How to Build a Screen Printing Shop from the Ground Up

This week on the 2 Regular Guys Podcast, we’re joined by Anthony Schmitt,  a full-time firefighter who turned a side hustle into a fast-growing screen printing business, Gladiator Graphics. Starting with a Silhouette Cameo in 2018 and leveling up through hands-on training (shoutout to Terry’s class!), Anthony now runs an automatic print shop approaching half a million in sales. We’ll dive into how he juggles firefighting and entrepreneurship, the unconventional strategies that have fueled his growth, from Google reviews and metal business cards to a mobile print bus and a podcast. Plus the lessons he’s learned along the way. Whether you’re just getting started or looking for new growth tactics, this is an inspiring and practical episode you won’t want to miss. Tired of bouncing between SanMar, S&S, and alphabroder just to compare prices? PromoHunt’s free browser extension does the work for you—automatically showing you price and inventory comparisons across your favorite suppliers while you shop. Join 7,000+ decorators already using PromoHunt daily.PromoHunt.com News If you have anything newsworthy you would like us to share, please email details to [email protected]. Use the subject line “Weekly News.” https://youtu.be/sgpNcGmFV5M Dad Joke Aaron: A friend of mine got kidnapped by a group of mimes. They did unspeakable things to him. How to Build a Screen Printing Shop Aaron: Anthony, welcome to the show! Before we dig into your current success, take us back. What was the tipping point that made you go from casual creator to full-on garment decorator? (Terry: Take your time on this. Don’t leave any detail out!) Terry: A lot of our listeners are juggling a day job and a side hustle just like you are. What’s your real-world advice for staying focused and making meaningful progress without burning out? Aaron: You’ve gone from YouTube deep dives to hands-on training. For someone standing at that same fork in the road, how do you decide what’s worth your time and money? Terry: Every journey has speed bumps. What were some of the biggest mistakes or missteps that helped shape how you run your business today, and what would you tell others to avoid? Aaron: On the other side of our commercial break, let’s talk about some steps to success. Aaron: Let’s flip to the wins. You’ve done some things that moved the needle, like creative outreach. What’s worked best and why? Terry: Tell us about your (idea for?) podcast. How did that come about, and how has it helped your business or community connections? Aaron:  One of the coolest things you’re doing is mobile printing with a converted transit bus — seriously, that’s next-level. Walk us through how that works and what kind of impact it’s had. Terry: We always ask for one golden nugget. What’s the one mindset, habit, or strategy that you believe more decorators need to adopt right now? Terry: Where can our listeners connect with you, learn more about Gladiator Graphics? The Secret Sauce We serve up bite-sized tips for our #regulators to instantly spice up their decorated apparel business. Just like the perfect wing sauce, these quick tips can transform your business experience, adding flavor and depth to your operations. Each video in this playlist is a nugget of wisdom, carefully selected for its potential to bring immediate value to your work. So, whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started in the decorated apparel industry, dip into our ‘Secret Sauce’ for insights that can help you soar. https://youtu.be/S9hAPyMR6HY OTHER EVENTS Small Business Saturdays – Saturdays at Noon Central Time and then available to watch any time. Rising Tide Talks! – Wednesdays at 5 PM Central Time and then available to watch any time. Master of Success Inner Circle – Bi-weekly Mastermind Groups with accountability, support, and a built-in support group. Complete Screen Printing Business Course with Atlas Screen Supply in Chicago June 7-8. Complete Screen Printing Business Course with Workhorse Products in Phoenix, AZ, TBD The Take-up with Erich Campbell – Fridays at 2:30 Mountain Time Demystifying Next Level Digitizing Online Training from Erich Campbell Understanding Emblems  Learn from Erich Campbell about digitizing for patches. Trade Shows DAX Twin Cities Hilton Doubletree, Bloomington, MN – August 1-2, 2025 Fast Track Your Success: Halve The Time to Achieve Your Goals – Friday, Aug 01, 2025 at 2 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. How To Master Pricing: Pricing For Profit – Saturday, Aug 02, 2025 at 12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Graphics Pro Expo Long Beach, CA – August 21-23, 2025 Graphics Pro Meadowlands, NJ – September 12-13, 2025 Impressions Expo Dallas, TX – October 2-4, 2025 Printing United Orlando, FL – October 22-24, 2025 Graphics Pro Charlotte, NC – November 6-8, 2025All dates and events are subject to change