The Aussie Screen printing Club: Recent Episodes
The Ministry of Shirts
Finally Australian Screen Printing is on the Aussie Map! The Aussie Screen Printing Club. It’s Screen Printer paradise! Listen to some of Australia’s finest screen print shops talk about their businesses, where it all started, how they grew, what to watch out for and marketing tips and traps. Your host it Sam Austrin-Miner from the Ministry of Shirts. Whether you are a basement, bedroom or big shop screen printer this show will add something to the discussion to get your ’inking hat’ on! Are you interested in featuring your Australian Screen Printing business on the show? Contact podcast@ministryshirts.com.au to find out more.
Topics Covered include:
- Sales updates
- Laser Engraving Issues
- Projector alignment system for heat presses and embroidery
- Problem Clothing Brand Customers & Managing Customer Expectations
- Custom Cloth Tags
- Outsourcing Artwork Prep/ Stock Ordering Graphxsource
- Using ai to clean up art files.
- Using Claud.ai to rewrite code for deconetwork.
- DTF Software that handles Pantones
Lisa Diebold and Emma Pullin from SOFT POWER from South of Wollongong talk about their journey in creating their unique brand and the challenges of pushing that brand into a market that is traditionally dominated by men. Subjects covered include buying a screen printing business and changing the name and brand, entering new markets, sales and marketing techniques, screen print colour limitations and introducing DTF.
Discussions include: Taking a break from business and letting the team make the decisions. Coping the Government Departments responsible for tracking spam. Marketing through golfing events. Outbound Sales. High-Lights and Low-Lights for Northprint and the Ministry of Shirts in 2025. Business Process Wikis and Business Bibles. Deconetwork Implementation. DTF Wastage!
Chat GPT - Give us ten insightful questions to consider how we might expand our business in 2025:
-
What is our unique value proposition, and how can we leverage it in new markets?
Identifying what sets your business apart can help in tailoring your expansion strategies. -
What are the potential risks involved with expansion, and how can we mitigate them?
Assessing risks related to finances, competition, and operational challenges can lead to more informed decisions.
It's been a year and a half since we had Chook on the show and around 2 years since she started her business. Its expanded splendidly with the thought of taking on new members from the family and also possibly moving to shared factory premises. Chook has a lot to share from her experience and skillset.
Best month ever for Northprint - Josh heads off to the UK on a well earned break and leaves his business in the hands of his awesome team. How will they cope? How will Josh cope!?! Sam has a new head - in his DTF printer with tales of woe around the complexity of running DTF. It's an honest look at what's been happening since last time.
Another free and easy chat with Josh and Sam as they share their stories of how their print shops have been going over the past month or so. Changes in sales patterns, large order challenges, questions about who is responsible for deliveries when things go wrong, staffing issues that create vulnerabilities in the business, job contracts and non disclosure agreements; and more.
Josh and Sam catchup with Angel from Halo Print Co a very successful retail print shop with a difference in Sydney. Pop culture and Pink collide with a savvy New York mindset to produce and explosive and entirely customer focused shop with an amazing track record for speedy print turnaround. Spend a bit more and get the full VIP treatment including your own 'while you wait' room where you can enjoy lashings of Latte and time with a small dawg and connect 4. A must listen episode.
Discussion topics. End of year financials. July Sales downturn and strategies to change that. Supacolour Developments. ROQ Impress. Business owner stress and coping strategies. GST payment Strategies. Free Washout Booth to anyone willing to come and get it (Ministry of Shirts).
Got a question or interested in being a guest on the show? Email josh@northprint.com.au or sam@ministryshirts.com.au
Another update from Josh and Sam about the state of the screen print nation! New DTF Presses and Embroidery Machines as well as a great conversation with Chris about his fast paced, fast growing Printshop Cherry Studios. A man with a strategic vision for the future of his business and who has, in a short time, burst into the business world with an impressive set of skills, experiences and print shop to boot.
www.cherrystudios.com.au
https://www.instagram.com/cherrystudios.au/?hl=en
Josh and Sam prattling away again. This time with Jacob from the Death Clique Printing Co (and brand!).
Shop Talk includes candid conversations about moving premises, pricing your jobs, Direct to Film and more.
Aussie Screen printers Club - Christmas Drop-In 2024
Listen in to the last podcast of 2024 with a number of drop in guests including:
Chook from Inked by Chook, Jason from Shed 76 & Tyler from Tee Shack.
