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>> THE FOLLOWING EPISODE OF
GREAT IDEAS IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY
CENTRAL PIEDMONT COMMUNITY
COLLEGE AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> HELLO. I'M CHARISSE DUNCAN
WITH GREAT IDEAS.
WE TALK WITH ENTREPRENEURS FROM
START-UP TO VIABLE PROFITABLE
BUSINESS.
AND MY FIRST GUEST IS MARY
FORTNER WITH GET SOME GAME.
[ MUSIC ]
>> MARY. WELCOME TO THE SHOW
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> I'M VERY EXCITED TO TALK
ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS, GET SOME
GAME.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE GAMING
INDUSTRY.
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
INDUSTRY AND WHAT'S GOING ON
PARTICULARLY WITH WHAT YOU DO.
>> WELL, WE AT GET SOME GAME
HOST COLLECTIBLE CARDS, TRADING
CARD GAMES WHICH IS MAGIC TO
GATHERING, UDO OR POKEMON AND WE
HAVE GAMES THAT PEOPLE COME AND
THEY HOST THEMSELVES WHILE AT
THE STORE.
AND WE ENJOY HAVING EVERYBODY
THERE.
IT'S KIND OF A UNIQUE LITTLE
PLACE AND EVERYBODY GETS ALONG
VERY WELL, WHICH IS REALLY
IMPORTANT, I THINK, IN THIS
ECONOMY TO HAVE SOMEBODY HAVE
FOLKS SIT DOWN FACE TO FACE AND
PLAY GAMES VERSUS EVERYTHING
BEING VIRTUAL.
A LOT OF FOLKS LIKE TO SIT IN
THEIR OWN HOME AND PLAY
VIDEOGAMES BUT THIS ALLOWS FOLKS
TO SIT DOWN AT A TABLE ACROSS
FROM EACH OTHER AND HAVE A REAL
CONVERSATION WITH A REAL PERSON.
>> SO THESE ARE CARDS BECAUSE
WHEN YOU THINK OF GAMES, YOU
DON'T THINK OF CARDS AND THE
TRADING AND THE PLAYING OF
GAMES.
I REMEMBER POKEMON AND UKEO.
>> OKAY.
>> THE PROCESS IS THEY COME TO
YOUR LOCATION AND THEY PLAY WITH
CARDS.
EXPLAIN THAT PROCESS TO
EVERYONE.
>> YOU CAN COME IN WITH YOUR OWN
PRE-SET DECK AND SIT DOWN AND
HAVE A PICKUP GAME.
PLAY WITH SOMEBODY EITHER YOUR
NEW FRIENDS THAT YOU'VE JUST MET
OR YOUR FRIENDS WILL COLLECT AT
THE STORE AND YOU CAN PLAY
TOGETHER.
AND THEN WE ALSO HOST
TOURNAMENTS WHERE FOLKS CAN COME
IN AND SIGN UP, PAY A SMALL FEE,
AND THEN THEY CAN PLAY TO SEE
WHO'S THE BEST AND THAT GETS A
LOT OF FOLKS TO COME IN AND
ENJOY THE GAMING.
THEY GET A LITTLE BIT OF A PRIZE
AND THEN THEY GET SOME POINTS
ALSO FOR BEING ONE OF THE--
HOWEVER THEY PLACE IN THE
LOCATION OF THE GAME.
>> SO IS THIS NEW?
>> WELL--
>> I SAY THAT BECAUSE I MET YOU
A LITTLE WHILE AGO, AND I
REMEMBER YOU TALKING ABOUT IT.
I WAS GETTING REALLY EXCITED,
BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON
FOR A LONG TIME.
>> GAMING HAS BEEN IN THE WORLD,
IF YOU WILL, FOR A WHILE.
OUR SON STARTED WHEN HE WAS NINE
YEARS OLE, AND HE'S NOW 23, AND
MY HUSBAND AND SON WOULD PLAY--
SINCE OUR SON WAS YOUNG AND OUR
SON WON SOME SCHOLARSHIP MONEY
TO BE ABLE TO GO TO COLLEGE,
WHICH WAS HELPFUL.
IT WAS REAL MONEY THAT ONE OF
THE GAMING PLACES OFFERED.
>> YOU WON SCHOLARSHIP MONEY
FROM GAMING?
>> YES.
>> WOW
>> THEY DON'T OFFER IT ANYMORE,
BUT IT WAS AN INCENTIVE TO GET
US INTO IT, AND AS THE YEARS
WENT ON, MY HUSBAND AND SON
CONTINUED TO PLAY TOGETHER.
THAT FORMS A NICE FRIENDSHIP
WITH THEM BECAUSE MY HUSBAND
COULD DRIVE.
MY SON'S FRIENDS WOULD ALL GO
ALONG.
