How did Justin Lawrence turn a simple shirt-of-the-month subscription into a thriving custom printing business?

In this episode of Beyond the Print, a mini-series of the Makers & Methods Podcast presented by Roland DG, host Adrienne Palmer sits down with Justin Lawrence, founder of Oklahoma Shirt Company, to explore how he turned a simple subscription idea into a successful custom printing business.

Justin shares how he built his subscription business, expanded into screen printing and digital printing, and developed a team capable of handling large-scale production. He also discusses how Roland's TrueVis LG-640 UV Printer/Cutter helped bring sticker and label production in-house, opening up new opportunities for his business.

From navigating new technology to building a sustainable company culture, Justin offers insights for print shop owners looking to grow their businesses.

In this episode, we cover:

Growing a T-shirt subscription business to 14,500 active subscribers

Producing 20,000 playoff shirts for the Oklahoma City Thunder

Scaling a custom apparel and screen printing business

Building a strong team and company culture

Expanding into UV printing, stickers, and custom labels

Choosing the right equipment and learning new technologies

Why finding customers should come before investing in equipment

The challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship

Chapters

00:00 Meet Justin Lawrence & Oklahoma Shirt Company

05:54 How Shirt of the Month Took Off

10:24 Turning Subscriptions Into a Print Business

14:27 Printing 20,000 Shirts for the OKC Thunder

20:26 Building a Team and Company Culture

27:36 Why Digital Printing Takes Skill

30:09 UV Printing, Stickers and New Revenue Streams

36:24 Roland Printer Setup and Maintenance

38:47 Screen Printing vs. DTF: What's Next?

40:32 Find Customers Before Buying Equipment

45:27 The Personal Cost of Entrepreneurship

Learn More

Oklahoma Shirt Company: https://oklahomashirtcompany.com/

Explore the Roland DG TrueVis LG-640 UV Printer/Cutter: https://www.rolanddga.com/products/printers/truevis-lg-640-uv-printer-cutter

Makers & Methods Podcast: https://www.rolanddga.com/pages/makersandmethods

Roland DGA: https://www.rolanddga.com/

Beyond the Print is a mini-series of the Makers & Methods Podcast, hosted by print industry veteran Adrienne Palmer. Each episode goes beyond the technology to explore the people, businesses, and stories shaping the print industry.

#BeyondThePrint #MakersAndMethods #ScreenPrinting

In the first episode of Makers & Methods, a Roland DG podcast, we break down the Big 3 ink technologies in wide-format printing: eco-solvent, UV, and latex.

Each technology offers different advantages when it comes to color, durability, curing, production speed, and application versatility. But choosing the right one isn't always straightforward.

Join Roland DG team members as they explore how these ink technologies compare, where each one excels, and what print providers should consider when investing in equipment or expanding their capabilities.

In this episode, we cover:

• The key differences between eco-solvent, UV, and latex inks
• Which technologies work best for vehicle wraps, signage, window graphics, and indoor décor
• How curing methods affect production speed and lamination
• White ink, layered printing, and UV special effects
• Ink costs, outgassing, and production efficiency
• How to choose the right technology for your shop's applications and business goals

Whether you're starting a print business, upgrading your equipment, or looking to offer new applications, this conversation will help you better understand the technologies behind wide-format printing.

Have questions about ink technology? Drop them in the comments and let us know what you'd like us to cover in a future episode.