Welcome back to a chat with Josh and Sam about their respective Screen printing businesses. Topics covered in this show include:
- What do you do when a customer supplies cruddy artwork?
- How do you arrange your Pantones?
- What business structure do you recommend?
- How and where do you get your sim process seps done?
- Do you prefer Diazo or no Diazo Emulsions and why?
- How long until you reclaim a screen?
- Charging for setups on repeat orders?
- When do you send your mockup pre or post order?
- Folding tees for order.
- Dip tanks? What are they good for?
- Entry level kit for new starts - what should you buy as a minimum?
- Where do you go to learn how to screen print?
- What is your favourite blank?
- what do you love about Screen Printing that keeps you coming back?
Thanks to our listeners for your questions! Keep em coming! Email josh@northprint.com.au or sam@ministryshirts.com.au and let us know if you want to be on the show. We love it when guests get on and talk shop!
Josh and sam discuss the latest developments in their screen print shops. Discussion topics include Josh finally moving in to new premises! YAY! Coping with Staff taking leave. Websites and DECO Network shop management systems and more.
A where are we at chat between Josh and Sam on their screenprint journey. Has Josh finally moved to his new premises? Has Sam's new building commenced construction? Other topics include the semblance of a Market Downturn | Customers and their hexadecimal colour codes | and expanding your business overseas.
Want to send us your questions or come on the show? email us on aspc@ministryshirts.com.au
The boys have a bit of banter about running Screen Printing businesses. Topics covered include year end accounts, bookkeepers, outsourcing artwork proofing, bonusing staff, new washout chemicals ,laser engraving and promo products, standard operating procedures, Anatol presses, and more.
Chantal (aka Chook) learned the trade back in the 1990's by serving her apprenticeship and after a motherhood hiatus returned with a new screen printing enterprise called 'Inked by Chook'. A class act with a rubi-film background using waterbased at the coast at Yamba. She's passionate about the trade with and has an extensive experience in having the intel and starting from the ground up in her garage - we love garage screen printers. Inked by Chook is a great fun brand, full of vibrant colours and character which revolves (terrible pun) around a great entrepreneur equally vibrant and fun.
https://www.instagram.com/inked_by_chook/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555784713880
inkedbychook@gmail.com
In Just 2 years full time Nathan has grown his business in Screen Printing and Embroidery to a six colour M&R Manual and 18 heads for embroidery. He learnt the craft a few years back and moved from the side hustle to the whole-hustle in 2022 and have never looked back. Discussion topics include the pathway he took on getting to the level of equipment he now uses. Managing matrimonial harmony in a busy print shop with getting time away! Marketing and sales practices. Social Media and more.
https://www.instagram.com/screenprintaus/
https://screenprintingaustralia.com.au/
Got a question for the show or want to be a guest sometime?
Just email us on: aspc@ministryshirts.com.au
Guests can be from any size print shop - whether in the garage or in a gargantuan factory - but you do need to be in the screen printing industry commercially to come on the show. Find out more by emailing us.
Starting in 2021 as a result of the economic downturn from Covid Matt Dixon from Heaps Good Merch on the Gold Coast talk us through how he went from a blue press to a factory shop floor. A story of breaking back pain to breaking the screen printing learning curve and expansion plans for the next year.
https://www.heapsgoodmerch.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/heapsgood_merch/
Got a question for the show or want to be a guest sometime just email us on: aspc@ministryshirts.com.au
Guests can be from any size print shop - whether in the garage or in a gargantuan factory - but you do need to be in the screen printing industry commercially to come on the show. Find out more by emailing us.
One of the most inspiring stories about journeying into Screen Printing ever! Have a listen to the highs and lows of Jason's amazing story and how he established Shed 76 in Northern Queensland against all the odds! Jason was committed to Screen Printing for the long haul, quite literally!
Shop talk covers presses, ink types, coping with expansion and the stresses of running a business when you are constantly interrupted by customers!
Track him down online here:
https://shed76.wordpress.com/
https://www.instagram.com/_atshed76/
Have a listen to Jodi Taylor the Founder and CEO of DRK LBL (formerly PSI) together with Mary Leishman on the Gold Coast in Queensland tell about their start and growth model including a complete re-branding exercise to place them as one of the leaders in Apparel Decoration for the Clothing Brand market place. Their unique approach to sales though Apparel Consultants and excellence in customer service, printing and embroidery packs-the-proverbial-punch running what they call a 'Full service apparel agency'.
