One of my favorite things about working in the screen printing industry is getting to visit different shops, meet new people, and help teams improve their processes. Every shop is a little different, and no matter where you go, there's always something new to learn or someone new to meet.
Recently, I had the opportunity to take the MADE Training x Support program to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands to work with a brand-new screen printing shop called Rock Citees. And I have to say, this was a pretty awesome experience.
A New Shop in Paradise
Rock Citees was started by Dhymond Nicholls, who had already been working in the apparel decoration industry for several years. She had been producing DTF transfers and outsourcing her screen printing work, but eventually decided it was time to take the next step and bring screen printing in-house.
Making that jump is a big deal. There's a lot that goes into starting a screen printing operation, from learning the equipment and understanding the process to developing good habits and workflows that will help the shop grow.
That's where the MADE Training x Support program came in.
I spent five days working with Dhymond and her team, helping them get familiar with the screen printing process and building a foundation they can continue to develop as their business grows. We covered everything from screen making and reclaim to press setup, printing techniques, and general shop organization.
For a new shop, there's a lot of information to take in, but that's also what makes these training engagements so rewarding. Getting to watch a team start connecting the dots, understanding why certain processes matter, and becoming more comfortable with the equipment is one of my favorite parts of the job.
Screen Printing Without Borders
Obviously, getting to spend a week in a place as beautiful as St. Thomas was a pretty great perk of the job. It's not every day that screen printing takes you to a tropical island in the Caribbean!
But beyond the scenery, this trip was a great reminder of just how far-reaching our industry really is.
Screen printing is something that connects people all over the world. Different countries, different cultures, different backgrounds, but we're all working with the same basic process of putting ink through a screen and onto a shirt.
And that's pretty cool when you think about it.
Whether you're working in a massive production facility running thousands of shirts a day or a brand-new shop on an island in the Caribbean, the fundamentals are the same. Good screens, good processes, and a willingness to learn can take you a long way.
That's one of the things I really enjoy about the MADE Training x Support program. We're not just showing people how to operate equipment. We're helping them build the knowledge, confidence, and systems they need to be successful long after we've packed up and headed home.
Watching Shops Grow
I've been fortunate enough to work in this industry for a long time, and one thing that never gets old is seeing people get excited about screen printing.
There's something really rewarding about working with a new shop, especially one that's just getting started. Everything is new, there's a ton to learn, and you get to help establish the foundation that the business will build on for years to come.
I love seeing shops develop, improve, and eventually find their own rhythm. Being able to play even a small part in that process is something I don't take for granted.
And being able to do that in different places around the world makes it even better.
Taking Training x Support Worldwide
The trip to St. Thomas was another reminder of why we started the MADE Training x Support program in the first place.
Our goal is to help screen printing shops become better at what they do, regardless of their size, experience level, or location. Whether that means helping an established operation improve efficiency or working with a new team that's learning the process for the first time, there's a lot of value in getting into a shop and working alongside the people doing the printing.
Screen printing is an art form that transcends borders, and the community surrounding it is one of the things that makes this industry so special.
I'm grateful that Dhymond and the Rock Citees team trusted us to be part of their journey, and I'm excited to see where they take things from here.
Hopefully, this is just the beginning of bringing MADE Training x Support to more shops in more places around the world.
After all, there's a whole lot of screen printing happening out there, and I'd love to see as much of it as possible.
