Today we’d like to introduce you to Ivan Jones.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started exploring t-shirt printing in October of 2015. At the time, I was a teacher and wanted another source of income. This was down my lane being that I was a fine arts teacher (specifically music) and being creative was down my alley.
I started by designing shirts for my alma mater (Alabama A & M) and outsourced them to a company here in Atlanta. By 2016, I did my research and purchased a heat press and started printing (some) shirts on my own.
By 2017, I left teaching to pursue my business full time and eventually added screen printing to my services which allowed to completely cut out the 3rd party to print my designs.
Today in 2019, I have over 150 loyal customers who get their t-shirts, hoodies, v necks and more printed from me year-round.
I work from home at the moment but I am hoping to open a store within the next 2-3 years.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not. LOL. Learning how to make money outside of a “job” was the toughest concept for me to grasp. It was something I was not taught in school and it was something that I really didn’t put a lot of energy into until 2016 when I really realized that I may be on to something.
I actually left education to pursue my business full time in December of 2015, but I literally hit the floor face first and had to go back to teaching Fall 2016 to regroup, research and relaunch my business. That one year back in the classroom made me really feel confident at the end of that school year to officially leave (May 2017). I have not been back in the classroom since.
Having to learn the t-shirt industry was a hassle too (initially). Some companies didn’t want to help me learn the how to’s while there were some who did. Anything I didn’t get, I had to put the pieces together while messing up on shirts and orders along the way.
Running a business definitely taught me how to keep pushing.
Inked Up Custom Designs – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I specialize in custom screen printing and vinyl printing. A client will approach me with a design or an idea for a design for their school, family, personal brand, etc. and I draft up a quote based on what they need.
I also launched my own clothing brand All This Favor (@allthisfavor on IG) which is an empowerment brand where I inspire people to acknowledge the FAVOR on their lives. This was an addition to Inked Up so that I could share my story and inspire others along the way WHILE STILL printing custom shirts for clients.
(Side note: so definitely visit www.allthisfavor.com 😊)
I am most proud of the growth of my company and the network of clients that I have built. Being a former teacher, I have several connections in schools. Schools are my #1 clients and have been supportive of me since day one. I have done work for Slutty Vegan, House of Hope Atlanta, Atlanta Public Schools, and several other schools, churches, and organizations around the country.
I believe in showing my clients and potential clients the process of screen printing because they not only appreciate it but they have respect for the industry and will not attempt to negotiate prices etc as a result of that. I post videos on social media showing how I print t-shirts and engage them in the process as opposed to just posting pictures of a shirt or an order I’ve done.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Believing in myself. It sounds cliche, but for a long time, I felt that teaching was the only thing I could do. No one hired me in any other field when I left the first time because I didn’t have many years in the workforce and they didn’t value my skills acquired in the classroom.
Being an entrepreneur has shown me that if people won’t put me at the table, I’ll make my own table and ensure that anyone who wants to succeed in life will have an opportunity to.
I am also proud of myself for resilience. I was going to leave Atlanta in early 2017 after a frustrating break-up but I felt God telling me that my business is about to boom and he needed me to be in ATL with the resources so I could eventually go anywhere I want. I am standing true to that message from God.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.inkedupdesigns.com
- Phone: 470-891-9338
- Email: sales@inkedupdesigns.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/inkedupdesignsatl
- Facebook: Facebook.com/inkedupdesignsatl
- Other: Instagram.com/allthisfavor
Image Credit:
I (Ivan Jones) have all rights to every photo given.
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