SO IT BECAME A LITTLE PACK OF
GUYS THAT WOULD GO AROUND TO THE
DIFFERENT GAME STORES TO PLAY
AND WHEN WE MOVED HERE TO
CHARLOTTE, WE REALIZED THAT
THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN
UP OUR OWN LOCATION SO WE WENT
FROM ONE SIDE OF THE CASH
REGISTER AND BEING CUSTOMERS TO
BEING THE GAME STORE OWNERS SO
WE TRANSITIONED OVER TO THAT
BECAUSE WE SAW SOME
OPPORTUNITIES THERE.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT
TRANSITION BECAUSE LIKE YOU
SAID, THEY WERE DRIVING AROUND
GOING TO DIFFERENT GAMING
STORES?
>> UH-HUH.
>> WHEN YOU MOVED TO CHARLOTTE,
THERE WEREN'T ANY OTHER GAMING
STORES?
IS THE TREND NOW TO START GAMING
STORES?
IS THAT HOW YOU MADE THE
TRANSITION AND MADE THE
DECISION?
>> WELL, THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER
GAMING STORES IN THE LOCATION IN
THE 50-MILE RADIUS OF CHARLOTTE.
HOWEVER, WE SAW AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR UNIQUE CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT
WAS NOT BEING OFFERED, IF YOU
WILL, FROM OTHER GAMING STORES
AND SO WE OPENED UP A SMALL
FOOTPRINT.
A 700 SQUARE FOOT FOOTPRINT OFF
INDEPENDENCE BOULEVARD AND JUST
FOR MY SON AND HIS SONS AND MY
HUSBAND JUST TO HAVE A SMALL
STORE TO GET TOGETHER BECAUSE
THEY WERE ALL PILING INTO MY
LIVING ROOM.
>> SO IT WAS FOR YOU.
>> AT FIRST.
IT WAS FOR ME.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> YES, YES.
>> THEN PEOPLE STARTED-- THEIR
FRIENDS WOULD HAVE WORD-OF-MOUTH
ADVERTISING AND FOLKS STARTED
SHOWING UP TO PLAY AT OUR STORE,
OUR LITTLE TINY STORE, PIT WAS
GREAT BUT IT'S ALSO NOT GOOD IF
YOU HAVE TOO MANY PEOPLE THERE
AND THEY'RE HAVING A CRUNCH
EXPERIENCE.
SO WE STARTED LOOKING FOR
ANOTHER LOCATION, AND WE
PURCHASED A BUILDING THAT WAS ON
COMMERCIAL AVENUE.
SO THAT TRANSITIONED.
WE WENT FROM 700 SQUARE FOOT
LITTLE FOOTPRINT TO A 4,200
SQUARE FOOT STORE.
>> BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE COMING.
>> BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE COMING.
>> SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE
PEOPLE.
IT'S NOT JUST KIDS.
WHEN WE THINK OF GAMING AND THE
TYPE OF GAMING THAT YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT, IT'S NOT JUST
KIDS.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR
TARGET MARKET.
>> WELL, WE HAVE COLLEGE
STUDENTS THAT COME IN THAT ARE
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING ELSE TO
DO.
WE HAVE BUSINESS PEOPLE THAT
COME IN.
WE HAVE SOME LAWYERS, ENGINEERS
AND SO THESE ARE PROFESSIONAL
FOLKS THAT EITHER PLAYED IN HIGH
SCHOOL AND THEY'RE TRYING TO
READ GAMES THAT USED--
>> I WANT TO PLAY AGAIN.
>> RIGHT, RIGHT.
OR THEY HAVE-- THERE'S THE MONEY
THAT IS THERE TO BE ABLE TO GO
OUT AND SPEND AGAIN BECAUSE THE
ECONOMY HAD BEEN SO TIGHT FOR A
WHILE.
NOW PEOPLE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF
EXTRA MONEY, AND THEY WANT TO
GET OUT THERE AND START SPENDING
AND HAVING A GOOD TIME LOCALLY
BECAUSE YOU CAN'T REALLY TRAVEL
THAT MUCH ANYMORE.
SO THEY'RE COMING TO DIFFERENT
GAME STORES, AND THEY'RE LOOKING
FOR A GOOD EXPERIENCE.
I THINK THAT WE PROVIDE
SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF THE GAME
STORES DON'T OFFER.
WE TALK TO FOLKS THAT COME IN.
WE TRY TO REMEMBER EVERYBODY'S
NAME.
ALTHOUGH--
>> MAKE IT PERSONAL.
>> YES.
>> YES. LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT RUNNING THE BUSINESS
BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'RE RUNNING
THE BUSINESS WITH YOUR FAMILY,
YOUR SON AND YOUR HUSBAND.
HOW IS THAT?
I MEAN, ARE YOU GETTING ALONG?
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> OH, YEAH.
I THINK IT'S EVEN BETTER WHEN
YOU'RE FAMILY.
