In episode 322 of Shirt Show, Dylan Gilligan chats with Shawn Sckoropad, founder of Printeez. Shawn outlines his experience transitioning Printeez from a traditional commercial screen printing operation into a digital print-on-demand fulfillment network expanding from Canada into the United States.
The conversation covers the operational steps of shifting production models, building custom software, managing customer acquisition costs, and establishing new production facilities. Shawn shares practical insights into digital equipment upgrades, batching logistics, and international expansion strategy.
TRANSITIONING FROM SCREEN PRINTING TO PRINT ON DEMAND
Shawn founded Printeez after working in his family car wrap business. Initially building the business around manual and automatic screen printing with water-based and discharge inks, the shop expanded to 18 staff members. However, managing complex manual quotes and fragmented bulk orders created operational limits on scaling.
To eliminate quoting friction and expand overall market reach, Printeez transitioned its core floor model from contract screen printing to print-on-demand fulfillment. Selling the screen printing presses made space for industrial direct-to-garment units and direct-to-film equipment. This shift allowed the business to retain 85 percent of its customer base while standardizing its workflow.
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PROPRIETARY SOFTWARE AND CUSTOMER ACQUISITION
Scaling high-volume print-on-demand requires predictable customer acquisition and software integration. Printeez developed structured introductory offers, such as discounted sample shirts, to acquire customers well below average industry costs. Follow-up review incentives and time-sensitive coupons established repeat order cycles within 30 days.
To process high order counts without excessive administrative labor, Shawn spent three years engineering a custom software platform. The system connects directly to e-commerce platforms including Shopify and Etsy. The custom application automatically generates digital mockups, manages customer checkout, and routes job data directly to the shop floor.
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AUTOMATED BATCHING AND FAST TURNAROUND LOGISTICS
Processing single-piece orders alongside bulk requests demands systematic production batching. Printeez utilizes scan-to-print technology where every garment carries a tracking barcode. For direct-to-garment printing, items are scanned directly at the press to load artwork files instantly, eliminating manual file retrieval.
For direct-to-film transfer production, incoming jobs are grouped into automated print batches. Once blank goods arrive and pass verification, the system generates a unified print batch barcode. Transfer sheets and garment carts are matched electronically before heat pressing, allowing the shop to deliver 24-hour turnarounds while maintaining accurate order assembly.
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EXPANDING INTERNATIONAL FULFILLMENT TO FLORIDA
Operating exclusively out of Canada presented population limits and international shipping constraints for print-on-demand accounts. To build an international fulfillment network, Printeez leased a 34,000-square-foot production facility in Sarasota, Florida, establishing a United States presence while maintaining full operations in Quebec.
Establishing an international footprint involves managing tax structures, visa requirements, electrical permitting, and facility setup timelines. Shawn emphasizes that regional fulfillment facilities allow print networks to reduce transit times and lower freight costs while maintaining consistent product standards across multiple locations.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Digital automation reduces quoting friction. Transitioning from manual quote workflows to digital e-commerce ordering removes administrative delays and accelerates order processing.
- Scan-to-print workflows prevent operator errors. Utilizing barcodes to load artwork files at press stations eliminates file retrieval mistakes during production.
- Batching logic preserves bulk efficiency. Grouping direct-to-film transfer orders into matched garment carts and print batches allows digital facilities to process bulk orders quickly.
- Strategic offers lower acquisition costs. Sample garment offers paired with automated review incentives generate predictable repeat order cycles.
- Regional fulfillment improves transit logistics. Establishing production hubs across multiple geographic markets reduces shipping times and international carrier costs.