In this episode of the Custom Apparel Startups Podcast, host Marc Vila is joined by Michael Palme and Austin Gordon from Taylor to discuss how direct mail can be a game-changer for custom apparel, sign, and promotional product businesses. While digital marketing gets a lot of attention, direct mail remains a powerful and underutilized tool for targeting new customers, retaining existing clients, and cutting through the clutter of online ads. Michael and Austin break down how direct mail works, h...
Feb 18, 2025•53 min•Ep. 201
In this episode, we dive into the exciting world of entrepreneurial spirit with a focus on launching a custom t-shirt business. We'll explore a practical, step-by-step guide designed for beginners eager to make a mark in the t-shirt industry, even with little to no prior experience. Whether you've dabbled in t-shirt sales or are just curious about this creative venture, this episode is your gateway to starting a successful side hustle immediately. We’ll dissect a downloadable document that outli...
Jun 20, 2024•41 min•Ep. 200
In this insightful episode, we sit down with Trevor and Trent Walden, the pioneering duo behind the Walden Bros., an Alaskan t-shirt shop specializing in Direct to Film (DTF) printing and embroidery. As they navigate the intricacies of the customization industry, the Walden brothers share their journey of transforming an idea to a successful family business. Key Discussion Points: Taking ideas and going for it: The Walden Bros. recount their initial days, emphasizing the importance of good ideas...
Jun 12, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 199
In this episode, we delve into the exciting world of Direct to Film (DTF) printing and how you can transition your screen-printing shop to embrace this innovative technology. We'll start by explaining what DTF printing is and why it's gaining popularity. Next, we'll break down the investment costs involved, giving you a clear picture of what to expect financially. We'll explore the wide variety of materials you can print on with DTF and detail the essential equipment you'll need to get started. ...
Jun 05, 2024•53 min•Ep. 198
In this insightful episode of Custom Apparel Startups, we welcome Howard Potter back to discuss the nuances between Direct to Film (DTF) printing and traditional Screen Printing. With his deep-rooted knowledge from A&P Master Images, Howard breaks down the pros and cons of each technology, helping entrepreneurs make informed decisions tailored to their business needs. The conversation begins with an overview of each printing method’s technical demands and operational scopes. Howard elaborate...
May 23, 2024•59 min•Ep. 197
In this compelling follow-up episode of Custom Apparel Startups, we're delighted to welcome back Howard Potter, of A&P Master Images, for another deep dive into the world of custom apparel. This time, Howard sheds light on the troubles encountered when starting a t-shirt business and shares invaluable advice for both new and established entrepreneurs in the industry. Kicking off the episode, we tackle one of the most daunting questions for newcomers: "Which machine to buy?" We stress the imp...
May 01, 2024•41 min•Ep. 196
In the latest episode of Custom Apparel Startups, we are excited to feature Howard Potter, from A&P Master Images, who brings his wealth of knowledge to the table on the topic of Direct to Film (DTF) Printing. Our discussion, " What You Should Know Before Buying a DTF Printer," covers the A to Z of preparing to make an informed purchase of a DTF printer for your business. Howard emphasizes the paramount importance of conducting thorough research to identify a trustworthy company. It's crucia...
Apr 19, 2024•32 min•Ep. 195
Mike Angel shares his expertise in apparel decorating, focusing on the cutting-edge technique called direct to film printing, or DTF printing for short. This method has completely revolutionized the world of apparel decorating, offering numerous advantages over traditional methods. It is not only faster and easier, but also more cost-effective and versatile. With a DTF printer, you have the flexibility to take on both small and large-scale projects. You can effortlessly create and print the same...
Mar 28, 2024•22 min
In this episode of the CAS Podcast, we're thrilled to welcome Mike Angel from ColDesi, the brilliant mind behind ClickWear and the ColDesi OnDemand services. Mike takes us on a deep dive into the world of selling online, particularly through Shopify, and how ClickWear is transforming the custom apparel business by streamlining product creation and order management. We'll also explore the comprehensive solutions offered by ColDesi OnDemand, designed to support businesses in offering customized pr...
Mar 14, 2024•48 min•Ep. 194
Introduction Small business owners in the customization industry are facing unprecedented challenges due to rising prices. This resource guide provides practical strategies to help your business thrive in a changing economic landscape. Market Research and Competitive Analysis Research competitors and trends - Price shop around and see how you REALLY are in the market. Also ask about 'hidden' fees. Set up fees, art fees, delivery, etc. Do you have a fee to set up my logo? Do you deliver or do I p...
