Today we’d like to introduce you to James Lee.
Hi James, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey after high school has been less of a straight career path and more of an exploration to discover where my passions truly lie.
My journey started right out of high school with a six-year commitment to the Marine Corps Reserves – an experience that instilled in me discipline and a certain way of tackling challenges. After that, I took a sharp turn into the hospitality world, managing a large Korean spa for a couple of years, where I honed my people skills and learned the ins and outs of operations. But I felt a deep calling to something more, leading me to spend a few impactful years working for an NGO, helping North Korean refugees – a truly eye-opening and humbling experience. It was throughout those initial post-high school years that I realized I wasn’t afraid to try new things and pivot when needed.
So, I took on managing my family’s business in the women’s fashion industry for a few years – gaining firsthand experience in retail and the creative side of things. You might think that’s enough variety, but then I decided to learn to code, completing two different boot camps during this time with the intention of shifting my career towards software engineering.
While I enjoyed the problem-solving aspect of coding, I ultimately found my creative outlet and entrepreneurial drive converging in my current venture: a Custom Shirts business specializing in DTG and DTF printing. It’s been a winding path, but each step has helped me pinpoint what truly excites me.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not a smooth ride! A persistent challenge has been the physical location of the shop in the back of a warehouse, limiting public visibility. As a result, a major focus has been developing our online presence through our webstore. E-commerce has been a learning curve, but I’ve been diving in headfirst, figuring out how to forge those personal connections with customers even without meeting them face-to-face. Social media has become a key tool as I work on getting the word out. It’s a continuous learning process, and I’m excited about the goals and ideas I have to keep building a better experience and expand our customer base, with a particular focus on connecting with local entrepreneurs and small businesses who need custom apparel for their branding, whether it’s launching a new line or creating shirts for their team or events.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Ink Nest Shirts?
Ink Nest Shirts specializes in high-quality Direct-to-Garment (DTG) and Direct-to-Film (DTF) printing, bringing vibrant, high-resolution designs to life on a wide range of t-shirts. With no minimum order requirements, fast turnaround times, and pricing that doesn’t change based on the number of colors, we make custom apparel simple and affordable—whether your design has one color or twenty.
We’re especially proud to support local entrepreneurs through our Print on Demand (POD) services. We handle all the production, shipping, and inventory, so creators can launch their own apparel brands or order custom shirts for events or businesses—without any upfront costs. You only pay when you make a sale!
At Ink Nest Shirts, we’re more than just printers—we’re partners in creativity. Whether you’re an individual with a fun idea, a business in need of custom gear, or a brand in the making, we’re here to help you create with ease, speed, and style.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.inknestshirts.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inknestshirts
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Ink-Nest-Shirts/61572183884035/