I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE ONE VERSION
VERSUS THE OTHER.
WE FEEL TOGETHER, WE CAN'T-- YOU
CAN'T LEAVE YOUR FAMILY.
IF YOU HAVE A PARTNERSHIP AND
YOU'RE NOT GETTING ALONG WITH
YOUR PARTNER, YOU CAN SPLIT BUT
WITH FAMILY, YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
YOU HAVE TO STAY TOGETHER.
>> YOU CAN FIRE THEM.
[ LAUGHTER ]
YOU CAN'T SPLIT.
>> THAT'S CORRECT, THAT'S
CORRECT.
>> I KNOW YOU'VE GONE THROUGH
TRAINING AT CPCC.
HOW HAS THAT TRAINING HELPED YOU
IN YOUR BUSINESS?
>> WELL, THANKS FOR ASKING
BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A REALLY
INTERESTING EXPERIENCE.
I TOOK A COURSE CALLED GETTING
TO THE CORE OF BUSINESS THAT YOU
HAD HOSTED FOR US, AND WE-- I
TOOK THE COURSE BECAUSE IT
SOUNDED INTERESTING ON THE
HIGHLIGHTS.
I SAID I'LL GRAB SOME
INFORMATION AND MOVE ON, BUT
REALLY, WHEN YOU START DIGGING
INTO THE COURSE, ITSELF, IT
REALLY MAKES YOU TAKE A LOOK AND
JUST WIDER REALM OF BUSINESS AND
TAKE A STEP BACK AND GO, OKAY,
SO I BOUGHT THIS PRODUCT, AND
I'M SELLING IT AND IT'S GOING
GREAT.
WELL, WHY?
YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE
FOUNDATION?
AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT THE
COURSE HELPS YOU DO IS GET BACK
TO YOUR ROOTS, IF YOU WILL, AND
WHY YOU STARTED THE BUSINESS AND
REALLY STRENGTHEN IT?
AS WE GO ALONG, WAS HAPPENING IS
MY HUSBAND AND SON WILL DO
LITTLE PROCESSES THAT THEY COME
UP WITHIN THEIR OWN MINDS OR,
YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT WORK WELL.
>> THEY'LL JUST DO IT
AUTOMATICALLY.
>> AUTOMATICALLY.
>> YEAH.
>> NOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IS
THEY'LL SAY COME OVER HERE WITH
THAT PIECE OF PAPER THAT YOU
HAVE AND LET'S DOCUMENT WHAT I'M
DOING.
WHICH IS GREAT BECAUSE NOW
EVERYBODY GETS TO SHARE IN THAT
INFORMATION AND IT'S VERY
HELPFUL.
>> SO THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT
YOU LEARNED IN THE CLASS AND
YOU'RE ACTUALLY SHARING IT
BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE TAKE
COURSES.
THEY GET TRAINING.
THEY DON'T NECESSARILY SHARE IT
WITH THEIR STAFF OR THEIR TEAM.
SO THAT'S REALLY GOOD THAT
THEY'RE GETTING EXCITED ABOUT
THAT.
>> YEAH.
>> LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE FUTURE OF GET SOME GAME.
WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS?
>> WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
WE STARTED TO DO IS LOOK AT
DIFFERENT GRANT TUNES THAT THE
CITY HAS TO OFFER TO-- BECAUSE
WE PURCHASED THE BUILDING, WE'RE
KIND OF IN A UNIQUE POSITION
WHERE WE CAN MODIFY THE BUILDING
OR WHATEVER.
WE DON'T HAVE TO ASK ANYBODY'S
PERMISSION EXCEPT FOR THE CITY
OR WHATEVER.
>> RIGHT.
>> BUT WE DID APPLY FOR SECURITY
GRANTS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHICH
HELPED US BEEF UP THE CAMERAS
AND LIGHTING AND SO FORTH ON THE
EXTERIOR.
WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT FACADE
GRANTS TO HELP US IMPROVE THE
LACK OF THE OUTSIDE OF THE
BUILDING.
ALTHOUGH, IT'S A TWO-STORY BRICK
BUILDING.
YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING CAN USE A
LITTLE UPDATING.
YOU
>> WANT THE UPGRADES.
I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT
BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T
SEARCH OUT FOR THESE THINGS.
THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES
FOR GROWTH FROM THE CITY OF
CHARLOTTE AND ALSO DIFFERENT
ENTITIES.
I THINK THAT'S GREAT THAT YOU
ACTUALLY THOUGHT OUT THOSE
RESOURCES AND ACTUALLY FOLLOWED
THROUGH WITH THE ACTION.
THREE TIPS FOR BEING SUCCESSFUL.
I MEAN, THIS IS A GAMING
BUSINESS, VERY INTERESTING AND
VERY UNIQUE.
