At 918 Design Company, Leeah Calvert has been on an exciting entrepreneurial journey, which we’ve been lucky to witness.
Leeah joined us previously on the Print Hustlers Podcast to share how she grew her Oklahoma-based business and the challenges that came along with the process.
We recently talked with Leeah about what’s new at 918 Design Company and how she’s grown since we last spoke.
Evolving the Business
Leeah’s business has experienced remarkable growth, expanding fivefold in just three years. The company has grown substantially from a modest operation to a multifaceted apparel decoration business. Initially, 918 Design Company primarily focused on the cheer market, but the substantial growth has helped them branch out.
The business’s growth has been thanks to a multi-fold strategy by Leeah and her team: adopting new technology, bringing more services in-house, and making more strategic decisions about the type of customers they want to serve.
A pivotal moment came in 2022 when she brought screen printing in-house after years of outsourcing, a decision prompted by a desire to control quality and scheduling.
Implementing Printavo’s Technology
Central to Leeah’s success has been her adoption of Printavo.
The business currently has two locations in the greater Tulsa area and specializes in screen printing, embroidery, and digital transfer (DTF) printing.
Leeah says that through the implementation of Printavo, the business has been able to keep up with order volume and scale much more smoothly than it previously did.
“We don’t have a true production manager, and a lot of that responsibility falls on me so we couldn’t have done it without Printavo,” she states.
Leeah goes so far as to say Printavo “changed her life” by simplifying scheduling, quoting, and production management.
Refining the Customer List
In addition to improving its technology stack, the company has sharpened its customer focus. Instead of trying to be “everything to everyone,” Leeah says they’ve seen more success by serving a select group of customers. In a word, it’s been quality over quantity that has helped them grow.
“I’ve gotten better at trying to actively increase our top 20% clients, duplicate that, and actively offload our bottom 20%,” she says. “We quit taking small orders of customer-provided apparel and put a six-piece minimum even on embroidery except for backpacks and stockings, which just need names.”
Those adjustments received some pushback, but she says that focusing on the top 20% has helped the business grow its profits and taken some of the day-to-day operational tasks off her plate.
Technology and Equipment Expansion
Since honing that focus, 918 Design Company has also grown with equipment and technology, including 17 embroidery heads and an expanded set of screen printing and digital print options.
The business also offers customers online stores, which helps grow 918 Design’s name far beyond its local zip code. Using InkSoft Stores, Leeah says her team has easily managed larger inventory levels and processed orders efficiently.
“We’ve done extensive buildout on some of our InkSoft Stores, including one store with 663 products in it,” she notes. “It’s pretty easy to train someone to handle that.”
Online stores have also helped 918 Design Company grow its customer list into several other categories, such as construction, pharmaceutical, HVAC, and home-goods suppliers.
Some setups include stores that customers self-manage while the shop runs others.
“In under 10 minutes, an InkSoft Store just has three or four products, and you’re ready to go with a link for the customer,” she adds. “It works well for us, especially what we do.”
Exciting Changes on the Horizon
Part of 918 Design Company’s recent growth has also included an exciting development: The company will soon be merging with another local print business, effectively growing its customer list, workforce, and production capabilities. Leeah estimates that the merged company will double in size, ideally with approximately $3 million in annual revenue.
The merger joined 918 Design Company and American Tees to form American Design Co. The company’s Facebook page states that in addition to expanding services and production capacity, the merger brings a combined 48 years of service in Tulsa, Bixby, Broken Arrow, Owasso, Glenpool, Jenks, and surrounding areas.
As the companies transition into the rebrand, they’ll still have two locations to serve their customer bases.
Leeah says that the merger’s exciting growth prospects will enable her to focus more on prospecting and less on day-to-day operations like running production.
She notes that that shift means she can truly return to the part of the business she’s passionate about.
“I love talking to the customers and finding solutions for them,” she says. “You’re playing a game, and you either win or lose that day, and you come back and play again tomorrow. And I enjoy every part of it.”
With the merger on the horizon and a clear vision for growth, Leeah exemplifies the spirit of modern entrepreneurship: adaptive, tech-savvy, and customer-focused.
For more information, visit www.918designcompany.com.
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