For more info check em out here: Our Instgram - https://www.instagram.com/drklbl/Our Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/drklblpsiscreenprinting/Our LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/86770122/admin/feed/posts/Our DRK LBL website - https://www.drklbl.com.au/PSI Website - https://www.psiscreenprinting.com.au Our YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq0mxymcpKrZiyu7xEG6ZUwOur dream darkroom - https://screenprintingmag.com/7-steps-to-creating-the-ultimate-screen-room/?highlight=PSI%20darkroom%20
Some good news for our listeners - we are officially back!
After a long hiatus with plenty of good reasons we are back in the booth with a new format for the show. Josh Paterson from North Print in Toowoomba has joined to the team as a co-host!
This is a kick start session but one that puts us back in the frame!
If you would like to know more about the show, ask a question or even becoming a guest just email us on: aspc@ministryshirts.com.au
Thanks to all our listeners who stuck by us in the hiatus! We love you!
Listen to one of the Screen print world's all time Masters of Simulated Process. Chris talks us through the learning curve of simulated process, managing a print shop to take time out but controlling his market and working with a wife who manages sales and marketing. Bonus information on stepping up to an auto without stepping into a millstone of a bank loan!
Shannon from Aisle6ix Industries - the Aussie Screen Printing Club Shannon shares about his journey through being a customs official, a builder, a barrista, screen printing and a screen print shop owner.
Jeremy shares how he managed the rapid growth cycle of Rockhill Screen Printing, the steps he took from developing his own press to 5,700 square footage of print shop. Featuring the Stampinator, Monarch Inks, Anatol Volt Presses, Auto-coating, and Auto-Reclaim systems!
Nik has been in the screen print industry since the late 90's and runs his own screen print-shop and clothing brand in North Sydney. CMYK on discharge. The perils of conveyor ovens. Tips for people getting started. All heads down printing on a manual press.
When a world class gym in the USA purchases its merch provider and starts printing in the room out the back of the facility everything changes. Doug Seamans is a a boss running two intertwined businesses and making the most out of the leverage he gets on profit on his garments.
Ever thought of doing some live screen printing? Take some tips from the mistakes we made and go for it!
Sam reflects on the Ministry of Shirts recent excursion into live screen printing at a music festival!
Some helpful tips and traps in this pod on what to do and what not to do!
The Aussie Screen Printer's Club: Jordan Gannaway. Project Print Co. & Onshore Threads
Jordan tells all on how he got started from a technical business plan for a clothing brand to his custom print shop in WA. Less than a few days away from getting in his first auto and having a shop with built in redundancy on presses and conveyor ovens. He has come up through the hard learning route that most of us have taken building his own press and conveyor oven.
@onshorethreads @projectprintco on both Facebook and Instagram
https://projectprintco.com.au/
The waterbased white ink referred to in the show is Magna Aquaflex V2 - White from Jones Brother Print Technology: http://www.jonespt.com.au/
Danny from the Flippin Sweet print Co in Bridlington, UK bares-all with us on his journey in the screen printed printed apparel world. A printer with a strong brand who has perfected the art of the soft-hand print with plastisol; on the verge (or precipice) of migrating to an automated press.
https://flippinsweet.co.uk/
https://www.instagram.com/flippinsweetuk/
Danny also co-hosts the Chippy tee Podcast - worth a listen:
https://www.youtube.com/@chippytee3595
What business structure should you opt for with your screen print business? Sole Trader, Partnership, or Company? Sam gives his opinion on what's great about the Company Structure.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-aussie-screen-printing-club/id1616441195
Jordan Boon is the owner / manager of the T-Shirt Man apparel printing company. Hit hard by Covid he has managed a compacting / downsizing operation to bring his overheads down and actually (over time) increase his market share and printing capacity. Its a case of going smaller and growing market at the same time. Now at the stage of expanding his staff requirements he has taken a novel approach to increase capacity through hiring staff in the home on a piece / work and hourly rate basis. Direct to film is his chosen mode of print using supercolour / ultracolour technologies and also the use of Vinyl application too. A key strength in his customer service armoury is his turnaround times often doing a same day print, and delivery into major capital cities in and around the UK.