SO GIVE US THREE SUCCESS TIPS
FOR OUR AUDIENCE ON HOW TO BE
SUCCESSFUL.
>> SURE, SURE.
AND IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE
TO BE, YOU KNOW, DEAL WITH
GAMING BECAUSE WHEN YOU THINK
ABOUT GETTING INTO BUSINESS, YOU
START WITH THE GAMING, AND THAT
IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR TIME
AND EVERYTHING, BUT THEN YOU GOT
TO TAKE A LEVEL UP AND LOOK AT
RUNNING THE BUSINESS.
I MEAN, REALLY, THAT'S WHAT
YOU'RE IN THIS FOR AND THIS IS
WHAT I'VE LEARNED THROUGH
GETTING TO THE CORE OF BUSINESS,
IS THERE'S MORE OF AN UMBRELLA
EFFECT WHERE YOU HAVE TO LEARN
HOW TO RUN THE BUSINESS AND JUST
TAKE YOUR TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT
YOUR FOUNDATIONS ARE IN PLACE.
SO THAT WOULD BE ONE OF MY TIPS.
OTHER STEP IS AS YOU GROW AS A
BUSINESS OWNER, YOU THINK YOU
KNOW IT ALL BECAUSE--
>> WE ALL DO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
WE CAN'T HELP IT.
>> RIGHT. AND JUST REMEMBER THAT
SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO BE THE
STUDENT.
LISTEN TO WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE
TELLING YOU.
SO ALTHOUGH, THE WAY THAT YOU'VE
DONE THINGS MIGHT HAVE BEEN
TERRIFIC AT THE TIME, AND THEY
PROBABLY STILL ARE TERRIFIC, AND
SOMEBODY MIGHT HAVE SOME
INFLUENCE ON HOW TO MAKE IT A
LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT OR TWEAK IT
OR CHANGE YOUR PATH SO THAT IT'S
EASIER.
AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS LOOK
FOR RESOURCES.
THERE'S A LOT OF RESOURCES OUT
THERE EITHER THROUGH THE CITY OR
THROUGH PEOPLE THAT ARE IN
YOUR-- A LOT OF YOUR CUSTOMERS,
FOR EXAMPLE.
>> THAT'S GOOD.
>> FOLKS THAT HAVE TAKEN GRAPHIC
DESIGN CLASSES AND THEY PROVIDED
US SOME LITTLE PAPERS WITH OUR
NAME, GET SOME GAME LOGO ON IT
AND NAME AND SO FORTH, BUT FOLKS
CAN USE TO JOT DOWN THEIR NOTES
AND SO FORTH WHEN THEY'RE AT THE
STORE.
SO JUST THINGS LIKE THAT.
THEY'RE THERE ARE RESOURCES OUT
THERE THAT YOU CAN TAKE AND USE
BECAUSE PEOPLE DO WANT TO HELP.
THEY GENERALLY WANT TO MAKE YOU
SUCCESSFUL.
IF THEY LIKE WHAT YOU'RE DOING
AND THEY ENJOY BEING THERE AND
AS WE GROW, WE CONTINUE TO SEE
MORE AND MORE FOLKS COME IN AND
ALL DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES OF
FOLKS.
>> THEY WANT TO BE A PART OF IT.
>> THEY DO.
>> VERY GOOD TIPS.
THANKS FOR BEING ON THE SHOW,
MARY.
I CAN'T WAIT TO COME AND PLAY
GAMES.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
YOU'RE WELCOME ANY TIME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING
US.
[ MUSIC ]
>> VERY INTRIGUING.
I AM GOING FROM GET SOME GAME TO
PRINTING.
MY NEXT GUEST IS AUBREY MAGISTRO
WITH MOM AND POP'S PRINT SHOP.
[ MUSIC ]
AUBREY, WELCOME TO GREAT IDEAS.
>> THANKS, CHARISSE.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> WELL, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
MOM & POP'S PRINT SHOP.
YOU HAVE TO TELL ME WHERE THE
NAME CAME FROM.
>> YOU KNOW, IT WAS ONE OF THOSE
THINGS I WAS TALKING WITH MY
FIANCE ONE NIGHT AND WE WERE
TRYING TO BRAINSTORM AND
BRAINSTORM FOR WEEKS ON A NAME,
AND HE JUST SAID, YOU KNOW, WE
TALKED ABOUT HOW WE WANT THE
COMPANY TO FEEL SMALL AND LOCAL
AND INDEPENDENT, HE AND SAID,
YOU KNOW, WE JUST NEED IT TO
FEEL LIKE A MOM & POP'S PRINT
SHOP, AND I SAID THAT'S IT.
MOM & POP'S PRINT SHOP.
>> THAT'S HOW IT HAPPENED.
>> YES.
>> WENT FROM THAT IN A COUPLE
WEEKS.
>> IT WAS A BRAIN CHILD OF OURS
AND IT CAME TO LIFE IN A COUPLE
WEEKS.
