates: https://www.instagram.com/printavo

Get a grip on your print shop! Entrepreneurial operating system expert Tom Bouwer joins us to share his knowledge about EOS and "Traction," a legendary book that teaches you to take control of your business. Learn simple tactics and tools you can use to master your business strategy – these are things you can implement TOMORROW to start seeing results IMMEDIATELY! Try Printavo: https://www.printavo.com What exactly does Tom suggest to do in your business? Well, he covers a TON of ground in this action-packed presentation – so you'll want to take it all in a few times – but he develops a comprehensive way to have the right people, vision, data, issues, traction, and process in your business. Can you define your core values? Your core focus? Your 10-year target? And how about the final linking piece – the marketing strategy? Tom shows you how businesses can capitalize on understanding their mission and specifying it to drive business forward. But it's not about taking the time once to draft a bunch of documents and then forget them! You have to revisit these ideas in a scheduled, regimented way to stay consistent. Tom's book, "What The Heck is EOS?" (https://www.eosworldwide.com/what-the-heck-is-eos) is a delightful companion to "Traction". Read more: https://www.printavo.com/blog/printhustlers-conf-2020-tom-bouwer Check out Printavo Merch: https://www.printavo.com/merch Follow us on Instagram for all of the latest updates: https://www.instagram.com/printavo #screenprinting #printlife #printhustlers #printavo #screenprintlife #dtg #embroidery #merch #ecommerce #printshop #screenprint Subscribe to the Printavo channel for more amazing interviews, shop tours, and tips for your screen printing business.

Employee feedback is so important! It's how to align ACTIONS with VALUES inside your company. But what does that mean – and how do you give good feedback? Bruce from Printavo weighs in with four tips to help you give employees great feedback in your print shop. Try Printavo: https://www.printavo.com WHY DO WE NEED GOOD FEEDBACK? Your expectations don't always align with your employees' expectations. Usually, we give one-off, incremental feedback: please coat screens this way, please fold shirts this way, please answer emails like this instead of like that. We need good feedback because good feedback helps employees make better decisions about their work...independently! You are actually aligning actions with expectations and values. Read on for more tips about giving great employee feedback: TIP 1: Training is crucial! Give every employee lots of time UP FRONT. We don’t value our time well enough as owners – so we put off training. But spending two days or a week focused specifically on a new employee shows them that you're dedicated to their success – and stops a lot of headaches and questions in the future. TIP 2: Assign a buddy! Give every new hire a buddy that helps them get into a good routine. We want them to act as a deflection point for small questions. This is a huge and easy way to make a new employee comfortable. TIP 3: Use the word "because" – and be TIMELY with your feedback! Why do you want things done a certain way? BECAUSE of our values and goals: because we want great prints, because we want customers to get their shirts exactly the right way, because we want to increase our sales through better service. Crucially: don't delay your feedback! As soon as you have the opportunity to offer feedback, do it! Don’t wait until a problem frustrates you: when a problem is mentioned and resolved on the spot, you engage with the problem while it’s “fresh.” This makes it much easier to offer correct, detailed, and accurate feedback. TIP 4: Review feedback in 1-on-1 meetings. You do hold 1-on-1 meetings with your team, right? We suggest meeting with each team member at least once every two weeks. This gives you a chance to reinforce feedback, develop mutual ways to meet goals, and ask for suggestions for how to meet goals. Interested in more business lessons, shop tours, and other amazing content for screen printers? Check out Printavo's blog: https://www.printavo.com/blog Join us at PrintHustlers Conf: https://www.printhustlers.com Check out Printavo Merch: https://www.printavo.com/merch Follow us on Instagram for all of the latest updates: https://www.instagram.com/printavo #screenprinting #printlife #printhustlers #printavo #screenprintlife #dtg #embroidery #merch #ecommerce #printshop #screenprint Subscribe to the Printavo channel for more amazing interviews, shop tours, and tips for your screen printing business.