Oct 19, 2023•37 min•Ep. 193
When it comes to growing your customization business we often talk about 'finding a niche.' What is a product / customer that you can focus on. This could be new moms, or local small businesses or tourists. However, you will find a point where growing that business becomes harder. This is why you will find a candle company that starts selling soaps, or why Bath and Body works sells 99 different ways to make your house smell good. Diversifying your product lines is a great way to level up your bu...
Oct 04, 2023•34 min•Ep. 192
How do you choose the right t-shirt? You are looking to start or grow your custom apparel business. There are a ton of challenges with choosing the right equipment, making sales, pricing your apparel and so much more. However, a topic not often discussed enough is the apparel you use. Choosing the right blanks is a core part of your success. This is similar to a great chef. If you learn about great chefs, it's not just about the best pans and recipes, but also about the best ingredients. More so...
May 24, 2023•39 min•Ep. 191
Starting A Side Business And Growing To Full Time Everyone is looking for a way to make more money, achieve financial independence, and enjoy the work they do. One of the ways people accomplish this is by starting a side hustle, and potentially growing it to a full-time gig. But how do you do this successfully? If you are brand new, how do you get started? If you already have a side hustle, how do you take it full time? In this episode we are joined by Amir Bavi, a ColDesi employee and customiza...
May 15, 2023•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 190
Many small business owners get into their business with an idea, rather than a full plan. You want to make t-shirts or print signs. You know it's profitable and you've already got some referral business. It's not that hard to make some money and get overwhelmed with business. What IS hard is growing your business to achieve your dreams and goals. One of the first steps to understanding how to create a great marketing plan (that will lead to success) is understanding the 4 Ps of marketing. In so ...
May 05, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 189
What is a social media strategy? A social media strategy is an outline or plan of your social media goals, how you will achieve them, and how you’ll track metrics. Social is talked about all the time in business, but do you need it? If yes, then how will you use it? This episode is all about finding out what is right for your business. Why having a presence on social media is important for small businesses: Maintains and builds relationships with customers you already have Grows brand awareness ...
Mar 03, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 188
Financing is an important part of starting and growing a business. However, there are a lot of misconceptions and confusion. Many people only have experience financing a house, car, or a new couch. Yet there is a whole world of financing business equipment and software. This episode discusses financing for business and answers the most frequently asked questions. Why do businesses finance equipment? Utilize banks money to start Keep current liquid money on hand Tax benefits Time value of money C...
Feb 20, 2023•54 min•Ep. 187
2023 is here and what’s in store for YOUR business. Mark and I have been reading around to learn what problems the 'experts' say small business owners will run into. We then put our heads together to consider how these affect the customization business industry. So here we go... let’s get ahead of 2023 with expected challenges and resolutions! Supply Chain Issues – There will still be issues with getting supplies, and it shouldn’t be a surprise anymore. Since 2020 everything from toilet paper to...
Jan 24, 2023•55 min•Ep. 186
Working with many customers can be very challenging, especially when it's repeat customers. Some customers are very needy, others are poor at communication, others don’t pay on time. So how do you handle all these different types of customers when you are trying to run your business YOUR way? You want to keep your best customers happy, so they come back! Get a CRM This is key. You need a way to organize all your information, contacts, notes, reminders, invoices. Set Reminders Be sure to have rem...
Nov 15, 2022•54 min•Ep. 185
When you think of your business you may think: Maria does the printing John does the art Mark does the writing and website Etc. But how do you manage that as you grow? or if Maria is sick? Do you also think about how Maria does maintenance? Or how Mark answers chats on Google? Or how John posts to Facebook and answers comments? Further, as you grow, and art goes from 5 files a day to 15 files a day, WHAT are tasks that John could take off his plate? IS there something Mark can do instead of John...
Sep 27, 2022•38 min•Ep. 184
One of the biggest challenges for businesses is keeping up with all of the 'tasks' that can bog you down. These things may seem redundant or not as important as your daily duties, but avoiding them will absolutely cause trouble. Review pricing Is everything still available? has pricing gone up? SHOULD pricing have gone up? Is there an opportunity for a SALE or Discount? Marketing check-in Promotions for next month or the NEXT month? Does your phone number work? Does your contact form work? New/r...
