Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Franz.
Hi Sarah, 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?
GoLoud Graphics began as a simple desire for our children’s Little League to have uniforms with some thought put into them, or for them to show up on time and maybe not be three different colors of red. We didn’t think that was to much to ask, and figured we could at least get them there on time. So, we did a little bit of shopping, a whole lot of research, an even larger amount of praying, and GoLoud Graphics was born October 1, 2010.
We started with a manual screen printing setup in our garage, and printed t-shirts for businesses, clubs, churches, schools. When we first began, I had only a passing knowledge of computers, and absolutely no knowledge of graphics and their programs. We had printed a whole 10 shirts, and were working with a trial version of Photoshop. We knew we would need a good graphics program, but didn’t really know what would serve us best. So, we attended the Imprint and Sportswear Show in Ft. Worth. They had great classes, but everyone seemed to use different programs and different everything. We finally had to just find someone who wasn’t selling something to help us understand our choices and what that meant. I distinctly remember him asking us if we were going to be using raster or vector art. My reply was, “I know the words you just spoke are English, but I have no idea what you just said.
We learned a lot from that conference, and figured out how to work the business while also raising 4 young children and homeschooling 3 of them. My husband, Pete, would work his job during the day. I would, school the kids, my Mom and I would take care of the house, and I would do a bit of prep work for printing. Then in the evening, after we put the kids to bed, we would go out into the garage and print the jobs we had for the evening. We really enjoyed the process, and were able to begin building the business.
Before we knew it, we were printing for the schools, for businesses big and small, for family reunions, churches, clubs and of course for our Little league. Then we started needing to personalize things, and people wanted embroidered hats, jackets, and workwear. So, we added a vinyl cutter, heat press, and embroidery machine to the mix. We had only been in business for about 3 years, when the opportunity for us to purchase a retail business with a location came around. We spent about 2 weeks praying and calculating if this would be a good fit for us. The business was growing and beginning to take over the house, and the kids were all in school. So, we decided to go for it. We did grow, and I met some of the best people who are friends/customers, but after about 4 years we became so busy, I couldn’t keep up with the work, and I was having severe staffing issues. I was spending all of my time at the shop. I was there early. I was there late, and I was missing pieces of my family’s life. So, in October of 2018 we shut down the store and gave all the equipment back to the original owner. I farmed most of my customers to trusted printers in the area, and moved my now part time business back into the garage.
I kept only 5-6 customers. I was able to take care of them, and work as a small contract printer/embroiderer for other businesses in the area. This was perfect for me, and I believe it is what kept my business from going under during the pandemic. I had purchased a good embroidery machine, and because I worked out of my house, I was able to continue to grow my business when others were struggling. As I was adding customers, the demand for customized shirts and apparel was mounting. I had a vinyl cutter and a heat press, and I learned how to use those two things to make good decorated pieces. It was really the only way to make print-on-demand pieces without purchasing a huge very expensive machine. Then around 2021 one of my vendors began selling sheets of prints that you could apply with a heat press to any material. I gave it a try, and it became the way I printed. Every day I would create sheets of art to send to my vendor, and two days later I would have the art to put the pieces together. I did this for nearly two years when I did the math and realized, I was paying more for these prints than the payment for a printer and the prints would cost me. My next step was to scare my husband to death telling him I wanted to buy a Direct to Film (DTF) printer. It was not a small purchase. But, I did make it, and I took over the entire garage.
During that same time, I was getting more business, and had even reached a point where definitely needed seasonal help. So, I hired a young lady from my church. Originally, I hired Jen for seasonal help, but she quickly showed me that we could grow and do so much more if she was a full time employee. I have never regretted hiring Jen. Now, I couldn’t run the business without her. She has helped me build this business into something of which we can both be proud.
Two years later, we had grown so much that we had hired a part-time employee, there was no room to left in the garage, orders were beginning to take over the living room in the house, and there were so many people coming and going at the house that even the patience of my phenomenal neighbors was beginning to wear a bit thin. So, we moved into our current location. I went from 300 square feet to 1000 square feet, and it wasn’t long till both Jen and I wondered how we ever did our job in the garage.
That is the long sort answer. And there is so much more to the story, such as my husband and sons building a wall in the garage so that I could have a workshop in 1/3 of it. Then the same taking down the wall 2 years later and building out the whole garage so that I could have this new printer and space to grow. My Mother working a heat press, and organizing orders. My Dad driving all over the metroplex to get supplies and deliver orders. My 4 kids learning how to wash and burn screens. My friends coming to the rescue and weeding vinyl or cleaning embroidery pieces when I got behind. My husband being proud of me building a business and competing on my terms.
I love what I do, but the thing I love the most is the people. I have met so many phenomenal people, both customers and others in the industry. Some of my customers have been with me 10 or more years. I wouldn’t be where I am today without these people I love.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Most of my struggles have been in learning how to be a business woman. I had to learn that my time was worth something. Learning how to decorate a shirt or embroider a bag was easy. But learning how to say “No,” or stand by the price of something was/is sometimes difficult.
Balancing my work with my family was hard, and sometimes still is. But some of my most fun memories with my family is of us all working together.
I’ve also learned that I am quite mechanical. I believe that technicians are worth their weight in gold, but I don’t always have the gold, and I’ve had to learn how to repair and maintain the machines myself.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We specialize in print-on demand spirit wear stores for teams, organizations, and even businesses. When we purchased the DTF printer, it completely changed how we are able to fulfill orders. “I’m sorry you need to order a minimum of 12.” became “Yes, You can have one of those shirts with the team name and a personal name and number.
I am most proud of the relationships I build with my customers and with others in my line of business. I have customers that have been around for 10+ years. This year, I had a Senior Letterman Jacket made for a young lady for whom I made her first t-ball jersey. I love the people that walk through my door. The relationships I have built between others in my business keeps me growing. We teach each other, and help each other out.
What sets me apart is always hard to answer for yourself. I hope that what sets us apart is that we take care of our customers. That is not to say we don’t make mistakes, but when I mess up I’m going to own that mistake, learn from it, and be better. And, when you come through the door, I want to grow a business/friend relationship with you so that I get to see you again.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
When I was in college my conducting professor told us that we should always make time every day to read trade/professional journals or magazines. And I’ve carried that through all my life. So, I read something every day. Magazines/Journals = Graphics Pro, Impressions Magazine. Youtube Channels – Color Gamut Consulting, Stahls, JDS, That T-shirt guy.
I do attend quite a few professional conferences every year, and will take quite a few educational classes. I learn so much in those classes, but I learn even more when I get to sit down with the other attendees and simply ask “So, what do you do when…?”
I am an avid reader, but there are a couple of books that have made a difference to me. The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul and Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges. These two books helped me to have high view God, and helped me to understand how God views me. I run this business the way I do because of my relationship with God.
Pricing:
- Spiritstore/Webstore Set-Up – $0.00
- Standard T-shirt w/ front print – $15.00
- DTF Transfer Printing – $0.02/sq in
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.goloudgraphics.com
