Today we’d like to introduce you to Leonard Sloan.
Leonard, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Started in 1976 as a screen printing company. Added embroidery when Chili’s had 18 units. Became a stocking distributor for ChefWorks out of San Diego 20 years ago. Chef Uniforms of Dallas opened 20 years ago. Work now out of two building with 12,000 square feet. Love the business. Has three websites.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
We have survived the oil dropout in the mid 1980’s and then a partner who stole the company in the 1995 and the “great recession” of 2007. Along the way it’s been a journey.
So, let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Leonard Sloan & Associated story. Tell us more about the business.
Leonard Sloan & Assoc., Inc. started out as a screen printing company in 1976 when there was maybe 5-10 screen printers in the DFW area. I started working with Bill Wainner who was the best printer I ever meet, and at the time one of only two printers in Dallas, Texas. I sold the first job for 4/C process on textiles for Bill and watched the process evolve from disaster to a fine art process. I was selling almost all businesses on Greenville Avenue and one day sold the all five of the restaurants in Addison — a long time ago. I decided to specialize in the bar and restaurant / hospitality industry and have been selling this market for 40 years now. We have manufactured uniforms and have a Gerber System that is operated by Jodi Sims a local designer and grader for clothing. Since 1988 I have been printing t-shirts with waterbase inks which allow the shirt to breathe since I print with dyes. This allows me to print shirts that do not have the PVC rubberize logo presently used by most printers today in the market on dark ground shirts.
We now are known as a waterbase ink dye extraction screen printer and a small letter expert when it comes to embroidery on textile in the reproduction of logos on caps and shirts.
I guess I am proud as a company to still be doing what I set out to do and that was learn something new every day and help companies and individuals have wearable’s that are comfortable to wear with images and logos that are legible to read. I have a passion for excellent reproduction of art in my trade.
You would have to ask my clients what sets us apart from others. Our industry is full of really good people with varied artistic abilities. Some are here for the short term and some are her for the long road. We have been on this road now for 40 years.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Without hard work and lots of luck no one makes in this world.
Contact Info:
- Address: Leonard Sloan & Assoc., Inc.
2720 Manor Way
Dallas, Texas 75235 - Website: www.chefuniformsofdallas.com
- Phone: 214-350-2440
- Email: leonard@leonardsloan.com
Image Credit:
Pyro Engineering
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Joe Gibson
July 1, 2017 at 11:37 pm
I have been buying aprons, t-shirts, dress shirts and chef jackets from Leonard since 1977. He showed up at the Pelican restaurant on Composite, off of I-35 where I was the GM, pedaling his wares. He asked if I had a need. I asked if he had a catalog. He said no, but took me to the parking lot where he lifted the lid on the trunk of his car to reveal a makeshift fold out display of about 20 different shirts and aprons. Over the next 4 decades, I can’t count the number of pieces of promotional gear he has produced for me. Leonard IS the textile guy in Dallas if you need to show off your logo.
Michael Rideau
May 4, 2018 at 2:08 pm
Leonard Sloan is passionate about his business and employees. He’s honest and wears integrity across his body. If Leonard had a nickel from everyone who has taken advantage of him I believe he would be a millionaire. Leonard Sloan & Associates has the best product on the market with respect to screen printing and embroidery. Leonard Sloan is to screen printing and embroidery as Nick Saban is to Alabama Crimson Tide football. You can take that to the bank!!!!!!!!!