Impressions - May 2016 - 54

think.
make.
do.

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A 'Different'
Decorator
print Works' alternative way of doing things
has yielded growth and a strong bottom line.
By Jennifer A. Morrell, ContriButing Writer

Stephen Terrell wanted to prove the naysayers wrong when they
said his way of doing business wouldn't work.That desire ultimately catapulted his company, Print Works, to notable success
in a relatively short time period.
Terrell, the company's owner and general manager, started
Paris,Texas-based Print Works in his dining room a little more
than four years ago. His formula was relatively simple: He saw
in previous jobs what worked and what didn't, and decided to
run his business his way.
"I always thought that if I could make the strategy, I would
do it different - just different,"Terrell says.
Because of his experience in and love of manufacturing, an
apparel-centered business seemed to be a perfect fit.
"Yes, we make shirts, just as many other companies do," says
Taylor Martin, Print Works' director of marketing and business
development."But we do it differently. Stephen was tired of the

customer service hassle and nightmare that
orderingT-shirts was, and he knew it didn't
have to be that way."
In the beginning,Terrell worked a day
job while growing the company and spending little time sleeping. He committed to
Print Works full-time in June 2014 and
hasn't looked back. At the end of 2015,
the company had achieved 147% financial
growth compared to the previous year.
"To grow a business, you must have
passion and a strong self-evaluation, and
surround yourself with other strong
people," Martin says."Print Works' senior
leadership team is the perfect mix of people,
jobs and strengths. Our growth is related
to the ability to see bottlenecks or challenges and elevate them before they are
an issue."
Strategy Leads to Success

The company offers
embroidery and screen
printing, and recently
expanded to multiple
production shifts to sustain
increased orders.

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i m p r e s s i o n s m a g . c o m MAY 2016

PrintWorks' diverse customer base includes
small (local) and large (national) accounts,
and the marketing structure for each is
different. The latter are handled with a
one-on-one approach, showing key sales,
new products or different ideas that can
accommodate a customer's needs. The
former requires a wide marketing range,
like radio opportunities and sponsored
community events.
"Our sales strategy of small sales showrooms in multiple locations is playing a key
role in local business," Martin says. "We
love helping a small business's idea of a
logo come to life on a tee or hat."
PrintWorks even launched its own clothing brand - Hummingbird Apparel - and

Print Works' owner
and general manager
Stephen Terrell started
the company in his
dining room. It now has
two locations and
27 employees.

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Impressions - May 2016

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