>> WE HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR
A LITTLE WHILE AND I HAVE SEEN
YOU GROW INTO THIS WONDERFUL
BUSINESS.
TELL US ABOUT THE PRINT
INDUSTRY.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A PRINT
SHOP.
YOU SELL T-SHIRTS.
THAT'S NOT ALL THAT YOU DO.
TALK ABOUT THE INDUSTRY FIRST
AND HOW THE TRENDS ARE GOING
WITH PRINT SHOPS.
>> SURE. YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW
WITH PRINTING, IT'S SORT OF--
IT'S A LOT OF-- THERE'S A LOT OF
TECHNOLOGY COMING OUT IN
PRINTING RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE SEEING A BIG TRANSITION
FROM MINIMAL KIND OF PRINTING TO
OUGHT PICK DIGITAL.
THAT'S WHAT I'M SPECIALIZING IN
IS THAT NEW TECHNOLOGY.
>> AND WITH THE NEW
TECHNOLOGIES, ARE YOU FINDING
THAT PEOPLE ARE COMING TO YOU TO
DO A WHOLE PROJECT?
BECAUSE I KNOW BACK IN THE DAY,
CAN YOU PRINT THIS PEN?
CAN YOU PRINT THIS T-SHIRT, ONE
SINGLE THING.
>> SURE.
>> WE'RE TALKING IT'S MORE
PROJECTS NOW.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF COMPANIES
AND SMALL BUSINESSES AND EVEN
GROUPS, SORORITIES,
FRATERNITIES, THOSE PEOPLE WANT
A COMPLETE PACKAGE.
SO WE DO ANYTHING FROM THE
TYPICAL T-SHIRT TO STICKERS AND
KUZIS AND ANY OTHER KIND OF
PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL THAT THEY
MIGHT NEED FOR THEIR UPCOMING
EVENT.
>> DO YOU HELP THEM FROM THE
IDEA STAGE, OKAY THIS IS WHAT
I'M THINKING ABOUT DOING AND
THEN WHEN IT COMES OUT, IT'S
KIND OF THE WHOLE--
>> YEAH. ABSOLUTELY.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DO.
MOM & POP'S PRINT SHOP IS A
CREATIVE COMPANY AND WE
SPECIALIZE IN PROVIDING CUSTOM
DESIGN AS WELL AS PRINTED
MATERIAL FOR OUR CUSTOMER.
SO IT'S SORT OF TURNKEY FOR
THEM.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO PROVIDE THEIR
OWN DESIGN.
WE CAN DO THAT FOR THEM.
>> YOU DO DESIGNS AND DOUBT
PRINTING.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
DESIGN FULL-FLEDGED GRAPHIC
DESIGN?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE HAVE CUSTOMERS COME THAT TO
US SOMETIMES LITERALLY WITH
STICK DRAWINGS ON A PIECE OF
PAPER.
>> I'VE DONE THIS.
THIS IS WHAT I WANT.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
AND PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY
HAVE THE SKILLS OR THE SOFTWARE
TO PRODUCE EXACTLY WHAT THEY
WANT AND THAT'S WHERE WE COME
IN.
>> OR THE TIME.
>> YEAH.
>> EXACTLY.
>> WHEN YOU'RE A BUSINESS OWNER,
YOU DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO DO
GRAPHIC DESIGN.
YOU DON'T WANT TO.
YOU WANT TO MEET WITH THE
EXPERT.
>> IT'S LIKE HAVING THE
ACCOUNTANT.
TAKE THIS AND TAKE CARE OF IT
FOR ME.
>> MAKE SURE I'M IN THE BLACK.
>> YES.
>> YOU HAVE DIRECT TO GARMENT
AND SCREEN PRINTING?
>> DIRECT-TO-GUARDMENT IS A NEW
TECHNOLOGY LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT.
WHAT IT DOES IS REALLY
STREAMLINES THE PRINT PROCESS.
THERE'S NO LONGER BURNING OF
SCREENS OR THE CLEANING OR THE
THE CLEANUP.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ALL THE
COLOR SEPARATIONS.
IT TAKES A JOB THAT WOULD HAVE
TOOK YOU-- I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE
FIVE OR SIX HOURS AND IT TRIPLES
IT DOWN TO ABOUT 15 MINUTES.
>> WELL, THAT CUTS DOWN COSTS,
TOO.
>> OH, YEAH, BIG TIME.
IT ALSO CUTS DOWN THE AMOUNT OF
PRODUCTS THAT WE REQUIRE OUR
CUSTOMERS TO PRINT.
WE HAVE NO MINIMUM FOR DIGITAL
PRINTING.
>> I REMEMBER MINIMUM OF 100.
YOU COULDN'T GET ANYTHING LESS
THAN 100 WITHOUT GETTING A GOOD
PRICE BREAK.
>> THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT WE
SPECIALIZE IN.
I WORKED IN THE PRINT INDUSTRY
BEFORE, WE WOULD GET PHONE CALLS
FROM PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, WE
NEED A DOZEN SHIRTS FOR MY
CHURCH.
HEY, I ONLY NEED 25 SHIRTS FOR
MY TEAM, AND WITH DIGITAL
PRINTING, WE CAN GIVE THEM THE
FULL COLOR GRAPHICS WITHOUT THE
PRICE TAG ATTACHED.
>> NOW SCREEN PRINTING.
>> SCREEN PRINTING IS A
DIFFERENT PROCESS.
IT USES SPOT COLORS.
SO FOR EACH COLOR THAT'S IN A
DESIGN, WE BURN A SEPARATE
SCREEN AND THEN WE ALIGN THOSE
SCREENS AND PRINT ONE COLOR AT A
TIME IN ORDER TO PRODUCE A FINAL
RESULT.
SO WITH THAT STUFF, WE CAN PRINT
IT ON DARKER-COLORED MATERIAL OR
DITAL, WE TYPICALLY PRINT ON
LIGHTER-COLORED MATERIAL.
>> IT DEPENDS ON THE PROJECT
THAT YOU'RE PRINTING ON AND YOU
HAVE THE CAPABILITIES OF
CUSTOMIZING, OKAY, WE'RE GOING
TO USE THIS PROCESS VERSUS THIS
PROCESS.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
WE KIND OF GUIDE OUR CUSTOMERS
THROUGH THAT CONVERSATION.
SOMETIMES THEY THINK THEY NEED
SCREEN PRINTING WHEN THEY CAN
GET AWAY WITH DIGITAL PRINTING.
>> THEY PROBABLY JUST KNOW THE
TERM.
THEY DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS THAT
GO INTO A PRINTING PROCESS.
>> YEAH. IT'S ABOUT EDUCATING
THAT CUSTOMER AND KIND OF
HOLDING THEIR HAND ALONG THE WAY
AND THEN MANAGING THEIR
EXPECTATIONS.
>> YOU HAVE TWO YEARS FULL TIME
IN THE BUSINESS.
HOW WAS THAT TRANSITION?
>> I REMEMBER THE TRANSITION.
YEAH. I WAS WORKING AT A
CORPORATE OFFICE AS A DESIGNER
AND I DECIDED IT WAS SORT OF A
SLOW AWAKENING.
IT WASN'T LIKE AN AHA MOMENT,
AND I DECIDED THAT I REALLY
WANTED TO WORK FOR MYSELF AND I
HAD ALWAYS PRINTED ON THE SIDE.
SO I GOT TO KNOW THE BUSINESS.
I WORKED FOR A SCREEN PRINTING
BUSINESS FOR TWO YEARS AS A
GENERAL MANAGER, AND FUNNY
ENOUGH, I WASN'T ENTIRELY READY
TO MAKE THE JUMP AND IT WAS MADE
FOR ME.
I GOT SICK.
I WASN'T ABLE TO GO TO WORK FOR
A COUPLE WEEKS.
IT JUST KIND OF HAPPENED.
>> YOU'RE LIKE I'M NOT GOING
BACK.
>> YEAH. IT WAS ACTUALLY DOING
THIS FOR SIX MONTHS ON THE SIDE
AND I FINALLY REALIZED THAT I
COULD MAKE ENOUGH MONEY DOING IT
ON MY OWN.
>> THAT'S INTERESTING.
SO YOU HAD A LITTLE BIT OF FEAR?
>> OF COURSE.
>> OKAY. TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THAT.
>> YOU KNOW, FOLLOWING YOUR
DREAMS IS A SCARY THING BUT IT'S
ALSO A REALLY FULFILLING THING.
I KNEW THAT I HAD THE RIGHT
TOOLS IN PLACE.
I KNEW I HAD THE RIGHT EDUCATION
IN PLACE AND THE RIGHT LEARNING
EXPERIENCES AND THE RIGHT
MENTORS.
SO ALTHOUGH IT WAS A SCARY LEAP,
I ACTUALLY FOUND THE TRANSITION
A LOT MORE SMOOTHER THAN I
EXPECTED.
>> WELL, YOU HAD EVERYTHING SO
IT'S LIKE WHAT'S HOLDING YOU
BACK?
>> THAT'S EXACTLY IT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE GO THROUGH THAT.
>> YOU HAVE EVERYTHING, JUST DO
IT.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
AND I THINK SOMEBODY THAT'S OUT
THERE THINKING ABOUT RUNNING
THEIR OWN BUSINESS OR DOING
THEIR OWN THING, JUST MAKE SURE
YOU'RE PREPARED, YOU KNOW.
>> YOU'RE WORKING FROM HOME.
>> I AM.
>> ISN'T THAT FUN?
