Today we’d like to introduce you to Peter Daye.
Hi Peter, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
After I was pretty much phasing out of my DJ/Hip-Hop career, I had no direction to what I was going to do next. It took a while because I wasn’t even sure what options I had available. I was a college dropout that didn’t have a background in a multitude of things. I was in a bit of a crisis. But I found a job on Craigslist looking for a Screen-Printing Assistant… I went for it because it wouldn’t be the first time that I’d have this job. That first time around, I wasn’t as interested in pursuing the trade, it was just a job. That’s how this job started, really. Just something I was doing until I did something else. My bosses at the time were not interested in training me beyond cleaning screens, catching and loading shirts. That’s it. One day I wanted to learn more because I really felt like it had hit me that this was the direction I needed to go in. This was going to be my living. So, I bought my own DIY training kit from Ryonet and borrow from a friend to buy a one-color press, and I trained myself in my kitchen with guidance from Youtube. Word got back to me that my employers were excited about me wanting to learn and starting to print, I decided to move on. So, I started working for Home State Apparel. There for two years, I rose the ranks to be the head printer and learned the ins and outs of the screen print production business. Then it was time to strike it on my own. At first, it was me selling my own prints and merchandise, and then it expanded to me doing custom printing. I didn’t have any marketing resources, so began doing live printing pop-ups. That was how I got the word out about my company. Each outing, I were gain more clients as well as make a few bucks selling on-the-spot printed and cured tees. That grew into me being able to buy better equipment and being able to afford my own workspace. Right now, I have a couple hundred clients, and business is doing very well… looking forward to growing even more in the next couple years.
Alright, 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?
Of course, there are obstacles… the biggest obstacle I face was myself at first. Getting adjusted to working for myself, working on focusing on investing in myself financially, and exorcising some bad habits that stood in the way of my goals as a successful screen printer/business owner. The next challenge was finally finding my own space with my own gear. I bounced around a bit only for there to be falling outs resulting in me leaving to find somewhere new. When you don’t have your own gear and space in this business, you don’t have much of a future. So, I worked even harder to achieve that by renting space from other companies that would allow me to come in after their business hours. I used that time to make as much money as I could to be able to find affordable gear and a place to build my company. I was finally able to purchase my own gear (used gear from Craigslist), and I split space from a profession wresting gym, and I’m still here to this day with the entire space to myself.
As you know, we’re big fans of Cut The Music Prints. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
Well, Cut The Music Prints is pretty music a business that focuses on high qualities prints at an affordable price for other small companies, musicians, and non-profit organizations. Most print companies have a minimum of 25 to 50… some even starting at 100 units. Not everyone needs that many or can afford that. I keep my minimum to at least 12 to make it easier for those that want to test the waters with printed marketing. Plus, I’m pretty much a one-man show with a manual print. Other companies have automatic machinery where they can print higher volumes at a faster rate, but they have higher volumes that can result in a client waiting months to get their orders done. This works to my advantage where I can get orders done within 10-15 business days because even tho I do have my share of clients, my volume isn’t as insane. Another thing that I focus on as a business is product counseling. The average client don’t have an idea what they want or what they’re doing. I do my best to walk a customer through all the steps needed to get them the proper product they want absolutely. Whether the quality of the shirt to the layout to help them save as much money as possible, some even need help with what quantities they should get. I make sure they are completely aware of their options and how to maximize their investment. You’ll be surprised at how many companies don’t even attempted to help or try to build a relationship with the customers. I believe these things are important. I’m don’t put money first when dealing with a client, I put their needs first, and the money comes afterward. Trust is built, and I obtain a repeat customer through and through. Basically, I see myself more of a service for the community.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Covid was definitely a trying time… I was already dealing with personal issues that made thing quite unsettling, but the uncertainty of it all was perhaps the scariest point in my entire involvement in screen printing in general let alone trying to figure out how to make a living. After dealing with personal crisis, I them shifted my focus to learning as much about online marketing as I absolutely could. I also went on a quest to see how other small businesses were dealing with pretty much a freeze on the world. I found out a lot which lead me to create ideas on how to at least to be able to pay rent, continue to pay on the loan that help me purchase my equipment as well as my workshop rent. I came up with a couple shirt idea that were selling online, and the response was awe-inspiring. The little bit of money I made kept me afloat until a bigger task came down the pipeline. Using my trade as a means to promote and assist social justice. I created a Black Lives Matter shirt that used the American flag as its base, and it went viral. I ended up selling about 5,000 of them. Because I did this as a non-profit venture (selling them at the cost of production to break even), I didn’t make any money. The money that I made went to the people that help me print, fulfill, and deliver the tees. Even tho I didn’t make a profit, I came out with numerous new clients that operated non-profit, social justice, and progressive political organizations. With the election coming up, I had my hands full. When 2020 ended, it was the best year my company ever seen financially. Nothing came close. I actually thrived, and that moment is still felt to this day… so what I learned is that hope, action, and not giving up can actually pay off. In a time of crisis like that, creativity and ingenuity is what’s needed rather than cynicism and panic.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cutthemusicprints.bigcartel.com/
- Instagram: @ctmpgso
- Facebook: facebook.com/ctmpgso
Image Credits
Todd Turner
