The team at Topshelf Printers in Greeley, Colorado, has been on quite the journey. From humble beginnings with one screen-print press, one dryer, and one embroidery machine to their current setup of 60,000 sq. ft. in an old ice hockey rink housing multiple presses, embroidery machines, and digital printers, the team has moved through several different focuses during their time in business. What started as a shop honed in on contract printing has now morphed into one that also serves print-on-demand, and business is good.

Co-Founders Blake Burroughs and Dan Freismuth, along with chief executive officer Zach Donaldson, sat down with Apparelist to talk about the wild journey they’ve been on, what “mistakes” they’ve made along the way, and how those perceived mistakes have led to a thriving print-on-demand model.

Key Takeaways

• There’s a nearly endless stream of customers and job opportunities, you just have to constantly recognize them
• How elevating your business makes you stand out from the competition
• Make calculated business decisions to say “yes” to a job, purchasing new equipment, and expanding operations
• Be ready to jump an opportunity from a position of strength