Today we’d like to introduce you to Jim Garcia.
Hi Jim, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It all started in 2012, I was living in Brownsville and my brother and business partner Rob was living here in Austin. A local shop was selling some equipment and Rob thought we should buy it. So he gave me a phone call and thats what started this whole thing. I didn’t know anything about screen printing so I started doing a bunch of research. Early on, we were very short on money so I built as much of the equipment I could. My grandfather passed away in 2010 and I inherited his tools. He had taught me how to use a circular saw, hammer nails and use a drill. We named the shop Oh Boy to honor his memory. He was known for saying that when he was happy.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t think it’s ever a smooth road. Initially, we had to learn how to print T-shirts. Most people have no idea how it’s done but printing is actually a very technical process. It is still a challenge today but the knowledge and experience really does help. When we first came to Austin it was just Rob and I. Our first location was a glorified storage unit and it didn’t have enough power. When we would run our equipment, it would blow fuses. We only had 60 amps which is pretty low. I had to calculate how much power we were using and had to figure out how much I could use. I didn’t know anything about sales early on so I read some books and watched some Youtube videos. I have learned so much from Youtube.
We’ve been impressed with Oh Boy! Printshop, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Oh Boy! Printshop specializes and custom apparel. Most of what we do are T-shirts but we can do all sorts of wearables. We do polo shirts hoodies and sweatshirts and tank tops. We also offer embroidery so we do hats as well. Our industry isn’t really known for customer service. I have heard so many stories over the years of bad experiences. At Oh Boy! we take time to listen to what our customers want. I have gained a bunch of my customers by spending time with them to find the right item for them. A lot of our customers are looking for a soft shirt that fits well. I really think people should always look their best. It’s a full custom process and not all shirts are the same and not all people are the same.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I think understanding how to communicate with people is really important. It’s about listening to the customers and offering potential solutions for them to consider. You have to communicate objectives to employees. Sometimes it’s not about what you say but what you do. As a leader, you have to set the example and set the tone. I think it’s important to be willing to have difficult and uncomfortable conversations because that will happen every once in a while.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@ohboyprintshop.com
- Website: https://ohboyprintshop.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohboyprintshop/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohboyprintshop
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Ohboyprintshop
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/oh-boy-print-shop-austin