>> YEAH. IT'S ALSO A CHALLENGE.
>> BECAUSE YOU CAN'T WEAR YOUR
PAJAMAS ALL DAY LONG.
NOT AFTER THE FIRST COUPLE
MONTHS AND YOU ARE LIKE I HAVE
TO GET UP AND I HAVE TO GET
DRESSED.
>> THERE'S NO REAL LOUNGE TIME
FOR US.
I'M SORT EVER-- MY FIANCEE AND I
RUN MOM AND POPS TOGETHER SO
WHEN HE WAS WORKING, I'M A
ONE-MAN BAND.
SO I'M THE DESIGNER.
I'M THE PRINTER.
I'M THE PERSON THAT'S ORDERING.
I'M THE PERSON THAT'S SELLING
AND I'M THE PERSON THAT'S
DELIVERING.
OFFER FREE LOCAL DELIVERY IN
CHARLOTTE.
I'M OUT A BIT AND I'M NOT STOCK
IN THE HOUSE ALL DAY.
>> AND YOU CAN'T WEAR YOUR
PAJAMAS.
>> NO. I CAN'T SHOW UP WITH A
BOX OF T-SHIRTS IN MY PAJAMAS, I
DON'T THINK THAT'S RIGHT.
>> WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?
NOT NECESSARILY WORKING FROM
HOME.
YOU'RE RUNNING THE SHOP WHILE
YOU'RE FIANCE IS AT WORK BUT AT
THE SAME TIME YOU DEFINITELY
HAVE TO GROW.
HOW HAVE YOU BEEN HANDLING THAT
PROCESS?
>> SURE. YOU KNOW, I THINK
CHALLENGES POP UP AS THE
BUSINESS GROWS.
>> UH-HUH.
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK TIME
MANAGEMENT IS A BIG ONE.
I'VE STRUGGLED WITH IT FOR SURE.
WHEN YOU START THINKING ABOUT
YOUR BUSINESS AND IMAGINING ALL
THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT IT CAN
BE, YOU SORT OF HAVE THIS PIPE
DREAM AND THEN YOU'RE IN IT.
IT BECOMES VERY OVERWHELMING AND
PRETTY CHALLENGING.
SO I FIND MYSELF STRETCHED
PRETTY THIN SOME DAYS SO ONE OF
THE BIGGEST THINGS I'VE LEARNED
IS THAT EVERY MORNING YOU KIND
OF HAVE TO COLLECT YOURSELF.
YOU KNOW, FIND YOUR ACCIDENT AND
KEEP GOING.
>> TAKE IT ONE STEP AT A TIME.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>>I I ALWAYS SAY MULTITASKING IS
OUT.
YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT ONE THING AT
A TIME.
>> IT IS. WHILE OTHER BUSINESSES
ARE PROMOTING MULTITASKING, I
JUST READ THIS REALLY GREAT
ARTICLE ABOUT IF YOU CAN REALLY
MAINTAIN YOUR FOCUS--
>> YES.
>> THAT'S-- AND DO ONE PROJECT
AT A TIME, THAT'S WHERE YOU
REALLY PRODUCE A LOT OF WORK, A
LOT OF GREAT WORK.
>> MY MANTRA IS FOCUS, FULLY
ENGAGE AND FINISH.
>> START AND FINISH.
YEAH. I HAVEN'T DONE A WHOLE
BUNCH--
[ LAUGHTER ]
THE DIRECTION OUR BUSINESS IS
HEADED IN THIS YEAR, AND WE'RE
REALLY JUST TRYING TO GET INTO A
RETAIL SPACE AND GET SOME EXTRA
PEOPLE ONBOARD AND HAVE THEM
CARE AS MUCH ABOUT THE BUSINESS
AS WE DO.
THAT'S OUR NEXT STEP.
>> YOU DEFINITELY HAVE TO HAVE
STAFF.
>> YEAH.
>> WHAT ABOUT COMPETITION?
THE PRINTING INDUSTRY,
ESPECIALLY HERE IN CHARLOTTE.
>> IT IS. THE PRINTING INDUSTRY,
THERE ARE A LOT OF SCREEN
PRINTERS AND THERE ARE A LOT OF
PEOPLE OUT THERE.
I LIKE TO THINK THAT MOM AND
POPS GIVE SPECIAL CARE TO ALL OF
OUR CUSTOMERS, NOT JUST OUR BANK
ACCOUNTS SO THE LITTLE GUYS ARE
REALLY IMPORTANT TO US.
SO THAT'S ACTUALLY OUR NICHE,
YOU KNOW.
WE TAKE CARE OF THE TWELVE-SHIRT
ORDERS OR THE TEN-SHIRT ORDERS
OR THE ONE SHIRT FOR GRAND MA'S
BIRTHDAY.
