Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlos Silveira.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My story starts when I was 20 years old (I am 52 now), I am from Brazil and that time I was living in Rio de Janeiro and had an invitation to wholesale t-shirts at Manaus (North of Brazil, by the Amazon forest) and I took that opportunity and sold bunch shirts. After few disappointments, I decided to get back to Rio and started screen printing… few years later, I had a factory making around 5 thousand shirts per month. Five years later, the economy in Brazil did not help much as my choice for a wrong partnership and I had to stop my dream and get a job to pay my bills. I came to US in 2001 and always thought about become an entrepreneur here. The market for apparel is amazing and I love to create and help customers building their shirts. Thanks for the new way to make shirts I start doing everything by my self. Designing, selling, printing, I opened DFW Tshirts in 2014 and I still in the process do have my dream come true one day (getting my own store). Slowly but I will be there one day. T-shirts is not my main income because I am still helping my stepdaughter getting her degree. This is a little part of this Thirty plus years pursuing my dream. But happy every time that I see someone with a big smile wearing something that I had create.
Has it been a smooth road?
Not at all…I am struggling everyday, trying to build credit, trying to get equipment, trying to get more customers at the same time that the bills does not stop, rent, electricity, car..you can name it, and God is my witness for every night that I have to work hard to finish some work, working seven days per week for many years He is the only one the truly knows what I am getting thru but I have my love for what I do and I am sure one day will be paid off.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with DFW Tshirts – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My company do mainly t-shirts but also I do business cards, signs, banners. Everything related with printing I am on it. I am limited for my equipment but not from my creativity. And my best part if for sure the way that I respect my customers listening what they need because many times people don’t know exactly what they want. But I am there with all my ideas and long experience. I have background make shirts from scratch (cutting fabric, screen printing, sewing). Here buying shirts is much more cheap than make them. But I know the whole process and this help me guiding my customers with their necessities and desires. Took me few years here to improve my English and my knowledge about all materials that I can use, I am still learning every day.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love North Dallas, so much that I had decided to leave my home country and come here. This place is amazing with so many people from all over the world, the passion for sports, the passion for everything related to apparel, I feel that I am in paradise (lol) I only see ways to grow and make my business better and better. and I don’t have anything in particular that I do not like it.
Pricing:
- My prices is hard to define because I can make one shirt that cost 20 or 10, or I can sell 100 shirts for 6 dolares everything depend on type of shirt, design, quantity
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dfwcustomtshirts.com
- Phone: 214-641-24-73
- Email: dfwtshirts@gmail.com
- Instagram: @dfwtshirts
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dfwcustomtshirts
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