Printavo Printhustlers Podcast

DGI Apparel—the “Expedia of blanks”—just got shut down. So what happened… and what does it mean for your shop? In this solo Print Hustlers Podcast, Bruce and Steven break down the surprising shutdown of DGI Apparel, a software that allowed decorators to compare prices across major garment manufacturers. The platform had to close its doors—leaving shops with fewer sourcing tools and big questions about the future of tech in the industry. Steven also shares a detailed, honest guide to starting a screen printing shop in 2025 with just $10,000—what gear to buy, what to avoid, and how to actually build momentum without overextending.

ThreadX just wrapped—and Steven’s back with a full recap of what went down. Hosted at Robert Redford’s Sundance Resort, ThreadX 2025 brought together shop owners, CEOs, and thought leaders for an intimate and powerful weekend.

Is your screen printing shop running you… or are you running it? In this episode, we sit down with Michael Richman, certified EOS implementer and Fabric.Ink coach, to talk about why so many shop owners feel stuck—and how the right systems can help them get unstuck. Michael shares lessons from building and selling a custom manufacturing business, the real-world application of EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System), and how to stop working in your business and start working on it.

What if the secret to business success isn’t hustle—but calm? In Part 2 of our conversation with Andy Rudman of Shirt Kong, we dive deep into the emotional and practical evolution of running a shop for 16+ years. From legacy and burnout to customer service as marketing, Andy shares raw, honest lessons that every print shop owner needs to hear.

What’s holding your shop back from the next level? In this episode of the Print Hustlers Podcast, we sit down with Andy Rudman, owner of Shirt Kong, to talk candidly about the real challenges screen print shops face when trying to grow—from leadership mindset to hiring strategies and building sustainable systems. Andy shares: • Why most owners wait too long to let go • What he learned from merging with another company • How to think about exits and partnerships • Lessons from managing 50+ employees • Why trusting your team isn’t optional—it’s essential This isn’t fluff—it’s hard-won insight from someone who’s been through the chaos of growth and came out on the other side.

If you don’t know your shop’s profitability until it’s too late… you’re not alone. In this episode of the Print Hustlers Podcast, we sit down with Nick Gowerluck, founder of PrintProfit.com, to break down the exact numbers every print shop owner needs to track—no fluff, just real data that can change your business. Nick shares: • The “contribution margin” method for real-time profit tracking • Why chasing sales isn’t always the answer • What your cash flow snapshot should look like weekly • How shops (from $200K to $500M) are using Print Profit • Why most dashboards are useless—and what to do instead Whether you’re a one-person operation or managing a 30-person team, this episode gives you the profit playbook to grow smarter, not just bigger.

In this episode of the Print Hustlers Podcast, we’re joined by John Gibbs, founder of Logo Daddy Graphics, as he shares how he built a $3M+ print shop that doesn’t rely on him to operate day-to-day. From designing a business that supports his lifestyle to hiring the right team and maintaining profitability through market shifts, John gets real about what it takes to scale and step back.

Most shop owners are buried in the day-to-day. Orders, emails, interviews, production — it never stops. But what if just 1% of your time could change everything? In this solo episode, Bruce Ackerman breaks down a tactical, three-part framework for using 1% of your time each month (just 2 hours!) to slow down, think, and define where you actually want your business — and your life — to go. He shares his personal experience of realizing he was just “keeping water out of the boat” and not steering it. This episode is a practical roadmap for print shop owners and business leaders who feel stuck in the weeds.

Bruce and Steven sit down to talk shop — literally. No guests, no fluff — just two print industry veterans breaking down the realities of running, growing, and surviving in the custom apparel world. They dig into: • Why most shop owners never make time to think strategically • The 5 stages of business growth (and where most shops get stuck) • How to avoid burning cash during busy season • What real customer success should look like in 2024 • And why Slack, surprise gifts, and T-shirt cannons might be your secret weapons

In this solo episode, Bruce from Printavo breaks down what it really means to reach peak performance as a shop owner — and how to build a business that doesn’t run your life. After over a decade of running Printavo, helping thousands of shops, and reflecting on leadership at scale, Bruce shares his vision of the “Mecca” for print shop owners This is an honest, tactical look at how to stop grinding endlessly and start making smarter, high-leverage decisions for your business — and your life.

Hiring the right production manager can transform your shop — and hiring the wrong one can set you back months. In this episode, Billy McDevitt returns to the Print Hustlers Podcast for part 3 of his hiring journey. Billy opens up about what went wrong with the first candidate, how they revamped their hiring process, and how Josh — their new production manager — changed everything. From trial days and onboarding to production tracking and letting go of control, this is a raw and actionable deep dive into hiring smart for leadership roles in your shop.

In this episode of the Print Hustlers Podcast, Bruce and Steven go deep. From the long-awaited receiving feature launch in Printavo, to scaling with better tools like Zapier and Gusto, to what shops are getting totally wrong about buying DTF machines — this one’s full of sharp insights, hard truths, and software that actually saves your sanity. They also share what they’ve learned running Fabric.ink, a peer-based business coaching group for print shops focused on growth, automation, and reclaiming work-life balance. Oh — and Steven may or may not have triggered a DTF Facebook group during a live talk titled “DTF Doomsday.”

What does it take to build a powerhouse sales and customer service team in the print industry? Zach Corn, VP of Sales & Customer Experience at Barrel Maker, breaks it all down — from managing live events across the world to crafting intentional hiring and training systems that actually work. Zach shares the lessons learned from cold-calling at Groupon, managing massive live printing gigs, and scaling Barrel Maker’s sales engine with authenticity and logic. If you’re running a shop or trying to build a serious sales culture, this episode is a masterclass.

In this episode of the Print Hustlers Podcast, we sit down with Clive Ormerod, CEO of AS Colour, one of the most respected premium apparel brands in the world. Clive shares his approach to leadership, brand building, innovation, and why obsession with detail separates good companies from great ones. From his time at Nike to growing AS Colour globally, Clive’s journey is packed with real, practical insights for entrepreneurs and brand builders.

How do you run a $1.5M screen printing shop while working 48-hour shifts as a full-time firefighter? Jared Gavard of JG Graphics in Northern California joins the Print Hustlers Podcast to break down how he scaled his print shop, delegated operations, and stayed focused on what matters.

What happens when you turn the page on one chapter of your business and start another?

Whether you’re starting, scaling, or selling your print shop, having the right legal foundation is critical. In this episode, attorney James Bebawy breaks down business structures, legal protections, and exit strategies to ensure your print shop is set up for success.

How Commonwealth Print Shop Had Its Most Profitable Year—Working LESS! by Printavo

We catch up with Bruce and Steven and discuss Steven's trip to Honduras to see GraphXSource's new operation. We then dive into helping shop owners build a leadership foundation and goal structure to help them grow toward the same goal. Metrics, leadership roles, and more discussed here on the latest Print Hustlers Podcast!