WE WANT YOU TO FEEL LIKE YOU'RE
AS IMPORTANT THAT IS ORDERING
500 T-SHIRTS FROM US.
I THINK THAT'S A COMPETITIVE
EDGE.
>> AND I KNOW WORKING WITH YOU,
YOU HAVE A GREAT PERSONALITY.
>> THANKS.
>> YOU'RE COOL.
>> THANKS.
>> THAT'S IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE
TO WORK WITH SOMEBODY THAT'S
DOWN TO EARTH AND WHETHER I
ORDER 12 SHIRTS OR 500, I'M
STILL GOING TO GET THE SAME
SERVICE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
THAT'S THE BACK BONE OF OUR
BUSINESS.
>> YEAH.
>> WE WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL
COMFORTABLE.
WE DON'T EVER WANT PEOPLE TO
FEEL LIKE THEY'RE A NUISANCE TO
US.
OH, YOU ONLY HAVE TWELVE SHIRTS
GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
>> NO, COME HERE.
WE WANT TO HELP YOU.
>> CONSIDER YEAH.
WE WANT YOUR PROJECT.
WE WANT TO SERVICE YOU.
>> YOU HAVE TAKEN SOME CLASSES.
>> I HAVE.
I TOOK THE VENTURES IN
ENTREPRENEURSHIP CLASS WITH YOU
TWO YEARS AGO.
AND I REALLY FOUND IT TO BE THE
SPRINGBOARD FOR GETTING OFF THE
GROUND WITH EVEN JUST, I WROTE A
DIFFERENT PLAN WHILE I WAS IN
THAT CLASS, BUT IT GAVE ME THE
TOOLS THAT I NEEDED TO BE ABLE
TO TWEAK MY PLAN IN ORDER TO
FIND THAT NICHE MARKET FOR
MYSELF.
>> SO THREE TIPS-- LET'S TALK
ABOUT WORKING FROM HOME.
>> OKAY.
>> YOU'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL
AT THAT.
LEAVE THE AUDIENCE WITH THREE
TIPS TO WORK FROM HOME AND STILL
MAINTAIN THE PROFESSIONALISM AND
STILL GROW YOUR BUSINESS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WELL, YOU GOT TO GET UP IN THE
MORNING.
>> THAT'S NUMBER ONE.
>> NO MATTER WHAT, BRUSH YOUR
TEETH.
GET OUT. EVEN IF IT'S GROSS AND
RAINING LIKE TODAY.
YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT
THERE AND DO YOUR BEST AND DO
BETTER THAN YOU DID YESTERDAY.
I THINK, NUMBER TWO, LIKE WE
TALKED ABOUT, IT'S TIME
MANAGEMENT.
WHEN YOU'RE WORKING FROM HOME,
YOU'VE GOT TO BE, YOU KNOW, AS
EFFICIENT AS YOU CAN ESPECIALLY
IF YOU'RE DOING IT ALL, BUT YOU
ALSO NEED TO FIND TIME FOR THE
REST OF YOUR LIFE, TOO DON'T LET
YOUR WORK BECOME YOUR LIFE.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE MY TIP.
>> WE ALL DO THAT.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE DO AS
ENTREPRENEURS THAT LIKE YOU
SAID, AS LONG AS IT'S IN HERE
AND YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE
TO WORK ON IT, THAT'S THE
IMPORTANT THING.
>> YEAH. YOU GOT TO BE ABLE TO
TURN IT OFF AT THE END OF THE
DAY.
YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO WALK PAST
THE OFFICE AND GO, OKAY, WE'RE
DONE.
AND A THIRD TIP, MAYBE NOT SO
MUCH FOR WORKING AT HOME, BUT
GET YOUR EDUCATION.
GET YOUR LEARN ON.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A
FOUR-YEAR PROGRAM.
IT CAN BE A SKILL.
IT CAN BE A TRADE.
IT CAN BE SOMETHING THAT WILL
ENHANCE YOUR LIFE.
>> TAKING A CLASS.
>> YEAH. EVEN A PERSONAL
WELLNESS CLASS.
DO SOMETHING FOR YOURSELF THAT
YOU THINK IS GOING TO ENHANCE
YOUR FUTURE.
>> GET YOUR LEARN ON.
>> THAT'S TRUE.
>> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO USE
THAT.
>> GO FOR IT.
>> AUBREY, THIS HAS BEEN GREAT
AND MUCH SUCCESS TO YOUR
BUSINESS AND THANKS FOR BEING ON
THE SHOW.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.
GLAD TO BE HERE.
THANKS AGAIN
[ MUSIC ]
>> THANKS FOR JOINING US WITH
GREAT IDEAS.
IF PREP NEWSHOURSHIP IS ON YOUR
AGENDA, GO TO CPCC.EDU AND DO A
SEARCH FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
THIS IS CHARISSE DUNCAN WITH
GREAT IDEAS.
[ MUSIC ]