Shutting Down His Screen Printing Shop - Here’s Why

Much smaller print shop here, but I feel everything Cole is saying. 2018-22 we grew like crazy, every year 30-50% increase. But with that comes more people, more equipment, rent goes up, loan rates have gone up. While at the same time, print shops are somehow printing stuff for pennies as he mentioned. The stress really does mount and its a fight to pay the bills, pay your team, and at the end of it all it doesnt seem worth it. As Cole mentioned, being the one that does it all, I can relate as well. Sales, art, over seeing the team, its a lot. In your 20s, its fun and cool and you feel like youre becoming a proper businessman.. In your 30s with a kid, a mortgage, more bills, it just seems like unnecessary stress. I actually have talked about selling my company for about 6 months now. This was a great podcast and i related to 100% of the stuff Cole was saying. Well done all three of you.

It was such a great conversation. This was a masterclass for shop owners. Most people wouldn't reveal this information because they fear judgment. Cole brought it here, and it will help so many people and shop owners avoid damages while building their businesses.

my heart goes out to you Cole. We all go though this. The bigger the beast you make, the more dangerous it gets. All the best for the future

I am very impressed with the. Candor and bravery to come on the Podcast. Humble and honest man...

Spot on! Good job Cole, I've been there and done that. We have such an identity wrapped in our business and want to love our employees but the race to the bottom is real. You now have a doctorate in survival and business!

GREAT info and reality check

Thank you Cole for doing this interview. I feel the same way most times and I am so appreciative to hear that I’m not alone in this. And for giving approval in a way to the rest of us to look at that as an option. This has been the most meaningful podcast on this channel to me. Thank you.

We’re in a similar situation. Almost 20 years in business, first year (besides 2020) that we will see a decrease in revenue. Expanded space and investment in new equipment right before we saw the numbers decline. Working on ways to pivot so we don’t have to scale back. Still profitable, but if we see another drop in 2025 it is going to mean we have some hard decisions to make.

That’s crazy, I always loved his shop and was impressed with the huge shop they moved to here in the OC. It seems his customer base was mostly Marketing Agencies that bring in huge jobs but want them for Pennies.

Yep! A huge challenge in our industry is the highs and lows. It’s so tough to make your overhead match your output.

As a new printer this was massively insightful. Thank you! Best of luck.

Great episode

Thanks Steven, for training an entire massive army of cannibal heat transfer business owners… We appreciate you.

I just purchased a 8 color 6 station Riley Hopkins press, and instantly started getting videos such as “screen printing is dead “ I’m hoping to find success in this industry.

Really interesting episode. I listened to a few episodes of Cole's podcast. Do you think this is a US-centric problem, or global?

Love and Support for Cole <3

Who farted @ 20:05

Very confusing......did he post a video somewhere else about this, and you had follow up questions? Or was this the announcement? Suggestion fail. nobody introduced themselves or anything. Always remember, this might be the first video someone sees of yours.

Back with the stupid thumbnail

We’re in a similar situation. Almost 20 years in business, first year (besides 2020) that we will see a decrease in revenue. Expanded space and investment in new equipment right before we saw the numbers decline. Working on ways to pivot so we don’t have to scale back. Still profitable, but if we see another drop in 2025 it is going to mean we have some hard decisions to make.