Sep 06, 2022•43 min•Ep. 183
One of the struggles and causes of anxiety for small businesses is the competition. It's either the reality that you'll lose deals to the competition, OR just the anxiety because you might (or when will you?) "I can't make any money in my area" "No one can sell for that price" One of the best ways to combat this is by getting in front of the knowledge. When you know your competition, you: Can get ahead of customers who shop Improve your products and services Be sure you are actually charging eno...
Aug 25, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 182
The space in your shop, retail store or warehouse is essential to how much money you can make. Not surprisingly there is an entire field based on workspace optimization and customer experience. How fast you can get things done, how comfortable your customers feel and the overall space you work on can heavily impact your success. Examples: Customer walks into two shops, which one do they buy from? A - Cool art on the walls, music playing, samples on the walls. B - No decorations, loose thread on ...
Aug 19, 2022•45 min•Ep. 181
How To Make Your Brand Stand Out There are tons of t-shirts shops, sign shops, restaurants and insurance companies everywhere. The world is a busy place. How do you make YOUR brand stand out? How does something emerge amongst the noise? If you want to learn about standing out, watch some nature documentaries. You can see how birds spread their wings, sing or flash bright colors. It's not just about standing out though, it's about building an audience, and trust and a desire to do business with Y...
Aug 16, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 180
Maybe you never want to really grow bigger, just grow more profitable. For some people the idea of a big business with hundreds of employees and a big building with a huge sign is a dream. For others it's just to have a business for themselves. Maybe it's a small family business. A business on your terms. It could be you just want to keep it as a side hustle. But how do you make this business THRIVE and generate the income you want to live, to retire, to pass on to the next generation. If you wa...
Jul 28, 2022•38 min•Ep. 179
Can you guess how success in your customization business is like success in a fitness, financial, or weight loss program? If your goal is to lose 20lbs by September 30th, you can't start working on that on the 25th and expect to be successful If your financial goal is to save up $20K for a down payment on house, or pay cash for a car, you're probably not going to pull that money out of that week's budget to make the purchase. Because with your health and your finances you've got to do small thin...
Jul 18, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 178
Being a business owner means you wear many hats. Project Manager. Production Manager. Financial Officer. Customer Service. And yes… Sales Person. Chances are you aren’t starting your business with a full time sales person on staff. You might be fortunate and be a natural born sales person. Or maybe your business partner is the sales person for your company (husband, wife, sibling, friend). However, if you don’t come from a sales background there is a lot to learn. One of the core parts of sales ...
Jun 16, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 177
While we're not always running an advertised promotion, they ARE a powerful tool for increasing sales, creating awareness and maximizing contact with current and future customers. But if you're not IN the promotion business - where do you start? During this episode we'll break down some simple approaches to great promotions and how to get them up and running. First, let's run through the basics: Who is your Audience? If you haven't done this yet, you need to develop a clear idea of WHO you're se...
Jun 09, 2022•56 min•Ep. 176
Oftentimes when people are shopping to start their t-shirt, embroidery or other customization business, the mind is one track. Which machine do I buy? How to I get the best one? How to I get the best deal? How fast can I get it? But after this decision, many are left with a 'what's next?' mindset, unsure where to go. Further, others get frustrated that there might be more money to invest because they didn't get it all with their machine (didn't want to overspend, or trying to stay within a payme...
May 31, 2022•44 min•Ep. 175
Word-of-mouth marketing is still one of the most effective ways to generate leads and sales How to generate Word of Mouth Label your shirts Do great work Be the "I met a guy/lady/ the other day that does this" Ask for referrals Encourage your customers to refer their friends and family members to your business Friends and Family Plans There's a reason that you recognize that phrase. And a reason that Multi-level marketing is a bajillion dollar business.. Because there may be no better advocates ...
May 24, 2022•53 min•Ep. 174
Having a website for your business can be very important. We aren't saying every business needs a website, but most will. So how do you go about getting a website made for you? Should you make it yourself? These questions are answered by going through the list below. Once you have gone through all of this you will be in the right position to either get one made for you, or do it yourself. Its VERY important to not call a website company or start building one yourself until you listen to this pod...
May 16, 2022•57 min•Ep. 173
