I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Dylan from Upstate Merch on the Shirt Show Podcast (Episode 287). It was a great opportunity to connect with a fellow veteran of the industry and dive deep into the story behind Threadbird, my roots in the music business, and where the screen printing world is heading.
If you’ve ever wondered how Threadbird got its start or want to hear some honest talk about the ups and downs of running a business in this industry, this episode is for you.
Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnwuBY73tkw
What We Discussed
In this episode, we covered a lot of ground, looking back at the last 17+ years of business. Here are a few highlights:
From Music to Merch: I shared my origin story, starting in the music industry as a promoter and band manager in Florida. We talked about how the struggle to get consistent, high-quality merch for bands led me to start my own company, which eventually evolved into Threadbird.
The “Good Old Days” of Message Boards: We reminisced about the early internet era of screen printing communities and how connecting with designers and other printers helped shape our focus on quality and specialty techniques like discharge printing.
Business Growth & Challenges: I opened up about the hard lessons learned along the way, from failed partnerships to the dangers of expanding too quickly. We also discussed the current landscape for clothing brands and how we’re adapting to economic shifts.
Automation vs. The Human Touch: One of my favorite parts of the conversation was our debate on technology. While we use software to streamline operations, I talked about why I refuse to take the human element out of Threadbird. You can get a quote online, but I always want a real person guiding you through the process.
Geeking Out: It wouldn’t be a true deep dive without touching on my personal passions. We chatted about my love for Star Wars and the story behind the DeLorean “Time Machine” sitting in our shop.
Why You Should Listen
Whether you’re a shop owner, a clothing brand looking for insight, or just interested in the entrepreneurship journey, this conversation gets real about what it takes to survive and thrive in this business. We trade shop hacks, discuss the importance of accountability with scorecards, and share why, after all these years, I still love what I do.
Check out the video above or listen to the episode on your favorite podcast platform.