Website: www.thetshirtman.co.uk / www.HoodiesUK.com Facebook: Facebook.com/thetshirtman / Facebook.com/hoodiesukInstagram: Instagram.com/thetshirtman / Instagram.com/hoodiesuk
Dan Simmons Owner / Manager of Born and Thread in Ringwood Victoria celebrates 10 business years and talks about his journey into screen printing, and into running his own successful print shop. Listen to Dan talk about business processes, bottlenecks in the process, working towards making yourself redundant in the business and more in this frank and business orientated pod. Listen out for a few help tips and traps too.
Check our Born and Thread at the following pit stops.
https://bornandthread.com/https://www.instagram.com/bornandthread/https://www.facebook.com/bornandthread
The problem of expansion for a one person screen print operation. Who to hire next to make sure that productivity is maintained or increased. Should you get someone to do the artwork, wash the screens, create quotes and mockups, or work with you on press.
How to you balance efficiencies with effectiveness and not slow the throughput of print garments down!
If you are starting your screen-print business as a side hustle, then Josh is worth a listen. Currently balancing two jobs it wont be long before he has to make a choice between the agricultural and horticultural business and the screen print and embroidery empire!
Listen in and learn how he made the move to go commercial, how he learnt the craft and where he jumped in with equipment.
https://www.northprint.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/northprint.customclothing/
Is it worth having a dip tank in your screen print shop? At what time should you get one? Will they save you money. Find out why we use one in this short Tips and Traps podcast the the Aussie Screen Printing Club. Australian Screen Printers - printing Tees Hoodies Polos Tanks & Tote Bags AS Colour, American Apparel, Comfort Colours, Gildan https://www.ministryofshirts.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/ministryshirts/ https://www.facebook.com/ministryshirtsaustralia Check out our Podcast: The Aussie Screen Printing Club https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-aussie-screen-printing-club/id1616441195
This week on the Aussie Screen Printer's Club we have some 'old school' perfection and practice in the screen print world. Listen to Pete Cooper of Hardcore Logo share his screen printing journey woven into the brands and bands that he was inspired by from the 80's to now!You can check our his screen print shop here:https://www.hardcorelogo.com.au/https://www.instagram.com/hard_core_logo/
And tune into the Porkers here: https://www.theporkers.com.au/
Have a listen to Mitchell Rawlins an ex-pro surfer with a street brand to match his street cred and Adrian Newman a screen printer born with a silver-print-shop in his mouth! They are two of the team in Ripple Print House on the Gold Coast, sunshine state about to jump from the Manual print shop to the fully-automated press! Big Anatol and Vastex fans for sure!
Check em out online at rippleprinthouse.com
A quick update on the definitive guide to exposing screens with a couple of bonus items that should help as well as some actual timings with our experiences of exposing screens.
Getting started in screen printing can be a tough thing! So many variables to consider! Listen to this short podcast on how to expose screens and what are the variables to consider to get it dialed in and working every time!
Antace Screen Printing is the one and only dedicated Waterbased Screen Printing companies in WA.
It was founded by husband and wife team, Antoni & Lezzan Fouche, through the passion of starting a clothing brand that has the softest print possible with a focus on sustainability by using eco-friendly inks on ethically sourced garments. Listen & learn how they jumped right into Screen Printing 'boot and all' from the beginning.
Are you interested in featuring your Australian Screen Printing business on the show? Contact podcast@ministryshirts.com.au to find out more.
Are you just getting started in screen printing and wondering how to make good film positives to burn to your screens? Have a listen to this short podcast on the journey we went through to get the right printers in place!
Tyler Fort from the Tee Shack shares some of his 23 years of experience as a screen printer and screen-print-shop owner. Thrown into the deep end as a youngster on an auto in the late 90's to a quiet countryside pile amongst the kangaroos and the squeegees in the 2020's. Screen Print heaven!
G'day screen printers! Welcome to the all original Aussie Screen printing Club. The podcast that's all about screen printing in Australia hosted by Sam Austrin-Miner from the Ministry of Shirts. Each week we interview a special guest from the industry and indulge in a screen printing talk fest to consider how to run a screen printing business, how to screen print more efficiently and effectively, some of the finer points of the art or science of pushing ink through a mesh!