May 8, 2017

Meet Susannah Caviness of Mindzai Creative in Castleberry Hill

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Susannah Caviness.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Mindzai Creative started in the late 90s. Before we were the print and design studio we are today, Mindzai housed a recording studio — recording Atlanta’s underground musicians. The design and print aspect came when these musicians needed tangible mixtapes. So we bought a CD duplicator, designed the covers and liner notes, designed and printed the flyers and posters for club promotions, and it snowballed from there.

Now, over 20 years later, we’re still going strong. We have two locations, the first being in Atlanta and the second opened in Austin, Texas five years ago. While we no longer record music or own the CD duplicator, our print services have expanded to include stickers, screen printing, enamel pins, embroidered patches, art prints, and so much more.

We are a collective of creatives – graphic designers, illustrators, sign painters, and artists that approach each project with craftsmanship and attention to detail that our clients have come to expect. We pride ourselves on delivering full service solutions for the marketing and advertising needs of our clients. Our brand was built on originality, creativity, and a passion for visual arts. By focusing on core design values that are classically timeless and a variety of print solutions, Mindzai Creative has positioned itself to be an award-winning reliable source for all our clients design and print needs.

Both locations also have retail spaces and art galleries, where we host regular group shows featuring originals, prints, and apparel from artists from all over the world.

Has it been a smooth road?
We struggle with the same things all small businesses struggle with. Sometimes we have great months, and other times I’m wondering how we’ll make it. But, we always do. It’s matter of just believing in your business, working hard, and offering the best products and services we can.

Our biggest headache has come with the over-gentrification of Atlanta. Our old space, Thunderbox, had been our home for over 10 years. One morning, we arrived to work to a piece of paper on the door stating we had 60 days to vacate — that the building had been sold.

Thunderbox was home to a ton of creatives in the Old 4th Ward — artists, photographers, and musicians. Now, suddenly we were displaced and it took us a really long time to find affordable space again. We had been in the heart of the city our entire business life, it didn’t make sense for us to have to move outside of it. It was really heartbreaking to think about, and it took over a year for us to find a permanent home (which we love!).

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Mindzai Creative specializes in sticker printing, art prints, screen printing, enamel pins, patches, and business collateral (like business cards, flyers, posters, etc.). We can print pretty much anything and everything! We mostly work with artists and small businesses, but we also do printing and design for Fortune 500 companies as well as the WNBA (shout out to the DREAM!).

As artists and creatives, we really take extra pride in our products. Our goal is to always provide the best hands-on service and experience. Marketing yourself these days is no easy task, and it’s important to stand out. We stand out because we actually care about our clients, we treat them like we’d treat family or friends. We aim to guide our clients to make smart decisions with their marketing dollars. Bold designs, solid print work, and high quality merchandise will all help you stay ahead of your competition in today’s fast paced world.

Our art galleries serve to nurture emerging artists, as well as new collectors. We’re always looking for up-and-coming artists to show!

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I’ve lived in Atlanta for a little over five years now. In that time, the current Atlanta is SO different than the Atlanta I first came to know. Our infrastructure is constantly changing! I love our city though, despite its flaws. I wish we would focus on nurturing our small businesses and arts communities instead of pushing them to the outskirts of the city. But, I am so grateful to be part of the Castleberry Hill neighborhood! We host a monthly art stroll in the community and we’ve really thrived on this side of town.

I really encourage any established or new businesses to come over here and be part of our bustling neighborhood!

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