How Heat Printing Helped this Shop Scale and Diversify

SOMETIMES IT’S THE little things that make a business successful. For custom apparel decoration, leveraging the right techniques and technologies can make all the difference. JC Pro Design, a custom apparel print shop in Salt Lake City, UT, exemplifies how starting a business with minimal investment with heat printing equipment not only solved initial business challenges, but continues to drive high ROI and operational efficiency. This approach seamlessly has integrated with other printing methods, paving the way for sustained growth and industry recognition.

When JC Pro Design was founded in 2016, the initial setup included a simple silhouette cutter and a heat press. Heat printing quickly proved to be an invaluable solution to early challenges. The founder, Justin Leader, who had experienced issues with expensive merchandise being mishandled by other companies, found that heat printing allowed for precise, high-quality results with minimal investment and space requirements.

“Starting this company actually was kind of an accident,” says Leader. “I owned a supplement company and had several different printers screw up some expensive garments — such as Under Armour and Lululemon — that we were giving to the people I sponsored. So, I thought, I’ll figure out how to do it myself.”

This method’s low overhead and flexibility enabled the business to fulfill orders efficiently while maintaining a high-quality standard. As word of mouth spread, local gyms, personal trainers, and meal prep companies took notice, resulting in a growing client base and increasing demand for services.

Its high return on investment and the fact that the equipment occupies minimal space makes heat printing ideal for businesses operating in smaller environments.

Diversification Dividends

By 2020, JC Pro Design recognized the need to expand beyond heat printing to meet market demands. Screen printing complemented their existing services and attracted a broader range of clients and bulk orders.

And here is the key to their successful growth: It’s all about carefully designed and planned workspaces for each of your decorating methods as you add new technologies, says Leader. Moving to a commercial space in September 2018 marked a significant milestone. The new location facilitated an optimized shop layout and, because of the improved organization, production increased as every step of the process was streamlined.

Leader says the shop floor’s flow allowed the company to expand its capabilities with an upgraded direct-to-garment (DTG) printer, which further increased the company’s services. Flash-forward a few years, and the shop also is capable of in-house embroidery and even UV DTF printing. The new equipment Leader invested in was nearly at full capacity within a year, he says.

With rapid growth came significant challenges — including growing pains. “When you grow too fast, you spend a little too much money trying to catch back up,” Leader admits. So, despite the separate decoration methods the shop currently uses, heat printing remains at the center of the shop’s operation. One main reason is that it’s an inexpensive profit center that cannot be overlooked by even the largest traditional screen-printing firm.

Its high return on investment and the fact that the equipment occupies minimal space make it ideal for businesses operating in smaller environments. The introduction of professional-grade heat presses, from cap presses to dual-platen air-powered machines, marked a significant milestone for JC Pro Design. These presses ensured consistent, high-quality transfers and dramatically improved production efficiency.

Specialized pallets allow for heat printing several placements on garments, providing more brand visibility for your customers.

Supporting Business Growth with Heat Printing

From solving initial business challenges to driving high ROI and seamless integration with other decoration methods, the heat press has been a cornerstone of JC Pro Design’s success. The journey of Leader and his team shows how heat printing offers a reliable foundation that supports scalability and diversification. By integrating this method with other techniques, decorators can enhance their service offerings, attract a broader client base, and achieve long-term success.