Shop Hacks

Call Shop Owner References

When hiring someone who’s worked in another print shop, skip the formal reference call—go straight to the source. If you personally know the shop owner,...

Key Interview Questions

When interviewing potential hires, skip the generic questions and focus on what reveals real character and drive. Ask why they left their last job—how they...

New Hire Trial Period

In a print shop, skills can be taught—but work ethic, attitude, and alignment with your team’s values can’t. Give every new hire five days to...

Establish Outsource Options

Partnering with larger contract shops can keep your business running smoothly when demand exceeds your current capacity. Instead of turning down big orders or overworking...

Make Friends with Other Shops

Visiting other print shops isn’t about competition—it’s about connection. Building relationships with neighboring shops can open doors for collaboration, overflow support, and shared problem-solving when...

Extreme Weather Emulsion Buying

Extreme temperatures can ruin your emulsion before it ever hits a screen. In winter, shipping trucks and warehouses can reach freezing levels, causing emulsion to...

Don't Aim Fans at Screens

Air movement in your darkroom is necessary—but the wrong kind of airflow can wreck your screens. Fans that blow directly onto freshly coated screens stir...

Consider Future Compatibility

When buying a manual press, think beyond your current setup—plan for the shop you want five years from now. Choosing equipment compatible with automatic presses...

Scrape White Ink Out on Cold Nights

Cold temperatures can turn white ink into a thick, unprintable mess by morning. Implementing a simple winter routine—scraping white ink from press cups and storing...

Elevate Inks in Winter

Cold concrete floors can wreak havoc on your ink performance during winter months. Keeping 5-gallon and gallon containers directly on the floor allows them to...

Let People Vent

When someone vents, most of the time they don’t want a fix—they want validation. The urge to analyze, advise, or redirect can make things worse,...

Apply Pallet Tape with Roll

When applying pallet tape, skip the squeegee and use the roll itself. Rolling it down applies even pressure and prevents trapped air from forming bubbles. ...